One exiting thing about a dream is that the planned future will come to happen just like every other day, after a long preparation, series of emails, acquisition of visas, arrangement for flights and accommodation, gathering of energy and materials, eager to tell people about our project, which also arouse fear, curiosity and anxiousness in all the five individuals who make up this wonderful team, today, the 21st day of July 2007, Qudus, Christelle, Emeka and Françoise, all set out full of curiosity, searching for knowledge and most audible above all, going for an adventurous expenditure, the day Started on a rather tiring note than fun, after a long queue at the airport, we still battled with more than an hour delay before the Air-France flight (AF)-854 could take off, the plane landed by 5pm which is an hour 20mins late. The first impression has already began from the first air we breath in Lagos, it was a friendly and accommodating wind, we picked up our baggage to join the long waiting good people awaiting our arrival, amongst them was Matthew who make up the fifth member of the team, destination Surulere were the hotel rooms has been patiently awaiting our arrival, we dropped our stuffs and immediately hopped for a wonderful dinner at the Tasty fried chicken eatery.
we say E SEUN to Uncle Abbey, Sister Fatima, Fatai and Nureni who came to pick us at the airport, "it was a little thing you think you did, but that has gone a long way and left a lasting impression in each of our hearts", I give it all again to my lovely half brother Nureni Onikeku, who made our problems his problem, our ways his way from the moment we step feet onto the Lagos soil. Samson, is that guy we met at Eleko beach, where we made our first performance, which also instantly gave us a stunning impression on the people of Lagos apart from the junks we read about this beautiful city we will never stop to love, not so many people will rescue a show just few hours before the performance that was meant to be staged at one of the capitalist Gallerias, with all the riches that we visualize in there, still they want us to pay 200,000 naira (1.175€) before we could perform for just 30 minutes on their floor, to us it seemed ridiculous but we didn’t get angry anyway, we only asked them if we needed Cola Cola to dance? My brother picked up his phone to ring this messiah of a guy, SAMSON, it takes a real man to make the dream of another man come true, even knowing that he will gain nothing from it, after organizing the whole afternoon, a one man rioter, he alone provided electricity, the stage, the personnel that worked with him, the arrangement with the head of this locality and after everything he still made arrangement for some fresh coconut juice that refreshed us till our exit. "Merci beaucoup Samson".
During our five nights in Lagos we understood that the wonderful people we bumped into were not coincidence, Lagosians are fun people and always ready to help and willing to make themselves part of the success story of others, from the very moment I spoke to Makinde Adeniran about my project, he received it just as if I had promised him some millions of Naira if this turns out well, I was dazed by his numerous international calls, constant email correspondence and the worth of the job he has done before our arrival. Segun Adefila, is another strong man that I will ever hold strong to, I called all the way from France, I gave him my ideas and he gave me his words, all the many thanks to him for making the happening happen at the University of Lagos and Bariga suburb, which marks our 2nd and 3rd performance, the support we got at Bariga was also special, even before our arrival we were aware of whatever that can breeze up during the adventure. 25th of July 2007, this day we experienced one of the most serious heat wave in the realization of this project, there it was where our speakers got burnt putting us in a check-mate just at the number three performance out of eighteen, without beating so much a dead horse, the beautiful members of crown troupe led by Segun Adefila, had at a twinkle of an eye arranged for another alternative of drums and flutes to support us and make the show go on, Wale, Tobi, Alfred, Orobo and all other Rasta who mastered the situation we say Respect. Our meeting with the Director of the National dance company, Dr Ahmed Yerima, was a wonderful experience, for me especially, it was very important to listen to someone like him, it marks our first interview and it really shook and got me ready to return to Nigeria and contribute my own quota of the development of my Country.
To the most important woman in my life, Hajarat Alli and also Tosan Doyle, Matthew’s fiancée, "we appreciate your presence in our lives and your role in the project, for the moral supports and the wonderful sandwich we took on the run for breakfast during the heavy downpour that wept over our departure from Lagos." As wonderful as it seemed everything good that comes still come to an end, it was already five days, 26th of July and here we are on the plane to Cairo, Egyptair (MS)-876, there and then i realized what i was into, Nigeria is my Motherland so it was more of a homecoming than getting to Cairo which sank me further into the project.
