Today marks the 7th anniversary of David Rocastle’s passing. David died on 31 March 2001 of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, an aggressive form of cancer which attacks the immune system. He was 33 and was survived by his wife Janet, son Ryan and daughters Sasha, Melissa and Monique
Rocky as he was fondly called is the solitary reason why I became and still am an Arsenal fan.
This weekend we were guests at an Aunty’s 50th. A nice evening out, apart from the weather and this new trend of hiring church halls and by implication refusing to serve alcohol. I don’t drink, or drink that much, but I would love the choice.
This lady, like most of her friends, has kids in their lower and upper teens, a few past the teen mark {early 20s}. Most of them seem to follow the footsteps of their parents when it comes to religion (at least in their presence). It was a bit bizarre to sit back and watch during the many prayer interruptions perform some act that wifey called ‘manifesting’.
Kai! It was meant to be a birthday party.
In a way, I was kinda pleased to see most of these kids show some Religious understanding. Most kids here are labelled yobs, so its good to see some of them show a different side. But that was until a song called Yahoozee was slammed on by the DJ. Up till that point, I had never heard the song. I had read about it, but never heard it. Boy, did this song fill the dance floor with kids, teens and a few ‘we have passed it but we still dey’ adults. I looked across and my little ones had joined. Before I could say What the Freddy they were belting out the tune ….had my boys heard this song before and I hadn’t?
Here I was looking at a number of young people who had never been to Nigeria in their lives, rocking to a song by a Nigerian artist in a way that likes of Estelle couldn’t make them do. I was impressed, and as I found out later on, they are into Nigerian music in a big way. And while they are not overtly critical like a few of us, they have an “I prefer Olu Maintain to P-Square mentality”. They are exposed to all genre of music anyway from all parts of the world, and they know a cheap imitation if they see one.
I also wanted to know how they get to know about such tracks cos I know it wasn’t from MTV, Capital Radio or from some of the top London DJs. The answers varied. Source: International Students. They pick these jams from them, check them out on youtube, play them to their younger ones, grab them from Limewire, cos HMV aren’t stocking. And the message spreads. Others from clubs with Nigerian born DJ’s and so on.
There is a bigger following of out here, the folks back home need to get their act hooked on, there is a lot of sterling that isn’t been picked up.
And then there was ASA. Lying under a rock isn’t so great. Is she Tracy Chapman Part 2 or what?
Anyway, if you are like me and you havent heard of Olu Maintain, here’s a you tube clip.
That was the cover headline of yesterday’s Sunday Times Magazine. The cover page has a smiling face of Barack Obama, in some sort of jigsaw. My first impression – oh dear, The Sunday Times magazine is onto something that will finally nail Obama. A damning headline I thought - surely one that is caching my attention - time to see what was inside.
The full story is on Page 58 of the magazine. And it headlines conversely as follows: The Ascent of Mr Charisma. Hidden somewhere in the 6-7 page article, as an obscure reference to a picture of Obama playing basket ball is an explanation of why he was called ‘Bomber Barry’. He earned the nickname Barry O’ Bomber because he loved doing long shots.
Just in case you missed it, Barack Obama was nicknamed Barry O’Bomber because as a basketball player in high school he loved taking long shots. He was called Barry because obviously Barack was too complicated for his fellow students to pronounce, and O’Bomber instead of Obama.
What a fitting headline! Maybe one of the guys that came up with the name pencilled Fox News’s screw-up story Obama-the-jihadist and was responsible for this headline.
Still on politics, Mugabe and Zimbabweans go to the polls this weekend. The ‘Nigerian’ in me wouldn’t dare cal for fair and free elections. I read somewhere (it must have been in the Sunday Times!) that there is a web site in The Hague that is promising $5,000 for the first 40 whistleblowers -I guess - who report election malpractices during this election. As noble an act as this may be, I don’t think it would change anything. A more effective change instrument would be to use the $200,000 on offer to hire a hit man. It would be a reasonably priced means of putting this barmy man out of his misery. He will still get a state burial out of it.
Energo Nigeria Limited which, in 2003, got a N19 billion transmission substation contract, collected N13 billion of the contract sum and achieved less than five per cent implementation.– RESULT
JPMorgan Chase & Co, one of the world’s leading investment banks, acquired troubled rival Bear Stearns for a bargain-basement price of 236.2 million U.S. dollars, or just 2 dollars a share. A share was worth about $80 a week ago. - RESULT
Lady Mucca - Heather Mills awarded a divorce pay-off worth £24million after 4 years of ‘marriage’ - RESULT
My dad was once a 40 a day man. The only time he never smoked was when he was asleep. I picked up the habit at a very young age; I must have been 11 when I had my first puff. In secondary school, I carried on – all thru University and later life. I never smoked in front of my parents; I guess it was seen as being disrespectful. They must have known I smoked, but never said anything. A few months ago, I quit. Just like my father did so many years ago. I didn’t go thru any NHS sponsored routines, I was made to quit.
I didn’t quit because of any known health concerns. I quit after asking my 5 year old what he would really want me to do for him. He could have picked a new game, the latest trainers…. whatever. He just wanted me to give up the evil weed. “Dad, the teacher said people who smoke will die, we don’t want our daddy to die”.
Decided to try out this format. Nigerian music back in the day. p.s. We thank God for his mercies this week and ask him to keep on protecting us from the evil in our society. Stay strong and have a peaceful weekend.
SOULBIBLE (My Other Blog) Updated with videos from Mary Jane Girls, Major Harris, The Mac Band, Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam, Leon Haywood, Lakeside Jonathan Butler (Thanks to Ijebuman), Indeep and Imagination. I am pretty pleased with the blog, I am currently getting about 200 unique hits a day.
Last night was a big night for a couple of people – Wenger and Obama. In Wenger’s instance, he has witnessed over the past 2 weeks a dip in the form of his young Arsenal Side. After the hiding we took at Man Utd in the FA Cup, Arsenal drew 0-0 at home against the mighty (but aging) Milan. They also dropped 4 crucial points in the league, against sides you wouldn’t normally expect them to beat Birmingham City & The Villa. Getting a result last night was therefore very imperative on so many fronts. A defeat could have effectively ended our season.
Arrivederci Milan
Last night the boys did the business. Goals by Cesc and the Togonator, wrapped up a convincing win against Milan. A 4-0 victory wouldn’t have flattered the 49ers (49 league games unbeaten - ManUSA and CSKA Chelski fans....lol, just joking). The whole team to a man (including our perceived weak link Senderos) stood up to the test. It was in my opinion, the best I have seen Arsenal play this season.‘Dr’ Wenger made the right noises before the game, and his smile at the end confirmed what we Gooners already know – In Wenger we trust
Hilary
For me there were two results I was hoping for @ about 7.45pm last night. 1. Arsenal beating Milan 2. Obama stretching his lead against the Clintons. But I always knew the chances of both happening were a bit slim, so I opted for an Arsenal result. Martin Luther Obama, I felt had a bit of leeway to withstand a slight wobble, and so it turned out to be. Behind all the hype, and Mrs. Clinton’s irritating victory speech in Ohio, BO still has more of what counts – Delegates.
I don’t dislike the Clintons. Nnanyi Bill was once referred to as the first black President. Aunty Hilary is someone I really don’t know so much about. I am sometimes not sure what to make of her or anyone who forgives their partners’ infidelity, especially when it has been played out in front of the world. Are they the sort of folks that ask God to forgive them their trespasses as they forgive those who trespass against them or are they running along the lines of – you owe me big time, and I will make sure you never forget it (Trust me you never will). And then they get back at you in a big way. Imagine Hilary on TV saying I didn’t have sexual relations with that young intern Mr ….., and all the while she has been smoking his cigar..
