Investigative journalist Fisayo Soyombo is ‘Culture Icon’ for 2024
By Editor
FILMMAKER and host of the viral talk show #WithChude, Chude Jideonwo has announced his Culture Icon for 2024. It’s award-winning investigative journalist and founder of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), Mr. Fisayo Soyombo. Similar to the Person of the Year recognitions by media organisations, Jideonwo’s annual piece honours the one person in culture who most signified what it means to be Nigerian or a global citizen in the previous year.
“It captures the ethos and pathos of our reality in the past year,” Jideonwo said, “either capturing its essence in a way that mirrors back to society who we really are, or speaking to our better selves as we strive to be better and do better.”
The 2024 honour was Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter, Rema (Divine Okunbor).
Writing in his article announcing the pick, Jideonwo said: “He is easily the most important investigative journalist alive in Nigeria today. And Nigeria, as it stands today, doesn’t deserve Soyombo. It has co-opted, corrupted and silenced enough voices to make it clear there is very little reward in fighting for it – even the people you fight for might end up attacking you. But Soyombo doesn’t care. He is not afraid. There is something deep inside him that drives him to fight and slay giants, even at the cost to his life, liberty and livelihood. He won’t back down.
“When the central figure in the smuggling expose took him to court, slamming him with a N500 million lawsuit, he showed up and gave a robust defense of himself, confident in the work he has done and the spirit of that work. And when, confronted by his resolve, the figure sort to back out and have the court dismiss, Soyombo said no – he must finish what he started. Perhaps in proving this case, some justice could have been served and some truth revealed.
“When last did you meet a person with such chutzpah? Nigeria doesn’t yet deserve a hero like him. We have eaten too many of our heroes alive. And because of that we must count ourselves lucky, blessed, exceedingly fortunate, that in the midst of such darkness, we have light like him – shining bright, blazing forth, and giving us true hope. Soyombo provides hope that Nigeria and Nigerians desperately need today. And for that, he is the Culture Icon for 2024!”
Fisayo Soyombo
www.withChude.com is a subscription podcast and video-on-demand over-the-top streaming service hosting films, series, podcasts, documentaries, interviews, events and blogs from Africa – that strengthen the mind, the heart, and the spirit. It has emerged as the only independent media platform in the region depending primarily on paid subscribers. Africa’s streaming platform, inspired by a singular voice.
The flagship interview show from which the platform sprung is always going viral for speaking to Africa’s biggest celebrities in conversations that strengthen mental, emotional and spiritual health. It is widely syndicated across terrestrial television and social media platforms, reaching an average of 8 million people weekly – positioning it as the most watched and most syndicated weekly talk show (digital + traditional) in the region.
Our content range includes documentaries, docu-series, docu-reality, travelogues, investigations, talk shows, panels, specials, interviews, podcasts, how-tos, reality, reality soaps, personal stories, makeover shows, live events and stand-up, masterclasses, telethons, personal stories, docudramas, docu-fiction, and biopics.
Films in its slate including the award winning Awaiting Trial, Daniel vs Ekweremadu and the upcoming Where is Chijioke? and Is It Your Money?, the 4-part docu-series on Nigeria’s former petroleum minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke.
