Tuesday, March 29, 2011

UNDER BRIDGE LIFE.....LYON!!!!!















INTRODUCING.....FINDING REST

Not always death, but a place of peace.
A shield, not by man but for man.
Like the quietness of a serene river side.
A rest, devoid of intrusion and contamination by mortal conflicts and contradictions.
It's depth, neither too deep nor shallow.
Who can understand it?
A place of equilibrium for the spirit, soul and body... the convergence.
Tranquility can be sort for, but where?
In the space which is the...Mind.
A free mind is the mental workshop for creativity....Good or Evil.
Finding rest in an unknown territory...is searching for safety and stability.
Safety while I rest and stability of the mind because I have someone watching over me.
Transiting across the divide, the place of demarcation, looking for a meeting point where I will off load my burden in an exchange.
In tension, I'm soaked craving to reach the no man's land...the place in between.
Can I find rest now though hesitant of crossing the border into the unknown, knowing my fate?
I can only be an initiate or a transgressor, some kind of alien.
With courage and hope...
God rested on the sevenh day of creation; a type and shadow...so that I can find rest.

-Uche Okpa-Iroha, Lagos - Darkar Road Trip (c) 2010


More Finding Rest photos coming soon....!

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Monday, March 21, 2011

FOOTBALL WORLDS

Third religion in NigeriaUnifying catalyst in diversity.  The love and passion for football in Nigeria cannot be overemphasized.



Thousands of teenagers aspire to attain great heights in the sport and they dream to play in big European leagues and also play amongst the world's best players.  They look up to these phenomenal players that have made the ranks against all odds, coming from the back streets and slums to make big money and fame.


Despite the lack of infrastructure, equipments and funds to develop their talents, they create their own system of leagues and competitions to showcase and expose their raw skills.


Several young players have succeeded, propeling themselves into stardom in the absence of an effective grassroots football policy.











Saturday, March 19, 2011

UNDER BRIDGE LIFE

Every city is a conurbation of people, power and capital. The more there are of these elements, the more pulsating. Lagos falls into this category.  Characteristically pulsating, full of energy, suspense and confusion with its almost over 15 million people, Lagos is a mega city just by mere population.

The city’s idiosyncratic infrastructure of roads and bridges form a complex network that makes up the unique quality of Lagos. It grows organically without any form of decent planning, but yet still finds a way to work.

Under Bridge Life represents the divide or the gap in this spatial order. In this society, the lowly navigate through the socio-economic process of life appropriating what the need, leaving trace behind and charting out new paths for themselves.  Thus they create systems of trades, meeting points and places of business.  In this way, they attempt to bridge the gap and make the city work for them; to be counted among the demography of the city of Lagos.









THE PLEDGE

I pledge to Nigeria my country
To be faithful, loyal and honest
To serve Nigeria with all my strength
To defend her unity
And uphold her honour and glory
So help me God!