The Creativity Site

 By Victor Olubiye Oba Fredrick Kumokun Adedeji Haastrup, Ajimoko 1, was the 34th Oba of Ijesha land. He was from the Bilaro royal families of Ilesha.  History has it that he was captured by the Ilorins at the age of 14 c.1820s-30s and was sold into Slavery, He was transferred from one slave market to another, finally reaching the coast where he was put on a slave ship chained to other slaves, fortunately, the ship was intercepted by the British Man O' war marines who diverted the slave ship to Sierra Leone. In Sierra Leone, the young Kumokun met a CMS missionary by name Niels Christian Haastrup, who took a liking in him, Kumokun became his ward and was later Baptized taking the name Fredrick Haastrup. After nearly three decades, he returned home first arriving in Lagos and later in Ijeṣaland to re-establish contact with his Ijeṣa royalty.  In Lagos, he acquired large tracts of property which became known as Igbó Obį Haastrup, contracted to the present day Igbobį, at Ibej...

 By Victor Olubiye Alagba, meaning "The Elderly One" in Yoruba, was a legendary tortoise believed to be the oldest in the world. This revered creature resided in the palace of the Soun of Ogbomoso, in Oyo State, Nigeria, and lived for an astounding 344 years before passing away in 2018. According to historical records, Alagba was born in 1675 in the old Oyo town, now known as Ogbomoso. Her presence in the royal palace began during the reign of Oba Isan Okumoyede, the third traditional ruler of Ogbomoso, who ruled from 1770 to 1797. Alagba quickly became more than just a palace pet; she grew into a symbol of longevity, wisdom, and tradition. For centuries, Alagba lumbered gracefully within the sacred grounds of the palace, witnessing the reigns of many monarchs. Her age and calm demeanor earned her deep respect from both the royals and the community. Locals and tourists alike believed she possessed healing powers, and many came from far and wide to catch a glimpse of the wise ...

 By Victor Olubiye Hidden within the architectural marvels of the Gaurishvara Temple in Karnataka, India, lies a breathtaking piece of craftsmanship—a stone chain, carved entirely from a single piece of stone. Dating back to the 16th century, this sculpture isn’t pieced together or assembled with joints. It’s a seamless, unbroken chain where each link loops through the next, appearing almost flexible despite being solid stone. This mind-bending creation defies conventional understanding of ancient tools and techniques. Carved by artisans with no access to modern machinery, the chain exemplifies a level of precision, patience, and engineering genius that continues to puzzle modern experts. How did they carve such intricate, interlocking forms without breaking the stone? What tools and methods were used to achieve such fluidity from a rigid material? The stone chain at Gaurishvara is more than a display of skill—it’s a challenge to our assumptions about historical technology. It stan...

 By Victor Olubiye In the quiet corridors of our polytechnic classrooms, a dangerous game unfolds—one not found in any curriculum or course outline. It's whispered in the hostels, sighed in frustration during late-night group discussions, and hidden beneath layers of fear and shame. It is the ugly, persistent practice of sex for grades and money for marks—a cancer slowly eating away at the integrity of our academic institutions. As a campus journalist, I've come across more than enough unsettling reports—some anonymous, some from brave voices—highlighting how some lecturers prey on students for personal gain. What used to be isolated stories shared in hushed tones among students have now become a pattern, a disturbing culture that thrives in silence and impunity. For many female students, academic interactions with certain lecturers have become a traumatic power play. A lecturer, rather than evaluating knowledge, positions himself as a predator, turning grades into a bargaining...

 By Victor Olubiye Bandele Omoniyi (1884–1913) was a pioneering Nigerian nationalist, writer, and early advocate for African political representation within the British Empire. Born on November 6, 1884, in Lagos, Nigeria, his parents sold their land to finance his education in Britain. In 1905, he traveled to the UK and enrolled at the University of Edinburgh in 1906 to study law. However, he eventually abandoned his legal studies to engage in political activism and journalism. Omoniyi became deeply involved in anti-imperial journalism, contributing to socialist, Scottish, and Nigerian publications. He corresponded with British politicians, including Prime Minister Henry Campbell-Bannerman and future Labour Party leader Ramsay MacDonald, advocating for African representation in colonial governance. In 1907, he criticized colonial rule through letters published in the Edinburgh Magazine. His most significant work, A Defence of the Ethiopian Movement, was published in 1908 in Edinbur...

 By Victor Olubiye Unarguably, Gbenga Adeboye still remains the most known and widely accepted radio broadcaster in Yoruba lands, even in death. The legend was born into a Christian family on 30th September 1959, at Ode Omu, Gbongan, Osun State, Nigeria. In some of his narratives that serve as his authobiography he narrated how he had knowledge of both Islamic and Traditional religions. And this is evident in his records. Describing himself, he said that he was a man who chose to combine the three religions, i.e Islam, Christianity and Traditional together so that he would be accord special recognition in Heaven. No need for explanation as he was a man who quoted Al-Qur'an, Bible, and Oracle verses with precision, exactness, and correctness. His birth by a church general overseer regardless, it was believed that these quotations earned him the 3-1 nickname Alhaji, Pastor, Oluwo. Late Adeboye first worked as a freelance radio presenter for Radio Lagos where he used to anchor a very ...

By Victor Olubiye In 1959, the world took notice of the lady known for having the thinnest waist ever recorded. Her remarkably slim figure captivated the public and became a symbol of extreme beauty standards during that era. This feat was often celebrated in magazines and shows, sparking both admiration and curiosity about how she maintained such a tiny waist. Her waist measured astonishingly small, achieved through a combination of natural genetics and intense corset training. Wearing tightly laced corsets from a young age, she shaped her body into an hourglass figure that defied conventional proportions. This dedication to achieving the smallest waist showcased the lengths to which some would go to embody the idealized femininity of the time. Though admired, her story also raised questions about health and body image, prompting discussions that continue today. The fascination with her silhouette remains a testament to how beauty ideals evolve, reflecting cultural values and the powe...

By Victor Olubiye Samuel at the age of 6 defeating Masters Samuel Reshevsky, born in Poland in 1911, was a chess prodigy who was already defeating masters at the age of six. At eight, he impressed in France, defeating several chess champions. In 1920, his family emigrated to the United States, where Reshevsky continued to attract attention through chess exhibitions. In his youth, he took a break from chess to focus on his education and later earned a degree in accounting. As an adult, he returned to chess and became eight-time U.S. Chess Champion (1936–1969). He was also a strong contender for the World Championship and participated in several Candidates Tournaments, but never won the title. Reshevsky was known for his deep understanding of the game and his ability to find brilliant moves under time pressure. He remained active well into old age and is considered one of the greatest chess players of the 20th century. Reshevsky died in 1992 at the age of 81, leaving a lasting legacy in ...

By Victor Olubiye Ruth Ellis, born in 1899, lived openly as a lesbian at a time when doing so was almost unthinkable. She came out at just 16 years old and persevered through significant social barriers to become a high school graduate—an achievement in itself for a young Black woman in the early 20th century. Determined to make her own way, she went on to establish a successful printing business, breaking both racial and gender expectations of the time. In the 1920s, Ruth met Ceciline “Babe” Franklin, who would become her partner for the next 30 years. Together, they built a life rooted in love and community in Detroit. Their home was more than a residence—it was a haven for African-American LGBTQ+ individuals at a time when safe spaces were few and far between. The couple’s warmth and generosity made their home a cornerstone of support and acceptance. Ruth Ellis lived to be 100 years old, passing away in 2000 as the oldest known openly lesbian woman. Her century-long life stands as a...

By Victor Olubiye Antsirabe, A city in the Central Highlands of Madagascar Below are the facts that makes Madagascar unique: 1. Madagascar is the world's fourth largest island. 2. A person from Madagascar is called a Malagasy. 3. Madagascar is home to 70 species of lemurs found nowhere else on Earth. 4. More than 50% of the world’s chameleon population is found on Madagascar and over 300 species of reptiles not found anywhere in the world but Madagascar. 5. The Malagasies have closer roots to Southeast Asians than Africans. They are called Blasian.  6. The capital city of Madagascar is Antananarivo, also commonly referred to as Tana. Antananarivo is the country's largest city with more than 3.6 million people. 7. Madagascar was a French colony from 1897 until 1968 and then gained full independence from France on 26 June 1960. The Malagasy celebrate their country's independence annually on this day. 8. Madagascar split away from the African continent about 180 million years...

By Victor Olubiye Bisade Ologunde (in Lagos, 1960) is a Nigerian afrobeat musician, singer-songwriter and percussionist. Widely known as Lágbájá for his signature use of mask which covers his identity. He believes in social reform through music Ologunde adopted the name Lágbájá (meaning "Jane Doe" or "John Doe"- A person whose name, identity is intentionally concealed in Yoruba) as he embarked on his career in the early 90s. His name was reflected in his choice of stage attire – a slitted textile and rubber mask adopted so that the artist represented the ‘common man’ in keeping with the carnival tradition of Yoruba Culture.  He formed his first small band in 1991 in Lagos after he had taught himself to play the saxophone. With a high quotient of percussion instruments including congas and talking drums, Lagbaja's album We Before Me (IndigeDisc/PDSE), released in 2000, demanded honesty from politicians and urged brotherhood and unity. He shared lyrics of his song...

By Victor Olubiye Jonathan Jackson is a billionaire businessman and the owner of The Lordship Group – a real estate company which has been in operation for 30 years, in Kenya, the Czech Republic and Turkey. He is the founder of the Jonathan Jackson Foundation – a not for profit, non-government organisation that scales up community projects and ensures tangible, positive impact and accountability on the ground for the community, its partners and stakeholders. The foundation focuses on sports – football and basketball, jobs and training and reform and rehabilitation. Jackson is behind the 88 Nairobi Condominium Tower, a 44-storey residential skyscraper under construction in the Upper Hill.

By Victor Olubiye Around 1,000 A.D., long before Christopher Columbus arrived in the Americas, a young Icelandic explorer named Gudrid Thorbjarnardottir, known as the “Far Traveler,” embarked on a remarkable journey across the Atlantic. Gudrid’s story is one of courage, resilience, and exploration, as she not only settled in new lands but also gave birth to a son, Snorri, who is believed to be the first European child born in North America. Her adventures are chronicled in two Viking sagas, The Saga of the Greenlanders and The Saga of Erik the Red. While these sagas include fantastical elements like ghosts and dragons, they also contain historically significant details that have been corroborated by archaeological discoveries. Gudrid’s life was intertwined with the Viking exploration of the North Atlantic. She was part of an expedition led by Thorfinn Karlsefni, which aimed to establish a permanent settlement in a place the Norse called Vinland, believed to be part of modern-day Newfou...

By Victor Olubiye During excavations in a German cave, archaeologists unearthed a 28,000-year-old stone-carved phallus—one of the oldest known representations of male sexuality in prehistoric art. Expertly shaped, the artifact reveals a surprising level of craftsmanship and suggests it held more than just a decorative purpose. Its creation points to symbolic or ritual use, possibly linked to fertility or spiritual beliefs in Paleolithic society. This discovery reflects how early humans may have viewed sexuality not only as a physical reality but as something imbued with deeper meaning. The care taken in carving the object hints at its importance, perhaps as part of ceremonies or as a symbol of life and regeneration. It also highlights the sophistication of early symbolic thought long before the rise of written language. Similar objects have been found at other prehistoric sites, reinforcing the idea that fertility and sexuality were vital themes in ancient human expression. These early...

By Victor Olubiye She was named after the ship that tore her from her homeland — Phillis And Wheatley came from the Boston merchant who bought her. Born in Senegal, she was just seven when she was taken, stripped of everything familiar and forced across an ocean. On the auction block, men appraised her like livestock. “She’ll make a good mare,” they said, handling her small body with callous disregard. But within that frightened, stolen child, something remained unbroken — a sacred ember no chain could extinguish. By thirteen, Phillis Wheatley was writing poetry in the language forced upon her, her verses carrying rhythm, grace, and fierce intellect. But many doubted her. At twenty, she was summoned before a panel of eighteen white men — scholars, judges, and ministers — who demanded she prove her abilities. They made her recite Milton and Virgil, interrogated her on scripture, pressed her to justify her genius. She sat with quiet strength, not to ask for their permission, but to comma...