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Film Festival 2006
Being Big Uncle

by Olubusola Ajayi


Shola says: Being Big Uncle was inspired by my childhood. I am a Nigerian American, born in Nigeria and raised in the US. I first returned to Nigeria when I was eight and Jimi Solanke aka "Big Uncle" welcomed my siblings and I into Nigeria with open arms. Jimi Solanke focused on many things while hosting a children's show in Lagos, Nigeria called Story-time on NTA.

Growing up what I remembered most about Big Uncle and Story-time is what Big Uncle showed us; we saw so many unique aspects of the country and my siblings and I were reminded that we were and are a part of a beautiful culture and nation; a nation Big Uncle showed us through his stories, music, and enthusiasm.

I am a grad student now, about to graduate from Boston University with a Masters in Film Production, and my ultimate goal is to return to Nigeria. With these production tools and skills that I've acquired from Boston University and the western world I hope to apply them to film, television and radio in Africa. I believe that "communication makes the world go 'round" and that many changes can influence nations through different forms of communication.

I'd like to thank my family first for all there support and love, my friends and family outside of the Ajayi's (especially those who supported my making this film and kept me excited about it), my cast and crew - I had an awesome time working with you guys and I hope you had a good time also, Boston University and staff, and God who has made every moment and day possible for me.

Olubusola M. Ajayi (Shola)

December 20th, 1979


The Red and Blue Coat

Once there were two boys, that were great friends, and they were determined to stay that way forever. When they grew up, they built their houses to face one another. There was a small path, that formed a border between their farms.



One day, a trickster from the village decided to pull a trick on them.

He dressed in a two-color coat that was divided down the middle, so that one side of the coat was blue, and the other was red. The trickster wore his coat, and walked along the narrow pathway between the houses of the two friends. The trickster made enough noise so that each one of them would look up and see him passing.

At the end of the day, one friend said to the other, “Wasn’t that a beautiful red coat that man was wearing?”

“No,” the other replied. “It was blue coat.”


“No, I saw the man clearly as he walked between us,” the first said. “His coat was red.”

“You are wrong,” said the other man. “I saw it too now. His coat was blue.”

They kept on arguing, over, and over, and over, insulting each-other, and eventually began to beat each-other, and roll around on the ground.

Just then, the trickster returned, and faced the two men, who were pushing and kicking each-other, and shouting;

“We’re no longer friends!”

The trickster walked directly in front of them, and showed them his coat. He laughed at their silly fight.The two men realized that one side of his coat was red, and the other was blue.

They stopped yelling and looked at the trickster and said;

“We lived all our lives, side by side, like brothers. It is your fault that we are fighting; you have started a war between us.”

“Don’t blame me for the battle,” replied the trickster.
“I did not make you fight! Both of you are wrong, and both of you are right. Yes, what each one of you saw is true. You are fighting because you only looked at my coat from your own point of view.”

Page created on 7/28/2014 10:42:27 AM

Last edited 7/28/2014 10:42:27 AM

The beliefs, viewpoints and opinions expressed in this hero submission on the website are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs, viewpoints and opinions of The MY HERO Project and its staff.

Related Links

View the short film Being Big Uncle
Back to the Old Rhythm with Jimi Solanke - Read film-makers tribute to his hero
Storytelling - Educational Web site, designed for teachers, librarians, and students,explores the use of storytelling in the classroom to enhance speaking and listening.
 

Author Info

View a short film about Jimi Solanke,
or "Big Uncle," a Nigerian musician and actor who inspires many through African storytelling. The film dramatizes the story of ‘The Red and Blue Coat’ through the storytelling voices of four actors from different countries around the world. In addition to using the particular story to artfully communicate a message of compassion and unity, the film’s presentation style encourage us to recognize our similarities despite our varying nationalities.

View Film Small (17 MB)- 6 Minutes
View Film Large (24 MB) - 6 Minutes