Rambling thoughts
or common sense ?
YAP's mission is to deeply explore African culture, societal issues, and self-expression through the musings of young creatives.
I remember a time when Johannesburg was nothing more than a small mining town. The land was lush and green, and the air was clean. The traditional communities that lived here were close-knit and deeply connected to the land. But as the city grew and the gold mines brought an influx of people, everything began to change.
The issue of migration in Nigeria is a contentious and controversial topic that has been gaining momentum in recent years. The mass exodus of competent and educated Nigerian youths seeking better opportunities abroad has sparked a heated debate among experts and citizens alike.
As a society, we rely heavily on pharmaceutical companies to provide us with the medicines we need to maintain our health. However, what many people do not realize is that these companies often appropriate traditional remedies and turn them into patented drugs, without little to no recognition or compensation to the communities who have been using them for centuries.
It may be a controversial stance, but we believe that the solution to poverty in Africa cannot be solved through charity alone. Many developed countries have a savior complex toward African nations, but this approach is not sustainable in the long term. The continent is rich in natural and mineral resources, yet it remains poor because these resources are often exported for profit by developed countries.
My name is Busayo and I want to share my story with you. Growing up, I never had the opportunity to attend formal education like many of my peers. My family couldn't afford to send me to school and I had to work to support them. I always dreamed of getting an education and breaking out of poverty, but it felt like an impossible dream. I felt hopeless and thought that my future was limited because of my lack of education.
In an opulent office in a high-rise building, two of the very best sit aback in their plush chairs, watching from above as a throng of protestors gather below. Sipping on their drinks, they chuckled at the sight before them.
"Look at them, Awon Omode”. They actually think they can make a difference! Don't they know it's my turn now?" he exclaimed while letting out a rigid cough.
Engaging us all with ideas in a new way.
Ibadan—London
In Nigeria, the growing discontent among the population towards police brutality and the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) led to widespread protests demanding their disbandment. The leaders, accustomed to ignoring the voices of the population, were taken aback by the sheer size and determination of the protests. "Oh no," they cried, "the people have risen and we are doomed!"
It isn’t hard to see why a multitude of competent, educated Nigerian youth chose to impregnate the first country that smiles at, or winks at them, because for many of us choosing to stay "home" means a bleak, likely grime future lies ahead and possibly a stare down with death sometime in the future…Read more