Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Lagosians and Entertainment – A Strong Bond Augusta Okon
Lagos state, once tagged as “The Home of Aquatic splendour” but now referred to as “The Centre of Excellence” plays home to Nine Million multi-ethnic based people. A controversial figure declared by the National Population Commission, based on the census conducted in March 2006, and vehemently opposed to by the Lagos state government. The city nests thousands of residential and non-residential buildings, scattered across its beautiful unmastered planed landscape, which Governor Fashola is fighting to transform into a “Mega city”. Declared as the hub of economic activities in the Nation, the state has also added another feather to its cap by uncontroversially clinching the title as “The hub of Entertainment”, beating the other 35 states to it.
The Nigerian Music and Movie Industries which are firmly rooted in the state’s soil, still tap from the economic and social resourceful nutrients which abound on a mega scale. They have over time matured into Iroko trees, spreading their branches internationally, and invariably act as canopies for wary talented individuals, who gladly sit under the economic shade of the industries, enjoying the protective cooling effect from the unbearable scorching financial heat. Dance shoots have sprouted above the soil and have instinctively bent towards the sunlight of entertainment, while Comedy is steadily growing.
Lagosians generally love to have a good time and always look forward to the end of the working week, and declare “Thank God, it’s Friday”. The time to unwind, hang out with friends and loved ones, attend numerous shows flung right in our faces majorly through the TV and in other cases via the Radio. Musical concerts/promenade shows, stand up comedy shows, Theatrical performances, family and children inclined events, organized by individuals and various corporate bodies within and outside the industry lock horns in an advertorial battle during the week to tactically gain the coins we part with at the end of the day. “There’s no money in the country” is the usual boring phrase one hears frequently, but despite this constant untrue declaration, entertainment spots are never de-bee hived, as Lagosians are bent on having fun no matter the price tag attached to it.
The irony of such a ‘fun loving attitude’ is tragically projected during charitable clarion calls, when donations to help the poor, weak, displaced, orphaned, widows and generally the less privileged in the society are made. The financial response seems to be anchored on the low side, but a call to have fun for thousands of Naira, sees Lagosians scampering to the venue, after all they insist they’re having value for their money!. Business moguls aware of the lucrative market entertainment is fast yielding are busy building, acquiring, expanding and renovating premises and adding exquisite interior and state of the art facilities, with a view to clinching the title as “The preferred venue”, for the occasion, laying to rest the prior display of indecisiveness adopted by organizers of various events.
The night crawling rate has declined over the years rapidly, following the successive crime rates perpetuated by men of the underworld, amidst a mental projection of their safety and the devastating effect it could have on their loved ones. Unfortunately, the heady ones who defy the laws of the night attend a blind dating game with death, while a minute fraction escape from the dare devils or unforeseen potentially life claiming incidents by a hair’s breath. Age is certainly no barrier in the ‘fun catalogue’ as a thousand and one events centre, entertainment spots gladly extend their arms to embrace their guests irrespective of gender, tribe, and educational background. The unappealing parallel social strata which systematically places a large unwarranted deep gulf between the upper and lower class, some times painfully dictates the places both classes can visit to have fun.
Public holidays offer memorable platforms for the families, friends and loved ones to have fun, the prominent ones ranging from the Easter, Christmas, Edil kabir to Children’s, Workers, Independence day and New year’s day celebrations organized by a few TV stations such as Television Continental(TVC), Lagos Television(LTV), NTA 10 and other Corporate bodies. “The Silver Bird Galleria”, “Nu Metro”, “Genesis Deluxe”, City Mall cinemas, offers a wide range of genres of exciting movies to watch especially from Hollywood ranging from action, comedy, family, romance, thriller, science fiction, crime, to adventure, suspense, musical, fantasy, horror, guaranteed to keep your eyes fixed on the gigantic screen till the closing credits roll.
Stand up comedy has taken its pride of place in the entertainment spheres with comedians reeling out rib cracking jokes to lovers of comedy. Regular shows by various A-list comedians are held at different times of the year such as “Basket Mouth uncensored”, “A.Y live”, “Crack your ribs”, “Live n Naked”. Other highly rated comedians such as Koffi, Owen – Gee, Teju baby face have also towed the path with the pioneer stand up comedy show “Nite of a Thousand laughs” bringing various comedians together under one roof. “Stand up Nigeria” by Bumi Davies, provides a comedial platform while A.Y’S “Open mic night competition” discovers talented celebrity wanna be comedians who also entertain the crowd. The beaches such as “Lekki, Eleko Coconut, Alpha, Kuramo, Akodo beaches, whispering palm, Tarkwa Bay”, plays host to enthusiastic fun seekers.
One thing is crystal clear, that though money is a veritable tool in the fun quest especially one with class and style, Lagosians however remain undaunted, strategically powering alternative mediums to have fun. Lagosians are poised to show case to the world the entertainment side of life and as our able governor constantly declares “Eko oni baje o!”
So long… auggiepo@yahoo.com
Author: Augusta Okon
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Eko Pride and Culture Week. Images from Badagry. cannon used to enforce the abolition of slavery, aimed at the "Point of No Return".
cannon used to enforce the abolition of slavery, aimed at the "Point of No Return".
Eko Pride and Culture Week. Badagry, Lagos...
This ancient town of Badagry was founded around l425 A.D. Before its existence, people lived along the Coast of Gberefu and this area later gave birth to the town of Badagry. It is the second largest commercial town in Lagos State, located an hour from Lagos and half hour from the Republic du Benin. The Town of Badgry is bordered on the south by the Gulf of Guinea and surrounded by creeks, islands and a lake. The ancient town served mainly the Oyo Empire which was comprised of Yoruba and Ogu people. Today, the Aworis and Egun are mainly the people who reside in the town of Badagry as well as in Ogun State in Nigeria and in the neighboring Republic du Benin.
In the early 1500's, slaves were transported from West Africa to America through Badagry. It is reported that Badagry exported no fewer than 550,000 African slaves to America during the period of the American Independence in l787. In addition, slaves were transported to Europe, South America and the Caribbean. The slaves came mainly from West Africa and the neighboring countries of Benin and Togo as well as others parts of Nigeria. The slave trade became the major source of income for the Europeans in Badagry.
The town of Badagry wants to enlighten the world to its historic sites, landscapes, cultural artifacts and relics of human slavery. Badagry wants to share this world heritage site with others. They are preserving buildings, sites and memories of this iniquitous period so those tourists can unearth the dark impact of this era. Places of interest include the Palace of the Akran of Badagry and its mini ethnographic museum, the early missionaries cemetery, the District Officer's Office and Residence, the First Storey Building in Nigeria constructed by the Anglican missionaries, relics of slave chains in the mini museum of slave trade, cannons of war, the Vlekte slave Market, and the Slave Port established for the shipment of slaves before the l6th century.