EDITORIAL: A Warm Welcome to the Freshers.

The reputation ‘First and the Best’ is one that precedes the University of Ibadan, embodying an excellence that goes beyond ephemeral things to the true nature- infact, an indisputable one, of the University. It’s not just a title, it’s a culture- ‘If it is from unibadan, it can only be the Best’.

As the very first of its kind in the history of education in Nigeria, the Department of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Ibadan, holds the honor of heralding the onset of cultural and historical research, anthropological and archaeological studies cutting across two main faculties-the Arts and the Sciences, essentially encompassing the need to preserve the past as a vital link to the present and even the nearest and/or farthest future. A research unit pioneered by a renowned name, training inaugural students who indeed set the pace for those after them to move with, where we, being the ‘those’, are now here counted worthy to leave our mark in the documentations of history.

And so, Dear Freshers, welcome…

On Thursday, June 20, 2024, the executives of the Archaeology and Anthropology Student Association organized an orientation meeting for the fresh students of the Department. This was done according to the rituals of resumption reserved for fresh students across all departments, faculties, and association bodies on campus. The orientation was graced by the presence of stakeholders in the association, representing both faculties- Arts and Science. Key stakeholders, such as; Chairman, AASA Stakeholders Committee- Miss. Solafunmi Alawusa; President, FASSA- Honorable Emmanuel Oniyide; Deputy Speaker, FSRC- Honorable Aremo David; Deputy Speaker, AFAS FLC- Honorable Busayo Ogunsemore; Sports Director, Kenneth Mellanby Hall- Mr. Jibril Oladejo; Chairman AAIEC- Honorable Daniel; Editor-in-chief, AASA PRESS- Miss. Ayooluwa Ekundare; President, AASCF & FACA- Mr. Peter Alonge, etc.

The orientation convened by the executives- Mr. Tochi John, President AASA; Miss. Kofoworola Adegboyega, Vice President AASA; Mr. Emmanuel Ilemobayo, General Secretary AASA, was one convened with the intention that the fresh students are welcomed into the department as courtesy demands, giving them a glimpse into what lies in stock for them. In a manner of welcome, the freshers were addressed by some of these key stakeholders, who according to their experience, were able to give salient points of advice, as it concerns the peculiarities of the department.

The orientation was also graced by the presence of the Head of Department, Professor Aderemi S. Ajala, who further addressed the students on the uniqueness of the department, the peculiarities of the course of study, the multifaceted nature of the disciplines, benefits that are affiliated to the disciplines, and the best disposition for the guarantee of a successful academic pursuit as it concerns the disciplines. He also went down memory lane, speaking of his time as a student in the department in its early days, and how that foundation has now afforded him a wealth of opportunities- tapped and untapped.

Although, it is in fulfillment of perfunctory duties, the orientation is believed to have struck the right chords, thus producing the expected results- extending a warm welcome. Therefore, this editorial piece seeks to make a toast to the wonderful experience that has begun for the fresh students of this pioneer department, wishing them the very best of all things success and fulfilment. Cheers.

EDITORIAL: The Conundrum that is Culture…

The universe is a vast space of diverse species spread far and wide, the diversity in the universe knows no bounds and cannot exactly be contained in a simple definition or explanation. That diversity is what makes the universe what it is.
However, in a bid to understand this diversity, and compress it to man’s understanding, the concept of culture comes to play. But like almost all of man’s endeavors, culture is a concept that has no finite conclusion. Hence, the conundrum that is Culture…

The Conundrum..
It could be contrasting, it could be different, it could be that it just does not fit, or that there is no finite definition that caps it all, the conundrum can be many things.. In the works of the 19th-century Danish Philosopher, Søren Kierkegaard, in lieu of his many works such as ‘Fear and Trembling‘ and ‘Knight of Faith‘, he compared a conundrum to have the same contextual meaning as an ‘existential dilemma‘. His works are writings that often involve the characters having to make ‘dilemmic’ decisions or decide if a choice between incomparable elements is foolhardy or a show of strength.
For this editorial piece however, the conundrum here is one that doesn’t appear to be finite, although designed to be encompassing, providing a true bearing to diversity, it is still in itself diverse beyond measure. Hence, the conundrum of attempting to encompass diverse and infinite in a finite concept.
And so, like Søren opined, a conundrum is infact an existential dilemma, and in this case, one that leaves one wondering about the conclusion of the whole matter, evaluating tenets, examining it with various parameters that exist diversely, wondering if the acclaimed one-cap-fits-all definition is truly the beginning and end of a concept so profound. The conundrum is one that makes one wonder if infact there could be more or if there is more to the concept than meets the eye…

..that is Culture..
According to an Anthropological renowned figure, Edward Burnett Tylor, culture is pretty much finite. Bound by the tenets of KBALMC (Knowledge, Belief, Art, Laws, Morals, Custom), and any other factor as dictated by society that binds an individual acceptably to the said society. This definition should apparently be enough to encapsulate the diversity that exists within the universe, however, there is the question of individualism, personhood, inherent nature, opinions and choices, and essentially the sometimes conflicting nature of man. Where do these fit into the Tylorian definition, what accounts for them?
Indeed the nature of culture itself, far outweighs what it is perceived as. A concept that cuts across different aspects, social, biological, mental, even physical, cannot simply be put into a box when it is supposed to exist outside of any confinement. Culture in its diversity is influenced by many a thing, from the inherent nature of man to personal inclinations that influence behavior, to sporadic or periodic innovation and change within a society, to mutations in the stereotypical, and other diverse things.

Culture in itself is a conundrum, a concept that seems to tease the ability of man to confound things that stretch beyond comprehension, poking out at loose ends and peeking out from loop holes that show at every turn, never seeming to fit completely. Maybe being a conundrum, is what it is meant to be, remaining peculiar to individual perception, only yielding to factors that influence it within a specific sphere, not exactly fitting a finite universal depiction.

So, dear reader, what defines culture for you? What unique perceptions influence the somewhat universal concept for you? Would you stick to the one-cap-fits-all? Or would you rather accept its true nature.. a conundrum.

EDITORIAL – Why positivity is a must-have

“Get going. Move forward. Aim High. Plan a takeoff. Don’t just sit on the runway and hope someone will come along and push the airplane. It simply won’t happen. Change your attitude and gain some altitude. Believe me, you’ll love it up here.” – Donald Trump

Positivity, one essential component that we as humans must always strive to get in life because we are all human beings and sometimes we need to see reasons to be positive even when times are tough. Positivity is also important for business as well as personal reasons. If you want to succeed in any field of life then you should always keep positive thoughts in mind. It is equally important that as students, we should learn how to control our emotions and think positively.

It is common knowledge that people who are negative tend to get depressed more often than those who are positive. This is true even if they don’t show their negativity outwardly. They may seem like they are having fun but inside they feel sad or angry.

Positive thinking has been proven time and again to help us achieve success in everything we do. Whether it’s passing a course in school, landing a job, starting a new relationship, or finding a cure for cancer, positivity helps us accomplish anything we set out to do. But why? What makes positive thinking so powerful? And how can we use it to improve our lives?

The first step towards becoming a positive thinker is to understand what being positive really means. As students, we spend most of our time studying and working hard. Sometimes we fail miserably and sometimes we pass with flying colours. In both cases, we work hard to achieve a goal. However, when we fail, we tend to blame ourselves for our failure. On the other hand, when we pass, we tend to pat ourselves on the back for achieving such an amazing feat. The problem with this mindset is that it leads to self-doubt and pessimism.

When we blame ourselves for failing, we end up feeling guilty and worthless. This causes us to lose confidence in ourselves and eventually lead to depression. In order to be positive, you need to believe in yourself and your abilities. Positive thinkers know that they can make changes in their lives and that they deserve to be happy. They realize that they have the power to create the life they want.

The second step towards becoming a positive person is to identify your strengths. “The surest way to make your dreams come true is to live them.” – Roy T. Bennett. A positive thinker knows his or her own strengths and weaknesses. He or she realizes that he or she can overcome most obstacles with hard work and determination. By identifying your strengths, you can begin to build confidence. Once you have confidence, you can move onto the next step – learning how to manage your emotions.

The third step towards becoming a positive individual is to take responsibility for your actions. A positive thinker understands that he or she is responsible for creating his or her own destiny. He or she takes full ownership of his or her decisions and actions. This allows him or her to accept criticism and failures gracefully.

The fourth step towards becoming a positive personality is to develop an optimistic outlook. A positive thinker believes that every situation has a solution. He or she looks for opportunities rather than problems. He or she focuses on the future rather than dwelling on the past.

The fifth and final step towards becoming a positive attitude is to practice gratitude. A positive thinker recognizes that he or she has much to be grateful for. He or she appreciates the little things in life such as family, friends, and nature. In conclusion, being positive doesn’t mean that you should ignore your problems. Being positive does not mean that you should pretend nothing is wrong. What being positive means is that you should learn to see the bright side of things, and as students, this is especially important. We all face challenges in our lives. However, when you learn to think positively, you’ll be able to deal with these challenges better.

– David Oyelakin

EDITORIAL – WHO IS IN YOUR DRIVER’S SEAT?

“Am I in control of my life?”

“What direction is my life heading towards?”

“Why do I feel that I lack the clarity to choose which way to go in life?”

In all honesty, life gets to a point and we stop to ask ourselves these questions, especially at beginning of each year where we make resolutions and create vision boards. Being in the Driver’s Seat is having autonomy over your life. Having clarity, direction and you making decisions for yourself, not having others make decisions for you.

If there’s one thing we know for sure, it’s that life is always going to… life, so it’s important to realise that deviations from your perfect plan are not always a bad thing. Sometimes, it is a necessary part of the journey to make us slow down and rest or reconsider the direction we want to go in. When driving in your car, sometimes you have to slow down a little bit, because a bump is ahead, but do you stop driving? No – It’s the same with life. It comes with its troubles and uncertainties, which can make us lose focus and even make us question the clarity we thought we had on what to do next with our lives. However, it is just for a phase and it is time we got our focus back! We need to be clear on where exactly we want our lives to head towards and also work out what we need to do to get there.

Clarity helps a great deal with direction. Clarity makes the blurriness go away so you can clearly see what is in front of you. Without clarity, we can find ourselves going through the motions, feeling unfulfilled and following the herd without having a meaningful destination.

So ask yourself, “How much clarity do I have on what I want to do and where I want to be?” We do not have all the answers to life questions and it is for this reason that it is essential that we know how to reach out to people who have once been in the state of confusion and indecisiveness that you currently find yourself in. It is okay to draw strength from other people as long as at the end of the day you learn to take control of your life. Get in the driver’s seat of your life and keep moving till you get to the destination you so truly desire.

When New Becomes Old

Change is a constant in our world today, it is an inevitable occurrence. Change is defined by the ability to evolve and adapt, but sometimes change can be so drastic that it becomes outdated before it has even been changed. By December 15, 2022, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will introduce the new redesigned Naira notes in denominations of 200, 500 and 1,000. It is disappointing that the new notes are not in any way different from the old designs, only a colour change is seen.

Must be worth it: The race for power or Leadership

The race is not for the swift…

It is simply impossible to ignore the current tussle and struggle for power
amongst all individuals eyeing public offices especially the title of president even as we look forward to the coming elections. Like always, many Nigerians led by the strong resentment they have for the current government for the years of suffering they have had to withstand are determined to vote in the lesser devil (“The devil you know is better than the one you do not know”, many of them say. But the question of how well they know the devil they think they know is a question that tags along with defensive answers). And so likewise, there are others who even after years of suffering are willing to vote in a candidate simply because, “He understands the system and would most certainly do better”. Nigerians being Nigerians by forgetting that they said the same thing the last time. Why the question of what the ones who have been in the system enough to understand it are still behaving very much like the system confuses them is never asked is downright astonishing and of course, laughable!

WILL IT EVER END?

“Will it ever end?” The constant question that has been running through almost every Nigerian student’s mind who has in one way or the other experienced the staggering educational system likened to a man who finds it so difficult to breathe, one who is always struggling to take in Oxygen. The question of how we keep using the same instrument over and over again at the expense of the student’s future. Like in the case of using a cutlass for over 20years and not ever thinking that it would become blunt and very well ineffective. Thinking that the same tool or instrument would work and make the government listen at the expense of the progress of the “leaders of tomorrow”. The question of whether the leaders of tomorrow would ever get the chance to indeed be leaders of tomorrow, if they would ever get the chance at the future they so desire to have, the one that they deserve to have. Will it ever end?

BACK LIKE WE NEVER LEFT. AND THEN…THE STRIKE STRIKES!

It is almost impossible to ignore the excitement oozing from every side of the freshers, feeling the relief of finally getting to resume to the greatest of the greatest university of Ibadan. Meanwhile, there is the unflinching tiredness from the sides of the satellites even though school is yet to be in full motion. And with this, it is still difficult to not acknowledge the anxiousness of what the new level holds for them. And then, we have the finalists who even though are excited to finally be in their last session are already thinking of just how much their mental health are going to be tested. Occupied by the constant pondering upon all the things they have to do. Including projects and assignments not counting out the group works and presentations that may later fall in line as time goes on. the worry of how they would have to balance up their grades in the best way possible and meet all the deadlines. of course, the only ones bothered by such thoughts would be the serious ones. While on the other hand we would no doubt have the group of final year students who just want to flex. It’s the final year, Afterall!

THE EVOLUTIONARY TRAIN OF HUMANITY.

Evolution is an observable change. Science says it’s a process by which different kinds of living organism are believed to have developed from earlier forms during the history of the earth. Biologically, evolution is the change in the characteristics of a species over several generations and relies on the process of natural selection. The theory of evolution is based on the idea that all species are related and gradually changed over time.

THE ACT OF KINDNESS SHOULDN’T BE WAVERING

“Always be a little kinder than necessary” J. M. Barrie

Act of kindness is often time overlooked or underrated. To one, it’s something intangible but to another it’s tangible and considered a necessity. Infact, a driving factor for many people. Which begs the question, “what has kindness got to do with the way people view the world?”, “Does being kind make a difference in the way people view us?”
Kindness, a state of being kind or of charitable behaviour pleasing to all and sundry.

THE SAFEGUARDED MENTAL HEALTH

Mental health refers to the emotional well being of an individual, and truth to be told when we’re not in a state of mental well being there ls little to what we can do and achieve. It is more than the absence of mental illness. It is a state of wellbeing where people can meet their learning potentials and cope with normal stresses.

A SHARED HUMANITY: I AM BECAUSE YOU ARE

The world started at a time we were all unconscious, a time humans dominated the earth and continued to live therein as nature made it. Anthropologically, we all make up a functional system that is expected to help and look after one another. ‘Ubuntu’ a South African word that refers to the entire humanity or human race a philosophical phrase which when translated means, ‘I am because you are’.

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE VIRTUAL LEARNING WILL BE SO PLEASING BUT, HAVE WE GOTTEN A HANG OVER IT?

The call for resumption seems to have overshadowed some of the things to have put into consideration before even asking students to resume. It’s no news that even at the fourth week of resumption we still haven’t settled to begin academic activities fully via any of the platforms (Zoom, Telegram etc.) the University planned on creating and adopting for the virtual learning program.

HOW PREPARED ARE YOU FOR THE NEW SESSION? ( A LOOK INTO TIME IN RETROSPECT, THE PRESENT AND FUTURE.)

If you consider yourself someone who could predict or see the future I bet you never saw all that happened in the previous year (starting with the pandemic to lock down, protest against police brutality, ASUU strike and the uncertainty about resuming on campus to the new normal of learning the virtual model) or did you?