EFFERVESCENT, vivacious, an almost hedonistic Commitment to pleasure, enjoyment. They make no apology for enjoyment and are open about it. At a Yoruba party, there is a sing-along ability – everybody seems to know the words, and the party goers are in full and fine voice, as they belt out song after song.

WRITING these days in the midst of passionate electioneering is becoming a challenge. There is no stand you take that will not generate reactions of bias in favour of one party or the other. It is a difficult position to be neutral. According to John Adams:”In politics, the middle way is none at all”.

THERE is anxiety in the land over this month’s general elections. To be sure, the presidential and national assembly elections will hold on February 14, 2015 while those of governors and state assemblies have been scheduled for February 28. Some of the fears though, especially about security and logistics challenges, have been allayed by recent pronouncements and disclosures from security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

THE Yoruba town of Ibadan is largest native market in Africa. The Yorubas engage in the business of planting and trading in Cocoa, Palm produce, timber, rubber, and kola nuts, apart from their normal food crops. They are good businessmen and women, some of whom dealt in timber, cocoa, kola nuts, trading from Lagos to Bathurst (now Banjul), in The Gambia, and South Congo; whist the Ijebus, Ijesha and the Oyo speaking Yorubas deal in general merchandise.

LET me commence this discourse with a citation from the divine scripture I am familiar with:

“O mankind! Lo! We have created you from (a pair) of male and female, and have made you nations and tribes that you may know one another. Lo! the noblest of you, in the sight of Allah is the best in conduct. Lo! Allah is Knower, fully aware” [Quran:49:13].