Monday 26 March 2012

This Lagos: Conflicting Emotions

There is something almost primal. About the excitement I feel when a conductor yells at a passerby. Oloshi! Oloriburuku! Why do I giggle? What's so funny?


There is something almost sinful. About the indifference I feel. When I pass by another able bodied beggar. Bloody opportunists.


There is something almost careless. About the pull that I feel.  To enter that buka and order that succulent looking ogufe. Bacterial nutrition.


There is something hilarious. About the flooded potholed streets I bounce across. Every  time I drive through one of the most expensive real estate in Africa. Nestled cozily on a Nigerian island. Come, lemme sell you a bridge that traverses the desert. loool


There is something almost Darwinian. About the pushes and shoves that I make. To enter that bus on a rainy day. The impatient dog  gets the meat, mehn.


There is something like a boiling rage that a feel. When that policeman uses his baton on that cripple. He tries to cross the street on his slab of wood with wheels. But he is in the way of his oga's heavily tinted Range Rover. Cripple-dom isn't blind-dom, is it?

 
There is something unjustly accusatory.  About what I feel. When I see that stupid, 20 something year old lady. Backing one, lapping two, pregnant with one or two or three. Who cares? Irrational breeding.


There is something sadly curious that I feel. When I pass by that 80 something year old woman. Seating in mud. A tattered - clothed beggar. Heck, where is her family?


There is something like a fear inside of me. When I see that little girl. Just budding into adolescence. Being ogled lasciviously by those dirty looking bastards. As she walks happily across the road. Oblivious. Oh Lord, please!


There is something almost surreal. About the way it seems. When I approach that area boy, strung out on weed, to ask for directions. He doesn't only show me the way, he walks me to my destination. He asks for nothing. 'Twaale mama' is all he says as he disappears into the night. Indescribable humanity.


There is something like a tug that I feel in my heart. When I see that boy who can't be over 8 years old. Hawking oranges as cars wheeze past him. Yet he laughs. As he successfully chases after a bus and collects his N50. Oblivious of the danger to his life.


This is something intriguing. With every sight and sound in Lagos. Something fascinating. Its that pull. That makes one both love and hate this place. Conflicting emotions.


23rd March 2012, 11:40pm   Pic: Anon

18 comments:

  1. You have given smtin to think abt, cry abt, laugh abt n get furious abt.Thank you.

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    1. It can ONLY be you, madam. ;-) Your comment has expressed very clearly, my emotions. Thank you too.

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  2. Yet anoda beautiful piece from Doyinsolamiowon!that's truly Lagos...*thumbs up dear*

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  3. Doyin!!! I loveeeee. I wish i can just get myself together and write. *sighs* u av nt failed me yet. Lovely piece. Mwaah!

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    1. lool @ "u have not failed me yet" Don't hold your breath o, Madam. hehehe. Bt srzly, thank you Chidinma. I'm glad you like. Looking forward to reading your works too. *wink wink*

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  4. Awesome read..read and loved every line of it. 'Twaale Mama'..lool

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    1. lwtmb! Triple twaale to you, Iya. Much love...

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  5. a world of contradictions eh! thank you for the satire

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  6. There is something almost so great and perfect. Its about the way I feel whenever I come to this blog to read a new post. The style and creativity being being employed is not common with every other blog. With all the conflicting emotions, Lagos still remains the first choice of hustlers. Oh well! Doyin is just a good writer... #tharisall

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    1. lolest! We are all hustling o, oga. Thanks a lot, Yomi. You are ever generous with your public compliments and private critiques. I appreciate you :-D

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  7. Very creative write up, its good to throw light into what happens around, as they say lagos is a place for hustlers. I think if one can live on lagaos then you can adapt to any challenging situation. It all boils down to thanking God for where you are now because you really can't afford to remain in the struggle. Doyin this is a good one, keep it up

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    1. I'm beyond glad that you FINALLY came here. I'm happy you like, Ngozi. Thank you very much. Do check back for more, ma'am. Mwaah!

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  8. Hey! Nice n I soooo get d able bodied beggar. I was raised 2count every toe n finger. Wnt mind helping out wit editing n u hve inspired me 2start using my wordpress. Kudos luv

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    1. loooool! Ladus o!!!

      I'm glad you FINALLY made it to the blog! Thank you!

      Yeah, sure! I'll definitely appreciate your comments and suggestions on how I can improve on my writings. Just hit me up, BB, mail, whatever. I'll love it.

      Thanks a lot, Ladus. I'm really looking forward to the launch of your Wordpress site too.

      Do check back frequently. Mwaaaaaaaahhhh!

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  9. And she does it again:)...its amazing the perspective from which u see certain things didokynss...u take the most mundane activities and transform them into a string of thought evoking stories that we can all relate to.one thing I can expect from dido..is a piece that is deep and reflective as it is simple and real..indeed 'this lagos' was an adventure 4me..4 every single picture u painted,I actually found myself imagning similar happenings and musing as 2 how I felt d exact same way then..especially about the touts being so ironically human and helpful..lol.lagos..beautiful diaster..Enough said..as the potter moulds clay into whatever he wishes,dido moulds words and thoughts to perfection.u'l go far darling.

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    1. Jaeda, I think my greatest joy is that you can actually relate to this piece.

      I love this work so much, because I feel like I'm musing not just for me, but for others too. Everyone can actually take a part of it and go... "yeah! so true!"

      Your words 'Beautiful Disaster' is quite apt here. Hmmn...perhaps that's what I should have named this piece. hehehehe

      Thanks for taking out time from your busy 'legal schedule' to comment, Jaeda. Any yeah, my 'going far' wont be such a bad idea o....hehehehe

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