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Story of Bode Thomas,the iconic Nigerian lawyer who ‘died barking like a dog after insulting a king’

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This was the case of Olabode Akanbi Thomas, popularly known as Chief Bode Thomas.

Thomas, born October 1919, died tragically on November 23, 1953, under curious circumstances aged just 34.
The day was also his daughter’s second birthday, thus, bringing joy and pain to the Bode household.

A day prior, on November 22, 1953, Bode, who had been made the chairman of the Oyo Divisional Council having taken over from Alaafin Adeyemi II, arrived at a meeting of the council with the Oba (king) in attendance as a member.

The report holds that all the other councillors, except Oba Adeyemi in his 60s, stood to welcome him. Thomas then impolitely told the king “why were you sitting when I walked in? Why can’t you show me respect?”

The Alaafin, feeling disrespected, asked Thomas “shey emi on gbo mo baun? emi ni ongbo bi aja mo baun” meaning “is it me you are barking at like that?’ is it me you are barking like a dog at like that? keep barking.”

Various accounts further hold that Thomas, upon reaching home after the meeting in Oyo, started barking through the night at his Yaba, Lagos home. He died the following day (November 23, 1953) despite being sent to Ijebu-Igbo for further treatment.

Thomas, being a chief himself, must have known the time-held Yoruba practice of respecting the elderly and traditional authority as he and Alaafin Aderemi II were Yorubas.

However, it appears the two not seeing eye to eye had to do with power-play regarding tax mobilization, political party support and rights of traditional authority.

Political leader Obafemi Awolowo had established the Action Group to wrestle power from the British with Thomas as deputy leader.The Alaafin, one of the few highly placed men of Yoruba extraction, rather threw his weight behind Nnamdi Azikiwe and the National Council of Nigerians and the Cameroons (NCNC).

There had been a test of powers of sorts with Alaafin on one hand and Awolowo and Thomas on the other. The rift led to banishing of the Oba’s son, the death of Thomas and the dethronement of the Alaafin by Awolowo.

Thomas was Nigeria’s first Minister of Transportation and later Minister of Works. He also served as both a colonial minister of the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria and a nobleman and privy counsellor of the historic Oyo clan of Yorubaland.

He was Balogun of Oyo – a royal name given to a village’s warhead although it can also mean one who can’t be defeated or conquered. He received the Balogun title in 1949.

Thomas was instrumental in the fight for self-rule against the British serving as a lawyer, politician, statesman and traditional aristocrat.He was born to Andrew Thomas, a wealthy trader and auctioneer who was originally from Oyo but migrated to Lagos. He studied law in London and was called to the bar in 1942.
He subsequently returned to Nigeria to establish the law firm “Thomas, Williams and Kayode” in 1948, together with Chief Frederick Rotimi Williams and Chief Remilekun Fani-Kayode.

Among his other feats, he became the legal adviser of Egbe Omo Oduduwa in 1946. He was one of the founding members of the Action Group. Prior to joining Action Group, he was a successful Lagos lawyer and was a member of the Nigerian Youth Movement.

With Thomas’ style, he was regarded as brilliant, logical, astute, thoughtful, forward-looking and a workaholic. On the downside, he was viewed as arrogant, hot-tempered and a bully.

Thomas married Lucretia Shobola Odunsi having children Eniola and Dapo together. He was chancellor of the African Church of Nigeria and became a member of Regional House of Assembly in 1951.

I'm Baba Blow | Music Promoter | Blogger & OnlinePR | Music Producer | Broadcaster | CEO Blow Naija | +2348133032933

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Becky Slim Crowned AFROMAICA June Edition Dancehall Queen

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Becky Slim Crowned AFROMAICA June Edition Dancehall Queen

 

AFROMAICA which is Nigeria’s Number 1 monthly urban reggae dancehall party delivered another unforgettable celebration of reggae and dancehall culture on june 25th 2026 as Emediong Emmanuel Edet, popularly known as Becky Slim won the cash prize of #500,000, she emerged the overall winner after an outstanding performance that earned her the admiration of both the organizers and the audiences at Club Plan B by Carabana. Afromaica happens every last thursday of the month at same venue.

Representing Kenya also know as Slim Shady showcased remarkable stage presence, confidence, and authentic dancehall energy throughout the competition. Her captivating performance distinguished her from a lineup of talented contestants, securing her the coveted Dancehall Queen title in what proved to be one of the most competitive editions of the event.

The June edition featured an impressive display of reggae and dancehall artistry, highlighting the depth of emerging talent across the African music scene. Contestants thrilled fans with energetic performances and a passion for preserving the vibrant spirit of the genre.

Adding to the excitement of the event recorded the presence of several notable entertainment personalities who came out to support the movement. Popular Facebook content creator MC Mbakara, respected reggae artist Tossy Young, and dancehall heavyweight Bclean were all in attendance, lending their support to AFROMAICA‘s vision of promoting reggae and urban dancehall music while encouraging the next generation of performers.

Their presence further demonstrated the growing influence of AFROMAICA as a platform that continues to unite entertainers, content creators, artists, and music lovers under one cultural movement dedicated to the advancement of reggae and urban dancehall across Africa.

The event is proudly powered by Spartan Media Ltd and Club Plan B, with valuable support from Element Irish Whiskey, TM Luxury Apartments, Aurum Trading Exchange, Jogab Logistics, The Cove, and Isno Hotels. Their partnership played a significant role in delivering a well-organized and memorable experience for contestants, guests, and fans.

As AFROMAICA continues to expand its impact on the African entertainment landscape, anticipation is already building for the next edition, where more gifted dance and lyrical artists will bring mind blowing performances while celebrating the rich heritage and enduring influence of reggae and urban dancehall music.

Congratulations to Emediong Emmanuel Edet (@Beckslim001 on tiktok ) on her well-deserved victory at the AFROMAICA Dancehall Queen June Edition. Her success stands as a testament to hard work, talent, and dedication, inspiring aspiring artists to pursue excellence while keeping the spirit of reggae and urban dancehall alive.

See Exclusive photos below

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Popular Nigerian Singer Ceena Gears Up for October Release as He Joins Forces with Speroachbeatz (Watch Video)

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Popular Nigerian Singer Ceena Gears Up for October Release as He Joins Forces with Speroachbeatz

Nigerian music sensation Ceena has once again set tongues wagging after being spotted in the studio with legendary producer Speroachbeatz, fueling anticipation for what could become one of the biggest records of 2026.

Although details surrounding the project remain under wraps, including the official title and release date, sources close to the camp reveal that the highly anticipated collaboration is expected to arrive in October 2026.

Known for his consistency, creativity, and ability to deliver captivating records, Ceena appears determined to elevate his career to a new heights. The singer reportedly disclosed that the forthcoming track is designed to serve as an anthem that listeners from all walks of life can relate to and embrace.

The studio session has already generated excitement among fans and industry stakeholders, especially considering Speroachbeatz’s impressive track record of producing chart-topping hits for some of Africa’s biggest stars like Davido.

With Ceena’s growing influence and Speroachbeatz’s production genius, expectations are high that this collaboration will make a significant impact upon release.

As the countdown to October begins, music lovers will be eagerly awaiting further updates on what promises to be a spectacular hit project from the talented singer.

See video teaser below;

 

 

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How “Hardest Truth” Became One Of Nigeria’s Most Searched Emerging Songs and Number 4 Song On Shazam Worldwide Chart.

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In a music industry constantly chasing noise, controversy and trends, fast-rising Nigerian artist Jubet is building momentum differently, through emotional honesty.

Born Akanbi Oluwa Jubelo Emmanuel and raised in Ilora, Oyo State, Jubet’s journey into music started long before the numbers began rising. During his secondary school days, he developed his passion for music through freestyle sessions and raw self-expression, gradually shaping the emotionally driven sound that listeners are now connecting with across streaming platforms and social media.

A graduate of Obong University, Akwa Ibom State, where he won the Best Performing Artist Award in 2025, Jubet represents a new generation of artists using music to communicate pain, reality, heartbreak, struggle, reflection and survival in a deeply relatable way.

His breakout record, “Hardest Truth,” has quickly become one of the most emotionally resonant emerging songs in Nigeria’s digital music space.

Within just TWO WEEKS of release, the song has generated:

• Over 119,600 Spotify monthly listeners
• More than 504,000 Spotify streams
• Over 1.3 million Audiomack streams
• More than 406,000 Boomplay streams
• More than 411,000 YouTube audio views
• Over 281,805 Shazams
• More than 900,000 TikTok user-generated contents (UGC)
• #1 on Shazam Viral Nigeria
• #1 Shazam in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda and Zambia
• #4 Shazam Worldwide
• #60 Shazam United Kingdom
• #109 Shazam Canada
• #133 Shazam United States
• Spotify Nigeria Top 100 entry
• Apple Music chart entries across multiple African countries
• Placement across dozens of editorial playlists on Audiomack and Boomplay

The rapid growth has been driven largely by organic audience connection, emotional relatability and massive social sharing across platforms, with listeners strongly connecting to the song’s raw honesty and reflective storytelling.

What makes Jubet’s rise stand out is not just the numbers, but the emotional relationship listeners are building with the music. Across social media, fans continue to describe “Hardest Truth” as deeply relatable, emotionally painful, honest and reflective of real-life experiences many young people silently go through.

Rather than positioning himself around luxury, hype or internet theatrics, Jubet’s music speaks directly to people navigating heartbreak, betrayal, pressure, emotional struggles and everyday realities.

As momentum around “Hardest Truth” continues to grow globally, Jubet is steadily emerging as one of the new emotionally driven voices to watch in Nigeria’s evolving music landscape.

Jubet is currently managed under the Louiza Williams -led LOUI-K EMPIRE LTD, as efforts continue toward building his long-term creative and commercial growth.

Listen to “Hardest Truth”: https://linktr.ee/jubetjayyouhttps://linktr.ee/jubetjayyou

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