KEGITES’ CLUB: NOT JUST A FORUM FOR RELAXATION

MANY social clubs have evolved on Nigerian campuses over the years, but one that seems to have withstood the test of time is the Kegites Club International.

With over 100 branches across the world, the Kegites Club International, formerly known as Palmwine Drinkers’ Club, was established in 1962 at the temporary site of the University of Ife, now The Polytechnic of Ibadan.

Starting with just 11 members, the club has since grown to be a world renowned social club. Having visited some Kegites’ Club at some institutions, Campusbeats gathered some facts about the Kegites’ Club as members were willing to shed some light on the misconstrued notions about the club.

Although the word shrine would come as a shock to anyone, unlike the shrines from the movie scenes, the kegites’ shrine is a cool spot where the kegites meet and relax.

The president of each club is called chief and at the first sight of a kegites’ chief, one could not but wonder if they were dressed for an occasion, as they often wear flowing gowns with beads to adorn their neck and wrists. The regalia as it is called are worn by the chiefs, while short replicas of it are worn by other members of the club.

In a chat with Campusbeats, the chief of the club at the Lagos State University, Chief Kareem Olalekan Idris, who is a 500 level student at the Faculty of Law, revealed the dos and don’ts of the club, “contrary to general belief, Kegites’ club is not a cult, it is meant to promote African culture and members try to emulate that in all we do. No member of the club must belong to any secret society or do anything that would tarnish the image of the club,” he expalined.

Renamed Kegites Club International in 1986, the headquarters is domicile at the Obafemi Awolowo University where the club started.

Mr Ewatomi Adekunle Saheed, who was the chief at the Obafemi Awolowo University during the 2005 and 2006 session and had since remained active in the clubs’ activities also shared some details about the club, “Kegites Club is not just a forum for relaxation, it is a family on its own.

With branches on almost every institution in Nigeria, the club is an avenue to celebrate the richness of African culture.

The branches are called Ilyads and they are named according to their hemispheres. For instance, the Esa Oke Polytechnic is called Ilya du Mountain; the College of Education Ilesha is ilya du Chalk; Unilag is Ilya du Lagoon, LASU is known as Ilya du Akete; Ahmadu Bello University is called Ilya du Turban and there are other clubs also outside Nigeria.

“The club at the East London University is known as Ilya du Queen, there is Ilya du Punjab in India and the list just goes on with other branches in Canada and USA,” he explained.

The chiefs further enlightened Campusbeats about the ranks of the clubs’ executives. Second in command to the chief was the Elder, while public relations officer is called the parrot. The secretary general answers to Feather while the financial secretary is known as Cowry, with other funny names on its executives’ list.

The penultimate chief at the Kaduna State Polytechnic who also spoke with Campusbeats, Mr Rafiu Alhazaan, a graduate from the Department of Purchasing and Supply, said, “Kegites’ Club at The Kaduna Polytechnic is known as Ilya du Arewa and it is the first kegites club in the northern hemisphere. Kegites’ club is a social cultural club which promotes African culture through western education; it is an avenue for students to relate with one another and relax after a hard day’s work,” he explained.

With the motto ‘Unity in Diversity’, the uniqueness of the club is its love for the palmwine and traditional folklore. And the coined language they speak would definitely put a smile on one’s face.