good morning everybody my name is Hamza Atta I’m an African I’m a Nigerian but I
Atta I’m an African I’m a Nigerian but I
Atta I’m an African I’m a Nigerian but I haven’t Arabic name why do I have an
haven’t Arabic name why do I have an
haven’t Arabic name why do I have an Arabic name and I wonder how many people
Arabic name and I wonder how many people
Arabic name and I wonder how many people in the audience here have Arabic or
in the audience here have Arabic or
in the audience here have Arabic or English or German or whatever names I
English or German or whatever names I
English or German or whatever names I think it it goes to the root of the
think it it goes to the root of the
think it it goes to the root of the identity crisis that we have here in in
identity crisis that we have here in in
identity crisis that we have here in in Africa I’m a manufacturer I produce
Africa I’m a manufacturer I produce
Africa I’m a manufacturer I produce polystyrene polystyrene is foam it is I
polystyrene polystyrene is foam it is I
polystyrene polystyrene is foam it is I use it to build houses affordable houses
use it to build houses affordable houses
use it to build houses affordable houses I use it for insulation and I use it to
I use it for insulation and I use it to
I use it for insulation and I use it to create monumental and commercial works
create monumental and commercial works
create monumental and commercial works of art are chosen to be part of this
of art are chosen to be part of this
of art are chosen to be part of this productive and this creative part of our
productive and this creative part of our
productive and this creative part of our economy you know and this has taken me
economy you know and this has taken me
economy you know and this has taken me on a journey on a journey through the
on a journey on a journey through the
on a journey on a journey through the political social and economic underbelly
political social and economic underbelly
political social and economic underbelly of this country Nigeria and I have the
of this country Nigeria and I have the
of this country Nigeria and I have the scars to prove it
scars to prove it
scars to prove it my father was a career diplomat so I
my father was a career diplomat so I
my father was a career diplomat so I have the unique experience of really
have the unique experience of really
have the unique experience of really growing up in Nigeria and then growing
growing up in Nigeria and then growing
growing up in Nigeria and then growing up in many other countries but when I
up in many other countries but when I
up in many other countries but when I was and my father would might my my
was and my father would might my my
was and my father would might my my worldview was was was formed watching
worldview was was was formed watching
worldview was was was formed watching this man and this woman in the service
this man and this woman in the service
this man and this woman in the service of Nigeria in countries that they were
of Nigeria in countries that they were
of Nigeria in countries that they were representing the country and my father
representing the country and my father
representing the country and my father would always tell the whole family that
would always tell the whole family that
would always tell the whole family that all of us were representing Nigeria and
all of us were representing Nigeria and
all of us were representing Nigeria and we shouldn’t forget that everything we
we shouldn’t forget that everything we
we shouldn’t forget that everything we have now is as a result of Nigeria and
have now is as a result of Nigeria and
have now is as a result of Nigeria and we should make sure that we pay Nigeria
we should make sure that we pay Nigeria
we should make sure that we pay Nigeria back for what Nigeria had done for us so
back for what Nigeria had done for us so
back for what Nigeria had done for us so this is what sculpted me this is what
this is what sculpted me this is what
this is what sculpted me this is what was in my DNA when I was growing up now
was in my DNA when I was growing up now
was in my DNA when I was growing up now when I was 13 my father was ambassador
when I was 13 my father was ambassador
when I was 13 my father was ambassador in Cuba and at that time you know I was
in Cuba and at that time you know I was
in Cuba and at that time you know I was getting closer to my old levels and a
getting closer to my old levels and a
getting closer to my old levels and a level so he decided I should go off to
level so he decided I should go off to
level so he decided I should go off to boarding school
boarding school
boarding school so that they wouldn’t this nomadic
so that they wouldn’t this nomadic
so that they wouldn’t this nomadic lifestyle of of the diplomats would not
lifestyle of of the diplomats would not
lifestyle of of the diplomats would not if effect my education further initially
if effect my education further initially
if effect my education further initially I was supposed to go to the next Island
I was supposed to go to the next Island
I was supposed to go to the next Island which was Jamaica but by the time he sat
which was Jamaica but by the time he sat
which was Jamaica but by the time he sat down with his colleagues and they told
down with his colleagues and they told
down with his colleagues and they told him that ah Jamaica
him that ah Jamaica
him that ah Jamaica Jah Rastafari your song will start to
Jah Rastafari your song will start to
Jah Rastafari your song will start to smoke some God just something like this
smoke some God just something like this
smoke some God just something like this so it mean you know I was no I ended up
so it mean you know I was no I ended up
so it mean you know I was no I ended up in cold damp rural England now arriving
in cold damp rural England now arriving
in cold damp rural England now arriving there I remember driving up the driveway
there I remember driving up the driveway
there I remember driving up the driveway of the school and desperately looking
of the school and desperately looking
of the school and desperately looking out for a black face something to belong
out for a black face something to belong
out for a black face something to belong to you know from this diplomatic life
to you know from this diplomatic life
to you know from this diplomatic life you’re always a new face in a new place
you’re always a new face in a new place
you’re always a new face in a new place so even getting to settle is a problem I
so even getting to settle is a problem I
so even getting to settle is a problem I didn’t see anybody I was the only black
didn’t see anybody I was the only black
didn’t see anybody I was the only black e Sambo walk in this place you know for
e Sambo walk in this place you know for
e Sambo walk in this place you know for those of you who don’t know these terms
those of you who don’t know these terms
those of you who don’t know these terms in the in the 70s these were just common
in the in the 70s these were just common
in the in the 70s these were just common terms for black people it was normal I
terms for black people it was normal I
terms for black people it was normal I mean I remember the first or second day
mean I remember the first or second day
mean I remember the first or second day that I was there there were the grounds
that I was there there were the grounds
that I was there there were the grounds man he was named his name was JB and he
man he was named his name was JB and he
man he was named his name was JB and he saw this little black guy running around
saw this little black guy running around
saw this little black guy running around in there in their beautiful white public
in there in their beautiful white public
in there in their beautiful white public school and he said come here lad so I
school and he said come here lad so I
school and he said come here lad so I ran up to him he said what’s your name
ran up to him he said what’s your name
ran up to him he said what’s your name dead and I said my name is Hamza
dead and I said my name is Hamza
dead and I said my name is Hamza he said Hamza Hansen and I said Hamza
he said Hamza Hansen and I said Hamza
he said Hamza Hansen and I said Hamza loser because oh that’s too bloody hard
loser because oh that’s too bloody hard
loser because oh that’s too bloody hard I think I call you Enric you know and so
I think I call you Enric you know and so
I think I call you Enric you know and so all the time I was there I was always I
all the time I was there I was always I
all the time I was there I was always I was I was called Henry by this poor old
was I was called Henry by this poor old
was I was called Henry by this poor old chap but you know I I found my way of
chap but you know I I found my way of
chap but you know I I found my way of this social order by excelling in sports
this social order by excelling in sports
this social order by excelling in sports and I had this passion for arts
and I had this passion for arts
and I had this passion for arts rugby in particular the sport that I was
rugby in particular the sport that I was
rugby in particular the sport that I was very good at and rugby is a game of pure
very good at and rugby is a game of pure
very good at and rugby is a game of pure discipline and teamwork you know you
discipline and teamwork you know you
discipline and teamwork you know you become a member of a brothers in arms
become a member of a brothers in arms
become a member of a brothers in arms you are bound together and you depend on
you are bound together and you depend on
you are bound together and you depend on each other
each other
each other so from excelling in this sport I got
so from excelling in this sport I got
so from excelling in this sport I got accepted into this place but you know as
accepted into this place but you know as
accepted into this place but you know as my as my education was progressing my
my as my education was progressing my
my as my education was progressing my father who was paying all those pounds
father who was paying all those pounds
father who was paying all those pounds was like my friend these rugby are
was like my friend these rugby are
was like my friend these rugby are playing you better stop that nonsense
playing you better stop that nonsense
playing you better stop that nonsense and you break your neck I will not take
and you break your neck I will not take
and you break your neck I will not take care of you and that you’re painting you
care of you and that you’re painting you
care of you and that you’re painting you painting you will die who is going to
painting you will die who is going to
painting you will die who is going to take care of you with dispensing he
take care of you with dispensing he
take care of you with dispensing he better guns study law my friend so I
better guns study law my friend so I
better guns study law my friend so I said okay sir and I went and studied law
said okay sir and I went and studied law
said okay sir and I went and studied law now it was about fear it was about fear
now it was about fear it was about fear
now it was about fear it was about fear and obedience I went and studied law but
and obedience I went and studied law but
and obedience I went and studied law but throughout my university career I kept
throughout my university career I kept
throughout my university career I kept on playing and I got signed up by a club
on playing and I got signed up by a club
on playing and I got signed up by a club called Wigan rugby league now we can
called Wigan rugby league now we can
called Wigan rugby league now we can rebel Eve gave me a forty thousand pound
rebel Eve gave me a forty thousand pound
rebel Eve gave me a forty thousand pound contract and that in today’s naira is
contract and that in today’s naira is
contract and that in today’s naira is about twenty million naira I was 22
about twenty million naira I was 22
about twenty million naira I was 22 years old because I was good and what I
years old because I was good and what I
years old because I was good and what I was doing but I couldn’t accept I said
was doing but I couldn’t accept I said
was doing but I couldn’t accept I said ah I can’t tell my father that I even I
ah I can’t tell my father that I even I
ah I can’t tell my father that I even I get me a job in a law firm so they got
get me a job in a law firm so they got
get me a job in a law firm so they got me a job in a law firm and I lived my
me a job in a law firm and I lived my
me a job in a law firm and I lived my dream playing for the best team in the
dream playing for the best team in the
dream playing for the best team in the world he was like playing for Manchester
world he was like playing for Manchester
world he was like playing for Manchester United or Chelsea but nobody knew and
United or Chelsea but nobody knew and
United or Chelsea but nobody knew and nobody cared only me but I was afraid I
nobody cared only me but I was afraid I
nobody cared only me but I was afraid I was afraid so after a year I thought my
was afraid so after a year I thought my
was afraid so after a year I thought my father said look this is not your
father said look this is not your
father said look this is not your calling rugby is not a serious career
calling rugby is not a serious career
calling rugby is not a serious career what you have to do is you have to come
what you have to do is you have to come
what you have to do is you have to come back and serve your country and that’s
back and serve your country and that’s
back and serve your country and that’s how I felt I really felt that it to
how I felt I really felt that it to
how I felt I really felt that it to competin yet to come and do something so
competin yet to come and do something so
competin yet to come and do something so I left I came back but I knew from
I left I came back but I knew from
I left I came back but I knew from working in that law firm for a year
working in that law firm for a year
working in that law firm for a year that’s I didn’t want law I arrived in
that’s I didn’t want law I arrived in
that’s I didn’t want law I arrived in Lagos family welcoming committee so when
Lagos family welcoming committee so when
Lagos family welcoming committee so when I use that in law school hey yeah I’ll
I use that in law school hey yeah I’ll
I use that in law school hey yeah I’ll go into law school ah can you eat how
go into law school ah can you eat how
go into law school ah can you eat how big bread can you eat a big bread you
big bread can you eat a big bread you
big bread can you eat a big bread you want to be half big lawyer my friend you
want to be half big lawyer my friend you
want to be half big lawyer my friend you are going to law school so up I went
are going to law school so up I went
are going to law school so up I went when I graduated my father was you know
when I graduated my father was you know
when I graduated my father was you know African parent this is my son he’s a
African parent this is my son he’s a
African parent this is my son he’s a liar
liar
liar you know but me I was confused I was
you know but me I was confused I was
you know but me I was confused I was lost I was disconnected from my passions
lost I was disconnected from my passions
lost I was disconnected from my passions and I didn’t know what to do fortunately
and I didn’t know what to do fortunately
and I didn’t know what to do fortunately my sister was an interior designer and
my sister was an interior designer and
my sister was an interior designer and produced furniture but with little
produced furniture but with little
produced furniture but with little artisans so we set up a production line
artisans so we set up a production line
artisans so we set up a production line together and she did the interior design
together and she did the interior design
together and she did the interior design I handled the production process that’s
I handled the production process that’s
I handled the production process that’s how I got to understand how to produce
how I got to understand how to produce
how I got to understand how to produce and how to project manage as the thing
and how to project manage as the thing
and how to project manage as the thing was taking off the government decided to
was taking off the government decided to
was taking off the government decided to remove the ban on the importation of
remove the ban on the importation of
remove the ban on the importation of furniture so what happens next
furniture so what happens next
furniture so what happens next everybody starts importing we cannot
everybody starts importing we cannot
everybody starts importing we cannot compete we don’t have the infrastructure
compete we don’t have the infrastructure
compete we don’t have the infrastructure in idea to compete with machine made
in idea to compete with machine made
in idea to compete with machine made much products from all around the
much products from all around the
much products from all around the country so I jumped ship and I started
country so I jumped ship and I started
country so I jumped ship and I started importing furniture instead but no
importing furniture instead but no
importing furniture instead but no add-on value all I was doing was
add-on value all I was doing was
add-on value all I was doing was creating jobs for foreigners meanwhile
creating jobs for foreigners meanwhile
creating jobs for foreigners meanwhile all around me Nigerians were living in
all around me Nigerians were living in
all around me Nigerians were living in squalor and were jobless so I started
squalor and were jobless so I started
squalor and were jobless so I started researching building to supplement the
researching building to supplement the
researching building to supplement the furniture and I found this polystyrene
furniture and I found this polystyrene
furniture and I found this polystyrene building system lights insulated easy to
building system lights insulated easy to
building system lights insulated easy to use I was ecstatic raised money bought a
use I was ecstatic raised money bought a
use I was ecstatic raised money bought a factory and project to Abuja here I
factory and project to Abuja here I
factory and project to Abuja here I thought that I would not be able to cope
thought that I would not be able to cope
thought that I would not be able to cope with the demand from the federal and
with the demand from the federal and
with the demand from the federal and state governments my god
state governments my god
state governments my god what a shock to the system how naive I
what a shock to the system how naive I
what a shock to the system how naive I was I got that powerless feeling again
was I got that powerless feeling again
was I got that powerless feeling again you know and what can I tell you these
you know and what can I tell you these
you know and what can I tell you these guys they just put in obstacles they put
guys they just put in obstacles they put
guys they just put in obstacles they put obstacles in your way so that when you
obstacles in your way so that when you
obstacles in your way so that when you want to come and invest in this place
want to come and invest in this place
want to come and invest in this place you are not actually able to invest
you are not actually able to invest
you are not actually able to invest properly
properly
properly I had to diversify we have to think out
I had to diversify we have to think out
I had to diversify we have to think out of the box the interest was running so
of the box the interest was running so
of the box the interest was running so we started producing insulation we
we started producing insulation we
we started producing insulation we started producing bean bags we started
started producing bean bags we started
started producing bean bags we started producing pieces of Arts for monumental
producing pieces of Arts for monumental
producing pieces of Arts for monumental and for commercial use and that took me
and for commercial use and that took me
and for commercial use and that took me back to where I could have started from
back to where I could have started from
back to where I could have started from as a young kid if I wanted to do my arts
as a young kid if I wanted to do my arts
as a young kid if I wanted to do my arts this is what had come out now the music
this is what had come out now the music
this is what had come out now the music that I came in dancing to was Fela a
that I came in dancing to was Fela a
that I came in dancing to was Fela a nickel a polka team Fela is arguably the
nickel a polka team Fela is arguably the
nickel a polka team Fela is arguably the most famous Nigerian in the world when I
most famous Nigerian in the world when I
most famous Nigerian in the world when I went talk to university to study
went talk to university to study
went talk to university to study medicine and he said you know what I
medicine and he said you know what I
medicine and he said you know what I ain’t doing this I’m doing music and you
ain’t doing this I’m doing music and you
ain’t doing this I’m doing music and you know I had this disconnection with this
know I had this disconnection with this
know I had this disconnection with this guy I used to go to shrine you know and
guy I used to go to shrine you know and
guy I used to go to shrine you know and dance you know to fella all the girls
dance you know to fella all the girls
dance you know to fella all the girls were there then you see those women on
were there then you see those women on
were there then you see those women on the stage talking ah what do you become
the stage talking ah what do you become
the stage talking ah what do you become tracking now we’re watching but we
tracking now we’re watching but we
tracking now we’re watching but we started listening to what Fela was
started listening to what Fela was
started listening to what Fela was saying we were all just dancing to the
saying we were all just dancing to the
saying we were all just dancing to the music he was
music he was
music he was telling us about our leaders he was
telling us about our leaders he was
telling us about our leaders he was telling us that these people are not
telling us that these people are not
telling us that these people are not here to progress us they’re gonna
here to progress us they’re gonna
here to progress us they’re gonna shackle us the way that the colonial
shackle us the way that the colonial
shackle us the way that the colonial masters came and shackled us so it’s all
masters came and shackled us so it’s all
masters came and shackled us so it’s all about them exclusive systems for them
about them exclusive systems for them
about them exclusive systems for them extractive systems for them and we stand
extractive systems for them and we stand
extractive systems for them and we stand by and we watch we’re not involved in
by and we watch we’re not involved in
by and we watch we’re not involved in this in we’re not involved in the system
this in we’re not involved in the system
this in we’re not involved in the system and they say Oh Nigeria is so big you
and they say Oh Nigeria is so big you
and they say Oh Nigeria is so big you can’t run it properly but look at this
can’t run it properly but look at this
can’t run it properly but look at this chocolate bar look at this chocolate bar
chocolate bar look at this chocolate bar
chocolate bar look at this chocolate bar what do we get we get 3% we get 3% by
what do we get we get 3% we get 3% by
what do we get we get 3% we get 3% by selling cocoa 3 everybody else get the
selling cocoa 3 everybody else get the
selling cocoa 3 everybody else get the other 97% Switzerland is famous for
other 97% Switzerland is famous for
other 97% Switzerland is famous for chocolate they don’t own cocoa so
chocolate they don’t own cocoa so
chocolate they don’t own cocoa so imagine what could happen if we were
imagine what could happen if we were
imagine what could happen if we were producing here
producing here
producing here just imagine the power our crude oil is
just imagine the power our crude oil is
just imagine the power our crude oil is the same if you imagine 3% crude oil
the same if you imagine 3% crude oil
the same if you imagine 3% crude oil we’re not in control of our destinies
we’re not in control of our destinies
we’re not in control of our destinies but look at an India look at India today
but look at an India look at India today
but look at an India look at India today what do they do differently from us they
what do they do differently from us they
what do they do differently from us they produce they were colonized by the
produce they were colonized by the
produce they were colonized by the British but they didn’t take their
British but they didn’t take their
British but they didn’t take their British names they kept – they kept what
British names they kept – they kept what
British names they kept – they kept what they had they kept their language Hindi
they had they kept their language Hindi
they had they kept their language Hindi they kept their religions they kept
they kept their religions they kept
they kept their religions they kept their names they know who they are now
their names they know who they are now
their names they know who they are now all of us here in this audience we are
all of us here in this audience we are
all of us here in this audience we are Nigeria we cannot abdicate
Nigeria we cannot abdicate
Nigeria we cannot abdicate responsibility for the way that Nigeria
responsibility for the way that Nigeria
responsibility for the way that Nigeria is today we cannot now let me ask you
is today we cannot now let me ask you
is today we cannot now let me ask you are you registered to vote
are you registered to vote
are you registered to vote show me show me your hands who’s
show me show me your hands who’s
show me show me your hands who’s registered to vote here look at if not
registered to vote here look at if not
registered to vote here look at if not even 1/4 of us are registered to vote do
even 1/4 of us are registered to vote do
even 1/4 of us are registered to vote do you know who your senatorial
you know who your senatorial
you know who your senatorial representative is do you know what to do
representative is do you know what to do
representative is do you know what to do if you actually want to run for
if you actually want to run for
if you actually want to run for government do you know what to do we are
government do you know what to do we are
government do you know what to do we are not powerless so what are we doing
not powerless so what are we doing
not powerless so what are we doing please repeat after me we are not
please repeat after me we are not
please repeat after me we are not powerless so I want everybody here to
powerless so I want everybody here to
powerless so I want everybody here to engage we need to engage we need to go
engage we need to engage we need to go
engage we need to engage we need to go and educate ourselves we need to educate
and educate ourselves we need to educate
and educate ourselves we need to educate ourselves about the rules especially the
ourselves about the rules especially the
ourselves about the rules especially the political rules because it’s only when
political rules because it’s only when
political rules because it’s only when we understand these rules
we understand these rules
we understand these rules that we’ll be able to go and break them
that we’ll be able to go and break them
that we’ll be able to go and break them break them and get involved and if we
break them and get involved and if we
break them and get involved and if we get involved and we and we fail it’s
get involved and we and we fail it’s
get involved and we and we fail it’s okay because these guys are experts in
okay because these guys are experts in
okay because these guys are experts in this game now if we try again we are
this game now if we try again we are
this game now if we try again we are more intelligent than 3/4 of them
more intelligent than 3/4 of them
more intelligent than 3/4 of them because they don’t even understand the
because they don’t even understand the
because they don’t even understand the import of collectives personal interest
import of collectives personal interest
import of collectives personal interest we will win now I know that all of us
we will win now I know that all of us
we will win now I know that all of us are religious God D where are my words
are religious God D where are my words
are religious God D where are my words God D we thank God no condition is
God D we thank God no condition is
God D we thank God no condition is permanent ego better Allah in Jesus name
permanent ego better Allah in Jesus name
permanent ego better Allah in Jesus name Amen
Amen
Amen listen all the poorest countries in the
listen all the poorest countries in the
listen all the poorest countries in the world are the most religious okay God
world are the most religious okay God
world are the most religious okay God helped those people who help themselves
helped those people who help themselves
helped those people who help themselves we need to put efforts into what we need
we need to put efforts into what we need
we need to put efforts into what we need or what we want to do otherwise nobody
or what we want to do otherwise nobody
or what we want to do otherwise nobody don’t make a mistake nobody is gonna
don’t make a mistake nobody is gonna
don’t make a mistake nobody is gonna cede power to us in the game of Thrones
cede power to us in the game of Thrones
cede power to us in the game of Thrones you know the game of Thrones right you
you know the game of Thrones right you
you know the game of Thrones right you watch it it’s real okay
watch it it’s real okay
watch it it’s real okay now I love Nigeria I’m mad about Nigeria
now I love Nigeria I’m mad about Nigeria
now I love Nigeria I’m mad about Nigeria mad because I don’t like what I
mad because I don’t like what I
mad because I don’t like what I experience every day and mad because I
experience every day and mad because I
experience every day and mad because I love it and I love Hollywood and I love
love it and I love Hollywood and I love
love it and I love Hollywood and I love all the creative artists and I applaud
all the creative artists and I applaud
all the creative artists and I applaud all those farmers and miners who have
all those farmers and miners who have
all those farmers and miners who have gotten it together and I doing export
gotten it together and I doing export
gotten it together and I doing export great stuff but I want you to look at
great stuff but I want you to look at
great stuff but I want you to look at yourselves let’s look at each other
yourselves let’s look at each other
yourselves let’s look at each other okay let’s understand how guilty we are
okay let’s understand how guilty we are
okay let’s understand how guilty we are in not participating so please get out
in not participating so please get out
in not participating so please get out there today get out there today and get
there today get out there today and get
there today get out there today and get involved join a political party join a
involved join a political party join a
involved join a political party join a political group okay and let us make
political group okay and let us make
political group okay and let us make this the Nigeria that we can all be
this the Nigeria that we can all be
this the Nigeria that we can all be proud of I’m mad about Nigeria as I’ve
proud of I’m mad about Nigeria as I’ve
proud of I’m mad about Nigeria as I’ve told you what about you thank you
told you what about you thank you
told you what about you thank you [Applause]
you
you [Music]
”
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