#Fireflies from Azare

They watched him as he ate..grudging him every mouthful he took. Hungry eyes traced the path of each morsel as it began its descent down his gullet. They waited patiently as he gorged while they starved..they knew their time would soon come..and it did.
Sidi nugded his companion to combat readiness as he anticipated their target's next move..Bingo!

As the man rose to wash his hands by the tap near the bukateria,he dashed for the remains of the meal while his accomplice blocked their fellow comrades from snatching their prize. They made away with their loot as the curses of the man who apparently hadn't finished his meal rang in their ears. Another meal another day for the fireflies of Azare..

Sidi and Mika both hailed from the  village of Azare. Released by their parents into the custody of a Scholar/Guardian along with other young boys of their age. They roamed the streets of Kano foraging for food and bringing any valuable they acquired to their Mallam who sold them and shared the proceeds as he deemed fit. He was their teacher, protector and benefactor. He was God to them.

They learnt very quickly that the world had no place for them and that begging was the world's most difficult profession. People had become cold and distrustful. To survive in this world, you had to make do with whatever you could find..or steal. Love was a word that only existed in theory but violence was a language easily understood. Their education was coming along nicely. The fireflies would soon become dragons.

Due to their resourcefulness and intelligence, Sidi and Mika naturally became favorites of their mallam. He would send them on missions and they always returned victorious..until he finally turned their thoughts to murder. Mallam told them there was a certain cleric in the town who had become a thorn in the flesh. He looked them in the eye and told them to do the necessary. Sidi was the natural leader and took to violence like a fish to water. Mika on the other hand was a bit retrospective and given to much reading.

The duo undertook the infamous mission and succeeded but tripped an alarm on their way out. Sidi managed to escape but Mika was not that fortunate. Beaten within an inch of his life and left to rot in jail, all seemed over for him. But for some strange reason, the brother of the cleric who was murdered took an interest in him and paid him regular visits in prison. By divine providence, Mika was released from prison and started a new life under the tutelage of his new benefactor. Mika soon grew to be a mallam himself with children entrusted to his care. The firefly had become the Phoenix; the bird that rose from the ashes of its own cremation.

One day, Mika took the train from Kano to Maiduguri on a scholarly mission. Aboard the train, he noticed a face that was vaguely familiar. He almost jumped out of his skin! It was Sidi! Same watchful eyes! Same devil-may-care grin! It was Sidi all right. They embraced and started to catch up on old times. At a point,Sidi motioned him to an empty coach and revealed his true reason for boarding the train. He was on a suicide mission to Maiduguri wt explosives strapped to his chest..Mika was horrified! The firefly had become a dragon

Eye-witness accounts said they heard sounds of fighting in a nearby coach and hurried to behold a strange spectacle. Two men were locked in a death-grip as in a grotesque dance and as they swayed together, each step brought them closer to the edge of the train..one of them was obviously trying to free himself while the other held on with tears streaming down his cheek..he managed to tip his companion over and they both fell out of the train and tumbled down the ridge. A moment later, they heard a loud explosion..the human-bomb had exploded.Their bodies were never found.The fireflies had come home.

#Boomsha

#The Joy of Sleepwalking

The day the world went mad..we were fast asleep..all tucked beneath the sheets. We were totally unaware of what was about to happen to us..to our world as we knew it. Our lives were about to change dramatically and irreversibly. They called it a national crisis but the aftermath had spilled over into neighbouring countries and even overseas. So many lives would never be the same again after that night..some folk called it a disaster..but for others it was their salvation.

You see, it all started with a project initiated by the Nigerian Scientific Research Institute (NSRI). Recent findings as to the cause of insomnia and sleeplessness amongst nigerians had galvanized our dear scientists to device a special frequency signal which when beamed via satellite to a mobile phone could lull the user's brain to sleep without the use of drugs. It seemed the perfect cure for insomnia. And after successful trial runs on animals,the ambitious men of the Institute were ready to begin human testing. However, there was something they overlooked; the subconscious mind.The human mind is like an iceberg..the conscious mind is just the most obvious part of it..the subconscious part of the mind is submerged and much more powerful..and when the tip of an iceberg is cut off,the submerged part rises to the surface..

The plan was to transmit the special frequency via satellite to the  mobile phones of the test subjects but due to a technical hitch, the frequency was re-routed  via the usual communication channels used by our commercial telecommunication firms. As a result, the signal was beamed to the cellphones of every mobile user in Nigeria. Apart from the usual inconvenience of security operatives sleeping on duty and people snoozing on their night shifts, a far more serious consequence erupted..

When the special frequency hit the brain, it lulled the conscious part of our brain to shut down,freeing the subconscious mind to rise to the surface. By natural selection, our most predominant thoughts rose to the fore and the brain acted upon them without concious thot..The human body in turn responded to the signals sent to it by the brain and moved of its own accord..The NSRI had set off a human A-Bomb!

And so it started..a whole nation of sleepwalkers acting on their most dominant thoughts. The things people had nursed in their minds for a long time and given the most thought but never acted upon were being expressed. Bodies in motion..people moving with a sense of urgency about them..barely 2 am in the morning and the highways were already packed with moving vehicles and pedestrians. Where was everybody rushing to? Where we really desired to, of course..The joy of sleepwalking!

Everybody acting upon thoughts they had brooded upon and buried in their subconcious. For some, they had entertained thoughts of murder and vice! The carnage could only be better imagined..people killing their neighbours.. Shops getting looted..properties destroyed..chaos everywhere..For some their predominant thoughts bordered on romance..Many a spouse woke up the next morning to discover their better-halfs had disappeared into the night to be with their lovers..

Even the clubs were not left out in the windfall..obviously most people never really got over the weekend. The discothèques were packed and so were the motels..young people hooking up and sampling the forbidden fruit..it was a time to realize your fantasies,you see.
Well,to be fair..it wasn't all rioting and debauchery that night..there were some good developments too. Some families still woke up in each others' arms and many a boss arrived work to find the resignation letters of workers who had finally quit and started their own businesses.Feuding parties re-concilled and prodigal sons came home. It wasn't so bad tho..The joy of sleepwalking

Funny tho..the places of worship..they remained mostly empty that wonderful night. No crowd of sleepwalkers filled the pews or thronged the altars to say their prayers. I guess we all had other things on our minds that night. And the awkward thing was..we could no longer pretend about the things that really mattered to us anymore..they were obvious..God is not mocked. We all avoided the preacher's gaze when he came visiting..until we found out he hadn't been in church either that night..The joy of sleepwalking

#Boomsha

P.S
If you had been there when it happened, where do you think you would have found yourself the next morning?

#A drug called Happiness

#A drug called Happiness

Have you ever done drugs before? You know, i mean..just a little tiny scoop of that highly prohibited extra-terrestrial stuff? Whooosh! depending on the grade of what you took, the buzz could last for hours..days sef, some say. That's an experience you never forget in a lifetime..that is,if you ever survive it. Well, if you havnt done drugs before, you are better off..
but hey..u know what? You aren't really any different. The awful truth
is..We are all junkies!..and regardless of where you get your supply from..the high never lasts forever.. we all need a new fix from time to time..

We are Junkies all right..hooked on a drug called Happiness..That's the
holy grail right there!..The constitution guarantees us the right to life,liberty and the pursuit of happiness..so we chase it! For all its worth. Dont we all want to be happy? Of course we do..that's all we want! Every single human being on the planet! Deep down inside..all our efforts and achievements are frenzied effforts to grasp at happiness..the most powerful drug in the world.Our definitions and perceptions of what happiness is may differ from person to person..but in whatever form we
encase it..its still the same at the end..we all wanna get high off that
happiness drug..

But just like any other drug..happiness never lasts long enough. Its there one moment and gone the next. Happiness is an unfaithful mistress..a fickle
fan..a fair-weather friend..but the option of living without it is
unbearable. Who wants an unhappy life? Not me,certainly. So we chase it again..never getting enough of it to last us through the day..we always need a new fix! So along come the drug dealers..the happiness merchants..who make a killing off our addiction..selling products that offer a promise of lasting happiness..on the mass media..on the streets..in your homes, offices and even places of worship..

They mold our perception of what happiness means and convince us to get a quick fix for our happiness-addiction..they offer us happiness-pills in the guise of fashion, technology,education,politics,luxury items,entertainment and religion..yes,religion..they all promise happiness in their own
ways..but these sources never live up to their manifestoes (pardon the
pun)..we acquire..we achieve..we party..we worship..and we are happy..but only for a season..then its right back to reality.

Our desperate search often leads us down the path of romance..its a small wonder songs and movies about love sell the highest..it holds the most insincere promise of happiness..and we buy into the myth of "falling in love and living happily ever after"..but here again we are disappointed..love also brings its own share of troubles..there is no such
thing as "happily ever after"..Love is hardwork..and not the bed of roses
we were made to believe it was..so where do we run to?

Well, we must realize that happiness was never meant to last for more than a spell..it can hardly sustain itself, talk more a human being. Its only a drug,my friend. Go beyond the drug and find the source..then you will never need to get a new fix again. Wise up, Papi..God created happiness and gave man the capacity to reach for it and enjoy it..but not to be sustained by it. God is the true source of happiness and heaven is a moment of happiness multiplied by infinity and taken to the depths of infinity. Be smart,o jare! Dump the drug and go to the source.

#Boomsha

P.S
Boomsha Anthem by Rapsodee drops next weekend! Get ready to download and
sing along!

ff on twitter : @daboomsha
Email: daboomsha@gmail.com

#Survivor's Guilt

She waited for him..pulse racing..heart pounding..she waited patiently..with a knife in her hand. He always stopped by the bar on his way home..took his time getting soaked..but he would be home soon..then all hell would break loose..as usual..only this time would be the last time. Somebody will have to die tonight..She tightened her grasp on the handle of the knife as she heard the sound of his car's engine along the driveway..

Funny though..she used to wait for him at the door eagerly..with a smile and a hug..sometimes, with nothing on except her nightgown and a rose between her teeth..but that was a long time ago..before the children came..before that awful incident that changed everything.

They had always wanted to go on a family vacation but never actually got around to it due to their busy work schedules. So when they heard of a family retreat being organized by a popular travel agency at a very modest fee, they grabbed the offer. Nobody could have forseen the boat mishap that occurred in the middle of the lake..the weather seemed so calm and serene..they never saw the storm coming..the wave that did their boat in and scattered them across the lake. Somehow, by a twist of fate, she and her husband survived..but their kids were not so fortunate.

So they returned to an empty house filled with what used to be happy memories. Their grief was a shared feeling and ought to have brought them closer so each could draw comfort from the other..but there was another feeling that grew with each passing day..It was guilt! Guilt that they had survived but their children perished..a feeling of shame mixed with self-reproach..Survivor's Guilt!

People deal with the feeling of guilt in different ways. Some live in denial choosing to bury themselves in activity..any activity..That was the path she chose..others react in anger which quickly finds a channel to express itself..That was her husband's choice. He saw her as a daily reminder of his failure to save his family..she was his guilt personified..and to quiet the voice of accusation in his mind, he beat her daily into submission..That was how he dealt with Survivor's Guilt..

Well, tonight..He would face a monster of his own creation..the sum total of all his fears..after tonight,there would no more survivors..no more guilty ones..they would all be casualties..

How about you,my friend? Are you dealing with Survivor's Guilt in one form or the other? Do you come running everytime your Ex is in trouble? I mean..You know that   relationship was poison but ever so often u go sniffing around old fires.  You broke that addiction but ermh..sometimes, you feel obligated to check up on your company of Ex-fellow addicts. Are you really free? Or are you suffering from Survivor's Guilt?

Think about it

@DaBoomsha

P.S
If you would like to know more about dealing with Survivor's Guilt or share your experience along those lines, do send us a mail: boomsha@gmail.com
We would love to hear from you

#The Emancipation of Bingo

Bingo sat in the middle of the Lagos - Ibadan expressway and smiled to himself. He ignored the shouts and curses of the commercial bus drivers as they swerved to avoid him and lolled his tongue at startled passengers..all the while grinning like an idiot. None of them would dare hit him! He was betting his life on it. Nigerians were so susperstitious. He shook his head and snorted.They believed it was bad luck to hit a dog when you were travelling..So there he sat..right in the middle of the highway..enjoying his five minutes of fame.

It was bingo's 10th birthday. He had always wanted to do this..It felt good to finally live that dream.He was done trying to please human beings. He was a runaway dog who had chosen to live the rest of his short lifespan doing whatever he pleased. Obstructing traffic was a rascally thing to do, he admitted..but then again, life was too short not to have fun..especially if you were a dog. He knew had just a couple years more to live..but before his demise, he would declare his independence..the emancipation of bingo!

Human beings were funny sha..they paraded themselves as higher animals..mscheww..higher indeed. They were a confused lot! They stuck up their noses and talked condescendingly to dogs..like their humanity made them superior to any other animal that roamed the earth.."hehehe"  he chuckled, hardly able to conceal his amusement. Humans! They had no respect for the natural order of things! Humans..the only specie that preyed upon its own kind.. Humans who had no respect for God or any living thing that God created! Humans!

'Abeg..abeg..'he barked at the sky..'make we hear word!' A dog was ten times better than a human being. Only dogs loved unconditionally ..only a dog would gladly give its life to protect another..only a dog would forgive again and again..only a dog could truly forgive and forget..not these animals that walked on two legs. A Male dog on heat no matter how pressed he is would never burn with passion for another male dog..but humans..mscheww. 
Just the other day, his dog-friend in the U.S, a lady poodle named Tasha sent him a voice -mail through the dog-network. She sounded really traumatized. She said her owner, Mr Bruce had come home one day with a weird smell she could hardly place..even his walk seemed funny. She said she got the shocker of her life when she caught a glimpse of him coming out of the bathroom. Her dear, Mr Bruce had developed the full features of a woman! He even referred to himself as 'caitlyn' on the phone. She felt her head swelling as she gawked at the apparition before her..What in the world was this aberration? She yelped with fright and fled for her dear life!

"Poor Tasha" bingo muttered to himself. She was one of those dogs that would do anything to please her master. she craved to be loved like most dogs..they were love junkies..the whole lot of them..that was the curse of the dog-specie..ever desiring to be loved by human beings. But not Bingo..he was too old now to care about such things. All he had left to feel for humanity was pity. These incredibly gifted animals chosen by God himself to lead the rest of creation now victims of their own proclivities..ever learning but never coming to the knowledge of the Truth..

Oh well, Time to go!..LASTMA would be here any minute now..Bingo raised a hindleg and declared his independence right there on the road before strolling off into the bushes..Every dog has its day..He would return again sometime..

#Boomsha 

ff on twitter: @daboomsha

#The One That Got Away

#The One That Got Away

As we all gathered at our friend's funeral, one thought ran through our minds..a strong disapproval we all shared but nobody voiced out..Jide should have never gone back to the village! Not after everything that had transpired..Jide should have known better! You see, Jide's village was one of those remote communities steeped in tradition and idol worship. Jide grew up as the last born in a family of four..his father was a poor widower who died in his sleep leaving jide and his siblings to cultivate their overfarmed plot of land..one by one, Jide's siblings died under mysterious circumstances until only Jide remained..The superstitious villagers avoided him as they patiently waited for death to claim the last survivor of the Ajanaku family..

However, divine providence stepped in, in the form of Jide's school principal who had closely followed Jide's brilliant progress in academics and recommended him for a local government scholarship. Shortly afterwards, Jide left the village to begin school in the city. From college to the university, Jide performed excellently and quickly rose to positions of leadership. Barely after graduation, he had a federal appointment waiting for him. Jide's rise to fame and success seemed to be some sort of divine compensation for his unfortunate childhood as he recorded achievement after achievement. It was only a matter of time before word got back to the village that the unfortunate offspring of the Ajanaku family had cheated his fate and was living in affluence and wealth.

A delegation was dispatched to Lagos to meet with this illustrious son of the village..Jide Ajanaku..The one that got away. It was a pathetic sight that greeted Jide's eyes as they filed into his office..their faces told a story of hardship and deprivation..their sunken cheeks and bony shoulders wailed of malnourishment..eyes filled with reproach, they accused Jide of abandonment..his father's house was in disrepair they said..his nieces and nephews were starving..how could he have left them to their misery? "Haba Jide! " they groaned..

A rainbow of emotions flashed through Jide's mind..He felt pity at their condition..Joy that he had escaped their fate..shame that he had forgotten his blood relatives still wallowing in abject poverty..anger at their sublime rebuke..but there was one emotion that was stronger than the others..even after he had sent them off with half of his savings..even after he had done all he could to improve the lot of his kinsmen..even though Jide knew he deserved to be happy..all the same this strange emotion haunted him..and drove him back to the village

So here we were..at Jide's funeral..The one we thought had gotten away..Sadly,Jide hadnt gotten away away afterall..and as we grieved..we shared a little in what Jide had felt when he met his folks from the village..it was a feeling of shame mixed with self-reproach..a dangerous emotion which we knew we had no right feeling but we felt all the same..The fact remained..Jide didnt make it but we did..We were alive and well..Jide wasnt..So that nagging feeling remained..and it still afflicts many today..no matter how hard they try to fight it..regardless of how many times they remind themselves that they deserve to be blessed and happy even if others aren't..Its a disease of the soul that afflicts the fortunate..its called SURVIVOR'S GUILT

Are you suffering from Survivor's Guilt ? Is it something eazily noticed? How do we recognize the signs?  How do we fight it? Or better yet, how do we avoid it in the first place? Lets talk some more about this next week..See ya

#Boomsha

#Breaking Up With Jesus

Chioma was a firebrand..a one-woman mopol..cute,intelligent and passionate about Jesus. Many a playboy on campus had tried wooing her and ended up becoming permanent ushers in church by the time,chioma was done with them.
She was so into Jesus she made the rest of us who were still trying to find our feet in christianity look like an unserious bunch of backsliders..and she did it without even trying..Chioma was on fire alright..we all knew it was a matter of time before she became the next pastor of our students fellowship..Chioma was that sold out..

So our shock could only be better imagined when we heard Chioma was with child  and had dropped out of school..The awful truth was that a cult group had raided the girl's hostel during one of the frequent power blackouts and molested some of them, including Chioma. Sadly, her innocence wasnt the only thing they took, they also introduced her to early motherhood. Chioma couldnt bear the shame of living with the stigma..she was supposed to be the chaste one..the beacon of light..the defender of the faith..how could God have allowed this happen to her? Raped and impregnated at the same time! How could Jesus love her and still allow this to happen? Chioma's grief turned into resentment and then bitterness. She renounced her faith ..Jesus had betrayed her..broken her trust..so she broke up with Him..Do you blame her? Wait! before you answer..Pls read the next story..

Matthew was a devout christian..always gave his tithe and offerings..never missed church services..As the Head of the evangelism department,he was always the first to hit the streets with a tract in one hand and a "God bless you" on his lips..fervent in spirit..serving the good Lord..even though he had been applying for jobs without success..inspite of his 4 digit account balance..he gave cheerfully..Blessed are the poor in Spirit..for they shall see God..

Well,things were looking up..Matthew had written the entrance exams for the Nigerian Defence Academy and passed. He had been called up to report at the academy for his physical the coming week..things were definitely looking up! His kid brother had just finished secondary school and came over to lagos to spend some time with big bros. They were on their way back from a camp retreat when it happened..at oshodi. They heard screams of "Thief! Thief!" and turned around to see a mob bearing down on them..their protests of innocence fell on deaf ears as they were beaten to a coma. It took a patrol team of mobile policemen who just happened to be passing by to rescue them from being roasted by the mob. Matthew's brother never came out of his coma. As for Matthew,he woke up to find himself half-blind in the hospital with a missing limb,hanging on to his life by a thread. How had this tragedy befallen him? He sobbed. He was no longer physically fit to make it to the academy..he had lost his brother..parts of his body..everything. "Why? God why?" He cried..his spirit broken as tears raced down his cheeks.. When his pastor showed up at the hospital, matthew refused to see him. He had made up his mind.."Take that Jesus talk to someone else" He croaked "Im done"..Matthew had broken up with Jesus..He died the next day..Was he right? Erm..one more story please

I discovered  this story in my favorite book of stories..its the story of a honest and God-fearing business tycoon who lost everything that was dear to him in 24 hours..His stupendous wealth..His family..His health..everything! in one day! And was God behind that too? Well, technically no..It was the devil..but the book said God allowed it. I remember empathizing with this man. God stood by and watched him lose everything..God even watched him suffer extreme physical pain and humiliation as the devil afflicted his body..it was nasty,my friend!..so when this man lashed back at God,i kinda felt his pain..and oh how he ranted!..it was a sight to behold..one man telling God his "church" mind..and God..actually..listened..You wanna know how that ended?..Well,you will have to look that up yourself..its the book of Job in the bible..Im pretty sure you would find it quite an interesting read.

Now, why did i share these stories with you? Well, i did just to ask you this: Will you let God be God even if He doesnt give you what you want? Will Jesus still be your saviour if He doesnt save you from your landlord and you end up on the streets? Will you still sing #Godwin if you lose your Job? Will you say 'God is good' even when you spirit is broken and your health is failing? When the storms of life rage against you and you take quite a beating, will you still be cool with Jesus or will you be mad at Him? Will you let God be God regardless of your circumstances? Will you still love Jesus or will you break up with Him? Think about it..

#Boomsha


P.S
The lady in the first story: Chioma.
She went back to school some years later..graduated and got a job with an NGO that addresses issues of abuse against women. Her child is extremely talented and already plays the piano at her local church..oh,did i mention? She is also a pastor..i guess she and Jesus made up afterall...

Side Note:
Have you ever felt like any of the persons whose stories i shared?
Have you been in a similar situation?
Why dont you share your story with us?
We would love to hear from you
Pls send your story to boomsha@gmail.com
God bless!

Boomsha Buzz: Laughter Extravaganza With Mc Pamtop

It is here again,folks! Laughter Extravaganza Season 3

I will be hosting the biggest comedy show in Alimosho this year!

Do be my guest as Gudgold Ent & Dynamic Humour Incorporated
Presents
The Biggest Comedy Event In Alimosho......
Its LAUGHTER EXTRAVAGANZA season 3( The Rebirth)

Comedy by: Omobaba 1, Mc Ajele, Koloman, Mc Morris, Destalker, Open Teeth, Charcoal, Stainless Man, Mallam Spencer, Boy Of God, Prof, G.O, Mc Blessed, Mc Olata, Parrot, Akanluv, Mc Moskey and many more...
Music by: Joesongz, Blinx Cavali, Minister Chinedu and the Genius Crew, Destined Brothers....

Dance by: Empire Crew(Akin Alabi's official dance crew)

Host: Rapsodee and Vicky
Date: 21st June 2015..
Time: 2pm Prompt..
Venue: Dayspring Ministries Int'l...3 Taiwo Talabi Close off Pipeline Road by Honeyland School,Abesan Gate Bus Stop,Ipaja,Lagos...
Ticket: FREEEEEEEE

Supported by:: TREM, DAYSPRING MIN INTL, BANNER OF TRUTH, BJ CLOTHIERS, MTN, AIT, HERBSVILLA, ABESAN NEWS....
You don't wanna miss it.. This show will blow your mind... Be there!!!!!
Endorsed by: MC PAMTOP.......

#Breaking up with Barbie

Last week,i got a call from Sophie. She said we needed to see and catch up on old times. I was delighted to hear from her. Who is Sophie? Ermh well, Sophie is not her actual name..its Sophia..but i call her that. Sophie..short for sophisticated..it was a private joke between us. You see, we had been quite close during our university days..Yea..but we never made it past that level of relationship. The friendzone is real,my friend..lol. Anyway,when Sophie told me she was in town and would like us to rendevous,i was intrigued..it sure would be nice to see Sophisticated Sophie again.

So we met at an Ice Cream joint along Ikeja,GRA,Lagos. Chocolate was one of her pet indulgencies..Oh she also had a thing for fashion,high society, movie stars and barbie dolls..she was that kinda broad. Seeing her,i tried hard to conceal my surprise..Sophie had aged..considerably..
Time hadnt been particularly kind. She was pushing 30 but looked 45 already..
 "You look great,Sophie" I lied as we embraced.
"Yeah right" She scoffed in reply "I heard you are married now?"
"Yes i am" I replied, waving my wedding ring
"I wish i was too" She sighed
Then she launched into a tirade about her love life..The failed relationships and ungrateful lovers. As she ranted,my mind wandered..back to when we first met..

It was during our 100 level registration on campus. We were Jambites..fresh off the secondary school boat..trying to act all savvy and unintimidated by our surroundings. We had been on the registration queue for quite some time patiently waiting our turn as the sun burned our temples and heated our tempers.Then this girl in skirts and high boots looking like she just escaped from a high school musical waltzed in and made straight for the front of the queue.Trust students na..she was bounced back with boos and jeers as she beat a hasty retreat.She obviously wasnt used to that kind of treatment. Her wounded pride wouldn't let her join the tail of the queue and so there she stood..some metres away..lips trembling,clutching a huge barbie doll and looking like a lost little girl..*sigh*..boomsha to the rescue..lol.Guess,ive always been a sucker for damsels in distress. I beckoned to her and made room in front of me inspite of protests from behind. She gratefully slipped into place and murmured a hurried thanks. We struck up a conversation and so our friendship began..

Now here we were..many years later..some things had changed..some obviously hadnt..you see,Sophie had always had a crush on one movie star or the other while we were in school. She never had time for any of her toasters on campus.She was way out of their league. She would tell me about the latest celebrity wedding and how she got a follow back from Usher on twitter. She had always lived her life on television and held on to her childhood fantasies. In the mean time,real life possibilities slipped through her choosy fingers. She liked to be waited upon like a princess and only dated men who fitted in her dream world but they never stayed around long enough .Sophie no longer carried a barbie doll around but she still hadnt let go of other things..

As we parted ways that evening, she made me promise to do her a little favour..so here goes..This one is for sophie..

ADERTISEMENT:
Self-Employed Single Mother in her late 20's
seeks a serious relationship with
A tall,dark and handsome male
Must be very rich and famous
Preferrably a movie star
Helps with the dishes and writes romantic poetry
Pls email: boomsha@gmail.com

Sophie's waiting
#Boomsha 

#Breaking Up With Teddy

"When i was a child, i spoke and thought like a child, i reasoned like a child. But when i grew up, i put away childish things"

                        1 Corinthians 13:11

Just the other day,i had the doubtful privilege of hitching a ride on a 'molue' bus in lagos..no thanks,to the artificial fuel scarcity. Having spent several hours at the bus stop with no taxi in sight, myself and other stranded commuters gladly welcomed the arrival of this mechanical good samaritan belching noxious fumes and carbon monoxide. Nobody protested as the driver calmly told us the fare was three times the normal fee as we huddled in his jalopy and prayed we got to our destination safely before his machine fell apart.

However,as the conductor made the rounds and collected the fare,it wasnt just his unruly conduct that drew my attention, it was his age. He looked really old..im talking late 50's! Yeah..Dude was really old! I gaped in surprise for a spell before i caught myself and quickly looked away. Many questions flashed across my mind. What in the world had kept him in a job like this all these years? Why was he still trapped in a job he had probably started as a teenager? What had happened or not happened to him? What was his story?

Then I heard screams from the back of the bus..Oh dear, the same conductor was in a scuffle wt a passenger. I could hear him cursing out the younger man as they heaved and tossed each other from one end of the bus to the other. We quickly intervened and separated the combatants more out of fear of the fight causing our bus to have an accident than out of concern for the bus conductor who was obviously taking a pounding. However,all through the journey we had to endure the rantings of the embittered conductor. He made sure he heaped abuses on the young man as well as on any other person who dared to voice an opinion. He used every curse word in the book as well as others not in the book. He sure had a lot of work experience in that department..lol

Then it dawned on me..Finally, i realized

the answer to the questions i had been pondering. This was it..The conductor hadnt broken up with Teddy! Who in the world is Teddy? In the ordinary sense, Teddy refers to the toys of our childhood. All the kiddie stuff we grew up and left behind. However, in a deeper sense, Teddy symbolizes the childish and immature mindset we once possessed and which we used to see our world. However, as we progress in life, we unlearn that which we had perceived as truth and learn that which ought to be our current understanding of the world and how it actually works. You see..that was the real issue. The conductor had aged but had not matured. He had increased in height and stature but never really grown. He had refused to break up with Teddy.

How about you, my friend? Are you really growing or just adding weight? Are you really learning or just acquiring knowledge? Have you really broken up with Teddy? We will talk about this some more next week..See ya

#Boomsha






P.S
To read previous articles in the #Boomsha series by Rapsodee,
Pls visit his blog: www.boomsha.blogspot.com

#Devil In Your Mirror

The greatest enemy of man is not Lucifer..Nah..He has no such claim to greatness regardless of how many fingers we point in his direction. He only takes the second place position. Man has a greater enemy..more dangerous..and infinitely more destructive. Even more alarming is the fact that this enemy lives in our homes,eats our food and spends our money..it sure gives a new definition to the phrase "Sleeping with the money"

So who is this enemy that has crept up into our beds unawares and is killing us softly underneath the sheets? Well,this enemy is not hard to find..Just get yourself a mirror and look into it..see..that's the enemy right there staring back at you..that's the one you should watch..that's your real enemy. This enemy is a sum total of your negative emotions, weaknesses and self-limiting beliefs.This is the enemy you should wage war against for the rest of your life..cos,trust me..This enemy is not dying until you do.

Sadly, religion has taught people to swing the searchlight away from ourselves and blame our troubles on other people or Supernatural forces. It is easier to believe that your husband 's secretary is responsible for the failure of your marriage instead of your constant nagging.The reason your business is failing is because your village witches are on your case and not because you treat customers with disrespect and deliver shoddy jobs..Nope! Its the devil! So we attend prayer meetings and pray death on our enemies while the real devil watches Africa Magic in our living rooms.

However,more than generational curses, we ought to pray against generational mindsets. We must wage war against the limiting beliefs that have been passed down from parents to children. Beliefs like "Life is hard", "You cant get a good job without connections", "some things are only meant for the rich not people like us"..Im talking about inferiority complexes we have acquired from childhood reinforced by the environment we grew up in that have stopped us from dreaming big and made us settle for the status quo. Our education is wasted if it has not changed the way we perceive our future and God's Word is made of no effect when we do not dare to reach for heigher heights.

The devil is in your mirror, my friend. Love youself but work on your weaknesses. Accept yourself but not your limitations. Discover God and you find your true essence. Remember,Lucifer is not your problem..the real devil is right in front of your mirror. Fight the good fight of Faith..Fight to win..How do you fight to win? Rest on the finished works of Christ..Accept Jesus as Lord over your life and allow Him fight for you..The rest na champion tinz..

#Boomsha

#Scratching The Surface

A Psychologist has been described as an adult who insists on asking childish questions..lol. Well,have we ever wondered if children see us differently too? We are not always the all-wise, all-knowing  role models we think they see us as, u know.. Actually, sometimes we strike them as clueless, insincere and downright contradictory..They shake their heads in wonder at our hypocrisy as we say one thing and do another. Saying we are a confused bunch of grown-ups is barely #scratching the surface..

How do we explain to them that homosexuality is wrong when they see people of the same sex kissing on TV on a regular basis? How does Brother Paul explain to his kids that it was wrong for Korede Bello to have performed "Godwin" in church when it was the same song playing on his car stereo when dropping off the kids to school? Or even more alarming is the issue of Elder Tunji's teenage son, Bobby who has been warned by his father repeatedly to stop reciting the lyrics to Olamide's "Story for the gods"  but attends Pastor Emeka's wedding and finds the whole church dancing to the same song? Just telling young people something is wrong is not enough. We are just #Scratching the surface.

Actually, limiting these issues to entertainment is also merely #Scratching the surface. Its much bigger than that. How do u tell your children not to discriminate against people of different backgrounds when they know the only reason you voted for GEJ was because he is a christian? .. Nothing more. Sister Agnes is having a hard time explaining to her daughter that it was scripturally wrong for Deaconess Chigozie to refuse her son marrying a hausa girl who attends their church but its okay for the church authorities to refuse  marrying their church members to other christians who dont belong to their denomination.. *sigh*

Our world today is so complicated. Nothing is in black and white anymore and our shades of grey are well over 50 (pardon the pun). Even Christiandom is divided along so many ideological and theological lines, the average young Christian is caught in an Identity Crisis. Now more than ever, we must know the TRUTH for ourselves and hold on to our convictions. We must study to show ourselves approved, workmen that need not be ashamed, rightly diving the Word of TRUTH. It is the TRUTH you know that makes you free. Everything else is just #Scratching The Surface

Have i helped to resolve any of the issues i raised? Probably not.. I hve most likely just #scratched the surface. So how do u know the TRUTH? Jesus says "I AM the way, the TRUTH, the life.." Get to know Him more today than you did yesterday ..keep digging..

#Boomsha 

#Identity Crisis

In the box office hit movie "The Equalizer" we are made to know that the two most important dates in a man's life are; 1) The day he is born, and 2) the day he finds out why. Discovering the answer to life's questions has always been the deepest need of man.. More powerful than his need for self-preservation. See that's why curiosity killed the cat! Lol.. Now where am i going with this?

Well, since the inception of the #Boomsha series, i hve been deluged with a flood of conflicting opinions and views on the various subjects i have written on. At first, i was bewildered by the apparent disunity amongst the christian community as to its position on certain issues until it dawned on me;the heart of the matter is the matter of the heart. This whole controversy is only a reflection of an inner conflict, an inner struggle in the minds of many young christians: an identity crisis!

The truth is, until we come to definite understanding of who we are as individual christians and as to what specific purpose God has called us to, we will remain stuck in an identity crisis. We will remain in a state of uncertainty as to whether to be this or that, secular or gospel? Artiste or minister? We will keep having pastors who would have impacted the world better as politicians.. Wack artistes who should have kept their day jobs and remain great music fans.. Bankers who would have made fantastic businessmen.. Now lets bring it closer home.. We would keep having great solo artistes who are still trapped in the church choir and music ministers who would have fared better on secular platforms.. Yea.. I said it

When a christian artiste chooses to take his music out of the confines of conventional worship and express his artistry using less religious channels, his decision is usually viewed with distrust and resentment by the christian community.. Why? The church has trust issues! And rightly so.. Bearing in mind the rampant cases of betrayal of trust by christian artistes who crossed-over and ended up blending with the crowd. The church has a bagfull of sad stories of such promising talent who got on secular platforms and ended up promoting the same vices they were taught to shun in sunday school. Of course the church has trust issues.. Wouldnt you?

However, do we throw out the baby with the bathwater? Arent there christian artistes who genuinely craft music without religious overtones and bless the world with their gift outside the confines of the church. I believe there are! These unique bunch of people dont fit into your regular church setting.. They dont sing songs for the average church-goer. Their songs are not well-received in religious circles but they do have a growing followership outside the church. They are not the type you invite to minister at your annual convention or church harvest.. Ironically tho..Their uniqueness doesnt get them much love on the other side.. The world senses something different about them and abhors their nonconformity with popular thinking.. Their songs preach without preaching.. They are not entertaining enough..They are not at home there either.. So they remain stuck between a rock and a hard place.. Between a church with trust-issues and a world with God-issues. Theirs is a thankless job..

Sadly, some of them buckle under the pressure and choose to blend in with the crowd thereby adding more fuel to the controversy..some others scamper back to the safety of the church with their tails tucked between trembling limbs..only a handleful remain to slog it out in this jungle called the music industry.. You will find them on secular platforms; Reality TV shows, Nite clubs and other music events. They are outsiders.. outliers..They are one of your own.. Fighting behind enemy lines..Its a tight-rope they walk on.. A long hard road with more discouragement from friends than enemies..

Sometimes they just want to come home to their Father's house and rest their weary feet by  the fire.. Just for a spell.. But when they do.. will you be waiting with open arms? .. or a stone? .. for one of your own.

 #Boomsha

#‎Storms‬ In A Tea Cup

Ive got to be honest with you guys..i was taken by surprise at the public response to my previous write-up "‪#‎prodigal‬ sons" . Actually when i started the ‪#‎boomsha‬ series, my aim was to share some of my musings with friends on social media not spark up heated debate and controversy. However, judging by the number of likes,shares and comments on social networks as well as publications of my article on blogs, i realized i must have really touched on some 'sensitive' spots..
Oh well.. Controversy sells, my friends..it sells faster than cheap snacks in lagos traffic. I would rather avoid it though..but hey..here we go again. I would like to touch on another topic that has been the bone of contention among young christians on social media..i pray i dont lose some teeth..lol..lets get into it..
The question is whether a christian can choose to be a 'secular' artiste just like taking up any other job and whether a christian who chooses to go the 'gospel' route is allowed to sing 'secular' songs on the side? Well, i do not intend to tout myself as an authority in such matters. I only seek to shed some more light on the vexed issue and help us see things from a different perspective.
A good start would be to define the terms "gospel" and "secular". The word gospel is derived from the old English word 'god-spell' meaning "good news" or "glad tidings". What glad tidings? That of salvation for mankind through the life, death and ressurrection of Jesus Christ. It also refers to the message of Grace as revealed through the scriptures. (Source: Wikipedia)
How about the word 'secular'? It refers to the state of being separate from religion or not being exclusively allied with any faith.(Source: Wikipedia)
In contextualizing these definitions,i perceive a gospel artiste to be one who actively promotes the teachings of Jesus and the message of Grace through his music while a secular artiste is one who chooses to separate his music from his faith or does not wish his music to be exclusively allied with any faith for professional reasons. Both are artistes but with different mindsets..both standpoints have their pros and cons..To each his own.
Now back to the issues raised..can a christian choose to be a "secular artiste' i.e choose not to have his music exclusively identified with the Christian faith? Yes he can..Afterall, music can be strictly a career choice..Will he go to hell for that? Nope..He is still a child of God! but would he truly be fulfilling the great commission by choosing to use such a powerful source of influence for strictly 'professional' reasons? Would he have to account before the Giver of the gift as to how he used it? I would leave that for you to answer.
On to the next one, can a gospel artiste sing secular songs on the side? Well..going by our definition of what is secular,i perceive a secular song would be one which does not in anyway point to the person of Christ or promote the values of God's Kingdom in anyway..Well, in that case, the notion of a gospel artiste singing a secular song would be downright ridiculous!..dat would be going against the very foundation of his calling.
However, we must note that christianity is not a religion, its a way of life. Christ was not religious but He was spiritual. A song is not secular because it has no obvious reference to God or the Christian faith..Also, a song is not gospel just because it has an obvious mention of God in it! Lets get our definitions right!
Having done so we ought to also embrace the practical realities of what the christian way of life entails and reflect that in the music. Christianity should teach the world how to live in every respect; how to love God, how to love people, how to dress, how to party, how to do politics..how to do everything! So if we narrow gospel music to "church" music, we are barely scratching the surface.
So what is the conclusion of the matter? Should i be a secular or gospel artiste? Should i sing or not sing a secular song? Well..dats for you to decide, my friend. However, in the words of Jesus Christ himself in the book of Luke 18 : 29, He said and i quote" ..I assure you that everyone who has given up house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the Kingdom of God will be repaid many times over in this life, and will have eternal life in the world to come". Did that help?..lol..See ya next week!
#Boomsha

#‎Prodigal‬ Sons

Do u remember dat slim guy who plays d keyboard every sunday and midweek service in church? Well..he's gone secular. I saw him singing in a music video recently surrounded by some half-naked chicks.. Yep.. He's really done it this time! How about that choir girl? The one with the piercing soprano voice.. Yea.. She sef don switch sides..My homie was at her album listening party at Quilox the other day..She just signed with a big label..yea.. Her songs,man...smh..na jaiye jaiye tinz o..lol.. Sounds familiar? Doesnt it?.. Word gets around real fast.. Then the akward question: why did they go 'secular'?

Some blame the Church..They dont support artistes! They only care about church activities and increasing their member base.. They dont encourage talent..They dont pay musicians well.. Bla bla bla
Others blame the artiste.. They were not genuine believers in the first place.. They love the pleasures of the world too much..They sold their soul to the devil.. They were not patient enough.. Yada yada yada..
But every side has a story.. Do u know what it takes to run a church? Most churches run by faith..The bigger the church the bigger the bills..and of course every church has its primary goals and objectives which determines its priority list in allocating resources..
As for the artiste..Have u tried on their shoes? Seen how they fit? U have a secular job or business you are involved in during the week..Music is all they have ever done for a living... Do u know what it takes to be that musician who is always in church on sundays and weekdays blessing you with his or her talent for free while struggling with financial burdens and unrealized dreams. You probably just give em a pat on the back after service and say 'wow, i was blessed' then u walk away and return to your profitable job.
Next time u feel like pointing accusing fingers.. Ask what you as a person have done for the gospel music industry? Before u throw stones at the prodigal son, ask yourself who was more prodigal; the younger brother who went 'secular' or the older brother who stayed in the church but did nothing for the industry.
We need more christian businessmen who will invest in our young people. We dont need your handouts.. You are not doing us a favour. We guarantee your money back with interest! We need more christian labels.. More managers.. More talent scouts.. More everything. Dont just sit there and point fingers.. Do something!
‪#‎Boomsha‬

#‎Blurred‬ Lines

I had an interesting conversation with a friend yesterday and it made me realize how blurred the lines between our convictions and public opinion have become.
Im pretty sure if i were to ask if we approved of the homosexual scenes in the TV Series "Empire" i wud most likely get a firm collective response..but i might start some real trouble if i expected a similar response to the "Korede Bello" controversy.. The lines there are not so clear.. Or are they?

Well.. Dats the world we live in currently.. and live in it we must. But then again.. It is imperative that we ask ourselves if we still possess any core values? ..Values that wont change regardless of whatever crazy direction society goes? ..
No matter how many "shades of grey" we create.. Light will always be light and darkness darkness.. God's word is light.. and it wont change wt the times.. Not anytime soon..Stay in the light..
‪#‎Boomsha‬