MUSINGS

"Na community na im make us tall

Secret society na im break us all"

The famous lyrics from Tu Face's Only Me. Every now and then we see these things play our before our eyes. Maybe the Hausas are the biggest disciples of this theory. Look no further than their very many 'Hausa Quarters' conveniently scattered across the nation. They practically colonise territories & in terms of their dedication to trade, you would be forgiven for thinking they're from the east. Apparently, hausas are the new igbos.

They also seem to be experts at all kinds of hustle. It almost feels like the entire country has abandoned jobs like Shoe Repairs, Low Budget Sewing (Obioma) and Selling of Carrots on wheel barrows to these hausa boys. One of the best ways to confirm you're in Nigeria is to hear the 'kpom kpom' sounds the Cobblers make as they hit their weird little hammers on the custom made tool box; or the 'ka ka' rythms of the Obioma scissors hitting against each other.

What's perharps ironic is their basic and almost impoverished lifestyle. Their houses are devoid of basic amenities, they always seem so minimalistic - wearing a single Manchester United jersey for days unending. And yet they manage to find time to procreate. It's alarming to see the number of babies they produce steadily. Too much sexual activity, if you ask me. So its basically a vicious cycle. Everyday, new recruits are born into the world.

It's always sad and strange to see pretty and handsome fulani and arab looking kids begging on the highways and junctions, with their obliging mothers behind them. They have so much skill, perseverance and tenacity in begging. All you can do is ask the women angrily, "Who dey give una belle intermittently?" In typical Naija fashion, they bat their eyelids and ask you to move on since you can't give. Basically telling you to leave them and their fertile uteruses alone.