Nigeria I will never QUIT you

What’s up people?

How fitting that I would have a mini Nigeria moment tonight as we celebrate our Independence this October 1^st. I was closing shop at my headquarters and as I stepped out the building, there was Javier, Jose or Juan (one of them) pulling out his “johnson” pissing all on the sidewalk like it was NOTHING. I mean wait a minute; am I back home walking the streets of Lagos in my small little town? IDIMU, Lagos STAND-UP! So I say all this to make a point that you can put up all the $1 million condos you want in DC, you just be best prepared to know how to put up with the villagers amongst you too. Now on to more exciting news, this Sunday kicks-off season 2 of the best show on cable television Homeland. I just got three words people; Yum, Yum, YUMMY!

Ok people; Let me get focused…

I am really thankful that Nigeria’s Independence has snuck up on me this year for many reasons. My sole purpose for creating my blogspot from the onset and writing every week since my launch nearly two years ago was to promote and show the naysayers that we Nigerians have the same great human qualities that people of other nationalities are celebrated and recognized for. We come in many shapes, colors, sizes and possess the depth in intellectual competence that takes a back seat to NOBODY. This is something I promise to get back to as the core content of my future blog post in the coming weeks and months. Now; what we have done with all of our smarts and know-how over the years is very questionable and at times simply EMBARASSING.

Some people would describe the country of Nigeria to having a crush or being in love with someone. Nigeria is a type of country that will or has given some folks the butterflies; that knot in their stomach feeling; that I can’t sleep at night feeling because I just keep having him/her in my head feeling. I think the term is simply commonly referred to as being LOVE SICK. The country is full of its share of endless Disney movie fairytale endings. I mean where else on this planet do you have a village idiot with a first name like Goodluck rise to the most powerful post a country has to offer if not for his mere share of GOODLUCK!

52 years later and Nigeria still has a lot of similarities to raising a child. If not disciplined, given guidance and raised with structure growing up he/she will rot and never seek to reach his/her potential. When ignored for good behavior and only reprimanded for poor behavior the end result is rebellion and acting out behaviors. Human beings are a product of the environment they are raised in and the communities they come from. It is the characteristics valued in those same communities that young people grow up aspiring to become in their adult lives.  

Nigeria is also like any other addiction; if ignored and not proactively treated the same highs that give off the idea of invisibility will become the root cause of one’s self-destruction.

We must become the change we want to see. Gandhi                                                                                                     

The Ugliness of City Life

What’s up people? So I was walking on a bed clouds a few hours ago, well more like I flew over and through a bed of clouds today. Maybe I should change my name to “P Lion” like Snoop Dogg because flying sometimes would probably feel most comfortable if a brother was under the influence smoking a little some of that “sticky ickey”. Know what am talkin’ bout??? The Capital P does not promote the use of illicit substances so do not go to the airport high as a kite explaining to security that P said it was a good idea to blaze up. Ok people; Let me get focused… This has been one of those weeks where everything around me SLOWED down drastically. I was in small little town in upstate New York for week long training and I must say it sure feels good being back in the DMV. Now that is a first, the idea of me showing excitement over my return home to the grind of the big city warrants an investigation. Can you imagine living in a community where the local airport is no bigger than your local CVS pharmacy? There is like only one taxi service in the town and you basically are carpooling with strangers to get from place to place. And oh btw; the plane I flew in only had two pieces of luggage checked in for pick-up at the carousel and off course mine was the biggest because us Afrikans only have one rule when it comes to travel, “pack and take everything”. I think what really got me tripping was how rural certain parts of “the United States” still is in the 21st century. It is crazy to come across people thriving by living a very basic and ordinary life where their world is not consumed by the materialism of smart phones, tablets, Dre Beats, Xboxes, macbooks, flat screen HD televisions but they sure did make it a point to have wireless internet though in my hotel. I mean I know of villages back home in Nigeria more advanced and sophisticated than this local community I visited. While on that point, I must say this is the only town I have been in recent memory where I did not run into one Nigerian or Afrikan for that matter throughout my stay. As much as we Afrikans can’t stay in one place and love to move around I was in shock that someone did not come up running to me shouting; “Oh, it is him... Oh my goodness Prince Akeem your highness, let me take a picture”. LMAO! On my return home this weekend a few things have made a lasting impression. I was able to see people comfortable in their own skin and character with no pretensions, what a concept for all you city folk. I don’t know if it was because I was the only black male staying in my hotel or they like how I tipped but people sure were very respectful, courteous and appeared somewhat genuine. That was until the front desk staff charged me a dollar for a bottle of water one night which almost brought out the Mad Angry Nigerian, but I chilled, that's right I chilled. Just know CAPITALISM is everywhere. In closing let me just say this, why do so many of these small little communities have that stoner hippie vibe to them? I mean is it me or does it not seem like 90% of the people look like they are hooked on crystal meth or just puffed a Bob Marley dude. A quick update for the people; so all it took was to have a Nigerian lady sitting behind me on my connecting flight home cough on all the passengers in her general area on our one hour flight, have the plane stuck on the runway for 45 minutes after landing and having to put up with the same Nigerian lady being loud as f**k to remind me of how much I missed city life. Am just saying.

This is my Moment

What up people?

Quick question, how many of you all have recently experienced a spike in your “senior moment” gaffes in your everyday lives? I know in the past six months this has become a little too much for me to just brush of as coincidental. I mean a nineteen year old stud such as myself should not be spending half his day looking for house/car keys, mobile phones (Yes am Nigerian and we have a two mobile phone minimum quota), wallet and the worst one is always having to go back inside the house just because in my head I believe I forgot something. Speaking of getting older; am also starting to catch myself when I start conversations with the infamous “back in the day when we were growing up” routine. Hold up, if am nineteen exactly how far back am I truly trying to go back to make a point? The one thing I did not forget this week was to make sure I caught my Kool Keed Aaron’s pee-we league football game (GREAT job Arnie)!!!

Ok people; let me get focused…

I feel so blessed these days and you know there is something to be said for doing things the right way and waiting for your moment. In recent months my life has mirrored a rollercoaster of sort; very little peaks and way too many valleys to be honest. As humans we all succumb to that state where self doubt creeps in and our initial thought is to shut it down and give up but that produces one type of outcome -FAILURE.

To reach the mountain top you do not have to be nasty, manipulative, self-absorbed or even compromise your values or beliefs. The most important ingredient is BELIEF! The belief one has in him/herself and equally important is the belief that others have in you to deliver. However, one can only find him/herself in such favorable position by having put in the work and preparing for success in order to cease their predestined fate.

For this one reason alone it is important that we remain mindful of the company that we keep and just as important is those that we allow to enter our inner-circle. I got one fundamental rule; “If you ain’t with me; Get from me”. It is from the encouragement that we receive from our partners, siblings and life-long friends that help us push through those trying times.

So like many other things in life, all good things must come to an end. The most important question one should ask him/herself is, did I make the most of my opportunity and did I do it my way?  I want to encourage everybody out there who is sticking with their hustle and staying on their grind, faith and belief lead to opportunity. Never let the Dream Killers take you shine away and look to celebrate the small successes. It is those baby steps that ultimately leave the footprint of one’s legacy behind when the band stops playing. Just make sure that when it is time to go, you can walk out the front door with your head held up HIGH.

Walk with me... 

The Nerve of Some People

What’s up people?

This past Wednesday my pops CELEBRATED his 70^th birthday. My “old man” is a man of faith, a very prideful man, trail blazer of sort and a man that knows style. As his name sake, I want to believe I have inherited some of his GREAT qualities and a few poor ones as well. 70 years of existence is something special and a FANTASTIC feat for any human being to have experienced. Hear is wishing you another 70 more wonderful years of happiness, memories and chopping the GOODLYFE. So from all of your children we say once again “Long Live our Baba of IDIMU” and We LOVE U! This week also marked the end of my summer vacation with my Kool Keedz and boy am I ever missing all three of them already. Now the one lasting memory I always take away from hanging out with them is all the pop music and boy band songs I grow to become very fond off. The one in particular that I have in my head constantly at the moment is courtesy of my nephew “Ash Baba” by the group FUN called “Some Nights”. HYFR!    

Ok people; let me get focused…

Have you come to that point in life when things just stop making sense?  If you have entered the 30 year-old zone chances are you have encountered this phenomenon at least 25 times. And those of you older heads in your 40s go through this probably every week. Personally, I think can I am starting to live this trend a little bit too much for my liking. Let me share with you all a good illustration of what am talking about; do you know that some people prioritize eating lunch over meeting deadlines or completing assigned task. I mean WTF? And they wanna know why you trippin’ though? Huh? Come again? SMH!

So my friends all love to label me the “MAD ANGRY Nigerian”. It is so bad, I went to an establishment mid-week to take care of some business and the first thing out of the girl’s mouth was, “hey, you the guy that looked very mean the last time you were here”. First thing I thought about was excuse me? And who put you up to this? This chick had the nerve to say the same peanut butter & jelly bulls**t again to me. All I was thinking in my head was, maybe if you didn’t have me wait for over two hours to get service I wouldn’t have my “MAD ANGRY Nigerian” face-on and have that Bernie Mac moment I love so much.

This is my favorite by far; have you ever notice the level of customer service, respect and courtesy you are presented with when someone is after your money or wants your business. I mean they would even sell their momma sometimes just to make a deal. But the minute they get you to sign on the dotted line and have your money in their pockets it is like all of a sudden you ain’t s**t to them. The part that kills me the most is how you are made to feel like a burden and the nature of your request is just so farfetched and implausible.

My advise to anybody that comes across something similar described in this week’s blog is to Bernie Mac SLAP the s**t out there a** and just keep it moving.

You’re Welcome!