That’s a question I just have to ask, especially after watching the South Africa versus Nigeria friendly last week (forget the match scores. We lost 2-1. Our main players didn’t turn up). The atmosphere at the stadium was sure intimidating, cos all around there were fanatic South African fans dressed in their national colours, carrying their national flags and chanting national “shit” (smiles). On the other hand Nigerian fans were few, and those really cheering through out were the supporters club (cos they’re been paid to do so). That’s the problem with Nigerian fans; we’re a little bit too numb and shy about supporting our stars fanatically. I’m telling you man, foreigners show more love to ours stars then we do ourselves. And that ain’t good cos charity should begin at home. Take this for example I’ve been at the National stadium Abuja twice to watch the Eagles play. And one of them times was at the All Africa Games football finals 2003 between Nigeria and Cameroun. Taking a look at the spectators you wouldn’t know if they were there to watch Garki FC take on Wuse FC or Nigeria take on Cameroun, cos very little fans were in national colours, rocking national jerseys or carrying the Nigerian flag. Around me surprisingly the only fans representing Naija were “two white kids” carrying the Nigerian flag, whose parents had brought them to watch the match? Can you believe that? But trust me sha, I was rocking my Aghahowa number 17 jersey. On the real man we need to take a cue from English, South Korean and South African fans on doing the supporter shit. There ain’t no shame in being happy and just losing it. Ask Eminem, he’ll tell you.

South African football fans: now this is good “fanship” (smiles)

Straight up man, ain’t no beating about the bush, I’m saying it point blank: “The curfew in my Alma-Mater UNN (University of Nigeria Nsukka) has outlived its usefulness. It’s common practice for curfews to be imposed in communities during periods of social unrest. But the present one going on in UNN that started around mid 2003 has proved to be inefficacious. In other words useless. Far from what it aimed to do (curb cultism, violence, assassinations, theft, rape etc), it has become instead a means of killing social life on campus and what more the Nsukka economy.

The curfew was originally between the hours of 10pm and 5am. But with the coming of a new Vice Chancellor it was extended to start from 9pm. And also commercial motorcycle riders were barred from operating on campus premises after 8pm.

But facts on ground show that theft and violence etc have hardly gone down since the curfew was imposed. Towards the end of last session (August and September 2004) handset theft was the in-thing. Daily we would hear of compounds off-campus where students reside being raided by men of the underworld with extraction of handsets being the main aim and at times rape. Even our own Zik flats’ E-Block (which is right next to a security post!) was not spared as they were struck twice! And the most annoying thing is that these crimes were committed during curfew hours when every body was supposed to be in doors with “the efficient” campus security holding security tight outside.

In reality every one knows the university is not safe. Our security system is fucked up. It’s just full of old security men who are highly under armed and use old-fashioned ways to carry out law enforcement. Even the police and army officials on duty around campus premises pay greater attention to extracting 20 Naira notes from commercial drivers/riders than checking vehicles or questioning possible criminals. It’s sad to know but in truth any smart crook can easily wreck havoc on campus and go scot-free.

What then is the usefulness of the curfew when with or without it crimes still go on? It has only succeeded in punishing students as their social life has been reduced to zero. With the curfew social activity on campus can’t extend beyond 9pm and hence we saw the period of afternoon shows and Departmental “afternoons-nites” in campus in the 2001/2002 session and 2002/2003 session (between 2003 and 2004). What do you expect when shows are rushed so as to meet with the 9pm deadline? Low quality and chaos of course. And so fun seekers are left under entertained and shortchanged. Ask Spez and EldRichie, organizers of the supposed “Julius Agwu and Klint the drunkard featured” show last session how much they lost financially due to the curfew shit. Life on campus, which should be a social hot spot, is left looking like a prison yard. Gone are the days of enjoyable (birthday) parties, all night shows and bonfires. As early as 8.30pm everywhere is quiet.

In my 1st and 2nd years in UNN (2000-2002) commercial activities in and around Zik flats boomed till 12pm and even beyond. One felt free living in Nsukka as a student. But now from behind flats to the SUG building area the campus is fucked up socially. Look at Jives; it’s a shadow of its former self. I wonder how the owner survives financially. What more, the inability to flag down a bike after 8pm creates unnecessary hardship and even the chance of rape for female students. Especially if a person is carrying a load and/or is going a far distance say from Zik flats to Isa-Kaita hall.

After looking at things critically I feel it’s in the best interest of students, staff and the UNN community at large if the Vice Chancellor calls an end to the curfew. There are by far better ways to curb crime on campus (like beefing up and modernizing our campus security system) than imposing a curfew, which only succeeds in killing social life and economic activity in and around UNN.

the main gate of UNN. Rugged isn’t it?

Naira (Nigeria’s currency) spraying/money spraying/Naira shower/Naira rain for those who don’t know is the spraying of money on people. At times physically stuck to their bodies or just thrown at them joyously to create a sort of currency note rainfall. In Nigeria with globalization and the use of currency notes Naira spraying has become part of the culture. And it’s usually exhibited at celebrations

While I’m all of a sudden crazy about it, is because I attended a traditional wedding ceremony recently in Nsukka. And man the Naira spraying shit sure made me smile and laugh. Man in reality it was the high point of the celebrations. You know on one hand the High Life band engrossed their self in serious praise singing. And in return were showered with currency notes by the young businessmen in attendance. On the other hand there was a traditional dance group. Whose lead dancer a little girl of about seven years won the hearts of the crowd with her wonderful dance steps. She too was Naira bathed. And not to forget the wedded couple and the bride’s mother, whose graceful dance steps kept money falling down from the sky like a hailstorm.

Man the wedding sure was fun. And I tell you had there being no Naira shower but just straight up wedding shit, the ceremony would have been damn boring. I guess that’s just the way things are in Igbo society. It’s always a delight to see friends of those being sprayed bending down to pick up the notes, and onlookers swiftly joining in (but always being chased away) to partake in the loot. Also there’ll be people looking to change their higher denominational notes into smaller ones to carry on with the spraying. But what makes me laugh most is when you see poor old men who ordinarily would not shower anybody, picking up showered notes and doing the same with an air of arrogance. Damn life in the village sure is fun. And with all the spraying involved I can tell that broke ass young men don’t come to the village for celebrations and at festive seasons. It’s about the cheddar down there. Money gets things running you know.

money being sprayed on a dancing couple at an Igbo traditional wedding ceremony