Unending controversy over Ulli Beier’s archives: What Soyinka doesn’t know? - Oyinlola

The almost completed Ulli and Georgina
Beier Centre at Oke Osun, OsogboThe location of the Ulli and Georgina Beier archives has become the subject of controversy between Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka and the Osun State Government. Akintayo Abodunrin writes on the issue.

AT a press conference he addressed Thursday, last week, Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, raised the alarm over what he termed “fraudulent and unprincipled” attempts to incorporate Ulli and Georgina Beier’s archival materials into the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL).

According to Kongi, as Professor Soyinka is also called, the archival materials procured by the Osun State Government under the administration of Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, were to be transferred secretly to the OOPL despite the fact that the owners of the material had explicitly told Prince Oyinlola that the materials must be housed in Osogbo and nowhere else.

“The understanding with Georgina and Ulli Beier was that their archives should be housed in a special centre to be created in Osogbo and called Ulli and Georgina Foundation for International Understanding”, Kongi had said at the press conference held in Abeokuta, Ogun State. Soyinka, at the event, had also disclosed that he and other stakeholders in culture would go to the law court if the materials were taken to the OOPL.

But in a reaction to Professor Soyinka’s allegation, the Osun State Government declared that the Beier’s archives were in its custody. In a statement signed by the Special Adviser (Media), Mr. Lasisi Olagunju, to Oyinlola, the government confirmed that it had indeed received a substantial part of the cultural materials but that they were intact in Osogbo. “Indeed, the memorandum of understanding signed last year in Ulli Beier’s home in Sydney, Australia, between the man, UNESCO and the Nigerian government clearly stated that the archives would be in Osogbo. We say with satisfaction that this has been done ,as some of the materials are here already,” the statement read in part.

The move to establish a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Category II Institute in Nigeria, according to findings by the Sunday Tribune, began last year. And the name of the institute, it was also discovered, is to be Institute of African Culture and International Understanding under the auspices of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library. But the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding, Osogbo that would house the Beier’s archives is autonomous of the OOPL. Five other such centres that would be autonomous of the OOPL, Sunday Tribune learnt, are also to be established in the remaining five geo-political zones of Nigeria for the country to fully host a UNESCO Category II Institute.

A significant part of the archival materials, it was also learnt, were collected by the Beiers while they lived in Nigeria. Ulli Beier, it is recalled, was an active participant on the Nigerian arts scene before he left in 1968. In the South West States, especially Oyo and Osun where he resided, Beier contributed significantly to the performing, visual and literary arts. He lived in Ibadan in the 1950s and 60s when the city was the must see and must be place for arts aficionados from across the world. In fact, a generation of artists, especially of the Osogbo Arts School comprising people like Chief Jimoh Buraimoh, Muraina Oyelami, Twin Seven-Seven and several others, grew under the wings of Beier, Georgina, his wife and Susan Wenger. Beier, it is also recalled, was a close collaborator of Soyinka and the fact that the literary guru raised the alarm over the supposed transfer of his friend’s archives to the OOPL is understandable.

But could it be that the Professor has been crying wolf where there is none? Speaking with Sunday Tribune on the issue last Sunday, the Osun State Governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, dismissed all of Kongi’s claims. “I’m becoming increasingly worried about the disturbing and misinforming outbursts of Professor Wole Soyinka, especially as it relates to me as a person and to the Osun State government. My expectation is that somebody of his calibre, of his status, should be able to verify information before going to the press”, Oyinlola began with feeling in his narration of how the centre came into existence.

“In December 2005 when we were launching the book on my father, we took materials from one of his very good friends, Professor Ulli Beier. He was at the launch and as a matter of fact, he gave the title of that book: Oyinlola Olokuku: Every Inch an Oba. And when he came, he did not just come to be part of the launch, he brought some of the archival materials that was in his possession and displayed them.

“It was during that period that Ulli told me that he wanted to return to Osogbo what he had collected from there. He said it would be nice for generations yet unborn to know about what happened before their time in this environment and that he would want to give it to the University. I told him we were in the process of establishing UNIOSUN, that when it is done, I’ll be able to receive the materials for whatever price they will go for so that it forms part of the learning aids that will distinguish Osun University.

“That was the way we left the discussion on the archival materials. Some times later, President Olusegun Obasanjo invited me and said ‘Oyinlola, we are trying to attract UNESCO Institute Category II into Africa, the first one, but there is competition between Nigeria and Republic of Benin and we must move to ensure that it comes to Nigeria’. And I asked him, how this has become my own problem, not knowing that President Obasanjo knew that Ulli and Georgina Beier have the materials that will form the nucleus of that Institute. Later, he sent Professor Babalola Borishade, the then Minister of Culture to go to Australia to discuss with Ulli Beier but Beier told him his materials are meant to go back to where he got most of them, even though that of Papua New Guinea will join them for the same purpose but it must be in Osogbo. That is condition one. Condition two is that Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola must be chairman of the Board in or out of office.

“It was when Borishade returned and informed the president that they will not get the materials unless Oyinlola is involved that President Obasanjo called me and we formed the centre. I called Beier and he told me that was what he wanted, it must be in Osogbo and I must be the chairman of the Board not because I’m governor but because of his relationship with my father. The Board was formed and we went into arrangement to get a building to accommodate the materials.

“While the main building is being completed, we’ve had two visitations from UNESCO and I had to give my personal property as a temporary site. That is my future law firm building. But the materials came unexpectedly and I donated the building to the centre. UNESCO officials came and saw it and I took them to the main building which must be finished within the next one month”, the Governor said.

Located at Oke-Osun behind the state secretariat complex, the building, actually, will soon be completed. A two storey affair that commands a scenic view of the neighbourhood from its vantage position on a hill, all which is left for the building, which Sunday Tribune learnt will also have guest chalets, hotel and other facilities ,is the electrical fittings and windows.

Overlooking the Osun State Agricultural Farm Settlement and close to the proposed AIT station, the materials, Prince Oyinlola disclosed, would be enlarged into portraits like those at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris while the story that accompanies each would be written underneath. About 17 volumes of the materials which titles include: “Oyinlola Olokuku”, “Timi Laoye”, “Yoruba Children”, “Duro Ladipo”, “Yoruba Folklore Opera”, “Kola Ogunmola”, “Three Yoruba Artists”, “Yoruba Architecture and Wall Painting” and “Art by patients in Lantoro hospital” (in three volumes) and which Prince Oyinlola handled the way a man would hold his loved one while he spoke with Sunday Tribune, he revealed, is replicated on two CDs and that he has a copy while Professor Beier has the other copy.

Continuing with his explanation and his disappointment with Kongi, Oyinlola said: “Why can’t Professor Wole Soyinka come and ask me? There is nothing in these archival materials that talks about his father. I’m saying it, I’m a proud stakeholder in this project and the integrity of my father is at stake because the man said this is the way he wanted it. I’m an honourable officer and a gentleman, I cannot deceive Ulli Beier in his old age and take the materials anywhere else. My wife may have come from Abeokuta but I cannot cede away my heritage to Abeokuta. All these materials, they are pictures that I’ve never seen of my father. And you say I’ll give them away to Obasanjo Library? These are the crowns, the garments, the compounds. These are the negatives, the slides of the photographs. Is this what I will want to consign to anybody?

“I’m going through all these because Ulli Beier knows Professor Wole Soyinka yet he did not make him a permanent member of the Board of the institute, he made Oyinlola the permanent member. And there is nothing relating to his father in these archives. So why should he cry more than the bereaved?

“I’ve shown you that my own heritage is involved in this archive and if you know my passion for the traditional institution, it is one thing I’ll defend with my life. So, why wouldn’t he come to me and find out what is happening? And I want to declare with humility, he may be a Nobel Laureate but in this case, he is a nobel liar. If he has started playing with chicken, then he must be rubbed with fowl shit. I’m a grand father, who does he think I am? He is intelligent but he should credit other people with some little intelligence. How would he say I used the money of the state to go and buy materials to give to somebody? He’s unfair to me.

“I have a stake in this project. We have a proud heritage and we are proud to say it anywhere.”

On whether Kongi reacted the way he did because of his anger with Chief Obasanjo, the Okuku Prince said, “I wouldn’t know. Like my people used to say, wetin concern fish with rain coat? The man that owns the materials discussed it with me during the course of launching the book on my father and when they went and met him, he said he was not giving it out unless the two conditions were met. One, it must be returned to Osogbo. Two, Oyinlola must be the Board chairman in or out of office. It is complementary to the relationship between him and my father, and that’s the last thing I will betray. Building the centre was in my budget. I’m making extra-budgetary provision to make sure it is completed on time and I’ve promised Georgina and Ulli that they would be here to inaugurate it. I don’t talk for nothing. When I say something, I mean it. I cannot betray them. But why can’t Professor Wole Soyinka call me. He is one man I respect. But why dish out falsehood about my person? The materials here have nothing to do with his father or himself. So, what’s his business?”

Oyinlola’s vision for the centre, according to him “is that at the end of the day, we will have a place where every Blackman will be able to come and take a look at his ancestral beginnings because it is our belief that the origin of every black man is Ife. If that is not totally true, I know the origin of every Yoruba man is Ife; that cannot be controverted.

But Oyinlola is not done. Pained by WS’s claims, the Governor again referred to it: “After we launched the book, Ulli spent a month with me here. I didn’t see Wole Soyinka coming to see him; he was in Okuku, in my house for one month with his wife. So, how can you say I will trade away what I consider my heritage, my own proud beginning, to any other person? It’s not possible. If not for the confidence he has in me, why would he make my permanent membership of the Board a condition for the release of the materials. And how can I disappoint that kind of aspiration and confidence, it’s not possible.

“I’m not the usual politician that will talk from two ends of the mouth and I’ve told the people of the state this is what we are doing.

“. I’m proud of my heritage and I flaunt it. I did not rise on the apron strings of Wole Soyinka and I don’t care either. I’m surviving by the grace of God Almighty. I became an orphan at nine and this is me. I lost my mother at eight and my father at nine and that’s why I don’t give a damn. I only fear my creator.

“When a senior person in the position of an uncle will hear one side of the story and comment without asking the other side, he is not fit to be a leader in the context of Yoruba tradition and culture. And he said I’m conniving with President Obasanjo to dupe people of the state of their money, that I’ll take the archives there. It is unfair and I say he is a bloody liar”.

But Soyinka’s misrepresentation, according to the Governor ,won’t have any effect on the project: “I don’t think it has any effect because I’m dealing with UNESCO. We are on one-on-one discussion, so Soyinka is talking jazz. I’m going there in September for the actual authorization of the centre.

“I’m not sure he knew there are structures on ground. If he did, he wouldn’t be saying what he is saying, that’s the truth. It’s in my budget and the people of Osun know. Ataoja followed me to UNESCO. Will I take Ataoja to go and deceive him in the UNESCO? He is not being fair, honestly. He is not being fair to us. And he is quick at taking issues that have to do with Oyinlola and Osun State Government. I don’t know why ,but I care less. With the backing of the Almighty God, I’m moving on in Osun State and one thousand Wole Soyinkas cannot stop me”, he said.