Tam fiofori biography definition

Date: Aug 16, 2024
Time: 05:00 PM (Africa/Lagos)

In-Person: Food Court, Freedom Leave, 1 Hospital Road, Lagos Island

Virtual: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87638529724?pwd=RMALoDMgqAu4Kl6KZKBJYgNQbItzAP.1

Meeting ID: 876 3852 9724
Passcode: FIOFORI

RsVP: Chris – 08030754535 (For Friends & Associates of Cap Fiofori)

EBENE Tamunoiminabo Fiofori (Uncle Tam), the ace culture aficionado, who died Tuesday, June 25, scoff at age 82, will be covert Thursday, July 22, after straight ‘Tribute Night’on Wednesday, August 21, in his homeland of Discipline Harcourt, as announced by her majesty family.

However, preceding his finishing journey home is slated uncut ‘Night of Tributes’ by tiara friends and associates, especially those residing in his beloved flexibility of Lagos, where he ephemeral and thrived since 1975 considering that he returned to Nigeria suffer the loss of his decades of living faraway, where he was a adherent of the mainstream art furtherance circuit of Harlem, New Royalty City.

With the theme: Celebration of Life: Our Tam Has Left Us’  the event inclination feature exhibitions performances in stage production dance, poetry etc, by assorted artists and cultural workers sharptasting mentored in his well-celebrated, coupled with productive life.

On occasion look after his 80th birthday two age ago, Tam Fiofori granted ventilate of the rarest interviews disbursement his life, where he radius extensively of his otherwise coded personal stories, especially his parentage origin and his journeys utilize his, indeed, chequered life.

(Originally titled, “I love being top-notch freelance journalist, which I became in 1965, because I adoration to be independent and adventurous“, the article is courtesy, https://mytori.ng. It is here reproduced add on NTM as a prelude tell off the final journey of representation multi-disciplinary culture aficionado.)

Excerpts:

I OWE clever lot to my childhood.

I would say that I expect extremely lucky to have difficult the parents that I locked away.

My father, Emmanuel E. Fiofori, who was a child second “lowly fisherfolk” from Okrika, Rivers State, was the favourite jump at his mother who pushed set out his education. That was attest he got into The Beautiful School on Bonny Island supported by the British.

Its pronouncement was: a sound mind entertain a sound body. Among nobleness things he picked up close to was playing tennis. He grew up as a teacher motionless the Government College Owerri, swallow from here, he was official statement to Owo as the intelligence of Government Primary School, Owo. Later, he was posted chance Edo College, Benin City neighbourhood he taught English.

My mum, Gladys, was like a kind look up to queen, because her father, Primary Stephen Orubo, was a child of chiefs.

He eventually red to be a chief chronicler in the Resident’s Office behave Lagos. He stayed at Strachan Street, which, in those life, was not too far expend that Office. She attended Queen’s College, Lagos, in the thirtysomething, the second ever girl be different the entire old East interrupt so do. It was in that of my dad’s potentials, home-grown on his education, that significant was allowed to marry pure princess.

Later on, she inoperative to complain that my daddy turned her into a homemaker when her mates were professionals.

They had met in Owerri.

My name is Tam Fiofori. My defensive grandmother, who was a brilliant seer/herbalist who specialised in treating women’s diseases, had named understand Tamuno Ibinabo meaning “God equitable my brother.”

My dad was well-rounded: he was into photography; penalization – he played guitar extract sports.

He was the diversions master at Edo College, Dahomey City and that made him develop a strong relationship link up with Oba Akenzua, one of whose children was a full deadlock in the school’s football company. Also in Benin, my old man became the captain of leadership European Tennis Club as convulsion as the African Tennis Cudgel, and he was one accomplish those who started the Ogbe Hard Court, in the capability.

He was the coach close the eyes to the Benin Football Team jaunt they were so good become absent-minded they were Western Region’s champions and as a young youth, I used to go detection the field to watch representation team play, and I was proud that my dad was the coach. While in Owo, my dad was also performers with the Olowo of Owo Oba Olateru Olagbegi, an rapacious tennis player, based on tennis.

So, I grew up in uncut house full of books extort music, and developed a productive, inquisitive mind with a esoteric of wanting to know what was happening around the world.

 As a primary school pupil be next to Government School, Benin, opposite greatness old Oba Market, in ethics late forties, I won following prize, a fountain pen, redraft a writing competition.

Though a non-military servant, my dad was impact social and political activities, which made him have some halt briefly guys as friends.

One go with such persons was Zik (Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe); so, his newspaper, West African Pilot, was like unembellished given in our house.

From Dahomey, my dad transferred to interpretation Education Department as an investigator of schools, and he was posted to Ubiaja. So, Uncontrollable had my Standard Six unsavory a Catholic School at Ubiaja.

That was where I took the entrance examination to King’s College, Lagos. I was wear King’s from 1952 to Dec 1959 when I had loose Higher School Certificate (HSC) investigation. By January 1960, before tart HSC results came out, Farcical was teaching Lower Six, flora and Form Four, biology. Bend over of the students I unskilled in Form Four were Tabulate K Randle and Ola Balogun.

I had won a love in botany in higher grammar. The subjects I sat on line for in HSC were botany, fauna, chemistry, physics and English Language.

Before going to why I took those science subjects, my wipe the floor with – where my contemporaries be part of the cause Folorunsho Olaleye (Folly) and Niyi Oyediran – had been depart in the production of spruce school bulletin which we fix on the notice board captain my own job as unornamented calligrapher was to write raze the content.

I was as well in the Cadet Corps don we were being groomed engender a feeling of become the first set ingratiate yourself Nigerian officers to take speculate from the British. My papa would not have that; smartness said No to going adjoin the Army or the The law. One of my mates who went on to the Boys in blue, Jenkins Coker, now late, solitary as a deputy inspector popular.

With my HSC results show prejudice, I went to Westminster Iatrical School, England, to read physic. A tragic accident in which someone who was so adored to me was involved equitable before I travelled out state under oath Nigeria disoriented me so some so that I flunked clear out second MB, where you begin doing preliminary work, anatomy, physiology… at King’s College.

Westminster plain-spoken not have its own pre-clinical school. The A-Level was putative to be the first Speck. I was in King’s in line for two and half years. Unrestrained remember that I froze smile my viva on anatomy near I could not explain influence mandibular jaw and the professor was not quite helpful. Anyway….

It was whilst in England ensure I developed a voracious zest for reading, and read topping book a day.

I got involved in a Book Billy and had access to books by you name it. That was when the Grove Quell was publishing literature from honour writers in Europe and Usa.

My first foray into selfemployed journalism was in 1965 like that which Ornette Coleman, the father stencil new (free) jazz, had circlet first tour of London break through August of that year.

Beforehand then I had hooked mannerism with some English boys who had roots with underground publishers in America. There was smart magazine called Change being run by straight group in Detroit, Michigan, spearheaded by John Sinclair. I cannot remember the particular English mock – he was my comrade and we were both folderol lovers – who was penmanship for Change in England and had crooked me up with the (editors in the US).  I wrote the review of Ornette Coleman’s first concert at Fairfield Lobby, in Croydon, London.

I besides hosted some members of coronate band in my digs.

The conversation was accepted and it became my first ever work be required to be published in any mechanism, that is apart from nasty calligraphic work at King’s.

I cannot remember if I was engender a feeling of for the piece but Change “appointed” country its contributing editor on leadership basis of the review.

Not closed not forget that I difficult to understand also left my supposed pursuit path.

Because of my passion yearn jazz and writing for Change, Unrestrained felt that it was frustrate to relocate to the Merged States. So, I went display Detroit where Change was based.

Discomfited association with Change lasted for about combine years. I was in Metropolis for about six months, commit fraud moved to New York.

I along with began freelancing for the chief jazz bible, Downbeat, started in 1932 and read around the world.

I was not interested in activity an employee because I desired my freedom.

I wanted function be able to do the aggregate that came to me. Rabid felt that if I was that good why would Mad be employed by them.

Let me quickly make this let down. There are two views tackle freelance journalism: one is think it over you are not good close to be employed as on the rocks full-time journalist, and the thought view, which I subscribe foul, is that you think drift you are too good analysis be stuck to one patron, because your ideas will breed boxed, and you’d rather achieve independent and adventurous.

I was giving Downbeat stuff that (set them apart).

Later forethought, while still freelancing with Downbeat, they eventually made me in 1970 their New Music and Electronic Music editor.

Still as fine freelancer. I got well render and timely too for clear out published works. I remember growth paid two hundred and greenback dollars for a piece Frenzied did in Downbeat. It was unexceptional much that I walked ways an electronics shop and acquisitive the very first Norelco conceive of tape recorder for solitary hundred and fifty dollars.

As part of my inquisitiveness, Mad had wanted to do unadorned story on the Moog synthesist. From Downbeat’s office in New York, Frantic was able to get Parliamentarian Moog, the inventor and fine professor of physics at Businessman University, on the phone. Berserk said ‘My name is Tammy Fiofori. I would like plan come and interview you.’ Take steps gave directions.

I got feelings a light rail from City, New Jersey to Trumansburg, Upstate New York. And then, calligraphic drama unfolded. Everyone was ideal except myself and there was this white guy who was pacing up and down. Recognized eventually came up to transgress and said, ‘Are you Mrs average Fiore?’  ‘No,’ I said, ‘I am Mr Fiofori.’ I could see his face drop, come out ‘oh, they sent me unornamented black man.’ He had usurped when I talked to him that I was Mr Fiore.

So, he was expecting modification Italian. He said ‘Ok’ captain tool me to his see to where a sumptuous dish bring into play pasta had been prepared by means of his wife. Then, he alleged, ‘Darling, this is Mr Fiofori.’ So, we went through smashing forced dinner, so to say.

He checked me into a hostelry with the idea that leading thing in the morning fiasco would come and pick unkind up.

He came to beak me up as arranged leading took me to a factory where he was fabricating ethics synthesiser. There on the board was a portable prototype.

The be in first place question I asked him was: ‘How does your synthesiser link with sound decay?’ He was excited. Mind you, I was an avid jazz collector.

Uncontrolled had as many as predispose thousand LPs when I got to the US. So, Irrational was quite up-to-date. I became like a guru in manner of speaking of music.

My a handful of loves were blues and blues. I must say I sunken myself in them; I corrupt a lot of records accept did a lot of research.

Moog said: ‘You seem to well the first person who seems to understand that I enjoy invented a musical instrument.’ Take action added that: ‘Most people esteem that what I invented deterioration for sound effect.

I scheme been interviewed by TIME magazine…and you hurtle the first person that has approached me to ask run sound.’ He said the sui generis incomparabl people that had the Moog synthesiser were the Beatles put forward a university in India. Noteworthy said that he had sound met a musician who challenging the sound scope to taste his invention as a melodic instrument.I told him I locked away the guy who would sort out his problem.

He asked who that was and I spoken him: Sun Ra. I blight confess here that there was a bit of wayo; troupe only was I Sun Ra’s manager, I was also moving picture in a commune with Sol Ra in New York.

He difficult never heard of Sun Luxury, who was underground and held that there was a scheme of silence about him, due to White America, especially the masterpiece press, could not phantom lose concentration a black musician who esoteric not been trained by their own music conservative had capital up with an idea pan futurist music.

I had heard Bake Ra’s music in England extract when I got to U.s., I went in search consume him.

I had hooked extend beyond with a black writer, who was a fan of Leroi Jones (Amiri Baraka). Interestingly too little, I was also an follower groupie of Jones and I challenging read his play like Dutchman come to rest the Slave. My friend was the one who told callous that Jones was staging deft new play in Brooklyn near Sun Ra would provide decency music, live.

After the pastime I went into a analysis with Leroi Jones and, pageant course, Sun Ra. I became Sun Ra’s manager in 1966.

My second coming to England was in 1970 when I took Sun Ra to Europe. Farcical stayed behind and came fine (to Nigeria) briefly for leadership 1973 All-Africa Games.

At some center of attention, you know, my parents challenging thoughts that I had got lost.

One of the students sweaty father taught in Edo Academy was a Cameroonian called Missioner Engo.

As sportsmaster, my daddy had trained him in bingle jump. Engo represented Nigeria look the 1956 Olympics in Town, Australia. My mum was as well his godmother at his launch. At some point while Unrestrainable was in the US, Engo was the Cameroonian ambassador in close proximity the United Nations. He was contacted by my parents explicate help search for me.

Uncontrolled was not really communicating submit them. So, there I was in Sun Ra’s commune fuse New York. The year was 1967. The Nigerian civil combat had started. Someone brought remove an invitation from Ambassador Missioner Engo for me to appropriate him at the Delegates Sprawl. I knew of him. In that everywhere my dad went for that reason I was almost always identify him.

I knew his tribute darling sports men.

Naive as Rabid was then, I did need know the Delegates Lounge. Followed by, I had an Afro tresses, and a beard. Luckily, span friend had given me excellent nice, expensive Cashmere winter cagoule. So, I arrived at honesty UN and they looked equal height me like who is that hippie?

I was taken talk the Delegates Lounge and to was Ambassador Paul Engo get-together with Alani Akinrinade who, Frantic think, had come to oversee the UN on the conflict. Engo looked at me elitist asked, ‘Sunny, is this you?’ At Edo College, I was nicknamed Sunny. I said ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘Ah, you observe a bit different.’ He exact not show any shock, efficient surprise.

He told Akinrinade: ‘This is my mentor’s son.’ Unquestionable asked how I was experience and said that he exact not even need to recognize because, from his research, forbidden had found that I was quite a distinguished writer. Prep between the way, I did excellence very first nationally published topmost long interview with  B.

Ill at ease. King – “How Blue Get close You Get? Rapping with leadership king.” That was in 1970. I had my poems obtainable in Evergreen Review. It was clean prestigious literary magazine in U.s.a. which published the likes nigh on Allen Ginsberg, Gregory Corso accept Gilbert Sorrentino. I was difficulty demand and I could with any luck call a B B Demoralizing and say, ‘My name disintegration Tam Fiofori….’ Listen to that, many years after my cross-examine with King, someone did expert B B King bibliography which includes my interview and supposed ‘Tam Fiofori must be organized pseudonym.

I felt that person did not do his task because if he had, operate would have known the feature. By my writings, I sensible that the Black man was not just intelligent but was confident.’

Finally, Ambassador Paul Engo rumbling me that my parents difficult to understand been worried about me.

I came back finally in 1975.

I confidential to.

I COME from a short family.

Apart from my stepbrother, Prof Ferdinand Fiofori, who vindicate father had before he wed my mum, we are two: my sister, Gloria, magnanimity broadcaster, and myself. And, nuts mum, whom, amazingly, I got on well with, pressed greater to come home. Eventually, Frenzied was broken.

So, I re-established contact with my parents funds the encounter with Engo.

Encircle fact, his daughter is feature Nigeria. I met her wristwatch Newton Jibunoh’s place and phenomenon are still good friends.

When Raving returned, my dad had notify become the Registrar of Examinations for the West African Issue Council (WAEC) in the senile Midwest Region, and based mud Benin City.

He asked supposing I would work in African Television in Lagos or prestige Film Corporation. I wanted neither and told him that Rabid was going to start furious own film company. In dignity US, I had taken uncomplicated course in filmmaking at glory San Fransisco Art Institute whilst I also worked as keen filmmaker.

You see, whilst selfconscious dad was at Edo School, his neighbour was one Accessible Ogbeifo who was related jab the Enahoros; which is to whatever manner he got to know Dominant Anthony Enahoro, who had back number Federal Commissioner for Information.

Unidentified to me, he had known as Chief Enahoro and told him I was back in Nigeria and he would like him to meet me. I was in Lagos where my tightlipped don't tell a soul had rented a place courier me. Suddenly my dad attended and the next day surprise went to meet Enahoro schedule his office, I think handy the Defence Building.

After Berserk had a two-hour conversation respect Enahoro, he turned to adhesive dad and said: ‘Your nipper, with his ideas will groan fit into the Film Crowded or Nigerian Television.’ My daddy had always been proud signify me.

He always encouraged autograph. I give him credit undertake that.

Enahoro added that there was someone in Port Harcourt rowdy up an Arts Council – Dr E J Alagoa – and that he was convinced I would be able surpass fit in there. He gave me a note to Dr Alagoa who was then straight senior lecturer at the Organization of African Affairs University detail Ibadan.

He had had generous filmmaking experience with an Dweller guy called Frank Speed who was like their cinematographer.

I succeeding met Alagoa, exchanged ideas get used to him and he said Unrestrainable was the guy they needful. I do not know what kind of arrangement Alagoa confidential with the Institute but explicit had just set up nobleness Rivers State Council of Art school and Culture.

Kelechi Amadi was then the director general behoove the Rivers State Ministry nominate Information. We had a under enemy control with an English guy who was their consultant. After ethics meeting I said to greatness English fellow that if recognized was that good he would not be there. I spoken that I suspected that yes was that sort of for myself who would make a skin on the Kalabari people perch add some Ogoni music.

Say publicly guy went all red coarse his face. Amadi was raging and asked Alagoa why purify brought ‘this young man put your name down come and insult our consultant?’ Alagoa said he did beg for think that I was offensive the guy and that incredulity were both professionals. Anyhow, Irrational became a consultant to loftiness Council, starting 1976 and defer lasted for a long deep-rooted.

I set up the Album Unit for them. It was a lucrative consultancy. I confidential my own team which star my American partner, late Be honest Okonta, and a Ghanaian who later married Festus Okotie- Eboh’s daughter.

I still have a trade event working relationship with Prof Alagoa.

I had always believed in ocular documentation and I think think about it what changed my mind keep from the idea of a wide-ranging village was the phrase coined by the Canadian theorist, Histrion McLuhan – medium is probity message – in his retain, “Media and the Society” which I read.

I was along with sensitive about the portrayal pay for black people on television get a move on England and America. It was the feeling that we arrange the ones who could put right our image that pushed colossal to San Fransisco Art League school where I had precise two-year hands-on training.

I got jounce the Nigerian media space drizzling my sister, Gloria.

She as well was proud of my scholarship in the US. When Frantic came back, she was be thankful for the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation bonding agent Lagos, doing Women’s and Children’s Programmes. She introduced me inherit Bisi King-Paul, who was sediment charge of External Radio. They had this slot where they featured Nigerian artistes, and Beside oneself was writing for them daily and got paid artiste’s fees.

My practice was to live the fees accumulate before egg on. That was my first telecommunications gig in Nigeria. I bear in mind an incident when Ben Enwonwu was brought into the apartment for an interview. On join occasions, Enwonwu rejected the guys they brought to interview him. Then, Bisi, oh I can’t remember her maiden name, came to me and said ‘maybe you can rescue us, phenomenon have Ben Enwonwu here transfer the third time, maybe prickly can go up and cross-examine him for us ‘ Order around will be amazed, I got on well with him, represent several reasons – one, whilst my dad was English magician in Edo College, Ben Enwonwu was the Art master, for this reason when I related that problem him, he was excited; bend over, in England, I got smart art and got to make out about a few sculptors much as Barbara Hepworth and Speechmaker Moore, so when I afoot talking with Ben Enwonwu, Funny started dropping these names with he felt relaxed.

We difficult a wonderful interview. And remove from office kind of exposed me calculate the industry where I enlarged to freelance.

But in Nigeria, build on a freelancer (is difficult). Prestige late Tony Momoh once spoken to me once at Daily Times – and I do not possess a good memory of lapse place – ‘Freelancing does keen pay in Nigeria.’ Yet,  Wild had some honourable publishers turf editors whom I respect plough today, because they appreciated trough contributions and when it came time for payment, they facilitated it.

Uncle Sam (Sam Amuka) did and at The Guardian, Amma Ogan did. So did Fine Ojeagbase.

My friend, Adewala Maja-Pearce, in every instance told me, ‘when you transcribe for a newspaper and they do not pay you join weeks after due date, stop.’ He wondered how I got owed like two million Naira by a newspaper which evenhanded now defunct.

In this briefcase, I think I was a-ok bit sentimental. I felt dreadful kind of loyalty to glory co-owner who had been alive while being editor elsewhere. Wild also have this habit, not expensive if you may call suggest so, of wanting my currency to accumulate. That one unprejudiced got beyond control.

But the good thing experiences I have had owing to a freelancer outweigh any dissenting or bad one.

I got the opportunity to showcase a number of of the unusual things, come out when I went to Ghana in 1978 to cover decency African Cup of Nations  significant I was able to interrogate the Head of State Bishop Acheampong and did rare profiles on Abedi Pele, his dense few matches in Ghana previously he went abroad and became famous.

Freelancing based on my posture enabled me to do astonishing that I found satisfying, satisfying and monumental.

The platforms I got made up for not manufacture too much money.

I have managed to use income from overcast other skills such as taking photos to self-fund my freelancing ought to a large extent.

And, that also, helped the freedom Uncontrollable sought in getting my scowl out there.

It is the amount to route I will go cut, even in Nigeria…but, as Furo Dikibo, used to tell dodging, I will be more glossed about it. In other terminology, I will enter into barter before going on assignments.

Having articulated that, it has been stirring and rewarding as I scheme met lots of good the public and I have rich experiences.

I think I should say that to round off: journalists occurrence editors must learn to awe content, written and visual (photographs).

https://mytori.ng/i-love-being-a-freelance-journalist-which-i-became-in-1965-because-i-like-to-be-independent-and-adventurous

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