Comments on this episode
Anonymous
great people with great potentials.
great people with great potentials.
148 days ago
Anonymous
how i wish our greedy politicians could spent a week in this environment and see how much damage they've done to the country
how i wish our greedy politicians could spent a week in this environment and see how much damage they've done to the country
155 days ago
Explorer
Ajegunle is just like Queens in New york where many big names in the US grew up. Hail AJ
Ajegunle is just like Queens in New york where many big names in the US grew up. Hail AJ
157 days ago
Explorer
Ajegunle is just like Queens in New york where many big name sin the US grew up. Hail AJ
Ajegunle is just like Queens in New york where many big name sin the US grew up. Hail AJ
157 days ago
Ogbah Okporua
real nice. if only sth wud be done about such talents dat abound in nigeria, der wud be less security problems.
real nice. if only sth wud be done about such talents dat abound in nigeria, der wud be less security problems.
158 days ago
Nicholas omoruyi
Looking at the background, it's very unhealthy for animal neither human being and the government obviously thought this is funny. There are nothing like smile among the audience even when there is something to be put smile on their faces right in front of them. Inspite of the condition this guys still put in every effort to make the show a success.
Looking at the background, it's very unhealthy for animal neither human being and the government obviously thought this is funny. There are nothing like smile among the audience even when there is something to be put smile on their faces right in front of them. Inspite of the condition this guys still put in every effort to make the show a success.
158 days ago
Nicholas omoruyi
It was a very nice show, Funmi. It's very sadden that Nigeria Government ha chossen to ignore this youg talented people and eventually denied them of their dreams. As human being, we are all unique in our own ways and capable of doing things depends if they are getting the right support from their government. I think it's time nigerians start asking them selves this seriouse question about so called God existence. If God does exist and want the best for his children, why would God bless nigeria with currupt and hopeless government?
It was a very nice show, Funmi. It's very sadden that Nigeria Government ha chossen to ignore this youg talented people and eventually denied them of their dreams. As human being, we are all unique in our own ways and capable of doing things depends if they are getting the right support from their government. I think it's time nigerians start asking them selves this seriouse question about so called God existence. If God does exist and want the best for his children, why would God bless nigeria with currupt and hopeless government?
158 days ago
Rosemary Alaoma Nlemoha Odili
i was filled with laughter wen i saw d ajegunle boys dancing alanta nd sekere...kudos to marvelous benji....funmi love d concept of u going out to meet plp..welldone
i was filled with laughter wen i saw d ajegunle boys dancing alanta nd sekere...kudos to marvelous benji....funmi love d concept of u going out to meet plp..welldone
158 days ago
Olawale Badmos
A-J-E-G-U-N-L-E!!!!!!! Ts a melting port of different activities, people, culture, disposition and what have you......the big but is MUSIC which is their common language...... the area is dynamic and very complex, there are still alot of things that can still be unravel-led which are crying for light in this area
A-J-E-G-U-N-L-E!!!!!!! Ts a melting port of different activities, people, culture, disposition and what have you......the big but is MUSIC which is their common language...... the area is dynamic and very complex, there are still alot of things that can still be unravel-led which are crying for light in this area
158 days ago
Simone N Ndu-Okpara
Thanks for showing the true color of AJ. Great works are born from the soul. Great work keep it up
Thanks for showing the true color of AJ. Great works are born from the soul. Great work keep it up
158 days ago
Prince Edward
What a nice program u have initiated? I really love it and it good for the nation. One thing is that if the authority will really do the correct thing.
What a nice program u have initiated? I really love it and it good for the nation. One thing is that if the authority will really do the correct thing.
159 days ago
Funmi spends the day in Ajegunle talking with the people. Although a maligned area of Lagos, a startlingly high number of the nation's top footballers and musicians grew up there. What is it about AJ City?
She hangs out with Marvelous Benji and the boys at Jahoha Studios, a local institution and finishing school for AJ musicians. They put on an impromptu performance and tell her all about the dances and musical styles that originated there.
She hangs out with Marvelous Benji and the boys at Jahoha Studios, a local institution and finishing school for AJ musicians. They put on an impromptu performance and tell her all about the dances and musical styles that originated there.
Exclusive Video Clip
Saturday June 6TH 2009
Last night, after the final shoot in Ilorin and fractious flight to Lagos, l got dressed and went out with the girls for Remi's birthday. I was still in the mental and physical space for filming so I looked somewhat incongruous amongst my dressed down friends. I had missed them. We saw a lousy movie and had a yeye meal at an Italian restaurant with a need to take its face out of its arse.
Went to bed restless at 2a.m and was up and cranky by 5am. Played cards in bed with the shrimp who suddenly seem grown up.
8am and Mr. B had not shown up, maybe bonding with his family too. Called in a stand in but got left behind by the crew. Fortunately I know my way around Ajegunle a little. I had spent a week filming a story here some 14 years ago.
We arrived Jahoha Studios, the spiritual home of most of the musical stars out of Ajegunle. Daddy Showkey is mentioned in reverential tones. He is the ghetto warrior who with that guttural cry led a new musical style and sense of worth out of AJ city. I find that I cannot describe this place I can only feel it. Ajegunle is a sensory overload of sounds, sights, markets and an amazingly diverse mix of faces, cultures and ethnicity. I must say that the place does not feel as threatening as it did during the Abacha days when I came to film earlier and the roads although still bad and incomprehensible appear a lot calmer, maybe because it's a Saturday.
The one thing I do feel is little, this place makes everything else pale in comparison to her wild energy, colours and pace.
The over crowed houses built shoulder to shoulder, the electric and phone cables coming out of the ears and nose of each house into the ears and nose of the other in a continuous chain. I observed, nay felt all these as I waited for the guys to set up so I could start. It is boiling and my skin is itchy under the make up, which keeps running and needing reapplying. By this time Bayo had arrived and bullied the stand into a corner.
I was introduced to Marvellous Benjy who was soaring on his own high somewhere far far away; it was tough keeping him on track during the interview. I however found him charming, smart and a little delightfully bonkers. The interview was bizarre but revealing.
The whole shoot went well as the community turned out to watch and then dance including the little children. The AJ dancers were amazing and did very little talking, what is the point of talk when you can move like that. I felt like a flat footed duck beside the agile, mobile and flexible people but l do think l may have got the hang of Alanta which is the pride of the community. I learnt also learnt Swo, Kwonto and the still in development Warapa but Alanta is king.
Sunday June 7th
Final day of shoot for the entire series. I was up and ready by 5.30a.m. There are delays, there is trouble brewing, the scale of which didn't become apparent until months later. One, which almost shut down the entire project.
We returned to Ajegunle and went to the famed Tolu football pitch where many of Nigeria's ex super eagles has played. It is a sandy schoolyard behind one of the ports and adjacent to one of the denser parts of Ajegunle.
The place is drenched in testosterone and run by a council of elders you would be well advised not to cross. I interviewed the mama 7 boys food vendor who has been there for years and one of the council of elders but the highlight was a display of "balcrobatics" by Amata the star ball juggler with the proud people running continuous commentary.
Afterwards we conducted a street vox pop with young women on the street. We had noticed how well dressed and regal in bearing the women were. So Bayo started searching for best face, style and fashion right there on the street and I talked with them. My feeling was that I had seen more character, cooler style and red hot attitude on the streets in Ajegunle over this weekend than all the fashion and style magazines on the newsstands. The average babe on the street seems to have more body confidence, personal style and bearing than many diamond draped, Brazilian hair wearing Lagos socialite.
Afterwards I interviewed the very talkative and very sweet old mama Ajegunle who has lived here since independence. She kept trying to give me a drink, they all keep trying to give us a drink or meal. This is the only community in the whole series where the people were offering to give us stuff rather than take stuff off us.
We left AJ city and stopped over at mainframe studios in Oshodi to film Tunde Kelani's interview for the final part of the Nollywood edition. So it was that after 5 weeks of filming across 4 states, the shoot wrapped. I returned home to pack my bags for my trip to Aspen for a seminar tomorrow then I joined the guys at Tarzan to unwind. I like watching the characters at Tarzan, tonight there was the absolutely gorgeous dark girl with cropped hair and hoops and the wild snake hipped dancing boy. I wonder, what is their story?
Irrepressible AJ CITY airs on TWF this Sunday 28th March on Africa Magic 6pm local time 7pm central African time.
Last night, after the final shoot in Ilorin and fractious flight to Lagos, l got dressed and went out with the girls for Remi's birthday. I was still in the mental and physical space for filming so I looked somewhat incongruous amongst my dressed down friends. I had missed them. We saw a lousy movie and had a yeye meal at an Italian restaurant with a need to take its face out of its arse.
Went to bed restless at 2a.m and was up and cranky by 5am. Played cards in bed with the shrimp who suddenly seem grown up.
8am and Mr. B had not shown up, maybe bonding with his family too. Called in a stand in but got left behind by the crew. Fortunately I know my way around Ajegunle a little. I had spent a week filming a story here some 14 years ago.
We arrived Jahoha Studios, the spiritual home of most of the musical stars out of Ajegunle. Daddy Showkey is mentioned in reverential tones. He is the ghetto warrior who with that guttural cry led a new musical style and sense of worth out of AJ city. I find that I cannot describe this place I can only feel it. Ajegunle is a sensory overload of sounds, sights, markets and an amazingly diverse mix of faces, cultures and ethnicity. I must say that the place does not feel as threatening as it did during the Abacha days when I came to film earlier and the roads although still bad and incomprehensible appear a lot calmer, maybe because it's a Saturday.
The one thing I do feel is little, this place makes everything else pale in comparison to her wild energy, colours and pace.
The over crowed houses built shoulder to shoulder, the electric and phone cables coming out of the ears and nose of each house into the ears and nose of the other in a continuous chain. I observed, nay felt all these as I waited for the guys to set up so I could start. It is boiling and my skin is itchy under the make up, which keeps running and needing reapplying. By this time Bayo had arrived and bullied the stand into a corner.
I was introduced to Marvellous Benjy who was soaring on his own high somewhere far far away; it was tough keeping him on track during the interview. I however found him charming, smart and a little delightfully bonkers. The interview was bizarre but revealing.
The whole shoot went well as the community turned out to watch and then dance including the little children. The AJ dancers were amazing and did very little talking, what is the point of talk when you can move like that. I felt like a flat footed duck beside the agile, mobile and flexible people but l do think l may have got the hang of Alanta which is the pride of the community. I learnt also learnt Swo, Kwonto and the still in development Warapa but Alanta is king.
Sunday June 7th
Final day of shoot for the entire series. I was up and ready by 5.30a.m. There are delays, there is trouble brewing, the scale of which didn't become apparent until months later. One, which almost shut down the entire project.
We returned to Ajegunle and went to the famed Tolu football pitch where many of Nigeria's ex super eagles has played. It is a sandy schoolyard behind one of the ports and adjacent to one of the denser parts of Ajegunle.
The place is drenched in testosterone and run by a council of elders you would be well advised not to cross. I interviewed the mama 7 boys food vendor who has been there for years and one of the council of elders but the highlight was a display of "balcrobatics" by Amata the star ball juggler with the proud people running continuous commentary.
Afterwards we conducted a street vox pop with young women on the street. We had noticed how well dressed and regal in bearing the women were. So Bayo started searching for best face, style and fashion right there on the street and I talked with them. My feeling was that I had seen more character, cooler style and red hot attitude on the streets in Ajegunle over this weekend than all the fashion and style magazines on the newsstands. The average babe on the street seems to have more body confidence, personal style and bearing than many diamond draped, Brazilian hair wearing Lagos socialite.
Afterwards I interviewed the very talkative and very sweet old mama Ajegunle who has lived here since independence. She kept trying to give me a drink, they all keep trying to give us a drink or meal. This is the only community in the whole series where the people were offering to give us stuff rather than take stuff off us.
We left AJ city and stopped over at mainframe studios in Oshodi to film Tunde Kelani's interview for the final part of the Nollywood edition. So it was that after 5 weeks of filming across 4 states, the shoot wrapped. I returned home to pack my bags for my trip to Aspen for a seminar tomorrow then I joined the guys at Tarzan to unwind. I like watching the characters at Tarzan, tonight there was the absolutely gorgeous dark girl with cropped hair and hoops and the wild snake hipped dancing boy. I wonder, what is their story?
Irrepressible AJ CITY airs on TWF this Sunday 28th March on Africa Magic 6pm local time 7pm central African time.
Galala is dead no?