Jungle Justice PSA

Bovi is a Naija comedian and he has become one of my favorites with this public service announcement. When I first saw the video I was actually very scared that this was going to be another lynching and I really was close to tears when I saw the tire...Bovi go kill person with hypertension o

The PSA actually covers why we as a society need to get rid of jungle justice. It can stand as a Naija film on its own sef. The PSA mentioned the law (which is rarely mentioned or even respected in Naija). When people call ole! make una hand am to the police, dem go hand am to the law and na the law go deal with am. Granted Naija's legal system has a ways to go but if we can at least allow others to exercise their right to a trial instead of being the judge, jury and executioner, Naija would be a bit well off.

And then, we can tackle our legal system. Hopefully this PSA makes it on the radio and on the television channels.

ALUU 4

Four University of Port Harcourt students named Ugonna, Ilyod, Tekana and Chidiaka were this morning beaten to death by indegenes of Aluu community for allegedly stealing phones and laptops in an off campus hostel...

Instead of calling the police and getting them arrested, people of this community beat these students who were not even armed until they stopped breathing. Then they took pictures, filmed it and spread it around. This happened today in PH. We are gradually losing our humanity in this country. The boys were all in their early 20s. I hope some people get arrested for this. 
Source, and another

When I say Nigeria is mental, people think I'm cursing the nation. Nigeria is not cursed, its people are just mental. There are so many psychological problems in that nation that one could write volumes of books.

I detest jungle justice. I remember writing about a young man who was beaten, burnt and murdered by a mob over a necklace. I don't even care what the crime is, I really don't. But in all the cases, the victim is poor--and I stand by that statement. Why don't the people storm to the local chairman or governor's house and put a tire on his/her head and burn them? Because those folks aren't poor. Granted that Nigerians are fed up. But, nothing and absolutely nothing excuses this mob mentality, this absolute disregard for life.

I am disgusted, I am appalled and I just can't with this country. And we just celebrated 52 years of independence recently and already, we're back to such evil. This is not even animalistic, animals don't do this. This is just Nigerians, pure Nigerians.

I can't even begin to fathom what was going through those poor young men's minds, or their parents when they see the video--trust Naija, there is a video. If it's not a rape that is being videotaped, it's a woman being stripped naked or it's a murder being committed. Just when I think the country is moving forward, it takes the greatest leap backwards.

lagos na wa o

100-year-old Mushin market demolished

The market that has been in existence for over one hundred years was yesterday demolished by the Lagos state government via the Mushin Local Council. The government is planning to build an ultra-modern market in its place.

The traders at the Mushin Ajina market, who were given two weeks notice in early September to vacate the market, protested for several weeks because they knew they may not be able to afford rent for the new market structure.
Source

I am not quite sure how to feel about this. This is a 100-year-old market, that is a century's worth of history. I would rather the place was upgraded, not demolished. At least have some remnant of its history. Take photographs to put in a museum or something to preserve this history. Demolishing the market is just too much.

Also, will the former occupants be able to afford this "ultra-modern market". That market was their livelihood and would that be affected by this demolition? Also, how can people protest for several weeks (more than two) if they were given a two-weeks notice to vacate. That means, this has been brewing for a while.

Look Lagos and Fashola and co, people like you. People defend every single thing you do, even this one. You have overstepped in others (Traffic law, abandoning pregnant woman law, beautification law) but this takes the cake. I used to live across from Mushin market and that place was significant. I just really hope these people know what they are doing.

dem dey vex

For those who dey vex say Rick Ross no need visit Naija or shoot the video in the 'bad' places:

1. Get over yourself

2. You are not that special, calm your tits

3. He didn't have to go to Naija to shoot his video? Then, Naija artists don't have to go abroad to shoot their videos. Abeg, park well: Wizkid, Psquare--who did that Onyinye video with Rick Ross

4. Blame the leaders not Rick Ross. Blame your local govt chairman, your representatives, your senators, your governors and your president, in that specific order.

5. This is how most Nigerians live, open your eyes and go learn. Take a bus, abi na taxi or have your driver drive you, to Obalende or Mushin-Olosha.

6. As per "it makes us look like uncivilized savages and villagers"--> and there is evidence to prove otherwise? We have looters: Ibori, Alamieyeseigha (in drag or not), Farouk Lawan (with the audio); pedophiles sitting Senator Ahmed Yerima; murderers and folks who can't respect human decency Bishop David Oyedepo's winch-slapping, and the sponsors of the anti-gay bill.

7. He was not exploiting anything, he showed how people lived

8. "The lyrics and/or video portray ignorance" Neither does. You actually have to live in Naija to know that the lyrics and the video do not portray ignorance. Just show it to someone living in the slums sef.

9. With respect to "giving the whole world the wrong impression about Nigeria and Africa" --> oh please, was he lying? What impression do you think the world has of Naija anyway? An anti-gay haven for pedophiles, the land of jungle justice or an ineffective nation that must endure the bombings of Boko Haram.

10. You want people to see the rich parts yet there are more people starving.

11. Abeg, the Nigerians who know the truth are not outraged by this. They are glad this part of Naija is shown.

12. If it hurts that much, it's the truth. Change it.

you took the words outta my mouth

Can't Hold Me Back Video

I found this commentary by By Tosin Adeda on notjustok very interesting. His arguments are quite strong…
“…That aside, I have some questions for those who feel insulted by the video being shot in the slums. Are the visuals of the video that of Nigeria or not? Is Nigeria a developed country? What does the average Nigerian worth? How much does the average Nigerian spend in a day? Is Nigeria a paradise for majority of Nigerians? Those people in the slums, are they lesser Nigerians than you are? Are you really offended because u feel bad for them or because of your own ego? Do you care about those particular set of people? Why do you have a problem with the whole world seeing how majority of Nigerians live? . . Answer those questions in your minds, they are rhetorical. …. Do you know the joy and happiness those people in the slums felt? Do you know what is means to be rejected by the govt of your own country, and left to live in permanent misery and poverty? Only to be remembered by a foreigner, who went ahead to shoot a video so that the we all can see their plight. Y’all should be ashamed of yourselves, for feeling offended over the joy of Nigerians who got remembered for once in a very long while…”

Anti - stereotype September 24, 2012 at 2:03 PM

We know, no society is perfect, and every corner of the world you go to, you will find the good, the bad, the broken and the ugly. The problem with Nigeria is, and I’m sorry to say, the good represents a very very small minority. Chimamanda that you mention, was raised in a middle class home, so technically, she wasnt exposed, or she was shielded, if i can say that to the world that Rick Ross potrayed. it just really sickens me, when people from the middle class, go gung ho on issues of Nigeria’s image. Go to the slums, and ask them what they feel about their condition. It is easy to sit down in the comfort of our homes, and discuss stereotypes. These bad images are not just fictitious pictures. This is exactly how these people live, this is their reality, and why should it be swept under the carpet, all in the name of we dont want to be stereotyped. Come off it. You go tell people suffering, that sorry o, we dont want to potray the hell you live in, because it will affect the image of Nigeria. Wetin concern the little boy living in a gutter about the image of Nigeria. How do we fight for these people, how do we protect and defend the helpless, and down trodden. Who is going to do it? The middle class has carefully bonded with the rich over time, because they want to belong, and feel like they too have a class, forgetting that, push comes to shove, the rich bond together and leave you the middle class standing in the dust. It is evident all over the world now, despite the recession, with the middle class shrinking, and people losing their jobs and homes, the rich has gotten richer in this recession. The poor people middle class people used to look their nose down on, they r now at the same level. He that is dwon needs no fear no fall, so please dont come here with your write up, and talk about stereotypes. What do you, or chimamanda herself know about suffering. What gives you the right to feel outraged, or affronted, that someone recorded the truth as it is. Only the rich and the middle class are concerned about image, that is the truth. The poor man on the street doesnt give a damn, and when we all give a damn about the real issues, forgetting stereotypes, image or what some ignorant foreginer (who has never suffered in his life because his country works) thinks, then things will change, and that image we r so worried about will change, because people wont help but notice

a single story abi?

The truth, they say, is hard to bear.

I guess several blogs have brainwashed people into thinking Naija is all roses. Look, Naija is a mess. I love that country, I will always do, but you gotta be honest. The country is a mess. BN shows us weddings and fancy photos and it grants us a small time away from the mess, but it’s still a mess. I like these videos. They tell the truth about our country, the same way Fela, Sound Sultan, Eedris Abdulkareem, Trybesmen, Kush, and others have been saying. These artists have sang these songs and made these videos but somehow it has not gotten through. No one wants to do anything about it, or no one knows what to do about it. You have a government (Fashola, I’m looking at you) whose head is so far up its ass it doesn't know what to do with itself.

I was born in Mushin. I lived in Mushin. I have been to Ajegunle. I have been fortunate not to experience poverty but I do know it exists. These scenes exist. If you have such a big problem with foreigners telling your stories for you, tell them yourself. I am tired of hearing only party songs and seeing videos that show such a tiny populace of Nigeria. I am tired of pedophiles (Senator Ahmad Sani Yerima) who get to abuse children and not enough noise is made. But when there’s a party or some mediocre musician does something, it makes front news. I want Nigerians to care more. I don’t listen to Rick Ross but this video is familiar to me because I have seen it in Lagos. I applaud Rick Ross for this video, it is different from what Naija artists make nowadays; it is authentic. I see the video as a real part of Naija, the part no one wants to acknowledge or talk about or even fix.

I disagree about the video being a single story. Ross showed what he saw on his way to the concert, which took place at Victoria Island. The thing is that he showed both sides of Naija, the ‘bad’ part and the good part and the ‘bad’ part dominated the video. The slums dominated the video because there are more slums than there are non-slums in Naija, and that is the uncomfortable truth. This was not a single story. He did not go under the bridges, and let’s not kid ourselves into believing people don’t live there or have families there.

This video is the gritty Naija I have not seen any contemporary Naija artist do, save for Tha Suspect's Twale. Naija has more 'bad parts' than good parts. The video was and is the truth and if folks are upset then it is DEFINITELY the truth. People want to hide the fact that there are more poor people than rich in Naija. Nigerians need to wake up.

This video:
- is daily life for majority of nigerians
- depicts the life of many nigerians
- is the most humane video I've seen of Naija, BBC's Welcome to Lagos was 'worse'
- shows a truth many Naija artists nowadays ignore
- is shockingly realistic
- is an uncomfortable truth

But let’s not stop there. If we are to prevent this single story phenomenon, let’s call out our own artists when they make videos only in the good parts of Naija because that is also a single story. Let’s call out Psquare, Wizkid, DBanj and whomever else when they show the club scenes with the Brazilian hair and summer collections wears because that is also a single story. Let’s call out our filmmakers when they make movies about places majority of nigerians will never go, unless to hawk goods because that is a single story. Let’s call our own people out when they do the same thing and not just harp on the foreigners who show us what our house is truly like. We should also not accept single stories because they paint Naija in a good light.

How about we actually take a stand against what is shown rather than take a stand against the messenger.

Fortunately, youtube has both the ‘good parts of Africa/Naija’ and the ‘bad parts of Africa/Naija’. If anyone believes this video shows all of nigeria or that nigerians live on trees can go do their own research. Whomever finds the video stereotypical can wallow in ignorance or do research: google is their friend, Tumblr and Youtube can join in.

Rick Ross - Hold Me Back Analysis

Rick Ross was invited to Naija for the Summer Jam fest which took place at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos because apparently nigerians not only do summer, they have winter and fall sef. While in Naija, he made an alternate video to his song "Hold Me Back". Keep in mind that there is a US version of the song already and BET banned it. That's just the saddest thing ever, it's a black video about black people and it's getting banned on a black network...Jim Crow much?

Back to the Naija version, Rick Ross gave Nigerians a history lesson. That has not been done, and I stand by this statement, since Fela and since Sound Sultan's GenGen. I have not seen or heard a Naija artist, music video, public service announcement or film that references, much less talk about, Biafra. He gave a history lesson on Biafra, our very own civil war which is not taught in schools mind you, and we see General Gowon.
Sidenote: He is so polished and sounds supremely official. You just cannot compare that air of authority to any Naija politician of today, and he did not need big grammar.

The video goes on to show how people live in Nigeria. You see the taxi drivers, the market seller, the okada riders, the police with the AK-47 (I cannot defend that), the police officer directing traffic, the child hawkers, the film seller, the gala seller, the touts/area boys, the crowded city, religion (which is front and center in Naija), beggars and the piles of refuse.

"These niggas wanna hold me back/These hoes wanna hold me back" refers to the nigerian people and who or what they protest (when they get their courage back) such as the government, poverty, lack of jobs, lack of security, corrupt politicians, corrupt cops, sex-for-grades teachers, etc.

The woman at 1:13 stirring the boiling pot of water with her bare hands, chai!

There is a play or demonstration or skit of what I believe are militants. They are celebrating their culture with dancing while defending what is theirs--the black gold aka oil.

While on the yacht, you see a sad, perhaps hungry kid. The contrast between wealth and poverty, and especially their close proximity in Naija is apalling.

There is a scene where someone on a boat or yacht gives some kids money and they wade in water to get it. Guess what? This is what happens not just in Naija but everywhere around the world. Give me money and see whether I no go take am.

Now this video is told as a narrative. Rick Ross is going to a concert in Lagos (the one he was invited to, meaning people paid and donned Gucci and Brazilian weave for it) and on his way there he captures this scenes of Naija. Ross walked through the slums on his own feet and he makes his way out of the slums (probably after shuffering and shmiling in go-slow) and arrives at the concert, the one majority of Nigerians cannot afford. Which begs a crucial question: nigerians how can you ignore, neglect and abandon your fellow nigerians who are in poverty and pay an exorbitant amount to import a foreign artist for a 'Summer Jam'? Shey na rice una tink say una dey import?

In all the images of the slums, the people's faces are not monotonous. Their faces are of hope, excitement, disinterest, anger and indifference. They are living their lives, they're human.

The video ends with football, a source of pride for Nigerians especially with the late Rashidi Yekini's goal during the 1994 Summer Olympics in the US. There is another poignant scene with the Nigerian flag and a group of men surrounding the flag. This is still in the slums and there is one man in particular who is pointing at the flag as if to say, "this is our Naija".

Fabricate 'bout your fortune, all my fabric's imported