It started like any other day only that it was a different day. Ash Wednesday! Naturally, I woke up earlier than normal just to meet up with the mass and proceed to work. After listening to the Priest talk about abstinence, prayer and fasting, I made a mental note of things to abstain from.
On getting to work with the ash on my forehead, business was as usual; it was quite slow and I was so hungry but tried to hold myself to wait until at least 12noon; I mean it was the least I could do on Ash Wednesday.
When it was some minutes past 12noon, I went to feed my hunger at the staff canteen. Upon leaving and entering into the office, I saw his back view and I asked one of our security men “Baba is that him?” Baba responded in the affirmative but I doubted because I felt Baba, who is quite elderly wouldn’t know him and since I was going back to the banking I figured I would see for myself. It was him alright, the multiple award winning Kokomaster sitting right in front of my desk and I said to him “Dbanj, I want an autograph” and he said no problem. Immediately I got on the intercom to tell my “back office” colleagues that Dbanj was indeed in the branch. For some reason he would not just stop fiddling with his blackberry and then it hit me that he is a shy person. He kept on fiddling with his blackberry and according to a senior colleague; my unit head who is a celebrity wife herself (Dan Foster’s wife), he just kept scrolling up and down his piece.
My colleagues came out and greeted him with “File”, “O…..se” and all his normal diatribes and of course we took pictures individually with him. When it was my turn to take a picture with him, my colleagues chose that time to say “chichi, we’re in lent” but I ignored them. It was Kevwe’s birthday that day and after getting two pecks and a hug from him as a birthday treat, she asked him to sing for her but Dbanj aka Kokomaster was too shy to sing in the banking hall. I do not have the liver for that kind of request besides, it wasn’t my birthday but I prolly wouldn’t have minded the peck… ohh baby!!! He had his signature shades on, a nice t-shirt, a pair of jeans and a very nice pair of shoes which I missed but my other observant colleagues took note of. I mean the last thing on my mind at the time were his shoes. He came in with some guy who came for a transaction and thankfully it wasn’t the usual Zenith 5 minutes transaction, this particular transaction took a while and he was sitting right in front of me. I was in Heaven on Ash Wednesday. His friend was also warm, funny and friendly but it is Dbanj we see on television right?
Because of the warm reception he received, he did loosen up and we got talking; not about his music or anything bordering on his career, but just making interesting funny conversation. By Jove! I was so excited and I had quite a laugh. At some point, he said something funny and for a second, I forgot where I was and hit him on the shoulder. Immediately I pinched myself as a reminder that at that point in time he was a customer and I was still in the office environment. It ain’t like I haven’t seen a celebrity before but Dbanj? Apart from on stage, I’d never been “up close and personal”. Did I mention that he has a hot body? Yes he does. Trim, taut and exactly what we saw in “suddenly” video. Hey! Before your imagination starts running wild, I took a picture with him and held him and my fingers know when they touch a great body trust me. Banking sure has its good days.
I must confess that I was over the moon with excitement and thankfully my Branch Head wasn’t in the office so I could let loose but even if she was, I’m sure that even she would have understood. I mean it isn’t everyday that Dbanj makes an appearance now is it. Even my colleagues that were outside the branch kept calling in to ask “is it true that Dbanj is in the branch?” one of them insisted she wanted to speak with him via the telephone and being the obliging person he is, he acquiesced.
I sincerely hope I have not left any detail out. He did call me a fine “kokolet” and he used terms like “babylet” and “mamalet”. I must say that apart from the shyness about him, he is down to earth and funny, he is not a “former” if you know what I mean and from what I saw, he is quite humble.
Trust that I have been telling everyone who cares to listen about the day I met him and I must say that it’s the most fun day in my life this year. After that is the day I saw “Valentine’s Day”.
Oh yes and he did tip me some…if you want to know how much, inbox or call me.
And no he did not call me later. But the fact that I was opportune to talk with him is enough for me.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Sunday, March 7, 2010
A Man Died ...or Almost
The day of reckoning finally came for me today but little did I know that it would also be a day of reckoning for a man I have never met in my entire life. Or maybe I have met him somewhere, someplace before but his face did not register because he is one of the many faces I come across on the busy streets of Lagos. A man that set out today to earn a living but whose life would be changed forever. It is crazy how the little things we take for granted turn around and change our lives.
I left my house around 7:30am for my exam venue somewhere in Ikeja. Naturally I hopped on a bike to take me to the bus stop without giving it a second thought. On getting to the bus stop I paid the bike guy and crossed to the other side of the road to board a bus. The bus was empty so I sat in front. I noticed an id card hanging and I compared it to the faces of both the driver and the conductor but there was no semblance so I assumed it was the id card of the bus owner who leased it to the driver and expecting to be settled at the end of the day depending on their arrangement. I sat back, got out my study pack and tried to glance through but my mind kept wandering to something I will talk about later which brought a smile to my face.
While I was still in Wonderland, I was jeered back to reality by a sudden clash of metal against metal. My bus took such a great hit that I exclaimed “Jesus!” Impulsively I got down from the bus as did other passengers to see what the fuss and clash was about. Lo and behold, there he was… a hausa bike rider in such a mangled position, his right leg was at a very odd angle and his bone was jutting out. And there he lay writhing in pain with his helmet still on his head which protected that area from any injury. the bike however, was bashed beyond repair. And for some strange reason, it occurred to me that I had not said a prayer this morning. Strange that I would think that right?
However protected his head was, it did not save the rest of his body and he was bleeding. Lagosians gathered and were standing there transfixed by the sights and I heard things like “thank God he had no passenger”; “where are they always rushing to?” “instead of looking, why not take him to the hospital?” to say that my blood ran cold would be an understatement as I was in shock but aware of the on goings in my environment. I wondered if he had a wife at home or somewhere up North, I wondered if he had kids, I wondered if he had aged parents or if he was just fending for himself and I also wondered if he could feel any pain but I had no answers. Cars kept passing with no one offering to take him to the hospital and I wondered what I would have done if I had a car and happened to pass by. Honestly, I had no answer to that either.
The guy was still bleeding and in a matter of minutes, a blue uniformed police officer got some young men to move him off the road to the curb. The accident victim’s mouth was moving but I’m not sure any words came out and that was when the tears came. I wondered if he could see the “light” that people that have seen death talk about, I wondered if his whole life flashed before him and I wondered why I was there at the exact time this accident happened, I mean I could have left my house earlier and not have boarded the bus or I could have been late too but as usual, I had no answers.
Eventually I got myself to move as I was running late for my exam and offered a prayer for his soul because I knew not if he would survive the ordeal. He could lose so much blood before a vehicle came. Since I had no idea where my venue was, I approached a bike guy who was at the scene and told him where I was going especially since my bus driver had since disappeared. I demanded a helmet and told him to drive slowly and he said “aunty, after what I just saw, I would be crazy not to take it easy”. I kept praying on the way that no accident would befall me. I got to the venue and while my mates were revising, I was writing my ordeal in my book.
I left my house around 7:30am for my exam venue somewhere in Ikeja. Naturally I hopped on a bike to take me to the bus stop without giving it a second thought. On getting to the bus stop I paid the bike guy and crossed to the other side of the road to board a bus. The bus was empty so I sat in front. I noticed an id card hanging and I compared it to the faces of both the driver and the conductor but there was no semblance so I assumed it was the id card of the bus owner who leased it to the driver and expecting to be settled at the end of the day depending on their arrangement. I sat back, got out my study pack and tried to glance through but my mind kept wandering to something I will talk about later which brought a smile to my face.
While I was still in Wonderland, I was jeered back to reality by a sudden clash of metal against metal. My bus took such a great hit that I exclaimed “Jesus!” Impulsively I got down from the bus as did other passengers to see what the fuss and clash was about. Lo and behold, there he was… a hausa bike rider in such a mangled position, his right leg was at a very odd angle and his bone was jutting out. And there he lay writhing in pain with his helmet still on his head which protected that area from any injury. the bike however, was bashed beyond repair. And for some strange reason, it occurred to me that I had not said a prayer this morning. Strange that I would think that right?
However protected his head was, it did not save the rest of his body and he was bleeding. Lagosians gathered and were standing there transfixed by the sights and I heard things like “thank God he had no passenger”; “where are they always rushing to?” “instead of looking, why not take him to the hospital?” to say that my blood ran cold would be an understatement as I was in shock but aware of the on goings in my environment. I wondered if he had a wife at home or somewhere up North, I wondered if he had kids, I wondered if he had aged parents or if he was just fending for himself and I also wondered if he could feel any pain but I had no answers. Cars kept passing with no one offering to take him to the hospital and I wondered what I would have done if I had a car and happened to pass by. Honestly, I had no answer to that either.
The guy was still bleeding and in a matter of minutes, a blue uniformed police officer got some young men to move him off the road to the curb. The accident victim’s mouth was moving but I’m not sure any words came out and that was when the tears came. I wondered if he could see the “light” that people that have seen death talk about, I wondered if his whole life flashed before him and I wondered why I was there at the exact time this accident happened, I mean I could have left my house earlier and not have boarded the bus or I could have been late too but as usual, I had no answers.
Eventually I got myself to move as I was running late for my exam and offered a prayer for his soul because I knew not if he would survive the ordeal. He could lose so much blood before a vehicle came. Since I had no idea where my venue was, I approached a bike guy who was at the scene and told him where I was going especially since my bus driver had since disappeared. I demanded a helmet and told him to drive slowly and he said “aunty, after what I just saw, I would be crazy not to take it easy”. I kept praying on the way that no accident would befall me. I got to the venue and while my mates were revising, I was writing my ordeal in my book.
The Day I Met Him
It started like any other day only that it was a different day. Ash Wednesday! Naturally, I woke up earlier than normal just to meet up with the mass and proceed to work. After listening to the Priest talk about abstinence, prayer and fasting, I made a mental note of things to abstain from.
On getting to work with the ash on my forehead, business was as usual; it was quite slow and I was so hungry but tried to hold myself to wait until at least 12noon; I mean it was the least I could do on Ash Wednesday.
When it was some minutes past 12noon, I went to feed my hunger at the staff canteen. Upon leaving and entering into the office, I saw his back view and I asked one of our security men “Baba is that him?” Baba responded in the affirmative but I doubted because I felt Baba, who is quite elderly wouldn’t know him and since I was going back to the banking I figured I would see for myself. It was him alright, the multiple award winning Kokomaster sitting right in front of my desk and I said to him “Dbanj, I want an autograph” and he said no problem. Immediately I got on the intercom to tell my “back office” colleagues that Dbanj was indeed in the branch. For some reason he would not just stop fiddling with his blackberry and then it hit me that he is a shy person. He kept on fiddling with his blackberry and according to a senior colleague; my unit head who is a celebrity wife herself (Dan Foster’s wife), he just kept scrolling up and down his piece.
My colleagues came out and greeted him with “File”, “O…..se” and all his normal diatribes and of course we took pictures individually with him. When it was my turn to take a picture with him, my colleagues chose that time to say “chichi, we’re in lent” but I ignored them. It was Kevwe’s birthday that day and after getting two pecks and a hug from him as a birthday treat, she asked him to sing for her but Dbanj aka Kokomaster was too shy to sing in the banking hall. I do not have the liver for that kind of request besides, it wasn’t my birthday but I prolly wouldn’t have minded the peck… ohh baby!!! He had his signature shades on, a nice t-shirt, a pair of jeans and a very nice pair of shoes which I missed but my other observant colleagues took note of. I mean the last thing on my mind at the time were his shoes. He came in with some guy who came for a transaction and thankfully it wasn’t the usual Zenith 5 minutes transaction, this particular transaction took a while and he was sitting right in front of me. I was in Heaven on Ash Wednesday. His friend was also warm, funny and friendly but it is Dbanj we see on television right?
Because of the warm reception he received, he did loosen up and we got talking; not about his music or anything bordering on his career, but just making interesting funny conversation. By Jove! I was so excited and I had quite a laugh. At some point, he said something funny and for a second, I forgot where I was and hit him on the shoulder. Immediately I pinched myself as a reminder that at that point in time he was a customer and I was still in the office environment. It ain’t like I haven’t seen a celebrity before but Dbanj? Apart from on stage, I’d never been “up close and personal”. Did I mention that he has a hot body? Yes he does. Trim, taut and exactly what we saw in “suddenly” video. Hey! Before your imagination starts running wild, I took a picture with him and held him and my fingers know when they touch a great body trust me. Banking sure has its good days.
I must confess that I was over the moon with excitement and thankfully my Branch Head wasn’t in the office so I could let loose but even if she was, I’m sure that even she would have understood. I mean it isn’t everyday that Dbanj makes an appearance now is it. Even my colleagues that were outside the branch kept calling in to ask “is it true that Dbanj is in the branch?” one of them insisted she wanted to speak with him via the telephone and being the obliging person he is, he acquiesced.
I sincerely hope I have not left any detail out. He did call me a fine “kokolet” and he used terms like “babylet” and “mamalet”. I must say that apart from the shyness about him, he is down to earth and funny, he is not a “former” if you know what I mean and from what I saw, he is quite humble.
Trust that I have been telling everyone who cares to listen about the day I met him and I must say that it’s the most fun day in my life this year. After that is the day I saw “Valentine’s Day”.
Oh yes and he did tip me some…if you want to know how much, inbox or call me.
And no he did not call me later. But the fact that I was opportune to talk with him is enough for me.
On getting to work with the ash on my forehead, business was as usual; it was quite slow and I was so hungry but tried to hold myself to wait until at least 12noon; I mean it was the least I could do on Ash Wednesday.
When it was some minutes past 12noon, I went to feed my hunger at the staff canteen. Upon leaving and entering into the office, I saw his back view and I asked one of our security men “Baba is that him?” Baba responded in the affirmative but I doubted because I felt Baba, who is quite elderly wouldn’t know him and since I was going back to the banking I figured I would see for myself. It was him alright, the multiple award winning Kokomaster sitting right in front of my desk and I said to him “Dbanj, I want an autograph” and he said no problem. Immediately I got on the intercom to tell my “back office” colleagues that Dbanj was indeed in the branch. For some reason he would not just stop fiddling with his blackberry and then it hit me that he is a shy person. He kept on fiddling with his blackberry and according to a senior colleague; my unit head who is a celebrity wife herself (Dan Foster’s wife), he just kept scrolling up and down his piece.
My colleagues came out and greeted him with “File”, “O…..se” and all his normal diatribes and of course we took pictures individually with him. When it was my turn to take a picture with him, my colleagues chose that time to say “chichi, we’re in lent” but I ignored them. It was Kevwe’s birthday that day and after getting two pecks and a hug from him as a birthday treat, she asked him to sing for her but Dbanj aka Kokomaster was too shy to sing in the banking hall. I do not have the liver for that kind of request besides, it wasn’t my birthday but I prolly wouldn’t have minded the peck… ohh baby!!! He had his signature shades on, a nice t-shirt, a pair of jeans and a very nice pair of shoes which I missed but my other observant colleagues took note of. I mean the last thing on my mind at the time were his shoes. He came in with some guy who came for a transaction and thankfully it wasn’t the usual Zenith 5 minutes transaction, this particular transaction took a while and he was sitting right in front of me. I was in Heaven on Ash Wednesday. His friend was also warm, funny and friendly but it is Dbanj we see on television right?
Because of the warm reception he received, he did loosen up and we got talking; not about his music or anything bordering on his career, but just making interesting funny conversation. By Jove! I was so excited and I had quite a laugh. At some point, he said something funny and for a second, I forgot where I was and hit him on the shoulder. Immediately I pinched myself as a reminder that at that point in time he was a customer and I was still in the office environment. It ain’t like I haven’t seen a celebrity before but Dbanj? Apart from on stage, I’d never been “up close and personal”. Did I mention that he has a hot body? Yes he does. Trim, taut and exactly what we saw in “suddenly” video. Hey! Before your imagination starts running wild, I took a picture with him and held him and my fingers know when they touch a great body trust me. Banking sure has its good days.
I must confess that I was over the moon with excitement and thankfully my Branch Head wasn’t in the office so I could let loose but even if she was, I’m sure that even she would have understood. I mean it isn’t everyday that Dbanj makes an appearance now is it. Even my colleagues that were outside the branch kept calling in to ask “is it true that Dbanj is in the branch?” one of them insisted she wanted to speak with him via the telephone and being the obliging person he is, he acquiesced.
I sincerely hope I have not left any detail out. He did call me a fine “kokolet” and he used terms like “babylet” and “mamalet”. I must say that apart from the shyness about him, he is down to earth and funny, he is not a “former” if you know what I mean and from what I saw, he is quite humble.
Trust that I have been telling everyone who cares to listen about the day I met him and I must say that it’s the most fun day in my life this year. After that is the day I saw “Valentine’s Day”.
Oh yes and he did tip me some…if you want to know how much, inbox or call me.
And no he did not call me later. But the fact that I was opportune to talk with him is enough for me.
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