(appears on the ‘AS We Begin’ section)
The first steps were necessarily faulty.
For if we did not push through with the first issue, all the plans would go down just like all other brainchild we had in the past.
And it was obvious that until last month (and as the confession have attested to it), we were still on a hazy stage of marking in particular the thrust of Lagos. San Pablo was the starting point; it has always been that. But it was necessary to hold now a coherent identity of our collective works.
The inspiration came from the hospital in a nearby city in which I was compelled to spend a few days. Placed amongst patients of different illnesses and needs, I saw in them the real situation of the people of that city, concealed unfortunately behind the brightly painted hospital walls. The pervading anguish and the tiredness are strong enough that it is unavoidable to notice the sad state of their living.
And thus the seed that was acquired from that brief experience magnifies itself now, giving us the finer thrust of aiming Lagos towards a thorough travel through our city and know and understand its soul. It is a much exciting prospect I believe for it goes well beyond the dressed up public parks giving brief recreation and relaxation to our city dwellers, beyond the attractive lights of the city’s establishments and stores scattered around. The soul of our city is not confined to what is typically known by the public and devoured by tourists.
We shall travel even to the length of the rusting railways in the city; eat with the laborers of the day; share the streets with the vendors and beggars; breathe in the dirt of the roads and highways; share the choleric tap drunk in common by our tired breadwinners, among other. For in the bare experience of the city we shall experience and feel the Soul. But of course, it is our desire not to confine ourselves with such an activity. For it is out belief that there are commonalities of the different places in our country, and there is a collective anguished soul that we must endeavor to characterize.
Lagos shall be our transcribing board.
The first steps were necessarily faulty.
For if we did not push through with the first issue, all the plans would go down just like all other brainchild we had in the past.
And it was obvious that until last month (and as the confession have attested to it), we were still on a hazy stage of marking in particular the thrust of Lagos. San Pablo was the starting point; it has always been that. But it was necessary to hold now a coherent identity of our collective works.
The inspiration came from the hospital in a nearby city in which I was compelled to spend a few days. Placed amongst patients of different illnesses and needs, I saw in them the real situation of the people of that city, concealed unfortunately behind the brightly painted hospital walls. The pervading anguish and the tiredness are strong enough that it is unavoidable to notice the sad state of their living.
And thus the seed that was acquired from that brief experience magnifies itself now, giving us the finer thrust of aiming Lagos towards a thorough travel through our city and know and understand its soul. It is a much exciting prospect I believe for it goes well beyond the dressed up public parks giving brief recreation and relaxation to our city dwellers, beyond the attractive lights of the city’s establishments and stores scattered around. The soul of our city is not confined to what is typically known by the public and devoured by tourists.
We shall travel even to the length of the rusting railways in the city; eat with the laborers of the day; share the streets with the vendors and beggars; breathe in the dirt of the roads and highways; share the choleric tap drunk in common by our tired breadwinners, among other. For in the bare experience of the city we shall experience and feel the Soul. But of course, it is our desire not to confine ourselves with such an activity. For it is out belief that there are commonalities of the different places in our country, and there is a collective anguished soul that we must endeavor to characterize.
Lagos shall be our transcribing board.
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