Introducing Then and Beyond: A Journey Through Time, A Mirror for Today

Columnist: Oluseun Fatope

History, they say, repeats itself—not always in the same way, but often in rhythm and rhyme. The battles we fight today, the values we hold dear, and the institutions we question or defend are seldom new. They are echoes of struggles, decisions, and ideologies that came before us. “Then and Beyond” is a column born out of this awareness—a commitment to tracing the path from yesterday to today, and asking: What has changed? What has endured? And where do we go from here?

In a world where the pace of modern life often leaves little room for reflection, this column seeks to pause time, rewind the reels, and rewatch the tapes—offering readers a lens that connects past events, movements, and moments to the evolving present. Each edition will juxtapose a slice of history—be it political, cultural, social, or academic—with its modern counterpart, offering not just a review of “then,” but an interrogation of “now”, and fostering a picture of “beyond”.

From the corridors of colonial resistance to the hashtags of modern activism, from classroom protests in the ’70s to digital campaigns today, from age-old gender roles to shifting paradigms of identity— “Then and Beyond” will be a space to think critically about continuity and change. It will be a space to rediscover the forgotten, revisit the misrepresented, and recognize the unfinished.

Why does this matter? Because understanding where we come from gives meaning to where we are going. In a time when misinformation, selective memory, and historical amnesia threaten progress, revisiting history is not an indulgence—it is a necessity. And yet, history alone is not enough. This column dares to ask: What are we doing with what we know? How are we using yesterday’s lessons to shape tomorrow’s reality?

“Then and Beyond” will not be a passive retelling of facts. It will be a dialogue between generations, an inquiry that demands engagement. Readers will be invited to challenge narratives, reflect on personal histories, and consider how they, too, are actors in the continuum of time.

This is not just a series. It’s a compass.

Welcome to “Then and Beyond”.