This Internet connection is so patchy and so slow. It's the same old story whenever it rains, nevermind the fact that traffic in the afternoon already slows down to a baby's crawl compared to the other times of the day (wait, many babies actually move quite quickly compared to what we have here ...). I click on a link and maybe I'll get to the page I want, or maybe I won't. Overall though, this is much better than the service provider we used before.
At home, I use My Netcom Africa and after initial problems of long down-times, their service has very rapidly improved. The times when I used to call their customer service line to complain and report problems are now a thing of a past.
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Monday, June 04, 2007
An Interview with the White African
There's a great interview on African Path with Hash of the White African blog. His blog explores technology issues, especially within an African context. In this interview he discusses blogging in Africa: impact, challenges facing African bloggers; and how these can be surmounted and blogging by more people encouraged.
Rainy Days & Mondays
Remember my post a couple of weeks ago about how much I detest rainy days and Mondays? Well, here's another one. Luckily for me, it wasn't raining when I had to get out of bed. That would have been almost unbearable. It is raining how though, raining like it hasn't rained in months.
Sunday, June 03, 2007
How do you read when you just can't focus?
I finished a book I'd been reading for the past 2 months or so this evening. Okay, I feel so ashamed. I still do not think of myself as a slow reader, but as I was telling a friend, just slightly distracted. My attention span has shrunk to the size of a fly. Honestly, it's become a real problem. Completing books is the least of my problems - at least, I tend to have the luxury of time and can take as much as I need to finish the book. Listening to instructions is another thing entirely! After the first sentence, my mind has wandered to Timbuktu and back. Out of embarrasment, I tend to pretend I got the whole jist of what the other person was saying and nod in an off-handed manner. A lot of times, I can figure out what I need to. When I can't, I sometimes try to pass it off like they didn't explain it properly the first time around. LOL!!
So, I finished Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris. I really want to start Barbara Sher's What do I do when I want to do everything? (yet, another problem of mine, and one that I suspect is closely linked to my difficulty in focusing). However, someone lent me a biography of Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill and Thomas Edison, so I think out of courtesy, I should read that one next so that I can finish and return it before the end of the year.
So, I finished Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris. I really want to start Barbara Sher's What do I do when I want to do everything? (yet, another problem of mine, and one that I suspect is closely linked to my difficulty in focusing). However, someone lent me a biography of Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill and Thomas Edison, so I think out of courtesy, I should read that one next so that I can finish and return it before the end of the year.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
The Many Uses of the Mobile Phone
Sokari has an interesting post on her blog about an ongoing workshop organised by Fahamu that brought together African organisations currently involved in social justice and advocacy projects, which are using mobile phone technology.
Day 1 featured presentations on the Frontline sms Software used recently to monitor the Nigerian elections; the use of mobile phones in a rural agricultural project in Uganda along with radio broadcasts; community based organisations of women in Kenya using mobile phone technology in three specific areas: women and property, women leadership and government, resource livelihood.
It's incredible to know how the mobile phone that many of us take for granted can be such a powerful tool. I first started to realise its full potential after I moved back home. Where access to the Internet could be scarce and expensive, communication by GSM was always an easier (and cheaper) option. I could text friends even when I could not get to a computer connected to the Internet, or in the very likely event that there was 'no NEPA.'
Check out Sokari's blog to read more.
Addition: White African wrote-up on the meeting on his blog.
Day 1 featured presentations on the Frontline sms Software used recently to monitor the Nigerian elections; the use of mobile phones in a rural agricultural project in Uganda along with radio broadcasts; community based organisations of women in Kenya using mobile phone technology in three specific areas: women and property, women leadership and government, resource livelihood.
It's incredible to know how the mobile phone that many of us take for granted can be such a powerful tool. I first started to realise its full potential after I moved back home. Where access to the Internet could be scarce and expensive, communication by GSM was always an easier (and cheaper) option. I could text friends even when I could not get to a computer connected to the Internet, or in the very likely event that there was 'no NEPA.'
Check out Sokari's blog to read more.
Addition: White African wrote-up on the meeting on his blog.
Time for a Trim
I had a lovely long weekend. It kicked off with a great meeting with some incredible, opinionated and highly intelligent women (plus one lone male)! It was a focus group for True Love magazine, which I was invited to participate in. TL wanted to get feedback on how it's been doing, what its readers like, what we don't and what we would like to see more of. It was held at Pearl Garden, which just happens to be one of my favourite restaurants and one which I can't afford to eat at as much as I would like (that would be every other day).
I'll write more about the focus group later (it's 8 minutes to shut-down time here at work) and I like to beat the traffic as much as I possibly can. One thing I did say was that TL's hair page needs to focus more on natural hair (nevermind that the current issue discusses hair care for locs). Yes, it's perhaps a selfish request, but I know there are many other nappies out there who sometimes need a clue on some funky new styles.
I was checking out some photos of the writer, Tayari Jones - she also has natural hair- and seeing her healthy twist out reminded me that it's been ages since my last trim (yes, natural hair also requires regular trims). I think I'll do that when I get home.
I'll write more about the focus group later (it's 8 minutes to shut-down time here at work) and I like to beat the traffic as much as I possibly can. One thing I did say was that TL's hair page needs to focus more on natural hair (nevermind that the current issue discusses hair care for locs). Yes, it's perhaps a selfish request, but I know there are many other nappies out there who sometimes need a clue on some funky new styles.
I was checking out some photos of the writer, Tayari Jones - she also has natural hair- and seeing her healthy twist out reminded me that it's been ages since my last trim (yes, natural hair also requires regular trims). I think I'll do that when I get home.
Friday, May 25, 2007
Here Come More Holidays
Oh, I love this country! We have a 2-day public holiday next week. Monday and Tuesday! Hand-over to our next government happens in Abuja on Tuesday. Oh, what shall I do with my unexpected holiday?
Monday, May 21, 2007
The Namesake on Film
I went to see The Namesake a few weeks ago - or many, many weeks ago probably more like.
I have been looking forward to this ever since I heard that Mira Nair was bringing the book to film. I loved the book and hoped that the film would be even half as good. I like a lot of Mira Nair's films, but sometimes they can be a bit hit or miss for me. Monsoon Wedding has been her biggest hit to date and definitely a crow-pleaser. If you want something less middle-of-the-road, you should see Salaam Bombay, which explores the lives of some Mumbai street children.
The Namesake is not a big book, but it packs in a lot and spans 2 continents and several decades. As a result, Mira Nair had to leave out a lot. It still leaves a good film with a solid story, but having read the book probably gave me some degree more understanding than I might have otherwise had. The original story is set in the Boston area, while the film moves the tale to New York. This really doesn't impact the story in anyway. I loved the book because it dealt with issues of feeling culturally at sea. At the time, I felt very much the same way too. I think most people who have lived in cultures outside of their own could relate very well to the book. Hell! Sometimes, we can even feel adrift in our own country.
i think many people wrongly asessed this film as "Just another Indian movie" i.e. a Bollywood film, which it certainly isn't. Consequently, when I went to see the film there couldn't have been more than 20 of us in the hall with my friend and I being the only black people. I thoroughly enjoyed myself, shedding bucket-loads of tears and admiring Tabu's beauty.
I have been looking forward to this ever since I heard that Mira Nair was bringing the book to film. I loved the book and hoped that the film would be even half as good. I like a lot of Mira Nair's films, but sometimes they can be a bit hit or miss for me. Monsoon Wedding has been her biggest hit to date and definitely a crow-pleaser. If you want something less middle-of-the-road, you should see Salaam Bombay, which explores the lives of some Mumbai street children.
The Namesake is not a big book, but it packs in a lot and spans 2 continents and several decades. As a result, Mira Nair had to leave out a lot. It still leaves a good film with a solid story, but having read the book probably gave me some degree more understanding than I might have otherwise had. The original story is set in the Boston area, while the film moves the tale to New York. This really doesn't impact the story in anyway. I loved the book because it dealt with issues of feeling culturally at sea. At the time, I felt very much the same way too. I think most people who have lived in cultures outside of their own could relate very well to the book. Hell! Sometimes, we can even feel adrift in our own country.
i think many people wrongly asessed this film as "Just another Indian movie" i.e. a Bollywood film, which it certainly isn't. Consequently, when I went to see the film there couldn't have been more than 20 of us in the hall with my friend and I being the only black people. I thoroughly enjoyed myself, shedding bucket-loads of tears and admiring Tabu's beauty.
How Much Fun Can You Squeeze into 1 Day?
I took the day off and am so excited. I've been needing some time off for a while and this day could not have come at a better time. I've just come off a few particularly hectic weeks. I'm looking at decongesting my life and letting go of the things that I really don't have to do.
Today has started off brilliantly. I was stirred in the early hours of the morning by the angry sounds of thunder and the rain pouring down in torrents.
Perfect! I thought. There's nothing better than having nasty weather outside when you don't have to be anywhere. It's even better when it's a Monday. There's a song by The Carpenters called Rainy Days and Mondays in which Karen Carpenter sings about her intense dislike for rainy days and Mondays. I love that song!
To my disappointment, I still woke-up around 6AM and haven't been able to go back to sleep. So I rolled around in bed until I couldn't take it anymore. I finished watching the film I started yesterday, The Lion in Winter. I really like Katherine Hepburn and will watch virtually anything with her in it. It was funny seeing the very young Anthony Hopkins and Timothy Dalton.
I daren't admit it, but I'm already a little bored. Hmmmm, no I will find another film to watch. My sister just bought Mahoganey with Diana Ross. I think I'll watch that.
Today has started off brilliantly. I was stirred in the early hours of the morning by the angry sounds of thunder and the rain pouring down in torrents.
Perfect! I thought. There's nothing better than having nasty weather outside when you don't have to be anywhere. It's even better when it's a Monday. There's a song by The Carpenters called Rainy Days and Mondays in which Karen Carpenter sings about her intense dislike for rainy days and Mondays. I love that song!
To my disappointment, I still woke-up around 6AM and haven't been able to go back to sleep. So I rolled around in bed until I couldn't take it anymore. I finished watching the film I started yesterday, The Lion in Winter. I really like Katherine Hepburn and will watch virtually anything with her in it. It was funny seeing the very young Anthony Hopkins and Timothy Dalton.
I daren't admit it, but I'm already a little bored. Hmmmm, no I will find another film to watch. My sister just bought Mahoganey with Diana Ross. I think I'll watch that.
Friday, May 18, 2007
When is a blog not a blog?
.... Or when has a blogger lost the right to call themselves one? Such questions have been running through my head in the last week or so. I feel like it's been ages since I last blogged, though in reality it has been just about 2 weeks - which is some blogger's average length of time between posts. Life is mostly made-up of mundane routines and sometimes there's simply nothing to write about. Well, no, I did want to write about the film The Namesake, which I went to see goodness knows how many weeks ago, but I just haven't been able to muster any energy for anything remotely creative. I'm focusing instead on catching-up on sleep.
Monday, May 07, 2007
Ore Visits an Art Gallery
Yesterday a friend invited me to an art exhibition at Didi Museum. I promised that I would stop by if I could. I love art, though I don't know much about it. Like most lay people would say "I just know what I like!".
I got there and signed-in at the reception. The guy manning the desk asked me if I was an artist.
- No! Not at all!, I responded.
- Really? You look like an artist.
I laughed.
- What does an artist look like?
- Like you!
Alrighty then!
The main exhibition room was pretty bare aside from the gorgeous paintings, the artist and a handful of reporters. I would say that there were about 7 news people and my friend and I. I can't remember if this was the opening day or not. I guess it must have been if the reporters were there. But do people not attend art shows? Or perhaps there wasn't wide publicity for the event, afterall I wouldn't have known about it had my friend (who incidentally is also an artist) invited me.
As I was getting ready to leave, a reporter inquired if she could ask me a few questions about the exhibition. Panic time! Because, like I said, I know zero about art. The camera man turned his lens on me and beads of sweat started to gather at my brow as the reporter started asking her questions.
- What do I think about the exhibition?
- Mmmm.. The paintings are absolutely beauiful.
- What do you like about the artist's work?
- I love his use of colour and how he portrays movement. I like how his work is open to interpretation. You can't look at each painting and say "This is what the artist is trying to depict." (My brother later told me that the word I was struggling to find was "abstract." I knew that!)
- How do you think the arts movement has progressed in Nigeria over the last few years?
Haba! Does this woman think that I am an art critic?????
- I think that there it's actually been quite vibrant over the years and there has always been a core group of people who appreciate art. However, it doesn't always seem to have gotten the attention that it should have. I remember going to art exhibitions with my family when I was much younger and that there were always a lot of people in attendance. I don't remember that there were a lot of places to view art though. So, I think that the arts movement in Nigeria has always been very strong but contained to a small group of people.
- Okay, so how do you compare that to art in Nigeria now?
My God, lady! Let this be the last hard question you ask me.
- Hmmm, well, I think there is now a wider appreciation for the arts. Yes, there have always been supporters of the arts, but I think it's gathered more speed and recognition now. For instance, there are more places that you can go to view art. Aside from here [Didi Museum], you have Nike Art Gallery and Terrakulture.
If there were some other questions, I honestly cannot remember them, or I have blocked them out. LOL!
Afterwards, I 'confessed' that I didn't know much about art (like that wasn't already so obvious).
- Really? But you did so well. You knew about colour and movement.
I felt like a 3-year old who had been patted on the head for going potty solo for the first time (Wait! Is 3 years old even the right age to potty-train? Okay, so I'm rather clueless about babies too!). I guess making people feel better about their lack of knowledge and incoherent ramblings must be an important part of her job. I asked her what station she worked for. She replied "Galaxy."
Thank the good Lord! I don't think anybody watches that station anyway.
I got there and signed-in at the reception. The guy manning the desk asked me if I was an artist.
- No! Not at all!, I responded.
- Really? You look like an artist.
I laughed.
- What does an artist look like?
- Like you!
Alrighty then!
The main exhibition room was pretty bare aside from the gorgeous paintings, the artist and a handful of reporters. I would say that there were about 7 news people and my friend and I. I can't remember if this was the opening day or not. I guess it must have been if the reporters were there. But do people not attend art shows? Or perhaps there wasn't wide publicity for the event, afterall I wouldn't have known about it had my friend (who incidentally is also an artist) invited me.
As I was getting ready to leave, a reporter inquired if she could ask me a few questions about the exhibition. Panic time! Because, like I said, I know zero about art. The camera man turned his lens on me and beads of sweat started to gather at my brow as the reporter started asking her questions.
- What do I think about the exhibition?
- Mmmm.. The paintings are absolutely beauiful.
- What do you like about the artist's work?
- I love his use of colour and how he portrays movement. I like how his work is open to interpretation. You can't look at each painting and say "This is what the artist is trying to depict." (My brother later told me that the word I was struggling to find was "abstract." I knew that!)
- How do you think the arts movement has progressed in Nigeria over the last few years?
Haba! Does this woman think that I am an art critic?????
- I think that there it's actually been quite vibrant over the years and there has always been a core group of people who appreciate art. However, it doesn't always seem to have gotten the attention that it should have. I remember going to art exhibitions with my family when I was much younger and that there were always a lot of people in attendance. I don't remember that there were a lot of places to view art though. So, I think that the arts movement in Nigeria has always been very strong but contained to a small group of people.
- Okay, so how do you compare that to art in Nigeria now?
My God, lady! Let this be the last hard question you ask me.
- Hmmm, well, I think there is now a wider appreciation for the arts. Yes, there have always been supporters of the arts, but I think it's gathered more speed and recognition now. For instance, there are more places that you can go to view art. Aside from here [Didi Museum], you have Nike Art Gallery and Terrakulture.
If there were some other questions, I honestly cannot remember them, or I have blocked them out. LOL!
Afterwards, I 'confessed' that I didn't know much about art (like that wasn't already so obvious).
- Really? But you did so well. You knew about colour and movement.
I felt like a 3-year old who had been patted on the head for going potty solo for the first time (Wait! Is 3 years old even the right age to potty-train? Okay, so I'm rather clueless about babies too!). I guess making people feel better about their lack of knowledge and incoherent ramblings must be an important part of her job. I asked her what station she worked for. She replied "Galaxy."
Thank the good Lord! I don't think anybody watches that station anyway.
A Hair Weekend
Jeez! I haven't blogged in a while. Well, perhaps a week is not long for some, but it is for me. Well, I guess my absence is partly (or no, in large part) due to the fact that my life has been so humdrum lately. Very routine, the same ole', same ole'. Nothing new or different to report.
This weekend I had to take out my beloved wet and wavy braids. Believe it or not, it was my first time doing this style that is so common here in Lagos. I totally loved them and for the first time in a long while, I could see why long hair is considered so utterly sexy. I flipped that hair over and around my shoulders like no one's business (for those who, in the last few weeks, have had cause to sit next to me and gotten an unexpected mouthful of hair flung at them, I truly apologise. LOL!!!!!). Anyway, since my hair is natural, it tends to get rough pretty quickly as my hair starts to kink up. It takes an exteremly skilled braider for this not to happen. I'm still looking for such a person.
I like to take my braids out myself. It's slower than if I went to a salon to get it done, but I'm happier with the results and the process is a lot less painful for me. I've seen women getting their braids undone at the salon and I wince along with them, as the stylists rip the extensions out of their hair with lightening speed. Sure, the braids are out in no time, but it seems like it is with a good chunk of their own hair. Let's not talk about having to take weaves out. As the stylists slice the extensions off with their razors, they inevitably carve out holes in their customers' hair. As much as I would love to save time, I also love my hair very much and kind of want it to remain on my head. I also love to play with my hair and taking out my own hair gives me ample time to do this. The best reason I love to take out my braids though is that this is about the only time that I watch films and can give them my undivided attention.
This weekend, I watched 4 Elizabeth Taylor movies while undoing my hair: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof; Butterfield 8; Father of the Bride; and National Velvet. Needless to say, I had a blast. I drooled over ET's clothes. They were gorgeous and timeless and the kind of clothes that I could see myself wearing (but, of course). I sighed over Paul Newman in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and how mean his character was to ET's. One thing I really like about old films is how some things are left for the viewer to figure out; I feel that today there is too much hand-holding and bludgeoning movie-goers over the head with the intended message, rather than letting them draw their own conclusions. In Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Paul Newman played a gay man, but never was that said in the film. I marvelled at how Elizabeth Taylor grew up from a rather awkward looking adolescent in National Velvet, complete with a faint moustache, to such a breath-takingly beautiful woman. It should give hope to all ungainly adolescents. I should know; I was one. LOL!
Anyway, back to my hair. It took my about 4 hours on Friday night/Saturday morning and maybe 8/9 hours on Saturday to remove all the braids, but it was well worth it. I missed my hair and am happy to have it back again.
This weekend I had to take out my beloved wet and wavy braids. Believe it or not, it was my first time doing this style that is so common here in Lagos. I totally loved them and for the first time in a long while, I could see why long hair is considered so utterly sexy. I flipped that hair over and around my shoulders like no one's business (for those who, in the last few weeks, have had cause to sit next to me and gotten an unexpected mouthful of hair flung at them, I truly apologise. LOL!!!!!). Anyway, since my hair is natural, it tends to get rough pretty quickly as my hair starts to kink up. It takes an exteremly skilled braider for this not to happen. I'm still looking for such a person.
I like to take my braids out myself. It's slower than if I went to a salon to get it done, but I'm happier with the results and the process is a lot less painful for me. I've seen women getting their braids undone at the salon and I wince along with them, as the stylists rip the extensions out of their hair with lightening speed. Sure, the braids are out in no time, but it seems like it is with a good chunk of their own hair. Let's not talk about having to take weaves out. As the stylists slice the extensions off with their razors, they inevitably carve out holes in their customers' hair. As much as I would love to save time, I also love my hair very much and kind of want it to remain on my head. I also love to play with my hair and taking out my own hair gives me ample time to do this. The best reason I love to take out my braids though is that this is about the only time that I watch films and can give them my undivided attention.
This weekend, I watched 4 Elizabeth Taylor movies while undoing my hair: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof; Butterfield 8; Father of the Bride; and National Velvet. Needless to say, I had a blast. I drooled over ET's clothes. They were gorgeous and timeless and the kind of clothes that I could see myself wearing (but, of course). I sighed over Paul Newman in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and how mean his character was to ET's. One thing I really like about old films is how some things are left for the viewer to figure out; I feel that today there is too much hand-holding and bludgeoning movie-goers over the head with the intended message, rather than letting them draw their own conclusions. In Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Paul Newman played a gay man, but never was that said in the film. I marvelled at how Elizabeth Taylor grew up from a rather awkward looking adolescent in National Velvet, complete with a faint moustache, to such a breath-takingly beautiful woman. It should give hope to all ungainly adolescents. I should know; I was one. LOL!
Anyway, back to my hair. It took my about 4 hours on Friday night/Saturday morning and maybe 8/9 hours on Saturday to remove all the braids, but it was well worth it. I missed my hair and am happy to have it back again.
Saturday, April 28, 2007
3rd Saturday of Voting
This is so ridiculous. For the 3rd Saturday in a row, we have restricted movement for 8 hours for elections. This time is for the senate. In a few states, last week's governorship elections are being conducted. Predictably, the turn-out has been fairly low. From some of the TV coverage I've seen so far, today's situation is a flip from the last 2 weeks, with INEC officials sitting around and waiting for the voters to turn up. This is to be expected, because a lot of the focus has been on the state government and presidential elections. And by now, I think people are tired of staying at home and just want their regular Saturdays back. We all have errands to run (though the curfews have been good for me because I was forced to stay at home and get important tasks done) and things that we need to be doing. I get the sense that today's curfew is not being so strictly observed and that people are out and about.
Meanwhile, Tuesday is Worker's Day, so is another public holiday. We didn't get it off last year at my work-place and with all the holidays we have been having lately, I don't know that we really need it.
Meanwhile, Tuesday is Worker's Day, so is another public holiday. We didn't get it off last year at my work-place and with all the holidays we have been having lately, I don't know that we really need it.
Monday, April 23, 2007
The 'News'
A friend called me this evening and asked me excitedly if I had heard "the news."
- "What news?", I asked. At work, our Internet connection has been patchy and we don't have radios.
- "Yar'Adua has been declared president-elect!"
I almost collapsed laughing on the phone.
- "That's it?" I exclaimed, barely choking down my laughter. "Is that one news? No, what would have been news is if someone else had won."
- "What news?", I asked. At work, our Internet connection has been patchy and we don't have radios.
- "Yar'Adua has been declared president-elect!"
I almost collapsed laughing on the phone.
- "That's it?" I exclaimed, barely choking down my laughter. "Is that one news? No, what would have been news is if someone else had won."
Sunday, April 22, 2007
The Presidential Elections
So, we had the much-anticipated presidential elections yesterday. In my area, all seemed to go quite well. As I was getting ready to leave the house at 8am, my brother told me that he had just read that the polls would not open until 10 as the voting materials had only been flown in from South Africa the night before. Well, whatever! I took the opportunity to eat breakfast and left the house around 10.
It was back to Tantalizers, where I had voted last week. As I got there, I saw a fairly long (but not too long) line of people had formed. The INEC officials were not yet there. Together with the lady standing next to me, I got a chair from the outdoor church and sat patiently reading (Yay!!!! I finally started Changes by Ama Ata Aidoo) and waiting for the arrival of the officials.
Almost everyone else went to get a chair and we all sat, talked, drank, ate and generally passed the time in a pleasant (or not so pleasant for those in the direct line of the sun) way. When the officials came, the voting commenced within minutes and we played pseudo musical chairs, as the line moved and we shuffled from the chair we were sitting on to the one in front. It was all so eerily organised, I struggled to believe that this was a Nigerian queue (sorry, NYSC, the banks, fast-food eateries and just about every other institution I have had cause to visit bring up infuriating memories). Okay, well, this was no ordinary Naija queue, this being Lekki and all.
Now, we wait for the results.
It was back to Tantalizers, where I had voted last week. As I got there, I saw a fairly long (but not too long) line of people had formed. The INEC officials were not yet there. Together with the lady standing next to me, I got a chair from the outdoor church and sat patiently reading (Yay!!!! I finally started Changes by Ama Ata Aidoo) and waiting for the arrival of the officials.
Almost everyone else went to get a chair and we all sat, talked, drank, ate and generally passed the time in a pleasant (or not so pleasant for those in the direct line of the sun) way. When the officials came, the voting commenced within minutes and we played pseudo musical chairs, as the line moved and we shuffled from the chair we were sitting on to the one in front. It was all so eerily organised, I struggled to believe that this was a Nigerian queue (sorry, NYSC, the banks, fast-food eateries and just about every other institution I have had cause to visit bring up infuriating memories). Okay, well, this was no ordinary Naija queue, this being Lekki and all.
Now, we wait for the results.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Voter's Experience at the Polls
I read this on Chippla's blog (via Black Looks). Christy asks pertinent questions about the use of laborious manual methods to store and retrieve voters' information, after so much effort was put into an electronic registration process.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Greenlight Nigeria.org
Get updates on how the elections are going on the GreenlightNigeria.org blog.
Voting in Progress ....
The family went out to vote this morning. We saw a crowd of people at the Tantalizers near our place and pulled in there. Once there, we found out that there were different polling booths and that we were not all registered to vote in the same place. After returning home to get separate cars, we went back out again. I returned to the Tantalizers as that was my place to vote. And then the long wait began. I chided myself for not getting there earlier, but I heard from people who had been there at 8AM, as instructed, that the INEC officials had not yet arrived at that time.
Thank goodness the line moved (albeit very slowly) and there were interesting conversations going on around me to participate in and listen to. Of course, it became a hang-out as people ran into people they knew. It's funny with this Lagos, especially in neighbourhoods like Ikoyi, Victoria Island and Lekki. You could live next door to someone for years and still not know who they are. If you do know them, you probably hardly ever see them. It takes an 'extra-ordinary' event like this to bring people out of their mini islands. Well, I am as guilty as the next person of doing this, so let me not talk too much....
As I moved closer to the front of the queue (These damned queues - I felt like I was a corper all over again. Even the sun cooperated in recreating the mood by beating down on our heads with cheerful ferocity.) people started complaining about not being able to find their names in the registers. This meant that they were not able to vote.
Na wa! Why is it always one thing after another? Just when we were all commenting that these elections were turning out to be so organised too....
An INEC official was found and she speculated on whether the officials had the complete list of voters' names. She then went off, accompanied by one of the voters just so she wouldn't abscond, to look for the missing names. In the interim, a new queue was formed for people who had tried to vote, but whose names were missing. I stayed on my queue and when I got to the front handed my temporary voter's card to the official. Fortunately, my name was there and he asked me to bring forward my left thumb so that he could mark it with ink. I moved on to the second official, who marked the inner portion of my voter's card and gave me the stamped and signed ballot forms. I then moved to a side table to select my candidates on the forms.
I don't know too much about the candidates for the state assembly, but decided to vote for the same party as my gubernatorial choice. The governorship forms displayed the names and photos of the candidates, as well as their party's emblem. I scanned for Jimi Agbaje's photo but could not find it. It took me a minute to eventually find his name. Hmmmm. Why was his photo not there? Yes, it's not a monumental task finding his name printed out on the form, but it does make it 1 step harder. Meanwhile, Fashola's face beamed at me from near the top of the form, making it so easy to spot (I guess they were arranged in alphabetical order by party name).
Anyway, so I put my thumbprint next to my choices and said goodbye to a friend who was waiting for the arrival of the missing names. She said she'd be there all day if she had to. I applaud her tenactity. Some people would just have gone home and derided the whole exercise as being inefficient and already rigged.
One thing I find and that really amazes me is a prevailing defeatist attitude. I've had more than a few people tell me that I was seriously wasting my vote. "You know either Fashola or Obanikoro is going to win anyway, so why bother voting for anybody else?" How about because I would like to select a candidate who I feel has a better-thought out plan for the state?
Another trend I observed was people leaving the country in the last week, because they thought there would be some violence during the elections. I don't get that. Isn't this our country? You leave and then what? You're going to have to return at some point. That there have been outbreaks of violence in the run-up to these elections is a fact that cannot be denied, but many of the people who have left the country, like a friend pointed out, live in areas not touched by the violence. And it is unlikely that the violence would spread to those areas. I have had lots of people tell me that after I vote I should just jejely return home, because there would be rampant violence, kidnapping and peoples' heads would be cut off. Such unnecessary hysteria! Anyway, let me get into the spirit of things..... Please let the federal government declare the whole of next week a public holiday. At least that way, the ne'er-do-wells won't readily find people to fight or kidnap.
PS: I just saw my sister, Ayoola, and Mom on TV (Silverbird TV). They showed my sister as she cast her vote. Then they were also interviewed by Wildchild and Aduare. You should have seen my sister and I screaming our heads off when we saw her on TV.
Thank goodness the line moved (albeit very slowly) and there were interesting conversations going on around me to participate in and listen to. Of course, it became a hang-out as people ran into people they knew. It's funny with this Lagos, especially in neighbourhoods like Ikoyi, Victoria Island and Lekki. You could live next door to someone for years and still not know who they are. If you do know them, you probably hardly ever see them. It takes an 'extra-ordinary' event like this to bring people out of their mini islands. Well, I am as guilty as the next person of doing this, so let me not talk too much....
As I moved closer to the front of the queue (These damned queues - I felt like I was a corper all over again. Even the sun cooperated in recreating the mood by beating down on our heads with cheerful ferocity.) people started complaining about not being able to find their names in the registers. This meant that they were not able to vote.
Na wa! Why is it always one thing after another? Just when we were all commenting that these elections were turning out to be so organised too....
An INEC official was found and she speculated on whether the officials had the complete list of voters' names. She then went off, accompanied by one of the voters just so she wouldn't abscond, to look for the missing names. In the interim, a new queue was formed for people who had tried to vote, but whose names were missing. I stayed on my queue and when I got to the front handed my temporary voter's card to the official. Fortunately, my name was there and he asked me to bring forward my left thumb so that he could mark it with ink. I moved on to the second official, who marked the inner portion of my voter's card and gave me the stamped and signed ballot forms. I then moved to a side table to select my candidates on the forms.
I don't know too much about the candidates for the state assembly, but decided to vote for the same party as my gubernatorial choice. The governorship forms displayed the names and photos of the candidates, as well as their party's emblem. I scanned for Jimi Agbaje's photo but could not find it. It took me a minute to eventually find his name. Hmmmm. Why was his photo not there? Yes, it's not a monumental task finding his name printed out on the form, but it does make it 1 step harder. Meanwhile, Fashola's face beamed at me from near the top of the form, making it so easy to spot (I guess they were arranged in alphabetical order by party name).
Anyway, so I put my thumbprint next to my choices and said goodbye to a friend who was waiting for the arrival of the missing names. She said she'd be there all day if she had to. I applaud her tenactity. Some people would just have gone home and derided the whole exercise as being inefficient and already rigged.
One thing I find and that really amazes me is a prevailing defeatist attitude. I've had more than a few people tell me that I was seriously wasting my vote. "You know either Fashola or Obanikoro is going to win anyway, so why bother voting for anybody else?" How about because I would like to select a candidate who I feel has a better-thought out plan for the state?
Another trend I observed was people leaving the country in the last week, because they thought there would be some violence during the elections. I don't get that. Isn't this our country? You leave and then what? You're going to have to return at some point. That there have been outbreaks of violence in the run-up to these elections is a fact that cannot be denied, but many of the people who have left the country, like a friend pointed out, live in areas not touched by the violence. And it is unlikely that the violence would spread to those areas. I have had lots of people tell me that after I vote I should just jejely return home, because there would be rampant violence, kidnapping and peoples' heads would be cut off. Such unnecessary hysteria! Anyway, let me get into the spirit of things..... Please let the federal government declare the whole of next week a public holiday. At least that way, the ne'er-do-wells won't readily find people to fight or kidnap.
PS: I just saw my sister, Ayoola, and Mom on TV (Silverbird TV). They showed my sister as she cast her vote. Then they were also interviewed by Wildchild and Aduare. You should have seen my sister and I screaming our heads off when we saw her on TV.
Friday, April 13, 2007
2007 Man Booker International Judges' List Announced
I saw this on Naijablog today.
Several of my favourite authors were nominated for the 2007 Man Booker International Prize: Chinua Achebe, Margaret Atwood and Doris Lessing. It's an impressive list.
Now, according to the website, The Man Booker International Prize is unique in the world of literature in that it can be won by an author of any nationality, providing that his or her work is available in the English language. It will be awarded every second year.
So, is this different from the regular Booker Prize that I'm familiar with (Ben Okri, Rohinton Mistry and Arundhati Roy are past winners) or did they just add "Man" to the name?
Several of my favourite authors were nominated for the 2007 Man Booker International Prize: Chinua Achebe, Margaret Atwood and Doris Lessing. It's an impressive list.
Now, according to the website, The Man Booker International Prize is unique in the world of literature in that it can be won by an author of any nationality, providing that his or her work is available in the English language. It will be awarded every second year.
So, is this different from the regular Booker Prize that I'm familiar with (Ben Okri, Rohinton Mistry and Arundhati Roy are past winners) or did they just add "Man" to the name?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)