My Experience in Fela’s Shrine, By Amb Umar Galadima
NEWS DIGEST – After closing from work in the evening, I decided to straight my feet along the neighbourhood traffic in Alausa with a friend, a security personnel in mufti, one attractive area in that place is the popular Fela’s Shrine, my initial thought about the whole place is like every layman that is a place where young men and women hangout to smoke and drink both Indian helm and alcohol respectively, but guess what? I saw a different thing for myself.
On arrival on the street where the shrine is situated, my thought became clear, because from a distance I smell the chunk of Indian hemp and of course a gang of young and adult in dreadlocks hair exchanging blows for a little misunderstanding over an argument, my interest to see for myself was shut down but I was encouraged by set of police officers to go in and see for myself peace and that the fight was part of culture of the of environ and not up a minute they have settled and reunite together.
At the gate, it was written boldly that drugs are not allowed with beautiful art work surrounding the external fencing. Upon entry, we mate couple of bouncers in armless top and three quarter jean trousers, welcoming us and same time ushering us to the main hall where the shrine is located.
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Inside, there was an uneven distributed young men and women performing different recreational activities, be it smoking, drinking, chatting, eating and discussing issues such as football and other national issues, the young are between the age of 18 to 40 years as I can assumed.
Surrounding the hall was beautiful art work of different artist from art to craft harmonised together, on one side of wall was a sign post carrying strong message such “Afrika we are one, we must unite” and “HIV/AIDS is real, we must protect ourselves”.
We were served sorted pepper soup/beer, cigarette and palm wine with table water, as empty head the way I was addressed by one of the artist (one who don’t drink alcohol and smoke helm) I choose the sorted pepper soup and table water aside for myself, owners of different businesses in the shrine came advertising different art work they have including beautiful T-Shirts, Shambala (wrist band) etc.
With this first hand experience and risk taken experience, I came to conclusion that every single being is buried with both talent and innovation, places like this may be considered as gathering of criminals and people with no future ambition but at the same time a place with untapped talented young men and women, it doesn’t only contain them but it has separated them from being volatile among communities with at least sense of recognition.
My recommendation to government is to revisit its plan about young men and women (the youth) like this, give them second chance to thrive in business, provide guidance and counseling, rehabilitation and start up capital at the end to improve their lives.
Yes! This is Lagos.
Editor’s Note: This opinion piece is published as received.
