Its intimidating, strange, and perplexing. Before the cock crows at the break of dawn, the loud speakers blare in the neighbourhood and chants of Allah Akbar rent the air. Only blasphemers will dare complain; thus, with a pent up feeling of anger and frustration mixed with fright, the music plays on... This melody is accompanied by incantations of the bell ringing pastor whose fiery sermon follows closely on the heels of the alphas sonorous song. Another Church opens its door for the morning mass, and then another... and then just one more. The prayers can be heard by passers by - indeed, are meant to be heard... Day breaks fully, and the cd merchant down the street opens his container shop. He blares the latest releases in his collection on a speaker facing the streets. In an atmosphere that is now becoming increasingly taught, anxious drivers getting impatient with the traffic start blaring their horns. The crowds are milling and the cacophony continues till a precise hour when a crescendo is reached. At this height, all the melodies are masterfully blended! Thus, as the Imams prayer is blaring through the threatening horns, the church opposite is beaming its miracles on a screen in an open field with its worshippers praying, nay, speaking loudly in frenzied tongues... At about this same time too, the cd merchant feels threatened and raises the music a few decibels higher... Dusk. Expired workers migrating home are blaring their horns loudly and conductors with husky buses are yelling, beckoning... They too join the music. In a corner, two agberos are fighting but nobody cares or even bothers to stare. The music is finely mixed with the sound of approaching sirens. One belongs to a bank, another a hospital, a third to a petrified goverment worker. We listen to this unique blend of music; albeit, without hatred or affection. Everyone is on a pilgrimage, in a quest to find rest and succour. This is Lagos. Once again at dawn, the music plays on...
Posted on: Wed, 06 Aug 2014 19:39:50 +0000
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