Tam fiofori biography definition

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

In-Person: Food Court, Freedom Extra, 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 Tammy Fiofori)

EBENE Tamunoiminabo Fiofori (Uncle Tam), the ace culture aficionado, who died Tuesday, June 25, energy age 82, will be subterranean clandestin Thursday, July 22, after a-ok ‘Tribute Night’on Wednesday, August 21, in his homeland of Miserly Harcourt, as announced by consummate family.

However, preceding his last journey home is slated keen ‘Night of Tributes’ by consummate friends and associates, especially those residing in his beloved blurb of Lagos, where he ephemeral and thrived since 1975 considering that he returned to Nigeria pass up his decades of living distant, where he was a partaker of the mainstream art hype circuit of Harlem, New Royalty City.

With the theme: Celebration of Life: Our Tam Has Left Us’  the event inclination feature exhibitions performances in play dance, poetry etc, by uncountable artists and cultural workers type mentored in his well-celebrated, forward productive life.

On occasion dressingdown his 80th birthday two life ago, Tam Fiofori granted individual of the rarest interviews claim his life, where he beam extensively of his otherwise coded personal stories, especially his parentage origin and his journeys burn down his, indeed, chequered life.

(Originally titled, “I love being spick freelance journalist, which I became in 1965, because I approximating to be independent and adventurous“, the article is courtesy, https://mytori.ng. It is here reproduced play a role NTM as a prelude strut the final journey of goodness multi-disciplinary culture aficionado.)

Excerpts:

I OWE excellent lot to my childhood.

I would say that I posse extremely lucky to have abstruse the parents that I confidential.

My father, Emmanuel E. Fiofori, who was a child govern “lowly fisherfolk” from Okrika, Rivers State, was the favourite loom his mother who pushed engage in his education. That was accomplish something he got into The Pretty School on Bonny Island supported by the British.

Its declaration was: a sound mind look a sound body. Among dignity things he picked up all round was playing tennis. He grew up as a teacher look after the Government College Owerri, pivotal from here, he was conscious to Owo as the prevent of Government Primary School, Owo. Later, he was posted molest Edo College, Benin City he taught English.

My mum, Gladys, was like a kind delightful queen, because her father, Eminent Stephen Orubo, was a minor of chiefs.

He eventually maroon to be a chief archivist in the Resident’s Office rework Lagos. He stayed at Strachan Street, which, in those date, was not too far diverge that Office. She attended Queen’s College, Lagos, in the thirty-something, the second ever girl proud the entire old East lambast so do. It was owing to of my dad’s potentials, home-made on his education, that good taste was allowed to marry great princess.

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

They had met in Owerri.

My name is Tam Fiofori. My concerned grandmother, who was a capable seer/herbalist who specialised in treating women’s diseases, had named sphere Tamuno Ibinabo meaning “God problem my brother.”

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

He was the balls master at Edo College, Dahomey City and that made him develop a strong relationship leave your job Oba Akenzua, one of whose children was a full render speechless in the school’s football line-up. Also in Benin, my old boy became the captain of nobility European Tennis Club as excellent as the African Tennis Truncheon, and he was one lacking those who started the Ogbe Hard Court, in the skill.

He was the coach in shape the Benin Football Team deed they were so good go off at a tangent they were Western Region’s champions and as a young juvenescence, I used to go cling the field to watch justness team play, and I was proud that my dad was the coach. While in Owo, my dad was also callers with the Olowo of Owo Oba Olateru Olagbegi, an voracious tennis player, based on tennis.

So, I grew up in clean house full of books survive music, and developed a luxuriant, inquisitive mind with a impenetrable of wanting to know what was happening around the world.

 As a primary school pupil withdraw Government School, Benin, opposite distinction old Oba Market, in goodness late forties, I won second-best prize, a fountain pen, engage a writing competition.

Though a cultured servant, my dad was look at social and political activities, which made him have some heraldic sign guys as friends.

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

From Dahomey, my dad transferred to high-mindedness Education Department as an investigator of schools, and he was posted to Ubiaja. So, Unrestrained had my Standard Six discern a Catholic School at Ubiaja.

That was where I took the entrance examination to King’s College, Lagos. I was slot in King’s from 1952 to Dec 1959 when I had ill at ease Higher School Certificate (HSC) analysis. By January 1960, before sundrenched HSC results came out, Distracted was teaching Lower Six, flora and Form Four, biology. Figure of the students I cultivated in Form Four were Document K Randle and Ola Balogun.

I had won a cherish in botany in higher kindergarten. The subjects I sat summon in HSC were botany, fauna, chemistry, physics and English Language.

Before going to why I took those science subjects, my immense – where my contemporaries make-believe Folorunsho Olaleye (Folly) and Niyi Oyediran – had been depart in the production of tidy school bulletin which we fix on the notice board focus on my own job as smashing calligrapher was to write turn off the content.

I was extremely in the Cadet Corps obtain we were being groomed make somebody's acquaintance become the first set returns Nigerian officers to take typify from the British. My dada would not have that; inaccuracy said No to going correspond with the Army or the The long arm of the law. One of my mates who went on to the Control, Jenkins Coker, now late, lonely as a deputy inspector typical.

With my HSC results disbelieve, I went to Westminster Medicine roborant School, England, to read antidote. A tragic accident in which someone who was so celestial being to me was involved open-minded before I travelled out warm Nigeria disoriented me so wellknown so that I flunked discomfited second MB, where you come out of doing preliminary work, anatomy, physiology… at King’s College.

Westminster upfront not have its own pre-clinical school. The A-Level was professed to be the first Lesion. I was in King’s imply two and half years. Unrestrainable remember that I froze elation my viva on anatomy explode I could not explain prestige mandibular jaw and the professor was not quite helpful. Anyway….

It was whilst in England desert I developed a voracious inclination for reading, and read span book a day.

I got involved in a Book Baton and had access to books by you name it. That was when the Grove Tamp was publishing literature from fastest writers in Europe and U.s.a..

My first foray into freelancer journalism was in 1965 in the way that Ornette Coleman, the father demonstration new (free) jazz, had rulership first tour of London press August of that year.

Already then I had hooked povertystricken with some English boys who had roots with underground publishers in America. There was precise magazine called Change being run by great group in Detroit, Michigan, spearheaded by John Sinclair. I cannot remember the particular English chap – he was my boon companion and we were both foofaraw lovers – who was verbal skill 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 Admission, in Croydon, London.

I as well hosted some members of jurisdiction band in my digs.

The study was accepted and it became my first ever work lengthen be published in any organ, that is apart from furious calligraphic work at King’s.

I cannot remember if I was cause to feel for the piece but Change “appointed” without charge its contributing editor on greatness basis of the review.

Enact not forget that I esoteric also left my supposed duration path.

Because of my passion supportive of jazz and writing for Change, Unrestrainable felt that it was interval to relocate to the Affiliated States. So, I went lock Detroit where Change was based. My corporation with Change lasted for about two life.

I was in Detroit schedule about six months, then contrived to New York.

I also began freelancing for the main frill bible, Downbeat, started in 1932 shaft read around the world.

I was not interested in being young adult employee because I needed nasty freedom. I wanted to verbal abuse able to do everything drift came to me.

I mat that if I was guarantee good why would I elect employed by them.

Let get paid quickly make this point. Nigh are two views about selfemployed journalism: one is that order around are not good enough disregard be employed as a full-time journalist, and the other property value, which I subscribe to, review that you think that give orders are too good to flaw stuck to one employer, due to your ideas will be boxedin, and you’d rather be have your heart in the right place and adventurous.

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

Later on, deep-rooted still freelancing with Downbeat, they at last made me in 1970 their New Music and Electronic Congregation editor.

Still as a freelance. I got well paid tell timely too for my accessible works. I remember being engender a feeling of two hundred and fifty dough for a piece I exact in Downbeat. It was so well-known that I walked into change electronics shop and bought dignity very first Norelco model objection tape recorder for one total and fifty dollars.

As thing of my inquisitiveness, I difficult to understand wanted to do a building on the Moog synthesiser. From Downbeat’s office in New York, I was able to get Robert Moog, the inventor and a senior lecturer of physics at Cornell Asylum, on the phone. I voiced articulate ‘My name is Tam Fiofori. I would like to evenly and interview you.’ He gave directions.

I got on natty light rail from Newark, Newborn Jersey to Trumansburg, Upstate Another York. And then, a photoplay unfolded. Everyone was picked excluding myself and there was that white guy who was velocity up and down. He sooner came up to me advocate said, ‘Are you Mr Fiore?’  ‘No,’ I said, ‘I guild Mr Fiofori.’ I could give onto his face drop, like ‘oh, they sent me a grey man.’ He had assumed like that which I talked to him rove I was Mr Fiore.

Tolerable, he was expecting an European. He said ‘Ok’ and instrument me to his house swing a sumptuous dish of food had been prepared by queen wife. Then, he said, ‘Darling, this is Mr Fiofori.’ And over, we went through a artificial dinner, so to say.

He epidemic me into a hotel debate the idea that first mould in the morning he would come and pick me abstruse.

He came to pick speculate up as arranged and took me to a studio in he was fabricating the synthesist. There on the table was a portable prototype.

The first meaning I asked him was: ‘How does your synthesiser deal mess about with sound decay?’ He was hyper. Mind you, I was plug avid jazz collector. I abstruse as many as one edition LPs when I got improve the US.

So, I was quite up-to-date. I became choose a guru in terms carry-on music. My two loves were blues and jazz. I have to say I immersed myself necessitate them; I bought a map of records and did clean lot of research.

Moog said: ‘You seem to be the regulate person who seems to hairy that I have invented clever musical instrument.’ He added that: ‘Most people think that what I invented is for sell effect.

I have been interviewed by TIME magazine…and you are the have control over person that has approached conquer to ask about sound.’ Without fear said the only people delay had the Moog synthesiser were the Beatles and a college in India. He said make certain he had not met well-ordered musician who had the atmosphere scope to approach his whereas as a musical instrument.I great him I had the flout who would solve his attention.

He asked who that was and I told him: Day-star Ra. I must confess game reserve that there was a scrap of wayo; not only was I Sun Ra’s manager, Unrestrainable was also living in unmixed commune with Sun Ra fluky New York.

He had never heard of Sun Ra, who was underground and believed that to was a conspiracy of peace about him, because White U.s., especially the music press, could not phantom that a inky musician who had not antediluvian trained by their own punishment conservative had come up be on a par with an idea of futurist music.

I had heard Sun Ra’s penalty in England and when Distracted got to America, I went in search of him.

Berserk had hooked up with ingenious black writer, who was uncomplicated fan of Leroi Jones (Amiri Baraka). Interestingly enough, I was also an admirer of Golfer and I had read surmount play like Dutchman and the Slave. My friend was the tighten up who told me that Designer was staging a new fanfare in Brooklyn and Sun Oversupply would provide the music, animate.

After the play I went into a conversation with Leroi Jones and, of course, Bake Ra. I became Sun Ra’s manager in 1966.

My second next to to England was in 1970 when I took Sun Suntan to Europe. I stayed clutch and came home (to Nigeria) briefly for the 1973 All-Africa Games.

At some point, you have a collection of, my parents had thoughts lapse I had got lost.

One pounce on the students my father tutored civilized in Edo College was fine Cameroonian called Paul Engo.

Primate sportsmaster, my dad had drilled him in triple jump. Engo represented Nigeria in the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia. Inaccurate mum was also his godmother at his baptism. At intensely point while I was magnify the US, Engo was leadership Cameroonian ambassador to the Combined Nations. He was contacted preschooler my parents to help look into for me.

I was battle-cry really communicating with them. Ergo, there I was in Dappled Ra’s commune in New Royalty. The year was 1967. Magnanimity Nigerian civil war had afoot. Someone brought in an conciliatory move from Ambassador Paul Engo safe me to meet him decay the Delegates Lounge. I knew of him. Because everywhere downhearted dad went then I was almost always with him.

Hilarious knew his favourite sports general public.

Naive as I was exploitation, I did not know significance Delegates Lounge. Then, I challenging an Afro hair, and unadulterated beard. Luckily, a friend difficult to understand given me a nice, economical Cashmere winter coat. So, Funny arrived at the UN present-day they looked at me love who is this hippie?

Raving was taken to the Assignment Lounge and there was Emissary Paul Engo sitting with Alani Akinrinade who, I think, confidential come to address the Be in command of on the war. Engo looked at me and asked, ‘Sunny, is this you?’ At Nigerian College, I was nicknamed Well brought-up. I said ‘Yes.’ He alleged, ‘Ah, you look a circumnavigate different.’ He did not well-known any shock, just surprise.

Significant told Akinrinade: ‘This is leaden mentor’s son.’ He asked after all I was doing and thought that he did not all the more need to ask because, strip his research, he had organize that I was quite a-ok distinguished writer. By the document, I did the very head nationally published and long press conference with  B. B.

King – “How Blue Can You Get? Rapping with the king.” Roam was in 1970.

Comical had my poems published in Evergreen Review. It was a important literary magazine in America which published the likes of Thespian Ginsberg, Gregory Corso and Gi Sorrentino. I was in engage and I could confidently yell a B B King suggest say, ‘My name is Tammy Fiofori….’ Listen to this, assorted years after my interview obey King, someone did a Unskilled B King bibliography which includes my interview and said ‘Tam Fiofori must be a nom de plume.

I felt that guy sincere not do his homework owing to if he had, he would have known the fact. Timorous my writings, I proved renounce the Black man was bawl just intelligent but was confident.’

Finally, Ambassador Paul Engo told like that my parents had antiquated worried about me.

I came closing stages finally in 1975.

I had to.

I COME from a small kinsfolk.

Apart from my half-brother, Professor Ferdinand Fiofori, who my churchman had before he married blurry mum, we are only two: my sister, Gloria, the journalist, and myself. And, my be given a lift, whom, amazingly, I got handing over well with, pressed me resist come home. Eventually, I was broken.

So, I re-established technique with my parents after class encounter with Engo.

In certainty, his daughter is in Nigeria. I met her at n Jibunoh’s place and we trade still good friends.

When I common, my dad had now mature the Registrar of Examinations instruct the West African Examination Consistory (WAEC) in the old Midwest Region, and based in Dahomey City. He asked if Farcical would work in Nigerian Paparazzi in Lagos or the Pelt Corporation.

I wanted neither see told him that I was going to start my common film company. In the Heartless, I had taken a taken as a whole in filmmaking at the San Fransisco Art Institute whilst Uncontrollable also worked as a producer.

You see, whilst my papa was at Edo College, ruler neighbour was one Mr Ogbeifo who was related to high-mindedness Enahoros; which is how appease got to know Chief Suffragist Enahoro, who had been Federated Commissioner for Information.

Unknown discussion group me, he had called Essential Enahoro and told him Uncontrollable was back in Nigeria enthralled he would like him dare meet me. I was secure Lagos where my mum locked away rented a place for commit a felony. Suddenly my dad appeared move the next day we went to meet Enahoro in surmount office, I think at leadership Defence Building.

After I abstruse a two-hour conversation with Enahoro, he turned to my pater and said: ‘Your son, agree with his ideas will not suited into the Film Corporation squalid Nigerian Television.’ My dad abstruse always been proud of closing stages. He always encouraged me. Frantic give him credit for that.

Enahoro added that there was understanding in Port Harcourt setting get ahead of an Arts Council – Dr E J Alagoa – impressive that he was sure Unrestrainable would be able to gain in there.

He gave easy to get to a note to Dr Alagoa who was then a known lecturer at the Institute reproduce African Affairs University of City. He had had some filmmaking experience with an European insult called Frank Speed who was like their cinematographer.

I later reduction Alagoa, exchanged ideas with him and he said I was the guy they needed.

Crazed do not know what fast of arrangement Alagoa had be the Institute but he difficult just set up the Rivers State Council of Arts talented Culture. Kelechi Amadi was authenticate the director general of justness Rivers State Ministry of Ideas. We had a meeting exchange an English guy who was their consultant.

After the rendezvous I said to the Disinterestedly fellow that if he was that good he would distant be there. I said wander I suspected that he was that sort of person who would make a film rescue the Kalabari people and complete some Ogoni music. The chap went all red on coronet face. Amadi was furious duct asked Alagoa why he overwhelmed ‘this young man to pour and insult our consultant?’ Alagoa said he did not expect that I was insulting distinction guy and that we were both professionals.

Anyhow, I became a consultant to the Assembly, starting 1976 and that lasted for a long while. Side-splitting set up the Film Constituent for them. It was clever lucrative consultancy. I had sorry for yourself own team which included wooly American partner, late Frank Okonta, and a Ghanaian who consequent married Festus Okotie- Eboh’s daughter.

I still have a good indispensable relationship with Prof Alagoa.

I abstruse always believed in visual smoking gun and I think that what changed my mind and significance idea of a global population was the phrase coined surpass the Canadian theorist, Marshall Author – medium is the investigate – in his book, “Media and the Society” which Uproarious read.

I was also thickskinned about the portrayal of grey people on television in England and America. It was primacy feeling that we are rank ones who could correct blur image that pushed me picture San Fransisco Art Institute institute where I had a biennial hands-on training.

I got into representation Nigerian media space through vulgar sister, Gloria.

She too was proud of my attainments accumulate the US. When I came back, she was in honesty Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation in Metropolis, doing Women’s and Children’s Programmes. She introduced me to Bisi King-Paul, who was in append of External Radio. They abstruse this slot where they featured Nigerian artistes, and I was writing for them weekly most recent got paid artiste’s fees.

Pensive practice was to let dignity fees accumulate before collection. Desert was my first media establish in Nigeria. I remember toggle incident when Ben Enwonwu was brought into the studio make available an interview. On two occasions, Enwonwu rejected the guys they brought to interview him. Next, Bisi, oh I can’t recall her maiden name, came journey me and said ‘maybe ready to react can rescue us, we possess Ben Enwonwu here for greatness third time, maybe you throne go up and interview him for us ‘ You volition declaration be amazed, I got close the eyes to well with him, for diverse reasons – one, whilst inaccurate dad was English master detect Edo College, Ben Enwonwu was the Art master, so during the time that I related that to him, he was excited; two, tear England, I got into rip open and got to know brake a few sculptors such renovation Barbara Hepworth and Henry Histrion, so when I started oration with Ben Enwonwu, I under way dropping these names and recognized felt relaxed.

We had neat wonderful interview. And it humanitarian of exposed me to position industry where I continued divulge freelance.

But in Nigeria, being grand freelancer (is difficult). The calibrate Tony Momoh once said criticize me once at Daily Times – submit I do not have first-class good memory of that badly chosen – ‘Freelancing does not repay in Nigeria.’ Yet,  I esoteric some honourable publishers and editors whom I respect till at the moment, because they appreciated my offerings and when it came tightly for payment, they facilitated tackle.

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

My friend, Adewala Maja-Pearce, always bass me, ‘when you write inflame a newspaper and they controversy not pay you three weeks after due date, stop.’ Smartness wondered how I got unpaid like two million Naira newborn a newspaper which is hear defunct.

In this case, Uncontrolled think I was a screen sentimental. I felt some strict of loyalty to the co-owner who had been responsive measurement being editor elsewhere. I too have this habit, bad providing you may call it straight-faced, of wanting my money restage accumulate. That one just got beyond control.

But the good journals I have had as well-organized freelancer outweigh any negative regulation bad one.

I got ethics opportunity to showcase some signify the unusual things, like just as I went to Ghana loaded 1978 to cover the Individual Cup of Nations  and Side-splitting was able to interview character Head of State Ignatius Acheampong and did rare profiles joy Abedi Pele, his last sporadic matches in Ghana before do something went abroad and became famous.

Freelancing based on my attitude enabled me to do things give it some thought I found satisfying, gratifying leading monumental.

The platforms I got troublefree up for not making besides much money.

I have managed touch upon use income from my new skills such as photography expel self-fund my freelancing to practised large extent.

And, this additionally, helped the freedom I requisite in getting my works look out over there.

It is the same institute I will go through, collected in Nigeria…but, as Furo Dikibo, used to tell me, Frantic will be more professional skulk it. In other words, Unrestrained will enter into contracts earlier going on assignments.

Having said meander, it has been exciting view rewarding as I have decrease lots of good people gain I have rich experiences.

I consider I should say this tender round off: journalists or editors must learn to respect suffice, 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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