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George Osodi’s “Nigerian Monarchs” Series: A Visual Chronicle of Living Royal Heritage

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3 months ago

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Renowned Nigerian photojournalist George Osodi has earned international recognition for his ability to merge fine art and documentary photography. Among his most acclaimed works is the “Nigerian Monarchs” series—an extraordinary visual record of the country’s living royal traditions and the cultural identities they protect.

The Photographer and His Vision

Osodi, whose broader body of work explores Nigeria’s social, political, and environmental realities, approaches photography as both artistic storytelling and historical preservation. From the Niger Delta’s oil politics to urban street life, his lens often captures the friction between deep-rooted traditions and Nigeria’s rapidly modernising society. With Nigerian Monarchs, he turns this dual gaze toward the country’s royal institutions, creating portraits that function as both art and historical document.

Capturing Nigeria’s Royal Diversity

Launched in the early 2010s, the project took Osodi across Nigeria’s many ethnic landscapes—from the palaces of Yoruba oba in the southwest to the courts of Igbo, Benin, and northern emirates. Each image presents a monarch or queen in full ceremonial regalia, surrounded by heirlooms and palace artefacts that narrate centuries of lineage and authority.

Though modern Nigerian monarchs hold largely ceremonial or advisory roles, they remain guardians of culture and tradition, mediating disputes and preserving ancestral knowledge. Osodi’s portraits emphasise their enduring spiritual and social significance, even as the nation’s political power has shifted to democratic institutions.

Reframing Historical Narratives

Osodi consciously rejects the ethnographic style of colonial-era photography, which often depicted African royalty through a Western gaze. Instead, his images are vibrant, dignified, and symbolically rich, celebrating the sophistication of indigenous institutions. The series challenges outdated stereotypes, presenting Nigerian monarchs not as relics of a bygone past but as living embodiments of cultural resilience and pride.

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Global Reception and Cultural Impact

Nigerian Monarchs has been exhibited at major international venues, including the Museum für Völkerkunde in Hamburg (2012) and the Newark Museum in the United States (2014), drawing critical acclaim for its blend of artistry and cultural documentation. Critics have praised the series for sparking conversations about identity, tradition, and the place of indigenous leadership in a modern nation-state.

For many Nigerians, Osodi’s work provides a powerful affirmation of heritage at a time when globalisation can blur the visibility of traditional authority. For international audiences, it offers a nuanced and visually stunning introduction to the living royal cultures of Africa’s most populous nation.

Legacy of the Series

More than a photographic catalogue, Nigerian Monarchs serves as a chronicle of Nigeria’s royal heritage and a reminder that tradition and modernity need not be in conflict. Osodi’s work continues to inspire both scholars and artists to look at African leadership structures not as static history, but as dynamic institutions still shaping cultural identity today.

Sources
George Osodi, Nigerian Monarchs (2012 exhibition catalogue).

The Guardian (UK), “George Osodi’s Nigerian Monarchs: A Celebration of Regal Heritage,” 2012.

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Declare Your Lineage – Royal Family Tells Musician KWAM 1 Over His Interest In Becoming Next Awujale Of Ijebuland

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16 hours ago

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December 7, 2025

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KWAM 1, in a letter dated December 3, 2025, addressed to the chairman of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House in Agunsebi Quarters, Ijebu-Ode, announced his interest in the stool, describing himself as a “bonafide son” of the ruling house.

The Fusengbuwa ruling house of Ijebu-Ode, next in line to produce the new Awujale of Ijebuland, Ogun State, has instructed Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde, popularly known as KWAM 1, to confirm his family’s royal lineage to validate his membership in the ruling house.

KWAM 1, in a letter dated December 3, 2025, addressed to the chairman of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House in Agunsebi Quarters, Ijebu-Ode, announced his interest in the stool, describing himself as a “bonafide son” of the ruling house.

KWAM 1 also stated that his candidacy aligns with Ijebu customary law and the Ogun State Chieftaincy Laws.

In an interview with Punch, the Chairman of the ruling house and former National President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Abdulateef Owoyemi, said only bonafide members of the family would be allowed to participate in the selection process.

Owoyemi explained that KWAM 1, Olori Omooba of Ijebu land and others interested in the stool have been directed to complete the Fusengbuwa ruling house royal lineage data form.

According to him, the form, which requires contenders to trace their genealogy back seven generations, ensures that only genuine princes from the family can participate, thereby blocking “strangers” from claiming the throne.

He said, “The first step for anyone interested in contesting for the Awujale throne is to declare their lineage by filling the standard Fusengbuwa ruling house royal lineage data form. Once confirmed as a legitimate member of the ruling house, they can then apply for the expression of interest form.

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“We have told him, just like everyone else interested in the Awujale throne, that the first step is to declare his lineage. He will do this by completing the royal lineage data form, showing his full name, which parent and grandparent he descends from, and continuing up to seven generations.

“The completed form will be signed and submitted to the head of the ruling house unit of the Fusengbuwa ruling house, who will affirm that he is a genuine member. Only then will the process move forward.”

Owoyemi emphasised that although the application window for the throne officially closed on December 5, KWAM 1 had been given a five-day extension, which would lapse on December 10.

He noted, “We won’t shut anybody out of picking the next Awujale, but we must ensure that you are a legitimate member of Fusengbuwa. Every right comes with responsibilities. For a royal family, everyone must prove their legitimacy by completing the royal lineage data form.

“When we receive the form, we will review it meticulously. If clarification is needed, we will contact the applicant. We welcome men of influence who will use their influence to enhance the throne, not to claim it, ensuring that what truly belongs to our family is preserved.”

Owoyemi explained that the local government has given them 14 days to select candidates, and the ruling house hopes to have a new Awujale by the second or third week of January 2026.

He added, “The local government has given us 14 days to select candidates, which expires on December 18. After that, the kingmakers have seven days to deliberate and choose one candidate, whose name will be forwarded to the governor.

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“Legally, the government then has 21 days to conduct background checks and security clearance, allowing for objections or protests. After this period, the State Executive Council will ratify the nominee, and the governor will announce the next Awujale, after which coronation rites will commence.

“So, combining the candidate selection, kingmakers’ deliberation, and legal objection period, we are looking at around 42 days. Therefore, we expect the next Awujale to emerge between the second and third week of January.”

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VIDEO: I’m Married But Not In My Husband’s House; I Didn’t Have The Experience Of Living Happily Ever After – Singer Shola Allyson Reveals

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20 hours ago

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December 7, 2025

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While speaking about her love life, the 54-year-old who came into limelight with a love album ‘Eji Owuro’, revealed that she is married but not living with her husband.

Sola Allyson, the popular Nigerian gospel singer, has revealed that she is not currently living with her husband.

The musician made this known in her latest interview on Oyinmomo TV.

While speaking about her love life, the 54-year-old who came into limelight with a love album ‘Eji Owuro’, revealed that she is married but not living with her husband.

Sharing her marital experience, the singer said she has never enjoyed the kind of happiness many people describe.

“I’m married, but I’m not in my husband’s house. We live separately. He in his house and I in mine.”

The interviewer asked: “You sang ‘Eji Owuro’, did you experience genuine love from your husband?

She replied, “We lied before. Those older than us didn’t inform us that it’s tough. They made us believe that so long as you both love each other, you will live happily ever after, but it’s a lie.

“That’s not the experience I have. I didn’t have the experience of living happily ever after. I did all I could to make it work.

“Marriage has been a big challenge. I hear people talk about joy in marriage, but I have never experienced it.”

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VIDEO: Shola Allyson Finally Opens Up, Reveals Why She Does Not Reference Jesus In Her Songs

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20 hours ago

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December 7, 2025

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Recall that Allyson, who is regarded as a gospel singer, was dragged on social media in March 2025 for not directly referencing ‘Jesus’ in all her songs.

Shola Allyson, the renowned Nigerian songstress, has opened up on the real reason she avoids mentioning the name of Jesus in all her songs.

Recall that Allyson, who is regarded as a gospel singer, was dragged on social media in March 2025 for not directly referencing ‘Jesus’ in all her songs.

Reacting to her critics in a post on X, the songstress stated that “No one can bully me into joining their darkness that looks like light because indolent souls find comfort in it”.

Finally revealing her reason for not mentioning Jesus in her songs, Shola Allyson on Saturday during her latest interview on Oyinmomo TV, stated that Jesus did not ask her to do PR for him.

She said “I’m not a religious singer. As I am, I have never introduced myself as a gospel singer. My name is Shola Allyson. I’m a singer”.

Interviewer; “Some people said you don’t mention ‘Jesus’ name’ in all your songs”.

She quickly responded “Jesus did not instruct us to mention his name in songs nor did Jesus ask us to do PR for Him”.

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