I am sure most of you have seen the very controversial BBC's Welcome to Lagos. As you know, I LOVED the series. I watched every single one, and fell in love with the resilience of my people, and their ever positive "e go better" mentality. And it is stories of people like Vocal Slender aka Eric Obuh from Ajegunle, that give millions of struggling Nigerians hope.
Firstly, I have been so sick and tired of Nigerians complaining that they only show negative things about Africa and Nigeria. What the HELL is wrong with us and why cant we accept criticisms of the reality of our lives. Did they shoot that documentary in a made up world? It was NOT a script on a set, these were the stories of REAL Nigerians, LIVING and SURVIVING in Lagos, making the best of the miserable conditions that they find themselves. Was BBC making up the stories or forcing the people to say those things? It is the TRUTH, and it is a very bitter pill to swallow especially when it is dished out by another party.
Eric is now in London performing in shows and has a record deal! I cant wait to go and see him, he's truly inspiring! I have even downloaded his album from Itunes!
There is an interview with the cast from Welcome to Lagos in the Guardian
"A lot of people who know me, my friends, and my family, they don't know I work in the dump. They believe I just do music. And I want to keep it that way, so I will have respect. It's not that the dump is bad, because the money I get from it keeps my body and soul together, and helps me make my music" Eric
"I'm not ashamed to work in the dump. All my neighbours know that's where I work.I don't rob. I don't steal. I'm an honest person. What is important is love for your family. That's what drives you to walk that extra mile. If there was a dump that was stinkier than this one, where I could earn more, then I'd go there to work, just to make sure my family enjoys life."
Now that's true talk!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment+arts-10634496
Miss B
I am truly happy for him! Like yourself, I really couldn't understand why people were so angered by the documentary - it is reality for many in Nig for heaven's sake!!! Whether or not we like what we watched - that is the reality of life for millions of Nigerians!
ReplyDeleteI wasn't angered per se by the documentary but I was not happy about it. The title of the documentary was misleading. Ojota is not representative of ALL OF LAGOS. It should have been called welcome to Ojota, just as a show about Tokyo would have been called Welcome to Tokyo and not Welcome to Japan.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, I am very happy for Eric and I hope he does find success as a result of this.
i was pissed off because the title was "welcome to Lagos" and it was a completely wrong depiction of Lagos; Besides why does BBC always paint us bad to the world..infact, i really don't want to get started on this issue again
ReplyDeleteGood to know that the documentary at least yielded some good results.
ReplyDeleteI have to side with sugabelly and doll on this. I loved the show and I was so inspired, and felt blessed and humbled. It was truly wonderful but and but, it was truly not representative of the lives the minority middle (if nigeria has one) and upper middle class life. I mean Lagos is all that and so much more.
ReplyDeleteCongrats to Eric and I hope that a lot of good things do come out of the show from as many are inspired to do something, including myself.
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