tAMinG tHe LaGos GaNgsTeR 2 (contd.)

... At this point I figured he was a troublemaker and was already inhabited by the spirit of anarchy, I couldn’t resist stirring at his unseen hand half expecting him to pull out a weapon. I looked at him seriously thinking about his answer and half wishing I could punch the taste out of his mouth. if you have no clue what i am talking about you might want to read the 1st Installment of this post here

Only a week before that I went ApeShit-Crazy on a Tri-Cyclist in Phase one who made a long scratch on my car because he refused to be patient. Scratching the car wasn’t my problem, it was that he had the guts to zoom off without an apology, I chased him down slapped the taste out of his mouth and seized his keys, which I drove off with hoping to return it to their association head (which I did by the following day). My wife didn’t let me hear the last of that, so imagine what was going through my mind that night when this guy unleashed his demons.

Back to the anarchist Moshood, For some reason the Spirit kept me from acting up so I got close to the guy and said to him: “I promise you tears this night just keep coming” and I drove off half praying and expecting him to hit me again and keep tailing me. 10 mins later past OANDO I turned into my neighborhood waiting for him to pull in right after me, but no sign of him for a while I was sure he specifically had a mission, a part of me was scared for my wife in the car with me, but the choleric in me couldn’t stand being cheated. I eventually drove home  and stewed in disbelief, and then it hit me! 

Exactly 7 days before that I was the unforgiving macho who was dolling out slaps and seizing keys but now I was powerless even in the face of intentional provocation.

Imagine for a minute another scenario where I punched the guy and maybe he had a medical condition and was also drunk and he passed out right there or even died; or another scenario where I approached him and he pulled out a gun and shot me right there all for nothing. 

How would that play out for my family, or friends of mine or his friends who would at most have donated their avatars, and BBM Display Pictures for 24hrs. 

Some times, some fights are not worth your life or emotion. Understand that every choice you make has consequences and to every ying there is a yang. 'Nigga moments' don’t make you a better person, you have absolutely no point to prove. Life is too short live peaceably with every man as best you can and let God fight your course. Never complain about situations you have no control over. That said have a great day.

-- @gozzim

Please leave your comments in the boxes below.

tAMinG tHe LaGos GaNgsTeR…

Last Friday, I received a harsh lesson in patience. The kind of lesson someone with my temperament wouldn’t naturally be open to. I had just rounded off my activities for the day by attending a special program of music and Comedy at the Pistis Centre called NJOY with my wife. Leaving the venue in high spirits and heading straight into the OANDO traffic along the Lekki axis, my wife and I recalled jokes from the event as we drove and then all of a sudden I felt a sharp jolt.

We had been hit from behind and I looked through the rear view mirror to be sure it wasn’t a set up, got out of the car to assess the damage and without even looking at the other driver  (lets call him ‘Moshood’ for the purpose of this piece) got back in the car.

As I settled back into the driver’s seat, I looked at the clock it was about 9:00PM and I figured it was a dangerous time to be making trouble so as I prepared to drive off I felt yet another hard jolt, this time a slightly louder sound from the SUV Moshood was driving. This couldn’t be happening, was this guy deliberately trying to provoke me? For some reason I chose to ignore him and kept driving. I must note that it took a lot for me to not even look at or talk to Moshood, the driver of that car.

You see I have always known there are really mad and irresponsible people in Lagos but talking about it is one thing and seeing it play out is another. Still stuck in that traffic we kept moving, my wife did all she could to calm me down and then I began to see reason, but just as I was cooling off and making excuses for Moshood’s conduct in my mind thinking maybe he was drunk and all, another loud BANG! From behind. Hell no! I wasn’t having non of this sh#%t no more…

I got out of the car keeping my distance and avoiding a clear line of sight should incase a gun gets pointed at me I examined my car once again, just a minor scratch on my bumper and I approached the driver: “ are you looking for a fight, of have we met before?” I asked the driver. His exact response was this and I quote: “ I have hit you exactly 3 times. 3 times is exactly what it took for you to come find out if I had a problem.” Then he kept quite, maybe waiting for my reaction...

To be Continued...

If you are still reading this I would like to ask a simple question:

what would you do if you were in my position?

I am particularly interested in your responses please leave your comments.

--@gozzim

TONY® AWARD WINNING SENSATION FELA! MAKES HISTORIC ARRIVAL IN LAGOS, NIGERIA APRIL 20-29, 2011

The hit Broadway musical about the life and music of Nigerian performer and political activist Fela Anikulapo-Kuti is scheduled to be performed in his home town of Lagos, Nigeria making it the first Broadway show to be performed in Sub-Saharan Africa.

FELA!, the landmark Broadway musical, which won three Tony Awards (Broadway’s highest honor) including Best Choreography (Bill T. Jones), is coming to Lagos from April 20^th to 25^th.  It will be performed at the prestigious Eko Hotel’s New Expo Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria. This critically lauded musical will star its original Broadway cast with Sahr Ngaujah reprising his Tony-nominated role of Fela Kuti with music provided by the internationally renowned Antibalas as well as other members of the New York City Afro-beat community. 

Concurrently with the Broadway production, FELA! opened and triumphed at London’s Royal National Theater for a three-month sold-out run.  That production was nominated for three Olivier Awards, London theatre’s highest honor, including Best Musical, Best Actor (Sahr Ngaujah) and Best Choreography (Bill T. Jones). This Nigerian engagement will be the first since the closing of the Broadway and London productions and the NTLive performance which was broadcast to in 370 cinemas worldwide.

The aim of FELA! in Lagos is to unite and connect Africans in spirit and unity, to serve as a catalyst for cultural revival in Nigeria, and to celebrate Fela Kuti, for the contribution he has made to Nigeria and the world. FELA! depicts the true story of the legendary Nigerian musician Fela Kuti, whose soulful Afro beat rhythms ignited the spirit of empowerment and cultural awareness in a generation.  It is a tale of courage, passion and love featuring Kuti’s captivating music and the visionary direction and choreography of Tony Award winner, Bill T. Jones. FELA! in Lagos is being produced by a Nigerian production company, Broken Shackles in conjunction with Lagos State Government.

Upon its Broadway opening Ben Brantley of The New York Times wrote, “There should be dancing in the streets.  The hot (and seriously cool) energy that comes from the musical gospel preached by the title character of Fela! feels as if it could stretch easily to the borders of Manhattan and then across a river or two.  There has never been anything on Broadway like this production."  The New York Post’s Elisabeth Vincentelli cheered, “There’s enough energy to short circuit Con Ed.”  David Cote of Time Out New York, in giving it 5 stars (out of 5) raved, “Fela! is more than a musical; it’s an ecstatic phenomenon."  And Jennifer Farrar from the Associated Press exclaimed, “An exuberant celebration!”

The English critics were equally effusive after the London premiere of FELA! One critic, Baz Bamigboye of The Daily Mail, summed up the critical sentiment with his review saying FELA! is a “groundbreaking show that shook Broadway and London’s Royal National Theatre to the rafters. Getting Brits to get on their feet and ‘get loose’ as Bill T. Jones puts it, was a rare feat.  FELA! pulled it off by sheer exuberance and theatrical showmanship. At the same time, FELA! explored the soul of an artist and the darkness of a government that tried to block what Fela’s beam exposed.”   

In addition to rave reviews from critics, FELA! has also won numerous awards and received standing ovations from such personalities as Mick Jagger, Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, Spike Lee, Ben Okri, Janet Jackson, Denzel Washington, Professor Wole Soyinka, Robert De Niro, and Hugh Jackman.  First lady Michelle Obama, former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and President Obama’s Head of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano are but three of the dignitaries who have embraced this show.    

Bill T. Jones, director and choreographer of FELA!, was recently honored with the prestigious Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts award along with Sir Paul McCartney and Oprah Winfrey. The Kennedy Center Honors are awarded annually for exemplary lifetime achievement in the performing arts. FELA! also won two Astaire Awards for its cast and choreography.

FELA! on Broadway was conceived by Bill T. Jones, Jim Lewis and Stephen Hendel. Its producers include the entertainment legends Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter and Will & Jada Pinkett Smith. 

A spokeswoman for Broken Shackles suggests that “with a series of media partners and sponsorships, FELA! in Lagos will be the most talked about show in Nigeria for years to come. We have created sponsorship, branding and advertising opportunities for those who wish to be a part of this historic theatrical event.”

For sponsorship, advertising opportunities, please email sponsorship@felainlagos.com

For more information on FELA! please visit http://www.felainlagos.com

For all press and public relations matters please email pr@felainlagos.com

 For more information on ticketing and group sales please email tickets@felainlagos.com