Henry Townsend and Making of Iwe-Iroyin
Henry Townsend was born in Exeter on December 1, 1815 and was ordained in England in 1842, left for Sierra Leone with Charles Andrew Gollmer and Samuel Ajayi Crowther, worked there for a few months, before he was transferred to the Yoruba mission, thereafter returned to England for a year, and later travelled to Abeokuta in Nigeria.
Penpushing reports that records showed that between 1846 to 1867, he established his mission in Abeokuta, and that was after Thomas Birch Freeman who was actually the first European to enter Abeokuta who arrived the ancient town on December 11, 1843.
The records added that Freeman returned to Badagry on December 24, where he met Reverend Henry Townsend and the duo celebrated Christmas Day together sharing the gospel in Badagry, and it was equally gathered that working with Samuel Crowther, a Yoruba Anglican priest, Townsend wrote several hymns in Yoruba and aided in the compilation of Crowther’s Yoruba primer.
BIRTH OF IWE-IROYIN
Penpushing further reports that the records said Townsend was against Crowther, a native Yoruba, becoming a Bishop and in 1859 Townsend published a Yoruba newspaper called ‘Iwe-Irohin’ said to have started off the print media in Nigeria.
The newspaper which lasted for 8 years between 1859 to 1867, before it folded up was the bilingual paper in Nigeria and was regarded as first indigenous newspaper in the whole of West Africa, a time when Nigeria was still a conglomeration of diverse kingdoms and cultures,
Penpushing also reports that the newspaper, known as “Iwe Irohin Fun Awon Ara Egba Ati Yoruba (A Newspaper for the Egba and Yoruba People}” was aimed at educating and with a desire to bridge the gap between various communities.
The birth of the indigenous newspaper was pivotal moment not only marked the introduction of the press to the nation but also signaled the beginning of a new era in communication and information dissemination.
Penpushing reports that “Iwe Irohin” was initially published in Yoruba, the language spoken by a significant portion of the southwestern Nigerian population, and this linguistic choice was not just a convenience, but a conscious effort to engage and educate the local people in a language they understood best.
The newspaper became a platform for discussions on various topics, including religion, education, culture, and social issues, and in 1866, and was produced in two versions; the English language and the Yoruba language, of which the English was sold for a penny.
Penpushing further reports that the records revealed that the newspaper was published biweekly with 8 pages for 129 cowries; about 3000 copies were being circulated every two weeks, and at initial stage focused on church news.
The newspaper later expanded to cover topics like Abeokuta, cotton, and cocoa statistics and by 1860, local ads and government notices were included, which was popular among the literate population in Abeokuta and Yoruba land, and it served as a source for church activities, religious figures’ updates, and local information.
Penpushing also reports that the newspaper played a pivotal role in fostering literacy and enlightenment among the Yoruba people as it provided them with a window to the wider world, covering both local events and international news.
The Iwe-Iroyin content ranged from religious teachings and moral lessons to news about the British Empire and the abolition of slavery, while the diverse range of topics in this collection appeals to a wide audience and mirrors the cultural diversity of Nigerian society.
Penpushing reports that “Iwe Irohin” faced its share of challenges, including financial constraints and occasional clashes with colonial authorities, who were wary of its potential influence, but the newspaper persisted, guided by its commitment to empowering the local population with knowledge and equally set a precedent for other newspapers that would follow in its footsteps, shaping the future of journalism in Nigeria.
The development, however, turned sour in 1867, following a revolt which occurred in Abeokuta due to political and cultural differences between colonists and the Egba indigenes and this led to the expulsion of Europeans and the destruction of the printing equipment of the newspaper, as rioters razed the newspaper’s premises.
Penpushing further reports that this ugly situation led to the ending of ‘Iwe-Iroyin’ production, barely eight years after its existence, but despite the untimely death of ‘Iwe Irohin’ it had successfully cultivated a reading habit among the Abeokuta people, leaving them longing for news even after its closure.
The legacy of ‘Iwe-Iroyin’, however, lives on in the country’s vibrant media landscape as the establishment laid the foundation for the important role that newspapers would play in advocating for societal change, championing human rights, and fostering a sense of national identity.
Penpushing also reports that Townsend vision encapsulated in the pages of “Iwe Irohin,” continues to inspire generations of journalists and communicators in Nigeria, as the country continues to evolve on the global stage.
The story of “Iwe Irohin’, no doubt serves as a testament to the power of information, communication, and the indomitable spirit of those who seek to ignite positive change, among was the establishment of The Lagos Times and Gold Coast Colony Advertiser in 1880 and was the first English-language newspaper in Nigeria which catered primarily to British colonial officials and European settlers in Lagos
Penpushing reports that in 2012 Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ogun State Chapter made efforts to resuscitate ‘Iwe-Iroyin Newspaper’ 140 years after its demise, with the relaunch held at the Press Centre, with dignitaries in attendance expressing their joy over the resuscitation.
The 32-page tabloid, which is an initiative of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Ogun State Council, was reviewed by Adegoke Raufu, the Head of the Department of Mass Communication at the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta.
Penpushing further reports that the newspaper was printed on pure white bond of 60-gram thickness, while eight pages of the paper are presented in full-processed colours, and the remaining 24 pages are in black and white, in same vein, news pages run in six columns, while interviews and features pages are run in four columns.
The reviewer Dr Goke Rauf at the events noted that Iwe Irohin is a good attempt and a commendable effort at re-living the past, adding that it shows the dedication of journalists in Ogun State to upholding the past for the purpose of consolidating the present.
Penpushing also reports that Rauf at the ceremony pointed out that what was required for all stakeholders was uniting for the future of journalism practice in Nigeria, pointing out that all participants are endangered species.
The then Special Assistant on Information to former Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, Yemisi Fadairo in his remarks called for a regular media summit, which should focus on the need for professionals to be alive to the responsibilities of taking over ownership of media establishment.
‘There is need for a summit to think of how professionals can come up to set up and sustain newspapers, because politicians have hijacked newspapers. It is not only detrimental to the journalism profession, but also to the nation and democracy’, he stated
Penpushing reports that Fadairo noted that only few newspapers in the country are owned by journalists, lamenting that some of the newspapers like Newswatch and National Mirror, owned by journalists, were sold to a businessman.
Meanwhile, the resuscitation attempt of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ogun State Chapter, sadly hit brickwall due to financial constraints as the production failed to fly positively under one year, and has since been rested
References (Ajisafe 1924: 85), (Olorunnisola, 2001), (Adetula, 2002), Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji (2012) and Wikipedia,
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