Aregbe Idris, a political science graduate of the University of Lagos, Akoka and chief executive officer of Number One Heritage Solution tells COMFORT OSEGHALE about his passion to preserve Nigeria's cultural values
You are a graduate of political science, yet your company is all about cultural preservation.
I'm just being who I am: I love promoting our culture. That doesn't mean my discipline is gone. It is the duty of everyone to promote our culture and redefine the image of Africans to the Western world.
What inspired the birth of Sisi Oge beauty pageant?
I don't see myself as an organiser of beauty pageants; the pageant is just a segment of what the company is promoting. The aim is to promote African values and cultural heritage through the Sisi Oge pageant. I just want to promote African culture because our youths are fast losing it. Lots of things are going wrong. Our girls are not interested in cooking African dishes; they have turned themselves to two-minute noodles. Western values and fashion that do not portray our values of the dignity of the human person have taken over our youths.
I began by attending international seminars on cultural values and governance in the grass roots; that was five years ago. The last seminar I attended was the United States African Sisters City conference, where all the mayors in the world were brought together to discuss cultural exchange programmes. I also had the opportunity to speak at another seminar where lots of people spoke up on the importance of promoting our cultural identity.
What did you learn from your Western counterparts at these cultural seminars?
It was then I discovered that the West appreciates our culture more than we do. It was the problem of we as Nigerians, Africans feeling that our culture is inferior to that of the West. Personally, I don't see our culture as inferior to any other. I decided afterwards to start a company that would promote our values as Africans through the entertainment media and education sector.
As a Muslim, how did your family feel about the Sisi Oge pageant?
It is not about what my family feels, it is what the general public feels about what I'm doing. Granted, beauty pageants have been bastardised, but our queens have never been involved in any scandal. We cannot continue to allow our girls to be exploited and dehumanised; something must be done to restore their dignity.
Apart from the participant's costumes, which are in African prints, what other input is there to promote the African heritage?
It is not just about the clothes or the hair which, of course, must reflect the African heritage. It is the also about the music used during the contest, the art exhibitions, and the duties of the winner after the event. These girls are tutored while in camp on our cultural values and the need to preserve them by respected senior citizens. There is also the talent hunt segment; last year, we showcased strong women in Africa. This year, we will be celebrating the strength of the African woman; those who have excelled in the aspect of the arts.
Are you married?
Yes.
For how long?
Two years now.
How did you meet your wife; was she a contestant?
I met her like any normal man (laughs), but she wasn't a participant anyway in the Sisi Oge contest. I had already started that before we met.
Is she comfortable with you organising pageants and being surrounded by beautiful women?
Well, she knows the man she married and she is aware there is nothing more to the pageants for me than promoting African values.
What were the initial hiccups you encountered when you started?
It has been interesting and tasking since we started in 2006 in terms of raising funds and reaching out to people. You also have to take into consideration the fact that people are not really interested at first, but what they fail to realise is that the culture of any country is an empowerment tool. It wasn't easy getting sponsors, but when those we approached realised it was a good concept and we knew what we were doing, they bought into it.
What exactly are the standards for the Sisi Oge?
Well, we don't place limits on the size or complexion of the contestant. We won't say because we're promoting African beauty that we will deny the light-skinned woman a chance. A chubby lady is welcome to apply because that is part of our African nature. There is quite a difference between a chubby and fat lady; so chubby ladies are welcome to apply. The most important aspect is what the contestants have to offer, their being able to pass across their messages of preserving our heritage and their ability to become cultural ambassadors.
For a while now, there have been talks of contestants becoming familiar with the organisers and judges of some pageants in order to emerge winner; have you had any experience like this so far?
Well, some of these girls apply for the contest with the aim of winning through any means; they feel they can buy their way. I usually tell them it is a free and fair contest. The contest is meant to promote the African values of morality, decency and integrity. As such, we cannot be seen to do otherwise. So far, we have been able to impress it on them that such ideas don't belong here.
Are you looking at expanding the pageant outside Nigeria?
Definitely, for the past two years, we have had contestants from outside Nigeria and we accept them. We have also received invites from various international pageants like the Miss Cultural Heritage World Nigeria. However, we have a mission and vision and will like to focus on that which is making our culture acceptable.
Your campaign to promote African values seems to be targeted at only women; don't you have programmes for men?
You will agree that women are the agents of change in our society. The duties of a woman in the home are also entwined with promotion of values in the society. That is why we're using them in a dignified manner. Train a woman, train a nation. I'm a man playing my part and I have several men working with me who are also playing theirs.
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