The Half Man, Half Transformer..

Has finally transformed...
This extremely long (and slightly boring) post of mine was the tipping point.
In that post, I expressed every strong opinion I had regarding Nigeria. It was an attempt (not sure how successful it was) at linking every single aspect of our lives together in order to come up with a unified conclusion on how things completely fell apart.With these words, every idea of mine was fused to voice my present thoughts (at that time) on this shared inheritance (the space called Nigeria).
My conclusion is our future lies in the hands of God.
Projections and forecast hold no ground during this current global economic turmoil, so it is a waste of precious brain cells trying to figure out a way using these techniques. But one thing remains for sure: Nigerians are a resilient bunch. Our environment has made us ready to push on, even if with all the obstacles in our way. Our weakness in management and greed may hold us, but in time, all will be perfect. We (Nigerians hustling and bustling all around the world) are just part of a process that will usher in a new generational order. It is the speed at the thoroughness at which we take decisions will determine when our evolution will commence. But it definitely will. And that realization implies many things.

1. The role I play in the mind of my readers is now vacant (whew!! I don't have to worry about what I am going to post next month.lol. Yeah I know I was slow to update, but you gats to admit, this blog dealt with some pretty fundamental issues; at least these issues were deep to me at the time of writing).
2. I can now explore the direction of my transformation.

This transformation is geared towards a wavelength where my state of mind determines my experience (Good or bad, nice or sad). With the realization that you are simply part of a pre-defined process comes the understanding that life is what you make of it. And with that, the thinker transforms to become another being; a being that appreciates the beauty in life and the fullness of it.
That in mind made a paradigm shift in content of my post, from the traditional change Nigeria blog to a new horizon that exploring the mysteries in all things/issues I encounter. I have noticed a shift in my post since the beginning of the year and concluded that the focus of this blog is not deep enough to accomodate this new ideal and re-branding will just not work; thus Mr C evolves to become the aspiring poet (Yes, I know, I should have used wordpress abi?)
I enjoyed the ride thinking about Nigeria. The efforts put into my 38 posts, was rewarded with 121 comments, approximately 3,430 captured hits, some form of recognition (here), and a mental experience unmatched.
I may still drop some line here. But as I bow out, I will be looking forward to my next 'role'. The objective is unknown but with God's guidiance, that experience would be the reward; which would be priceless.

Looking forward to sharing my experiences and I thank your time spent reading. I remain faithfully yours truly,
Seyi Osinowo - Mr C (Half Man, Half Transformer)

The Mating Call

“There are three things which are wonderful; the fourth which I cannot understand.

1. The way of an eagle in the air
2. The way of a serpent upon the rocks
3. The way of a ship in the midst of a sea
4. The ways of a man & his maid”

-----------------Proverb 30: 18-19

She noticed as he pass by. Pin strip suit, shirt, tie with even the scent to match. He's got it all. But she wasn't noticed. And it was not in her to make the first move.

Bisi sought for age old tactics to get his attention from her friends, as it is known that amidst the chatter and gossip, the gathering of women (usually in salons; that is possibly why they spend so much time doing their hair) contains the way. Yemi suggestion lacked substance “Just walk up to him and say you like him. Dress seductively-Let something show; he will drop after that day". Too cheap, she thought. I will speak to the elder (Her manicurist). The strategies of old had this subtle strike to it. She knew it would work.

Six month later, somewhere in Gbagada, there was Fred lying in bed next to Bisi trying to figure out what he had just done. He knows how office relationships end in scandals. And that could be his job!!

But this attraction was more than he could resist; it was like ants to sugar. This Bisi….
Fred recently joined the branch in Ketu. This was a man in his mid thirties could be classified as charismatic, a highflyer and quite well to do. He was received warmly and enjoyed the admiration and side comments even from Branch beauty queen, pretty Miss Ronke. But he stuck to his principle. At least for the first two weeks….
He was casually introduced to Bisi during his induction. He never considered her as attractive (at least from his standards and that of the bank).
He felt her stare anytime he passes by. When he looked back, she turned away. He thought it was innocent. Maybe, there was a stain or something like his tie not matching with his colour scheme, or body odour. His continual effort to redress or clean up led him deeper into the trap, by causing more stares. This seemingly innocent game of 'look' only made him gaze back for more. As days passed, Fred began to look forward to the time he could play 'look' with Bisi. He noticed her different outfits, her sway and grace. Her dimples were admirable. He began to notice what could make her attractive. This led him to ask “would she think me the same way?” His wonders lured him to spend more time around her desk carrying files (just trying to look busy) with the hope that the opportunity would arise when he can talk to her informally. She played her own part by consistently making mistakes anytime he is around with the hope that he would play ‘the knight in shinning armor’ and rescues her (which he did). At first, all effort to take her out was met with resistance.
Not until last night; all on his bill…

There is sophistication in the ways of a lady; methods that took years of nurturing to develop and handed down through generation. By these subtle gestures, body movement, women have been known to make men act without full understanding of their primary intention; taking decision that goes against their core beliefs.….

And all this starts with a mating call.

Top 100 blog for learning about Africa

I got informed via some email sent to my inbox. Apparently,this article commends yours truly for providing posts that "offer a very real sense of what it’s like to live as a Nigerian with topics including politics, life, culture, and economy" (see no 37).

Agreed this is no Oscar award but it does feel good to get some form of recognition/commendation. I truly appreciate that someone thinks that my internal conversations (conversations to decide between natural or nutural responses) provides material on the Nigerian experience. I must be doing something worthwhile.

I am still a bit curious on the criteria used in evaluating and arriving at the conclusions stated.

Lagos Na wa!

Lagos is the craziest place I have ever been to.
MarianaVanZeller

A video that explores the Lagos experience.
http://current.com/items/89199577/lagos_la_vida_still_loca.htm
I must admit, her analysis of Lagos was thorough and unbiased but there are some two minor details that weren't quite true.

1. Lagos definitely has a population and housing problem but people identified that live in shackles over swamp are rural poor that originate from Riverine areas. The lack of adequate housing is not the reason why those structure exist. The settlers are used to that kind of living.
   
2. Environmental sanitation was not introduced 3 years ago. It has always being a form of unspoken policy as long as I can remember (was taught about it in primary school and groomed to do it throughout my life). Maybe it was re-introduced 3 years ago, but the fact remains that it has always been there.

This blogger's desire

One desire I have is to be renowned as a provider of art. The medium or the type of art is not clear but the focus remain; that message must come forth. A message that preaches fairness with equality and gets people to act in truth with one another.
But such message does not come out of thin air. It must be embodied in our understanding of individual daily rituals packaged in an artistic form; a form that capture imagination whilst allowing the message retain its purity. Thus, I am taking up the tasks of the medieval craftsman with the use of words:

* By capturing thoughts and giving insight into ideas people have overlooked.
* By preserving rare moments like the first kiss of a lady, or jokes shared by age old friends and merging it with the logic of a tale.

Such goes beyond the simple use of words and music but also it comes by the creator thinking in a realm where words are refined and become life. The creator must work as a craftsman, refining his thoughts, digesting specific moments and then searching for a medium that can adequately express the message in a way that can be appreciated.

It is something I desire to do. Making the tears flow, charging the atmosphere to release that euphoric feeling through the spines of my audience, and creating lasting moments that they can always identify with.
This might be my most noble act to humanity. Changing myself, to change the world.

Myths about Them

I saw it happen!!
It was about four second viewing but the context in which it happened, made the images stick.Just getting off the bridge that links the Ojota end of Ikorodu Road to Lagos Ibadan expressway. It was about 10pm at night and there was me, driving listening to music. Music playing was "Shooters" by Lil Wayne ft Robin Thicke. Just as the lyrics go "mama, hey mama, I think they want me to surrender" I see something lurking in the dark. When it becomes clearer, there were images of a man struggling with two young boys (ages between 21 and 23). As he struggled, they kept on unrelenting as they carried him to the other side of the road (the side where you have Motorways and Seven Up). A big tussle took place in the middle of the road and I think the one carrying his legs dragged off his trouser, slung it on his shoulders, and got back to carrying their victim to the destination, wherever that maybe.

In one way the scenario was like a modern interpretation of natives carrying their victim for ritual sacrifice. But also, it seemed like a choreographic imitation of vultures as they attack their prey.Of all things that blew my mind about the situation, and I think also made it stick, was the fact that I could not understand what I saw as there was no way the motives of the attackers made sense. Their antics had no similarities to anything I understood as human and this was the first time I came face to face with such encounters.It is easy to believe that my concern is in vain but that inability to relate to their experiences echoes a flaw in how our society is organized especially when these breed of people are pushing for the majority. High unemployment and incomprehensible growth in the economy has lead to an "unevolution" of the society's lower class as the weak, strong and wise, quest for ways to survive within harsh economic conditions that benefits only a few.

But what does it mean to unevolve? For context, unevolution would take place when there is a decline in the use of civil means expected in people's interaction and negotiation ethics with one another or strangers. The result would be everyone being suspicion on every encounter with every other person, as the former unconsciously make inquiries on indicators the describes their current realities of the latter.
Without insight, both parties are defensive and would hold no common/friendship grounds in negotiations unless some ice breaker is successful in brokering a peaceful union.All these results from lack of understanding who we are. Unlocking that requires detailed day to day narration of our lives in our environment the way it is, and communication that image in ways people can assimilate and get the information right. Art (in form of music, paintings, documentaries and drama) usually attempts to do that by providing us with a mirror from where we can look at ourselves and make adjustments where necessary. Such medium provide the platform where belief systems can be updated and people can now engage in more intimate conversations.Our arts and all information we collate about our society appear to exclude a growing aggressive attitude we have one with another. Though Nigerian music, art and Nollywood are getting increase global recognition, no one seems to be drawing any picture of the real issues.

• No one is speaking on the university graduate driving Okada for a living
• I have never come across a story on young Nigerians as they migrate Lagos in search of greener pastures
• There is nothing done (even loosely) around how people rent apartment on shift basis
• We don't see any intelligently constructed play that show how criminal operations are planned from scratch to finish.
• Or do we see dramas narrating the life of doctors in a Nigerian teaching hospital?

With art that fails to describe, people are left with no other choice than to ascribe flawed characteristics on the next man. Without any assurance of the capability of the other person, there are limits to how much plans can be made that will truly be meaningful. In a society where everyone is skeptical about the next man there will always be higher than average need for caution and suspicion in basic dealings. Aggression will reign during transactions and violence will be more fatal.

Myths will guide as most people will never clearly get the true picture of the person in question.