IT was a typical day in Lagos, a city where anything can happen. But for a first time visitor; all the hustle and bustle will all look abysmal.

At the far end of the lush green roundabout, which has recently been landscaped by the state government, hawkers’ croaky chants were drowned by loud music coming from irritating loudspeakers. In one corner of the chaotic roundabout, a row of itinerant audio CD sellers form a long line beside wheel barrows full of pirated Compact Discs.

Away from the bedlam was a small group of soldiers who were controversially deployed to Lagos in the wake of the fuel subsidy protest that rocked the country two weeks ago.

The soldiers, all grim looking sat in their truck, looking disinterestedly at the disorder some few meters away. One of the soldiers with a sculptured face that looked carved out of stone was smoking what looked like Indian hemp. Two others were engrossed in a card game. Everything seemed normal in the midst of the chaos until an itinerant cart pusher rolled past the soldiers playing a defiant and mocking track from Fela Anipulapo-Kuti’s Zombie.

Then all hell was let loose. Why this itinerant DJ would choose that hot blazing Lagos afternoon to play the derisive Zombie track that ridiculed the officers of Nigerian army as a bunch of robots would surprise anyone who is familiar with the hate and violent-filled relationship that existed between Fela and the overzealous and power-drunk Nigerian Army. Fela, who had many brushes with the Nigerian Army, would even marvel at the boldness of this Lagos hustler. Perhaps this young man was still too young to know the history of Zombie and the Army Arrangement tracks that came immediately after it, as he stopped directly in front of the army truck to answer a prospective customer.

What happened next was like the proverbial walking into a Tiger’s Den. One of the soldiers seemed to nudge his colleague to the music. He pointed in the direction where the wheelbarrow was parked. Then in a flash, one of the soldiers emerged from the back of the truck. He unclasped his AK47, which hitherto was slung on his shoulders. He beckoned on the man to come closer to the truck.

Innocently and without suspecting anything untoward, he wheeled the barrow closer to the truck. “Oga, you wan buy. Nah original CD o. I get fine, fine Fela music for here” he said. There was a long silence. More officers, clutching AK 47 rifles had gathered round the man. Then a slap, which sounded like thunder clap, was delivered into his lean cheek .

The man was dazed, almost confused. He attempted an escape but was hemmed in by stern looking soldiers who had formed a ring round him. There was silence in the midst of the chaos nearby. A crowd had gathered in the distance, ready to do a Usain Bolt if the situation turns uglier.

“Quench that yeye music. Who send you come here. Why you dey p(flay) Fela music for here? God don punish you today. Another blow was delivered into his jaw. The man crumbled on the dusty road. He was helped up by one of the soldiers. Another wheeled the barrow, which has now gone silent to the back of the truck. I saw him picked up a music video, examined it and tucked it inside his rucksack.

“So, they send you make you come use Fela music cause wahala for here. Ok, so na we be Zombie abi? Oya begin do frog jump.” The man, now looking dazed and frightened quickly assumed the position of a frog; jumping up and down like a frightened amphibian.

As he did, fiery horsewhip lashes landed on his back. He let out a loud yell as the horsewhip tore through his back. The punishment went on for several minutes until one of the soldiers who looked like their superior told the man to “remove himself from here”. The man bolted away but was stopped by the sudden shout of “halt” which stopped him dead in his tracks. He had forgotten his wheelbarrow. He came back and wheeled it into the crowded bus stop. He disappeared into the massive throng of Lagosians that had gathered to witness the scene.

As the man disappeared, the soldiers turn their gaze to the crowd. One of them pointed his AK47 at the crowd, mimicking an attempt to spray them with bullets. People ran in different directions and the soldiers went back to their truck.

The incident mirrored the ugly past of the military years when soldiers acted with impunity by visiting inhuman and degrading treatment on hapless Nigerians. It was impunity like this that made Lagos kicked against the provocative manner in which armed troops was deployed to Lagos by the Jonathan administration, a government.
http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=76067:felas-music-lands-man-in-trouble-with-soldiers&catid=104:sunday-magazine&Itemid=567

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geT2bYzvLcw

Very funny story,

...

^But it was still funny. Shoir. Poor guy.

Very funny indeed.Am sure when next the guy sees any soldier he will run without looking back

bunch of bullies.

make dem go face boko haram. useless soldiers

greateros:

funny indeed!

i hope you will repeat same if you are in that poor boy's shoes!

[size=16pt]GEJocracy[/size] - government of goodluck jonathan for the zombie masses of nigeria enforced by military and killer policemen!

Hey Stop your Mumu rants u tend to blame GEJ for everything as if during OBJ and Yar'adua Tenure, soldiers don't bully, Ode,

D guy is even lucky,i remember my sec school days,sometimes i was beaten with koboko while rolling on d floor with my school uniform,and ur classmates will be watching,i thank God have passed dat stage ooooh.

Funny indeed. but felt very sorry for d guy, des solders are bunch of bullies. Eeyah poor guy

candylips:

bunch of bullies.

make dem go face boko haram. useless soldiers

^^
Exactly!

Let them go to Maiduguri and witness how Boko Harams are making their colleague p!ss in their pants

Useless army that cannot even defend themselves instead they bully innocents civilians

candylips (m)
Re: Fela’s Music Lands Man In Trouble With Soldiers
« #6 on: Today at 10:44:18 AM »
bunch of bullies.

make dem go face boko haram. useless soldiers

God punish you, see this fool, before na ya mama dey fight boko boys

zombie o zombie, zombie o zombie!!!! Loooolz funny story, Couldnt help laffin

odiaero:

At least better than police, if na police, dem 4 don shot the guy

Trust Naija incompetent police men. But soldiers harsh o

A

t least better than police, if na police, dem 4 don shot the guy

what is better in these men harassing and intimidating innocent Nigerians?

typical nigerian soldiers, These are just thugs in uniform

These moorafookers stationed at a local NEPA office once collected my black Texas Steer boots wey I take my own money buy for Ikeja, claiming it was Army issue and made me walk home bare footed. I must have been like 18 at the time but being Nigeria, you are still seen as a child at this age. I reported the incident to my mum and she being a no-nonsense woman marched me back to the NEPA office and ridiculed the soldiers. They shamefully gave me back my boots.

Up mummy, yipeeeeeee

Next time he approaches soldierman he go turn down the volume.

norrisman:

These moorafookers stationed at a local NEPA office once collected my black Texas Steer boots wey I take my own money buy for Ikeja, claiming it was Army issue and made me walk home bare footed. I must have been like 18 at the time but being Nigeria, you are still seen as a child at this age. I reported the incident to my mum and she being a no-nonsense woman marched me back to the NEPA office and ridiculed the soldiers. They shamefully gave me back my boots.

Up mummy, yipeeeeeee

how old are you now? i guess 18.5 years

Funny story, but painful experience for the music seller.

Very funny story, kinda felt for the guy, but the comedy in the story totally over shadowed sad part

Funny story indeed. Reminds me of how soldiers made my friend walk home with only his boxers on. He was wearing a knee length camouflage trousers and wanted to buy something within the neighbourhood. Unfortunately he chosed that day to encounter soldiers escorting one senior army officer who had a concubine around. They didnt beat him but forced him to remove the trousers and his belt.

Save this story for when GEJ brings the sequel to his "I have no shoes" movie in 2015.

Very funnny storyyyy

Wrong place @ the wrong time

Tried so hard not to LOL but the humor/irony of the story can't be helped.

@ifyalways , me too lolz

27naira:

how old are you now? i guess 18.5 years

Ode oloshi oloriburuku, why does it matter?

if only d guy cud get a name,e can mk a living outta those zombies.BEFORE NO B ZOMBIE THEM B.pls this is civilian era not military,gone r d days wen military cud go scot free wit acts lyk this.it's so pathetic ppl hr r seein ds as a joke.wait til u been dealt wit by ds ZOMBIES.

This incident can't be classified as FUNNY! The poor hawker obviously didn't know that the soldiers were going to react to the music been played. It is unfortunate that he was bullied.

Before nko?come to think of it,soldiers no be zombies?even if you tell them to slap their mama them go slap am,as far as na oga give the order! Bunch of bullies, mtcheeeeew