IT was a typical day in Lagos, a city where
anything can happen. But for a first time
visitor; all the hustle and bustle will all look
abysmal.
At the far end of the lush green roundabout,
which has recently been landscaped by the
state government, hawkers’ croaky chants
were drowned by loud music coming from
irritating loudspeakers. In one corner of the
chaotic roundabout, a row of itinerant
audio CD sellers form a long line beside
wheel barrows full of pirated Compact Discs.
Away from the bedlam was a small group of
soldiers who were controversially deployed
to Lagos in the wake of the fuel subsidy
protest that rocked the country two weeks
ago.
The soldiers, all grim looking sat in their
truck, looking disinterestedly at the disorder
some few meters away. One of the soldiers
with a sculptured face that looked carved
out of stone was smoking what looked like
Indian hemp. Two others were engrossed in
a card game. Everything seemed normal in
the midst of the chaos until an itinerant cart
pusher rolled past the soldiers playing a
defiant and mocking track from Fela
Anipulapo-Kuti’s Zombie.
Then all hell was let loose. Why this itinerant
DJ would choose that hot blazing Lagos
afternoon to play the derisive Zombie track
that ridiculed the officers of Nigerian army
as a bunch of robots would surprise anyone
who is familiar with the hate and violent-
filled relationship that existed between Fela
and the overzealous and power-drunk
Nigerian Army. Fela, who had many brushes
with the Nigerian Army, would even marvel
at the boldness of this Lagos hustler.
Perhaps this young man was still too young
to know the history of Zombie and the Army
Arrangement tracks that came immediately
after it, as he stopped directly in front of the
army truck to answer a prospective
customer.
What happened next was like the proverbial
walking into a Tiger’s Den. One of the
soldiers seemed to nudge his colleague to
the music. He pointed in the direction where
the wheelbarrow was parked. Then in a
flash, one of the soldiers emerged from the
back of the truck. He unclasped his AK47,
which hitherto was slung on his shoulders.
He beckoned on the man to come closer to
the truck.
Innocently and without suspecting anything
untoward, he wheeled the barrow closer to
the truck. “Oga, you wan buy. Nah original
CD o. I get fine, fine Fela music for here” he
said. There was a long silence. More officers,
clutching AK 47 rifles had gathered round
the man. Then a slap, which sounded like
thunder clap, was delivered into his lean
cheek .
The man was dazed, almost confused. He
attempted an escape but was hemmed in by
stern looking soldiers who had formed a
ring round him. There was silence in the
midst of the chaos nearby. A crowd had
gathered in the distance, ready to do a
Usain Bolt if the situation turns uglier.
“Quench that yeye music. Who send you
come here. Why you dey p(flay) Fela music
for here? God don punish you today.
Another blow was delivered into his jaw.
The man crumbled on the dusty road. He
was helped up by one of the soldiers.
Another wheeled the barrow, which has
now gone silent to the back of the truck. I
saw him picked up a music video, examined
it and tucked it inside his rucksack.
“So, they send you make you come use Fela
music cause wahala for here. Ok, so na we
be Zombie abi? Oya begin do frog jump.”
The man, now looking dazed and frightened
quickly assumed the position of a frog;
jumping up and down like a frightened
amphibian.
As he did, fiery horsewhip lashes landed on
his back. He let out a loud yell as the
horsewhip tore through his back. The
punishment went on for several minutes
until one of the soldiers who looked like
their superior told the man to “remove
himself from here”. The man bolted away
but was stopped by the sudden shout of
“halt” which stopped him dead in his tracks.
He had forgotten his wheelbarrow. He came
back and wheeled it into the crowded bus
stop. He disappeared into the massive
throng of Lagosians that had gathered to
witness the scene.
As the man disappeared, the soldiers turn
their gaze to the crowd. One of them
pointed his AK47 at the crowd, mimicking
an attempt to spray them with bullets.
People ran in different directions and the
soldiers went back to their truck.
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