The Lasgidi Hustle

Lagos as a place can be referred to a Mecca of some sort where people from
around the world come together with the notion that coming here adds a
title to their name.

People of different color,shapes and sizes flocking
around like newly transformed zombies from as early as 5a.m to as late as
10p.m.It makes me wonder about the high rate of unemployment in the country
when i see so many people at a time walking about,all acting like they have
somewhere important to be.It gets me pondering if all the offices and
buildings that label themselves companies really have people working in
there...if they do then where the hell are the men and women i see in
official attires walking around aimlessly always heading to?...the latest
craze is audition centers.

Forty percent of Lagos population are now
wanna-be actors and actresses and musicians..The caliber of people i meet
at auditions brings shame to the arts of filming.Some are not even meant to
be cast as extras or wakapass but yet they tell you they are gunning for
the lead roles. You wonder why some people most especially females even
bother showing up.Some of them who look like people raided from a circus
even have the guts to tell you to your face that they are actresses and
this is with no proof of training whatsoever.The blame is not on them
though.I put the blame on some shameless organizers who organize auditions
just as an avenue to lure girls into their beds with the promise of making
them into the next Omotola or Ini Edo.I was disappointed at a recent
  audition organized by a well known and (before now) respected actor.It
became obvious at a point that the whole purpose of the audition was to
secure beautiful girls for their personal benefits.The big name behind the
audition was nothing but bait to lure these unfortunate but very beautiful
girls to the audition centers.It became obvious at this particular audition
that men or guys were of no interest to the organizers regardless if you
even had talent or not. We guys were merely asked to give our names and
walk out while the females were auditioned for their beauties rather than
brains or talent.

If you feel i am exaggerating then how about this. An
average of 1,000 auditions for soaps every year in Lagos and only one or
two new soaps make it to your TV screen.You do the maths.These victims (as
we all are) until there is a breakthrough remain relentless though and
determined to make it and never give up and that struggle is what you will
never take from them.Call them lazy, label them people with no ambition but
i say hustling in this manner beats turning to armed robbery and
prostitution any day.Lagos...Lasgidi..land of the tough and definitely a
pride of our beloved country any day,anytime remains my home for now and the
flame of passion and flare to make it out here will never burn out....


Writer
Marley Omuni