No Culture is Older than Being Human | Dike Chukwumerije | TEDxMaitama

Dike Chukwumerije is a writer, author, and Performance Poet. He won the African Poet (Nigeria) National Poetry Slam in 2012. His novel ‘The African American’ was long listed for the Wole Soyinka Prize for Fiction in 2012, while another novel of his, ‘Urichindere’, won the 2013 Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) Prize for Prose Fiction.
Dike continues to provoke thought through his words. In this talk he explores themes such as African history, racism, tribalism and inequality in an attempt to challenge us to rethink about the hundreds of ways in which we are alike. Dike won the Abuja Literary Society (ALS) Poetry Slam in 2011 and the African Poet (Nigeria) National Poetry Slam in 2012. His novel ‘The African American’ was long listed for the Wole Soyinka Prize for Fiction in 2012, while another novel of his, ‘Urichindere’, won the 2013 Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) Prize for Prose Fiction. In the same year, he released ’Nna Nayi, Is It True?’ a ground-breaking performance poetry video in honor of the late Chinua Achebe. Dike is also the Founder of Simply Poetry Ltd, a Performance Poetry Theatre Company that specializes in translating Poetry and Performance Poetry into mult-media and theatre formats. Simply Poetry Ltd debuted their first integrated Poetry-for-Stage Production, titled MADE IN NIGERIA. Chukwumerije has also featured on platforms such as, TedxAsoRock, TedxEuston (Salon), Lagos International Poetry Festival, and Ake Book and Arts Festival. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@ikechukwunwaguru2337]

How I wish we had leaders like this Man. Really, truly no culture is older than being human.

[@ejiakadelight]

He reminds me of my government teacher in secondary school. Mr. Charles where ever you are may God bless you more abundantly for your great teaching.

[@samuelleumas2195]

In the end, I love you. In tears 😭 I started believing in Nigeria again. God bless you

[@deguvnor598]

Dike-Ogu, you're a gift to this nation. God bless you.

[@milligankafang2008]

God Bless Dike Chukwumerje for his Nationalistic Heart and Soul.

[@owodunnimaryam2700]

I keep saying these words and it’s glad to know it’s not just my thoughts. Unfortunately we all forget we are human first!

[@kayodefasakin7555]

This guy is so blessed. May God preserve you and fully bring His Purpose for raising you to pass.

[@oyelamim33]

Amen

[@beatriceogbiti9731]

Chukwumerije is intelligent and is wise. I knew it when I read his book, Urichindere and I know it now. As usual, his words move because they are the truth.

[@nmkone2207]

Love to hear this man speak, eye opening points. Lies keep us from evolving as a people. Diversity is the output of division, inclusion is what those who believe in uniting our people strieve to achieve through fair policy and transparency.

[@trdiopn5737]

Brilliant. This speech could be given anywhere in the world and resonate. Particularly here in the USA in 2021.

[@terahawks]

I discovered this genius this day, and I've already fallen in love with him.

[@proctortari5259]

Oh how I wish I can inspire my neighbor for good living.. Dear sir. You just inspired me to live with compassion because as man we shear thesame problem of "SELF"

[@sydneydwoskin4950]

"Whenever people feel less secure, whenever they feel poorer, they tend to become more xenophobic." That hit me deep being from the states.

[@dorisbrown5190]

I can only say wow, is anybody listening???

[@jaydiomoyeni7436]

This guy's simply powerful. But do the people at the top care about such wonderful propositions proceeding out of the well of his spirit?

[@olawaleabiodun4616]

he's talking to US...not "people at the top"

[@easylearning5012]

Nice one Mr Dike . So thoughtful of you ❤️💕

[@ndiprecious2572]

That was mind blowing. I love his spirit.

[@kabirusaadu4627]

6 ways to integrate Nigeria: 1.infrastructural integration 2.Economic integration 3.Body language of integration 4.Invest in the stories of integration 5.Invest in the morality of integration 6. invest in the politics of integration.

[@poposlawisrael1180]

@Kabiru Saad That's a good one! And the seventh, Religious Integration.

[@Onebuka]

@@poposlawisrael1180 naaah, not integration, but tolerance... And also removal of violence from it's scripts...

[@ismailhashim596]

May Nigeria be healed from the damn tribalistic politics that hold us captive....

[@ddeinma]

Very wise words. The tools in this speech can truly unite Nigeria. Amazing piece of wisdom.

[@beatriceogbiti9731]

This reminds me of the part in Chukwumerije's book when that policeman hit Urichindere and called him 'nyamiri'. A fifteen year old boy. I have always wondered why ethnicity has to matter so much. It's not a choice anybody makes and it's not even a real difference.

[@michaelchukwudebele1931]

On point bro. God bless you

[@gbadesakin]

Well done sir! A bold presentation. It is hoped that people of your generation from all ethnic groups can be motivated by what you've just shared.

[@feliciabethuel1787]

Great man! Hope we can only listen and pray that this changes the way we think and look at what is happening to us.

[@ugonnayaakabueze412]

Our own illustrious son.....Isuochi to the world

[@akaeke9045]

This is powerful.....

[@levicorsah951]

An incredible lecture

[@ogochukwunnamuchi7165]

Very articulated and well delivered speech. Highly inspiring. Well done sir.

[@africantraveler7004]

" very articulate"

[@samuelleumas2195]

This is educating... This is intentional poetry sophisticatedly crafted with research and studies.

[@pandirlaswamygoud4291]

Indeed, Wisdom is shouting in the streets of Nigeria & India.

[@ejiakadelight]

Thank you so much for blessing us with this. This is something to think.

[@ngozikafrancis9123]

THIS IS BEAUTIFUL!

[@ThisIsMyPurpose]

We need to have more of these discussions. I'm Igbo, but have spent most of my whole life in the west. Two days ago was stopped by a lastma official whose first question was 'Shey you are Yoruba?' in order to know how much to bill us for breaking a 'supposed' traffic rule. I have to ask myself again. Who am I?

[@_adeyinka]

Someday we will cross this "divide". Till then, take care...

[@nkemu1018]

Thank you brother for sharing the truth, truly inspiring.

[@wisesageproject2367]

I love this. Would transform the country if heeded to

[@trucelife3468]

Lovely video, brilliant ideas.

[@gabomang5022]

Very great ♥️

[@martinsini9986]

powerful words brother.✊👏

[@Trans4md]

Brilliant.

[@OmoOwa]

Great thinker.... Provoking

[@chideranweke4310]

2024 and still watching!

[@ojonokayusufu8916]

This is so brilliant!

[@desmondomoluru2651]

I wish there is a way we can make all our politicians listen to this as well.

[@johnblaze816]

This is brilliant

[@OluwayomiKDAODU]

Wonderful, i really enjoyed this

[@adoghegeorge7922]

Wonderful Talk

[@auwaluba9573]

U are a brilliant poet

[@nmkone2207]

The love and hate relationship we have for Africa

[@edgyrhythm]

Awesome!!!

[@mrawesometv5916]

Damn!mind blowing

[@owoade1234]

I have great respect for this young and brilliant, vibrant and eloquent poet Dike. He only needs to get more facts about Zik, Awolowo and Sadauna. Their personal conviction and contributions to the Nigeria that they knew and dreamt about was different, Zik was seen more as nationalistic in terms of his geographical life expression, but he was a politician without a vision for Nigeria; you have the right to disagree with me but that is the fact from the eyes of my time. Awolowo offered Zik the Prime Ministership for him to be the ceremonial President but Zik decided to be the bride. This has led us to where we are today, as brilliant minds (Zik and Awolowo) would have steered the ship of our nation in a more progressive direction. This are facts that has not been told by anyone, and which must be noted by us all. God bless The Federal Republic of Nigeria, and God bless you my brilliant poet Dike.

[@starabasi1490]

Thumbs up sir.

[@kintsugiezo6539]

Humanism is a strong strategy, in this time in human history

[@megakpan7158]

Anyone who disliked this video is an enemy to our nation Nigeria

[@sonofapollo6814]

Ths Is Soo Amazing....i think somewhere ....some How soon ...we have to answer the question .....who? what..? is a Nigerian..?

[@solomonalemonu3217]

I'm speechless

[@darc6760]

Very laudable intentions and empassioned speech, remarkable. I agree with a lot of what he says especially with the antiquated and bigoted govt policies and forms using "state of origin". The country can be better and has great potential, however, I disagree that we are a "giant of Africa". I also disagree with a couple of things...he sounds as if he still purports "a federation of each major ethnic group", "major" being a key word here. I disagree with the notion of a 3 nation Nigeria which most people still espouse. I don't like the conversation of Nigeria always revolving around Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa-Fulani as this cuts out millions of other Nigerians and everyone of those groups still do it. The solution, abolish states, abolish the current political system and create a parliamentary system open to anyone from anywhere- Similar to the UK system but better. We should have a "leadership council systems up and down the country, mayors and members of parliament. In effect having dozens of regions not 3, 4 or 5.

[@igweprosperikechukwu1929]

Hmmmm. You made a huge outstanding points there. Thank you for commenting

[@panosgirl]

This is a SOUND mind

[@zuruRN-MD]

The poem💕💕💕

[@revdrstanleyogochukwuokeru6132]

The poem is boom

[@joeagasa]

Good one

[@ememobong9983]

inspiration

[@emmanuelikhile4841]

Amazing

[@princeikeji1292]

Buhari must hear this

[@adejubujoy436]

waow, truth.

[@demimoky3205]

i love this guy and also love the fact that he is igbo.

[@ejiakadelight]

demi moky he can be anything please let’s stop emphasizing people’s tribes because no tribe is older than be human. I love the fact that he is a human.

[@orise5460]

Here we go again...right on the back of what Mr Dike vehemently disapproves of in this video.

[@phdstudio102]

You obviously didn't watch the video😂

[@chineduenekwa2763]

I admire the show especially the poetry. But I think it needed actual research to find out exactly why people even unconsciously feel bitter about other ethnic groups. Some form of statistics would have been good. And I have also heard that the founding fathers out of selfish desires more than nationalistic instincts fought for the independence. If this was true then we actually ask whether there was indeed a country?

[@africantraveler7004]

I think he articulated the reasons for our extreme and damaging ethnic bias,conscious and unconscious quite well a history of identity politics and being fed divisive narratives with sometimes catastrophic outcomes ( the civil war, the igbo pogroms etc) . No need for any research. The subject has been explored ad infinitum by many.

[@paulogo3482]

Wow only less than a 100k after 3 years.. That's so sad..

[@anupjaltade]

First one to like and comment. Woohoo

[@avkillua7182]

A very brilliant mind; makes me proud to intentify myself as a Nigerian. God bless U.

[@ThisIsMyPurpose]

If we have become more similar why is our politics still divisive. Thank you.

[@AniobiStanley]

Please what is the title (details) of that tune that was played when he was reciting the poem; at the end of the talk?

[@bimbobabalola]

Excellent! Beautifully delivered. However, one point needs to be emphasized. A major impediment to integration is the culture of certain ethnic groups in Nigeria not to allow non-members of their tribes to buy land in their communities. Whereas, members of these ethnic groups who do not sell land to outsiders travel all over the country and are allowed by other ethnic groups to buy land and build and marry and settle down. We can't even speak of eliminating "state if origin" unless this backward and clannish culture of exclusion is ended. We should speak more about eliminating aspects of our cultures that do not foster unity.

[@charlesobi3259]

I'm just hearing for the first time that some tribes don't allow others buy land in their communities. I would like to know more about this.

[@Libaapp]

Abimbola Babalola stop believing lies.

[@Titan_Alex_007]

Let’s know the ethnic group? 🤔

[@Titan_Alex_007]

I think u can break the stereotypes by electing an Igbo man as governor of Lagos.

[@kelechistanley5297]

you lied

[@justo_tam]

Mehn. This was so good

[@eziolisechizoba548]

please is there any spoken word group, I want to join

[@omxnka]

This is schooling!!

[@omololusalami1573]

Tell me, what's more important, a forced Union or human lives. Until there's an option of dissolution of the union on the table, there will not be any respect for some regions or ethnic groups. The strong regions will continue to oppress the weak ones. The problem of Nigeria doesn't respond to fancy speech. The reason is that those who are causing these problems can't comprehend your speech. You don't recite poems in front of a hungry lion. No matter how convincing your argument is, it doesn't stop it from devouring you.

[@THDzazi]

Video disliked by 25 public enemies

[@ThisIsMyPurpose]

We don't hear these stories because they don't fit into main stream politics.

[@nwaozoraugustine2021]

Son of the soil of Igbo Land

[@africantraveler7004]

Son of the soil of Nigeria

[@MetroAndroid]

Nah, culture predates humanity.

[@ayoomotola9319]

Let hear your views.

[@beatriceogbiti9731]

This reminds me of the part in Chukwumerije's book when that policeman hit Urichindere and called him 'nyamiri'. A fifteen year old boy. I have always wondered why ethnicity has to matter so much. It's not a choice anybody makes and it's not even a real difference.