The Aboki in You

One of my all-time greatest strengths is my ability to be invisible whenever I choose to.

I love the anonymity of being in a place where absolutely no-one knows who I am or anything about me. At those times I’m just another random soul walking by and its great seeing people from that perspective, especially in the way they react to me.

So very often, I get into my shabbiest clothes and take long, lone evening walks around my Estate.



I get lost in the darkest streets, talk to myself, and sing loudly in my torturous voice, all while I do my booty exercises. (Yes booty exercises!! If you pay me girls, I could teach you!!)

As I walk along excitedly, I find myself unconsciously saying hello to random passers-by. I made a very interesting discovery about Nigerians during this practice.

The majority of people would not respond when being greeted by someone they do not know. Their reaction is usually a slight withdrawal. I think it’s probably fear that I may want something from them so they do not feel comfortable about being greeted at all!!

It's the exact same reaction I get when I try saying hello to someone I don't know at a bar, restaurant or any other public place....even church!!




I can attest to this because of my own reaction to the really annoying men who would try to talk to me from their cars as they drive past. My reaction to them is justifiable as their intentions are very clear. However, it’s possible that even amongst this group of people there may be one who has no other intention than to simply say hello.

Anyway in my discovery, I found that there is a particular group of people who would always say hello immediately with no hesitation, fear or mistrust. In fact, they would even say hello to me before I even notice that they are there.

These people are the Hausa Muslims that are usually the security guards of the homes I pass. The Abokis (‘Aboki’ means ‘my friend’ in Hausa) as they are popularly called, are indeed the friendliest set of people I have ever met.

Whether it is one sitting alone in front of his gate, or a congregation of them sitting together for a meal or gisting on a mat outside, I have never passed by without a friendly greeting from them.

They don’t know me, and I surely do not look like one of them!!

I have always admired the brotherliness that exists amongst Hausa Muslims. They always look out for one another and are very willing to help anyone that they can, whether it’s one of them or not.


Some Hausas in Kano State, Northern Nigeria

I find it so impressive that an entire group of people have such a rare and commendable personality trait.

My fellow Nigerians, I think we have reached a point in our nation where we all need to invoke the Aboki that I’m certain is on the inside of all of us.

Nigeria and the Culture of Death

Ever since this new development occurred in Jos, Nigeria, I’ve felt the need to say something about it on the Blog.

Primarily because it’s something that has really affected a lot of people and there’s been a mass outcry against the horrific deaths of fellow Nigerians in the incident. Also because it is a relevant issue, one that everyone is talking about; and so I felt like I should also say something.

However, the very honest reason why I haven’t said anything about it since it happened is simply because I had absolutely nothing to say!! Age-old wisdom advises that when you don’t have anything to say, Silence is your best friend.

I haven’t had anything to say about it, because, cold and heartless as this might make me seem to you, I felt nothing about it. I saw all these people, men, women, children, butchered and burned to death for nothing, and I felt absolutely NOTHING!!

That, my friend, is what terrifies me the most.

In my 26 years on this earth, spent living in relative comfort and security, I have become so de-sensitized by my environment that I feel nothing even when being confronted with such evil in its purest form.

I was on the beach not too long ago, just sitting quietly in front of the water. There were only a few random people around me. As I watched the waves and took in the general beauty of nature, I noticed that there was something the waves kept tossing toward the land. It was a dead body!!

You would imagine that pandemonium would have immediately broken out, and everyone would have screamed, particularly me, and run away, just as it is in the movies. No, not in this reality.

I simply shook my head, as did the other people there, and maintained my position in front of the water for another hour. Very soon, the corpse soon became to me just another element in the general ambience of the beautiful waterfront.
I can give you countless other instances of how I and people around me have reacted to such horror situations, right here in Lagos.

What happened in Jos is barbaric. My heart does go out to everyone who has had to suffer such inhumanity. I really do wish I had something to say that would bring immediate change and relief to all the victims, but in truth, I don’t.




In my country, Death has become a way of life. My greatest fear right now is that I may have been assimilated into its culture.

Pictures from Jos/Haiti Benefit Concert

The 'Helping Hands' Jos/Haiti Benefit Concert held this past weekend at Jades Palace, Victoria Island, Lagos.

It was a very interesting evening with great music and laughter while achieving a good objective.

Here are some pictures from the event:


Nollywood Star, Zack Orji


Singer, Yinka Davis


Chiedu Ifeozo - Poet


Jesse Jags - Future Awards Producer of the Year


Bez - Artiste


Taiwo Kamson, Tari Ekiyor and Oke Folashayo (Head of the Inner Circle group)


DJ Zeez performing 'O ri e o fo ka sibe'


Banky W - performer


Inner Circle Team

Lend a 'Helping Hand'

Like the Real Naija person that I am, whenever I heard anything about a Fund-Raising event toward Haiti here in Lagos, the first thing I said was ‘Na today?!’

There have been several of them; I even attended one and all I kept thinking while I was there was “If these people think even for a nano-second that their money is getting to even the Haitian beggar here in Nigeria, they are truly Magas!!”

So when I was contacted to participate in yet another Jos/Haiti Benefit, my finger didn’t hesitate to hit the delete button. However, I stopped for a moment and thought to give them the benefit of the doubt. So I replied asking if they could verify to me that the money realized in the Fund-raising will actually get to the people who have been victimized by these two events.

They’ve been able to convince me, so I come bearing good news.

Inner Circle is a humanitarian group of young people in Lagos, Nigeria, who have partnered with the World Health Organization (W.H.O.) to raise funds for the victims of the Jos Crisis and the Haiti earthquake.


MI

In conjunction with W.H.O. they are holding a Benefit Concert tagged ‘Helping Hands’, on Sunday 28th February, 2010 at Jades Palace, Adeola Odeku, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria. The concert will feature great, great music from a range of Nigerian Artistes including MI, BANKYW, BEZ, MODELE, DAGRIN, COBHAMS, KEL, MIKE AREMU, TOSIN MARTINS and many more. Time: 6pm


Banky W

By buying a ticket to attend the Concert, you will be reaching out a Helping Hand to all those thousands of people whose lives have been brutally altered by disasters both in Jos and Haiti. You will also be getting yourself set for a FUN, FUN evening of great Nigerian music.


Kel



Bez & Cobhams

Each ticket costs N10, 000. You can buy your tickets from Swe Bar, Safari travels in City Mall, Genesis Deluxe Cinemas at the Palms, Lekki, OR call Taiwo on 08056045523 (or e-mail - taiwokamson@gmail.com)

TARIERE followers (the special people that you are) have an opportunity to win FREE tickets to the Concert!!

All you need to do is write a very short tribute to all the people who have lost their lives in Haiti and Jos. It can be one verse/stanza or 5lines. It has to be punchy and heartfelt. Followers with the most creative entries will receive FREE Concert tickets from TARIERE.

Submit your tribute in the ‘Comment’ box below or if you have trouble leaving a comment here, leave it on the TARIERE Facebook group page.

Haiti, Jos......and Karaoke!!

Hey guys, how are you doing?! I haven’t been here since like 1840….been so occupied with….can’t really remember what exactly now, but I’m sure you understand. So much has happened since our last conversation (even though it was one-sided), but I’m alive and well as I’m sure you are too….well you’d have to be to be reading this!!

Here’s a rundown of some events and major occurrences that were remarkable to me in the past week:

• On Sunday, I committed first degree murder!! Completely ambushed, bruised, stabbed, buried, and then dug out and cremated Alicia Key’s ‘If I ain’t got you’, in front of a crowd of witnesses at Karaoke!! Singing my kind of bad should be outlawed!! It was horrendous, absolutely life-threatening….Simon Cowell would have called Security on me and immediately resigned from American Idol if I had done that performance in front of him!! It was that bad!! But I had great fun doing it…and that’s what matters!! (next time I’ll even record it for you!)

• I love Larry King!! I would still watch Larry King even if he decides on one of his shows to perform TuFace’s ‘African Queen’ in nothing but his suspenders, glasses and clutching his prop microphone with those hideous lights on his set flashing in the background!!


Larry King

(Okay I might have to reconsider that!!). But seriously, I love Larry King!! I was really depressed by a segment of his show sometime this week, in which CNN’s Anderson Cooper was reporting live from Haiti and a little boy who had been injured by all the violence came into the camera shot. He was bleeding soooooo bad from his head, that he was wiping his face as though a bowl of water was being poured over his head. It was crazy because he still had to keep running to find a safe place, even though he was that badly hurt.


• The city of Jos in Nigeria, was once treasured as a peaceful tourist destination right in the center of Nigeria. Today, it’s literally hell on earth for the people who live there as the violent clashes (which they say is religious, but I seriously question) is claiming more and more lives by the day. I was so sad to hear about how really old people had to hide in holes just so they won’t be butchered.


Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria

As I’m sure you are already aware, terrible things are happening in this world of ours. However, in all that, one thing that’s really encouraging is how the good in most people is awakened when confronted with the suffering of others. Classic example is Haiti where thousands of volunteers have dedicated themselves to helping the victims of the disaster.

I know there are a lot depressing things all around us, but take a cue from me and just keep singing!! It doesn’t matter if you sound like a nightmare…at least it will make you laugh…even if at yourself!!

Or better still, help someone around you who is in need!!

Any other ideas on keeping sane in an insane world??!