Hakeem Babalola

I have already exhausted my pen (or is it now keyboard?) on this topic but it appears to be a theme that can never be concluded. On December 7 2005 and January 26 2006 I wrote two articles titled, A Portrait of the Critic as Unpredictable Fellow and Questions for the Critic. But before I go in perspective let me say this: Except perhaps Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, there's no other Nigerian critic whose SELF is not being boosted by the president's recognition. For one example, what parcel was the late Dele Giwa expecting from "President" Babangida which turned out to be a bomb that eventually killed the master critic? Let the critic swear jo o

In the Portrait of the critic as unpredictable fellow I wrote:

A critic is the man who knows the way but can't drive the car, says one Kenneth Tynan. Another man named Dale Carnegie quips over the same issue, saying any fool can criticise, condemn and complain - and most fools do. Based on these two statements, in what perspective are we to evaluate the critic? I then named two types of critics....

In the questions for the critic I wrote:

Can a critic be paid by certain governments to fabricate stories in their favour? Can a critic also be paid to write subversive articles against the state, and thus hide under objectivity or whatever? Could this be what successive governments - legitimate or illegitimate - had in mind whenever they gagged critics? And could it be what Plato, the author of The Republic, had in mind when he declared his intention to ban poets [critics] from his ideal Republic? Is it possible to hear a song of innocence in the soul of a critic whose writing is hypocritical in nature? Or is she actually speaking through the hypocrite's lips, using love, pity, mercy, and peace as a cover for the base or hidden motives? Is it envy or genuine caring for one's motherland that spurs the critic to write about the state of the nation? Is her soul disquieted and depressed by the gloomy phenomenon of her land? Is she affected by everything - disheartening or alluring - and always filled her with unrest and bitter thoughts? Does she deliberately give falsehood or speak with passionate conviction? Again, what exactly is that conviction? What is that thing which a critic struggles to express from lumps of earth? Is she carrying the whole weight of the universe upon her shoulders......?

For the purpose of this article, when I say the critic I mean journalists, columnists, writers, commentators, reporters, citizen journalists; and especially those who get paid practicing these professions. The current happenings in the practice of journalism in Nigeria have been brought to our notice by analysts, each sounding warning that the Fourth Estate of the Realm is going down the drain. They claim that the art of genuine criticism is fast dying down; that journalism in Nigeria has become cash and carry enterprise. It is their candid opinion that today's critics are only writing to feed their empty stomach, and that those whose stomach are already full are writing only to curry favour from the government they criticise. Some would even go to the extent of calling them blackmailers; that they are no different from the police who collect N20 from motorists, or politicians who steal public funds.

It is quite unfortunate that a noble profession of yesteryear has been reduced to hustling profession where every Abansanjo Ubangidibu calls herself journalist or a critic of some sort. Being a critic or being part of the Fourth Estate is a daunting task that comes with certain responsibilities and commitments. It constantly demands self-evaluation and being honest to oneself otherwise the purpose of being a critic is jeopardised. Although they say no human being is perfect, critics are expected to be impeccable or uncorrupted; they should at least desist from professing feelings or virtues they do not have. A critic's mistake must be innocent rather than hypocritical. If a critic is perceived by the public or readers as being insincere, such Momus lose credibility or integrity, a vital tonic to prolong her life. 

The public or readers will most likely feel cheated or disappointed when a trusted critic errs than when an unreliable one wanders from a direct course. Perhaps it is better for a critic not to worship readers but her own conscience. Readers can be difficult as well as misleading. It is challenging to know exactly what they want. Some are simply mischievous while some crave for attention; some are frustrated while others do not even know why they read. The point however, is that many readers detest hypocritical writings and may be unforgiving when a godlike writer whom they esteemed is suspected to have been fooling them. A typical example is the recent story published by SaharaReporters in which it alleged that some editors used their position to get land in Abuja from a corrupt minister. There are many editors on the list but one particular editor was singled out for barrage of attacks. Readers might have singled him out because they trusted him so much while other editors were inconsequential due to lack of integrity - ever before the allegation. 

Critics cannot and must not be allowed to eat their gari and still have it. If the public let them, then there's no point in lampooning autocratic and retrogressive governments Nigeria have had. As I said earlier, being a critic comes with certain responsibilities and commitments. I think being a critic should be an end in itself rather than a means to an end. This is perhaps the ethical principle that Nigerian critics have been unable to imbibe. Being a member of the Fourth Estate is quite different from say being a banker or a trader or a lawyer. Anyone who has chosen to take this responsibility must understand there is a sacrifice to be made, especially in a nation that is yet to get its act together. In my opinion, it is hypocritical if a journalist thinks he too can build mansions and ride exotic cars just like governors or senators or legislators or even local chairmen.

In a nation like Nigeria where accountability and good governance is zero, people look onto the members of the Fourth Estate. If this group of Nigerians cannot shun corruption, then they should join politics or engage in business rather than using journalistic platform to deceive people. It is equally unacceptable to say that journalists in the USA or the United Kingdom benefit from their government. I found this line of argument incoherent because the situation in those two countries is different from ours. When those countries were at a low ebb like we are now, distinguish members of the press did not parlay with the government to deceive the public. Genuine critics then used different techniques to make their government accountable to the people. These two countries are now enjoying the toil of their critics past.

This is the time for Nigerian critics to make sacrifices. Even if the entire nation is corrupt, members of the Fourth Estate must be above board. It is enduring I quite agree, but the one that comes with their profession and which must be adhered to - at all times - and at least until Nigeria becomes. And this is the time we will know genuine critics from fake ones who only hide under journalism to trade their nefarious activities. If other Nigerians are building mansions, they should build hut; if other Nigerians are buying exotic cars, they should buy jalopy or bicycles as Ojo Maduekwe, current Foreign Affairs minister, once advocated. In times like this, it is the members of the Fourth Estate that always propitiate to the gods with their criticism. Thus it is abomination for them to collude with the government to deceive the public. They don't have to be poor but they must not sell their soul for akamu or even land. Otherwise the hope we value becomes illusion.

In view of this, it is highly necessary to call on Nigerian critics to decide which path they want to follow. They should not be like a bat which is neither mouse nor bird. Any critic who cannot be a critic in hard times should join politics or armed robbery (is there much difference in these two professions in Nigeria of today?). Let these bad eggs stop hiding under the noble profession to steal and deceive the public. A critic in a nation like Nigeria needs to be strong minded and be ready to act above board. These people must be ready to be different. A country like Nigeria which is still wandering needs these people to show the way even though they cannot drive. With their knowledge - of knowing the way - they should lead by example. Critics should be a valuable asset to checkmate the ruling elite uncanny sense of direction. It is then that the public will respect them for being different in a society where corruption violently fights whoever wants to tame her.

Henceforth I will be known only as a concerned citizen and not a critic until I am able to convince myself if actually I worth to be called a critic - a genuine critic whose responsibility in the society makes her a unique character who must be above board at all times. For now and because of the perfection expected of a critic, I beg you to just call me a concerned citizen, but you may add this: 'who is sad and sometimes angry at the destructive path our various "gunvernments" have been following.' By this appellation, I can do anything including using my column to ask for favour here and there without been an hypocrite, or without being persecuted by any disappointed and, or angry readers who are ever ready to roast alive any suspected critic whose writing is viciously hypocritical. So I beg, let the critic swear by her grandmother's recipes.

Copyright 2009 mysmallvoice@yahoo.com 

Robot  # 1 | 12.02.2009 05:31

Hakeem Babalola I have already exhausted my pen (or is it now keyboard?) on this topic but it appears to be a theme that can never be concluded. On December 7 2005 and January 26 2006 I wrote two articles titled, A Portrait of the Critic...and Questions for the Critic....But before I go in perspective let me say this: Except perhapsFela Anikulapo-Kuti,there's no other Nigerian critic whoseSELF is not being boosted by the president's recognition. For one example, what parcel was the late Dele Giwa expecting from "President" Babangida which turned out to be a bomb and eventually killed the master critic? Let the critic swear jo o...Read the full article.

giafaleye  # 2 | 12.02.2009 09:43

Critics are also humans. Most times they are misunderstood. However some critics are paid agent either of government or individuals who are out to destroy other critics. For a government to gag a critic they have to use a ‘fellow’ critic to achieve their satanic agenda. Who actually is a critic that is the one million naira question? I actually agree with Dale Carnegie that any fool can criticize, condemn and complain – and indeed most fools do. Talking about journalists, don’t you think they are all the same? Check out CNN, BBC etc and see their news direction. Do you still hear any of those stations calling Gadhafi a terrorist? There no need singling out Nigerian journalists for bashing, it has already been said that he who pays the piper dictates the tune.