Iron Clad (GIF series):
The young men who have claimed the Running Shed as their place to ‘chill’, see themselves as protectors of the old carriages. They bring vitality to the rusted railway museum. Their dreams extend past the constraints of their situation and their aspirations as large as those who first mapped the Nigerian railway system. Iron Clad is a series of repeated instance of the young men in their space while animated colorful stars erupt from seemingly innocuous items and backgrounds, the boys continue undeterred.
E ma da ‘leru (Sound Installation):
Members of the local community who utilize the Running Shed as a living space tell their stories through music, devised sound, poetry, and collected interview.
NO LOVE IN NIGERIA (sound installation):
Colonial, government, light and white: A group of young men discuss the implication of venal government of Nigeria. Though jest, mawkish condoning, and earnest integration they ponder: Why is Nigeria the way it is? Why do black men seem to suffer? Who will fix this country? And what is the future of the youth?
Selected transcriptions
E Ma Da Leru
I look for money every day I want to blow one day Every day is my ballin’ I want to see the happy day and I want to be a killer hold up hold up, don’t stop ooo pray to god for more ooo
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In this evil life that we live, there is always a light, always a path to take up outside
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Somebody go dey da’le ru Somebody go dey tun ‘le se Abeg time dey go Somebody go dey da’le ru Somebody go dey tun ‘le se Abeg calm down Eh re re Eh re re re o E fara ba le O ro ro O ro ro ro o E fa ra bale
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The way you look into my eyes Na you dey there, Omo wa n bi wa Je k’a se die
I’ m African Money I would give you Don’t do nothing baby I would give you Don’t do nothing baby I would give you I would give you Wetin you see ooo Na blessing my brother Pray and keep working Abeg look o, I am an African soul soul Something dey worry you Olori ‘re ko de ma jo jo jo
Spoken words of Officer Chris:
So we made this place to be a lively place now, there are people keeping here very soon now, you will boys will full here, playing ball, football so, it’s now a community that people begin to know that, ah, this place is existing. If not many people coming in here, immediately they see here, its like a surprise to them say does this kind of a place exist in this compound. That they have been here for the past twenty years. They never know that this kind of a place exist here and they call it museum, a museum means a place where old things that have been used are being kept for future purposes. It’s lively now, sometimes we have light we enjoy normal life. You, sometimes in Lagos, all fingers are not equal. While others are living in mansion, they prefer darkness - where say “I’m in Lagos” they are ready to live any where sleep anywhere provided they say, I am in Lagos. They don’t bother where they are living, they can live anywhere and continue with their business. We are inside town. and I believe that the place is no longer what it was like when I first came in here, when I entered here.
No Love in Nigeria
A conversation on Colonialism, Government Light and White
William J: Me, I know African man can do something better than this.
We are still trying. When things start moving forward. We see so many things, do so many things, in this Nigeria. Look this train and the train at this day now, passing, it’s almost the same thing. You understand me? Almost the same thing. There is no new train. Nothing. All our people out there they are just doing anyhow, when they give them money. It’s like this guy our former president he gave (a committee) money to buy 16 trains to be working on this train line they buy five, the remaining money they shuck it. Inside the five now, the five trains that is moving in Nigeria. Two is spoilt, and people going here here (he points a short distance apart) they will wait for that one (train) to go and drop people come back to come and pick you to go and drop you too. One train is working for 5 days, there remains 2 trains, they just go and keep it and don’t know what they want to go and do with that one. The normal train is working now is 2 trains. Why? It’s not suppose to be like that.
William J: I can’t say because we are blacks. You know, white people don’t think like us. Me, that’s what I believe. Yes, black people can go… see if white people sit like this now, and one black came into their midst they can be (he gestures abrasively) ‘why this black nigga…!?’ You understand now? But we black? If any white come into our side, we like to relate with them, talk to them. But them, they believe we don’t have anything up there (points to his head) you understand? They believe we don’t have anything in our brain to do, you understand? But now, I’m thinking now, them they are knowing that ‘oh, these black people? They have something to do’ and me, I believe in my own generation, this generation, so many things, We will do so many things. Everyday of my life, I use to see so many talents. So many people, I can’t see say, if I start telling you all the talent I have already seen in my life. A lot.
There’s one guy I see. This sand like this, this place like this, the guy buy pure water, it’s water in nylon, the guy pour it on the ground. Use it to draw medusa, the Versace. I swear to all mighty God, when he finished. The thing looked like the carved it from the ground! It looked real! And do you know the worst part? The guy is in the real ghetto. For that guy, I wish I had money. I know he can do so many things. For him to do that, my head burst! Everybody that day didn’t know what to do. I wanted to cry that day.
An Exchange Between William Jay (W), Nature (N), and the Other Boys
W: Look this train. I can tell you that is the train that bring Queen Elisabeth.
I’ve already to South Africa museum before. When I get to South Africa museum. Where they pack their train? Fuck. We are not half at all. We don’t reach there. Their train is clean! It’s old train, oh! But they maintain everything.
N: That’s because they consist of half white half black.
W: You can’t go to South Africa and see something like this rust. No. You can’t see it, o. Rust in a museum in South Africa? No. It’s african country too, but you can’t see that. But look Nigeria, even South Africa is not up to our standard in money. We are talking about money, they are not up to our standard. The problem is that we are the ones that first get independence. We get our independence fast. And we get our independence all this Nigerian people all this abubaka this, these people they want to live. Everybody want to make money. Everybody want to chop money.
It’s Abacha that use to pack money! He pack money with trailer. Trailer, bros! You know how trailer big. Nigerian money FULL. Pack trailer every Saturday pack 6 trailer. Nigeria’s money! All the states bringing the money. One person is packing it.
N: look at the youth, the youths are just wasting. Thats why all these opportunities when we see them. We try to participate. We like to show our talent.
Boy: Look at Nature, now. If he is to be an american citizen. He would have boomed up!
All: yes, now!
Boy: But this is Nigeria.
W: No black has not go to the moon? Have you heard any black to the moon.
If you see the best thing in the world, its white people. You can’t see any blacks there.
N: There are great men who are black.
W: We aren’t talking about greatness. But the great men who are black it’s only (entertainment) industry. Its white man that will sit down look at us doing our style singing, comedy, everything… we only have industry. That’s black. After entertainment, nothing, nothing.
N: Yeah.
W: In America, there’s only one black man that is rich. Why? And a lot of black is there. And they make money from industry. If they want to see black, if they (white people) want to enjoy black, they enjoy is through (entertainment). Through music, through comedy, through acting, they enjoy us through that.
N: I’ve seen Africans who have invented things! You can’t talk the good nd leave the bad. Every black man can create things. If you look at it at this surface it will look like we are racist. We are all the same thing. This whites are gifted the blacks are gifted. Everybody gifted. But the things of this world has driven us to a state where we don’t want to understand ourselves and we don’t want to see the truth.
W: Don’t let me lie, you are right. The only problem we have is that there is no love in Africa. No love in Nigeria.
N: There is love.
W: If there is love, guy, you are not suppose to be here, look if they gave everybody 2 million Naira. Swear to go all mighty, Nigeria money is not going to shake! I’m telling you! Everybody, just anyhow person, 2 million naira! But because Af-ri-ca that Africa!
Boy 2: Most Nigerian leaders are black men, with black mentalities.
N: There are two types of Africans, those with normal civilised minds and those with the other side of the minds. The blacks with the white mind and the blacks with the black mind. The blacks with the good. The blacks with the bad. White represents a lot of things. Peace hope love.
W: There is no love in Nigeria.
N: Speak for yourself. I choose only to see good. There is love
W: The reason why I said there is no love in Nigeria. I have my own reason, you have your own reason. Me, I don’t know every bodies mind, I just know my own mind. I have love for everybody. But for example, we have 1 big brother in our family. The guy came out with first class. When he get to the company he want to work. When the boss look at him they see first class. ‘No. no, we can’t take you!’ Because the boss is not first class. Because they believe first class people will talk the money they want to collect, the post they want to be in Nigeria! Why do we do that for black like us? A white man can leave his seat! Say, I’ve already done this. Look at this seat, this normal seat like this. White man can leave this seat and say to another one sit down here. And be watching (out), looking front, say ‘anything that happens, don’t worry, I’ll be by your back’ white man will stand say ‘don’t worry be going’ but black man when he says ‘don’t worry’ be going I’ll be by your back, don’t go o! Nobody wants to die!
Before all this colonialism and all that we use to use all this king and the rest. And think of it, the way they operate then, It allows your ruler to be greedy. And now, what is disturbing us is greediness. I’m proud of my county but Nigeria is fucked up!
N: You are part of these people who are fucked up with it too!
W: All these people pack our money! Colonial mentality! Using for theirselves! Im a youth! This is a youth! There is nothing for us! No work!
N: Which work are you waiting for? Are you waiting for government to come to your door! Oya here is something to do!
W: Fuck the government!
N: Eh! Then what are you say! How can a Nigerian youth, go to school, primary, secondary, go to university, finish NYSC and still depends on the government?
It’s annoying!
W: it’s annoying! What are you waiting for?
N: Yes, I’m not in school. But the little I have I wish to impact it into others, so they will be able to help themselves too.