Another Trip to Lagos

On the weekend I travelled again to Lagos this time for a friend's introduction day. My friend Tope is getting married later this year. So this formality is where his parents and those of the bride-to-be meet.

After a slow (or should I say late) start, we got down to business. The families had an amusing "argument" or negotiation at the door of the house before our party was allowed in. Once inside a programme that consisted of many prayers, a few hymns, speeches, money-dropping, thanks and introductions took place. In the end I was almost official photographer, with Tope telling me to take pictures of this and that etc.

I guess the whole thing is not as elaborate or long (or costly) as the actual engagement and wedding to come later, but there were some touching moments and I think my friend is happy he finally has a wedding date (Oct 1st, Nigerian Independence Day).


Also this weekend I got invited by the Australian High Commission to an ANZAC Day function. I thought since I happened to be travelling to Lagos this weekend I'll go. They had a memorial service and then a reception at a very exclusive club (I think for the first time to get into a venue I had my name on a list and a pat down). It wasn't all that crash hot as I arrived a little late to the service, later to the reception because of some bad Lagos traffic, and the crowd was a little older than me. But I guess I did speak to the first bunch of Australians since coming to Nigeria. I'm sure if the crowd was younger and the event longer I would have made full use of the food and drinks on offer!

Incidentally I had my 3-month anniversary of being here on the weekend.

Coming to a Cinema/Catwalk Near You

Ok a couple of stories, one recent, one I forgot to write about that you might find amusing. Firstly, the AIESEC Ife people want to attract more SNs to come here. So they thought, let's make a promotional video. So yours truly spent one weekend in his first acting experience.

Basically, I was running around the campus, being greeted by AIESECers, told to strut "desperado style" down the road dark shades, playing basketball (I realised how unfit and unskilled I have become), chatting to a local about how gari (cassava flakes) are processed and a few other things. More scenes were planned but we ran out of time. So all you aiesecers look out for my beautiful face on some CD soon.

The other day I got a call from someone I don't know wanting me to "model" for him. I was intrigued and met up with him the next day. Basically, the guy saw me walking around campus and got my details from a friend. He is starting to make shirts with African prints but wants to sell them online to overseas customers. And of course he saw me and thought, damn that man looks like a fine specimen to show my wares (I am guessing that's what he thought, wouldn't you think?).

So this time I went to a photographer’s studio, put on different shirts and was told to "act natural" while I smiled, laughed, posed and had some young lady hanging off my arm and looking adoringly at me (it was ladies and men's fashion). So, not sure when these hot pics will be finding there way onto the internet but perhaps I'll let you know.

Another AIESECer wants me to narrate a documentary so I'll keep you posted on that too.

Why Should You Come to Nigeria?

One of the things I have found very interesting in the past weeks is my new role as PR Manager for AIESEC Nigeria (okay then, mostly AIESEC Ife but there have been exceptions). What I mean by that is my role in emailing potential SNs to explain to them that "Nigeria is really not that bad".

Sounds odd but I'll explain.

Nigeria surely gets some bad (ok horrible) press abroad. Nigerians of course hate it (quite rightly if its not all like that) and the AIESECers struggle because of it (believe me they can raise forms but will anyone come to fill them?). And I believe there are a number of @ countries that have this problem.

So I've been trying to help simply by emailing interested people with my stories. So for all of you potential SNs thinking of coming here keep this in mind and I won't need to keep repeating myself.

1) Its really not as bad as they say it is.
The most common things people ask is "I heard some things, bad things, so how is it really?" I guess like many stories, there is often a bit of truth in it, but the rest is just opinion.

2) No you will not get robbed/beaten/eaten by malaria-ridden mosquitoes/involved in the latest military coup/harassed by corrupt police.
I think Nigeria is fairly stable (as far as African governments go), I haven't yet experience or seen any real acts of violence (let's hope it stays that way) and no malaria yet. Yeah the police are (mostly) corrupt but it doesn't generally affect the average person too much. I guess I could say some threats exist but they aren't as frequent as some publications might make out (at least not anywhere where I've been).

3) People are going to make your stay great.
I guess I'm a bit luckier that some trainees because my traineeship is in the city where they study (often traineeships raised in Lagos are with LCs from other parts of the country). But in general, the average Nigerian will make you feel so welcome. Read my post about travelling solo to Lagos for WALDS. Everywhere I go, people are so incredibly nice to me and wanting to know if I'm having a good time. "Have a chair/drink/meal please", "You are welcome", "How are you enjoying Nigeria" are all incredibly common phrases I hear (and of course "Oyinbo").

4) Living can be easy.
General living expenses (and importantly the beer) are damn cheap (at least compared to Australia). Admittedly whilst some foods are cool, its generally pretty simple in this part of the country (though I'm told different in other parts of Nigeria). But you'll get your belly full for a cheap price, so don't worry about that. Getting by on English is generally no problem (once you get a hold of the accent which I successfully have now) so don't worry about language barriers.

5) If you want to experience Africa, try Nigeria.
There is clearly a whole lot of diversity in Africa (53 countries?) and many people may want to see what its like as a continent. Nigeria could potentially be the place to do it. Like I am constantly reminded here, 1 in 4 Africans is Nigerian. Remember, there's a whole lot of people here and your experience is guaranteed to be very "African". And for good or for bad, Nigeria is a serious player on the continent. As the most populous and somewhat affluent (because of the oil), Nigeria is a big political and economic power in both the region and the whole continent. My guidebook describes Nigeria as a "heavyweight" of the region and I can see why.

So seriously, any potential SNs, if you're still unsure, or have questions, just email me. I'll always answer (if a little slowly sometimes). And enjoy your stay in Nigeria.

Nicholas
nicholas.wolf@aiesec.net

I haven't written anything cos I was at WALDS!

Well I know it's been a while since I updated this thing but there is a simple reason - WALDS. Since it quickly moved from Togo to Nigeria, on the spur of the moment I decided to attend. For surely I could not regret it. And indeed I did not.

The conference was amazing of course, despite the setbacks.
1) That the organisers had only 3 weeks to prepare it since it moved.
2) That only 30 delegates came.
3) Financial difficulties meant we had to squeeze a bit (last two nights we "slept" four to a bed).
4) Some seriously odd hotel service (meals 3 hours late, room issues, etc.).

I guess there is always heaps to say but I'm sure you wouldn't find much of it interesting. However, some highlights for me included - meetings some non-Nigeria Africans for the first time (from Cote de Voire, Togo, Cameroon, Ghana), speaking to some amazingly cool individuals (thanks Michael, Ann, Tracy, Uju, Babakar, Landry, Fauziatu, Yves, Osibo, Ure and many more), trying to converse with those only fluent in French (and my French is non-existent), getting dancing lessons from Nigerians (badly needed and appreciated, thanks girls), almost daily swimming sessions (I gave the lessons here), chilling with the OC (Dolapo, Moyo, Asekun, Togo boys et al.), West African roll calls, being the only Aussie at a conference (though chants are so bad for the voice when done solo), getting into heavy African arguments (is HIV/AIDS real? and Robert Mugabe – Dictator or benevolent people's hero? Seriously!), fighting off the hoards of adoring girls (ok I made that one up), the cultural night (Australia seriously needs something better than a cork hat, flags and vegemite, I was just lucky I brought my native Nigerian gear!), being amused by Japanese guests in the hotel doing Karaoke (how unusual) and tasting palm wine for the first time (for the ancestors!).

Getting to Lagos on my own (my first real solo travelling in Nigeria) was interesting and pleasing. Bus driver strike in Ife meant I had to go out to the main highway to get a bus. Then I had to change at Ibadan. Then when I got off at Lagos the driver pointed me where to walk to get transport to Ikeja (hotel/conference site). I then walked over and asked a traffic policeman and after pointing for me where to walk/catch a bus from, he followed me. We caught the bus together, then a bike together and he brought me right to the door of the hotel. Even paid for my fares (not cheap in Lagos either). And all just as a courtesy to a stranger. Now don't tell me Nigerian (and Lagosians) aren't nice people.

Also after closing I went back to my second home (thanks Mrs Abudiore) to recuperate for one night before heading back to Ife. After that one week I'd forgotten what good food tastes like (though I was reminded what the Lagos humidity, mosquitoes and power supply are like).