fuel scarcity and ambush marketing.

I spent 3 hours today in a petrol station. when i finally position my car at the fuel dispenser to fill my tank, the petrol attendant said that i must buy an insecticide from Oando at 400 naira as a condition for filling my tank else i will be only entitled to 2000 naira fuel. I wonder whose fault is it after i spoke with so called manager of the station to make sure the order came from the management...is it their fault or the fault of the society that produce them...the manager said that if i feel angry about that, i should go and tell government officials to stop stealing from the public purse. At the end of the day, i bought the insecticide for 300 naira,got my tank filled and discovered that they are selling this product by ambush to different vehicle owners at different prices. Thanks to desperation to get petrol in a country that have oil in abundance...

25/12/2009

ABUJA ART AND CULTURAL CARNIVAL 2009

The colourful and rich display of various Nigerian and some African countries’ cultures heralded the Abuja carnival 2009 which was organized by the Nigerian Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Every year, all the 36 states of Nigeria and the federal capital with invited guest African countries like Cameroun, Ghana, Ethiopia, Egypt etc, gathers in Abuja for the showcase of their various cultures, and traditions.

This year’s event which last from Saturday November 21^st to Tuesday November 24th 2009 started with a carnival train from Garki to Eagle Square in the federal capital where the opening ceremony took place. It was all about rhythm and dance, cultures and traditions displayed in music and, art and craft form. 

It was an opportunity to escape from the current cloudy political and economic weather of the country. People took the advantage of the opening ceremony fixed at the weekend to troop out in large numbers with their families and friends to savour the rich and energetic display of the Atiliogwu and Ejionu dance of the Igbos of the eastern Nigeria, the Eyo masquerade from the west, the Fulani warrior dance from the north; showing the beauty of their men and the elegantly handsome women, the pottery and dance display of the Nasarawa people of the middlebelt and the Niger Deltans flamboyant dance.

 The royalty of the tribes can be seen from the costumes of the Edos’ to the wonderful royal regalia of the Hausas which were displayed during the Durbar show (the horses too were very well given a royal garment for the wonderful and colourful occasion). From the nkwa umu agbowo and ekombi (the dance of the maidens) with their anklets and beautiful jigida adorned waist (wriggling endlessly to the rhythm of the land) to the mba mmiri dance of the Calabaries. The enyatu (dance of authority) cultural dance vibrated to the rhythm emanating from their 80 years old ekwe; wooden gong.

The women are beauty inexplicable; from the richly oiled hair style decorated with royal beads to the healthy looking and well polished ebony skin radiating in the sun, responding tirelessly to the vibrations of the sound; the sounds of our beginning. The onyonyo (women in the palace on their ceremonial attire) dance from Calabar was an elegance to behold.

The unique thing about this event is the unity of purpose and blend of so many culture and traditions in a single group outing. The masquerade displayed was breathtaking. It was a parade of the soul of the belief and ancestral life of the people. Each masquerade, dance steps and the music has a story that goes back to ancient times (each masquerade is perceived as an ancestral spirit).

The Society of Nigerian Artists Abuja chapter mounted an art exhibition at the art and craft village as a nutmeg to chew to kolanut of this great event. It was a display of art works from predominantly young artists of the association.

The boat Rigata was another display by various riverine communities.  It was a showcase of the professionalism and skills of the fishermen and warriors of the communities. They paddle their boats round and round a circle dancing and singing the songs of their hearts. The warriors dance with their boats sailing away, piercing the air with their wooden spears, while the women among them paddle along the men in different boat, singing and dancing.

The masquerades represent the god of the river as evident in the carved aquatic animals on their heads; fish, crab, etc. it was beautiful and energetic, it was spiritual and intoxicating.

Invincible Companion

Sometimes, you feel possessed…,
You hear voice whisper verses to your ears,
You pick your pen and write.

Sometimes, you want to add your line,
But, the voice will say; ‘No, it is not that way,
Listen very attentively, and, write’.

Sometimes, you will add your own line, and the voice
Will say, “Fine, it is alright”…,

Sometimes, you write before you think,
Sometimes, you omit some lines, then, you will have to wait
Long-temporally to get them back.

Sometimes, you get just the sketch, it becomes
An assignment to complete….

Sometimes, you argue with the voice for days
Before you turn out a piece; you listen, you think,
You write, cancel, and rewrite.

Sometimes,
When you become,
You look at the piece, and, you say, what a beautiful
Verses 1 have written.

Then, you will look back and say,
I never wrote that, I am just a tool in the hands
Of supernatural conspirators,
I am been used to respond to events,
Sometimes…
©2001

life

Life is a landscape of music
With verse rhythm.
For the living, the rhythm that so
Behold the soul,
Becomes comfortable for existence.

©1998