When I returned from my quick jaunt to Europe for academic purposes, I found my Nigerians just as I left them.
After being surrounded by an European community that embraces cycling as their preferred mode of transportation even with their inclement weather (July, August had highs in the 50's) with gas stations reasonably empty while tram stations stay packed, standing room only at rush hour, I returned to my car-less situation in Lagos. As soon as my girlfriend had to give me a quick lift to run an errand she started berating my car-less situation. The image of all the Den Haag bicycles quickly flashed through my mind's eye and I shook my head, "Some folks have just been in Lagos too long." I muttered. They think this is how you live life, enslaved to your gas guzzling vehicle.
Later that evening some friends asked me to join them for a "welcome back" drink at our local watering hole by the Lagoon. After trying and failing woefully to elicit details of my trip, I remarked simply, "It felt good to be in a place where I didn't feel like I needed to compete, or be someone else, that is, someone who has a car. A flashy gas guzzling car." They smiled and acknowledged my statement. I went on. "It also felt good to have hobbies, something to do."
Then, they all exclaimed that they have hobbies. I asked further, so what new hobbies have you acquired since we last spoke. They mentioned a new watering hole they recently discovered, this one sans Lagoon view but complete with live band. I said: "But I bet it's the same damn thing. Same group of guys getting together to talk about work, money, their sexual exploits, while drowning their sorrows with Orijin bitters and cigarettes, serenaded by highlife music coming from the live band."
They paused.
"Well, it's not just men. Some women come too." This was their response. This is their hobby.
This leaves me to ask: Africa - What are our hobbies?
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