By Cletus Opukeme
Journalism has its different phases from its origin, fom the tabloid to magazines and newspaper to digital journalism which gave birth to an Avant Garde journalism in the Ijaw riverine oppressed communities in Niger Delta region
An Ijaw erudite scholar, Professor Benedict Ebimotimi Benebai, a Professor of Theater Arts at the prestigious Niger Delta University, in Bayelsa State in a lecture at the launching ceremony of ” Iduwini Voice”, a community based newspaper in Warri, Delta state has suggested the concept of AVARDE GARDE Journalism that is peculiar and practiced within the Ijaw oppressed people in Niger Delta region which helps to tell their own story in a way best suited to them, instead of waiting for strangers to tell their story distorted and skewed to suit their conscience and paid masters for economic and political reasons.
The erudite Professor has tagged the Ijaw news reporters and publishers from the coastal Ijaw communities who are facing similar environmental problem from birth with this kits and kins with different challenges from environmental pollution, political subjugation and so on that are under reported or with skewed reporting by mainstream media in the country as practicing an ”Avant Garde” Journalism.
Avant Garde Journalism is a strange word coined by the erudite professor which he defined as the media practice of gathering information in the riverine, effortlessly accessing remote areas and gather stories that might have been disregarded by the mainstream media.
According to Professor Benebai, ” Avant Gart journalists enjoy the trust of local communities, facilitating interviews and information gathering. They dwell in their riverine environment consistently, they strongly capture and underscore environmental issues, such as pollution, conservation, environmental sustainability, eco-,friendly practices, renewal energy transition, carbon neutrality, climatic resilience, biodiversity preservation, waste reduction management, sustainable development, Green infrastructure and environmental stewardship in the Ijaw areas of Niger Delta.
“Avant Garde Journalism is community-centric because it focuses on the needs, concerns and stories of the local communities. It is hyper local because it covers news as issues specific to the local communities. It is importantly, the alternative journalism which amplifies the voices and perspectives of the ordinary people, not just elites or officials.
” Significantly, it seems to inspire community- led solutions and initiatives in the face of challenges. Avant Garde Journalism is essential for democratic engagement in the unique riverine region.”
The scholar gave many reasons for the emergence of the ‘Avant Garde’ Journalism practice in the Niger Delta region, he cited total dissatisfaction of the mainstream media that prioritizes sensationalism and profit over truth and depth, leading to the desire for establishment of alternative journalism.
The scholar also said that technological advancement gave rise to Avant Garde Journalism in the Ijaw riverine communities with the rise of digital media and social media platforms.
He added,”these developments have greatly empowered journalism practice in Nigeria thus giving opportunity for new voices and innovative story telling methods. Interestingly, readers seek in-depth and diverse perspectives that challenge traditional narratives.
“The Avant Garde’Journalism by extension is a journalism being run by the oppressed for fairness, justice and equity. It is the voice from the gods of Ijaw nation that everybody, both the news agents and Ijaw people cannot easily distinguished from one another.
A kind of journalism for the people and by the oppressed Ijaw people. It is only a thin line separating two, the news agents and the Ijaw riverine people. The professor may be 100% right in his new found word of ‘Avant Garde’ Journalism practiced by Ijaw speaking media practitioners in Nigeria.
The reporters are the same people who are born and bred from the oil rich, but impoverished environmentally polluted riverine communities. They know the story line, they know the enemies, they know the oil wealth shipped abroad, they felt the blatant oppression and marginalization. This writer may be one of the Avant Garde’ Journalists who have been reporting the creeks over two decades.
Avant Garde Journalism often pushes boundaries in form and style, attracting journalists seeking innovative ways to tell stories
Essentially as a media tradition growing from the subterranean soil, it focuses on marginalized voices. It gives prominence to enlarging diminished voices and perceptions, thus, promoting diversity and inclusion. They are cost effective to operate” He added.
He continued, “Avant Garde Journalism is a form of journalism growing from neglected and oppressed soil of the Ijaw nation. The journalists share stories and traditions and help preserve the cultural heritage of the riverine communities. They are very active and fearless news agents and sonorous voices of grassroots reporting by providing ground-level reportage, though capturing of voices and experiences of ordinary people.”
Opukeme is the Publisher of Daily Watch who practiced Avant Garde Journalism from the creeks of Ijaw nation.
