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Remember Ajasco, Drum Magazine and Pacesetters Series?

7 comments

Posted by: Guest Author on September 27, 2007 Under: Discussion Lounge, Life & Culture, Nigeria



By Segun Adegoke. Atlanta, US.

alinco.JPGI grew up reading DC comics, Commando, Battle Stations, James Hadley Chase, and Nick Carter. Then there were other indigenous publications e.g. Pacesetters Novels that were quite popular in Nigeria many years ago.

To the Nigerian readers, this post may mean something, well, at least to those old enough to read in the 70’s and early 80’s. Ikebe Super, Papa Ajasco, Boy Alinko, Miss Pepeiye, Pa Jimoh, Lulu, and Dauda the sexy guy are characters that do certainly ring a bell, I hope.

These characters held many Nigerians spellbound for years, on the pages of some comic prints that have since become dinosauric. Sad. Many of these strips were often full of silly but hilarious drama, and not infrequently laced with risque dialogue and sketches. Remember?

There were also Drum, Spear and Atoka the Yoruba drama magazine and many other soft sell periodicals. I liked the Pacesetters series in particular, and read several of those - now, I can vague remember the stories.

I was able to trace the author of Atoka, Alade Salami to nigeria-arts.net. And with some rare luck I rediscovered some (scanned) strips of the Ajasco family and others at afrocommerce.com, as well. There is also Pacesetter novels for sale at Africanbookcenter.com

These were icons among Nigerian teenagers in those good old days of Atari games, bazooka chewing gums, and Kalkitos (sp). Give me back those days please!

Enjoy, well if they haven’t already out-lived their relevance.

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7 comment(s)

  1. Niki | Oct 3, 2007 | Reply

    thanks for this info. I remember all these characters and I’m glad I have the opportunity to read them again!

    thanks,

  2. pammy | Oct 3, 2007 | Reply

    Pace setters really got teens to read in Africa. I remember talking to a friend of mine from a different region of Africa and he mentioned writers like Dan fulani….i think those books did a good job of opening the younger generations to different regions of Africa.

    I wonder what my baby sisters generation is reading these days….

    pammy

  3. Omotaylor | Oct 4, 2007 | Reply

    JEROME DICKY I understand is popular with the younger generation nowadays, but dont ask me about it, Google I believe will do a better job than me.

  4. Austyn O. Azoganokhai | Oct 5, 2007 | Reply

    I couldn’t help holding back tears as I visited the link on Pacesetters novels.The nostalgic feelings are so deep-the good old days of so much innocence and joy has left us forever! Worse still,our Children are not reading any more.The Nollywood syndrome has dealt a heavy blow on our hitherto reading culture.The other day,I visited all the book markets at Aba and Owerri,searching for even old copies of The Pacesetters novels,to no avail.I wish its publishers can get them to return to our Bookstores again.Our society will be better off for it.

  5. Pammy | Oct 6, 2007 | Reply

    Omotaylor: Jerome Dickey –that is some intense adult content!! :D

    Austin: I agree. Pacesetters were so great!

  6. Omotaylor | Oct 6, 2007 | Reply

    Pamm: when I sampled the opinion of some 18 -24 year olds here, I was told they read Jerome Dickey, and the reason why i said I should not be asked about it is because I was hearing it for the first time, but then if that;s what they read, it goes to show the signs of times in agreement with Austyn. I really wonder what goes on in the young minds we have nowadays. Now allow me to go “kill” those youngsters, maybe they were winding me up for being a sunday school teacher, and maybe not. lol!!!

  7. eki | Jul 17, 2008 | Reply

    like Austyn, tears flowed too….boy!! was i happy to see that pacesetter is back for good…o!! those days when love was true, natural and very romantic!!! i wonder what youngsters are reading today? God help them..
    Any idea of where these novels can be purchased in Lagos Nigeria?
    Cheers

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