I n the early 80's there was this Programme on NTA2 channel 5 called BEACHCOMER, presented by Sam Shonibare.
It was a Disco party televised live between 7:30 and 9pm every Saturday nite and everyone who was anyone would give anything to be seen on the proogramme. In fact, if you were seen on it you became the local champion for the whole month any where you went be it school, Uni, Poly, anywhere.
Anyway, yours truly had a chance to go on the programme, but I had to ask if it was not going to be televised and was told that it was a private party that nite and therefore there would be no camera's about.
The next stage was to tell my parents where we were going, Luckily, a distant cousin was having a party so we used that as an excuse and went off to Beachcomber in Ikeja.
Dressed to the Nines in the latest baffs and itele's from America (Brothers Johnson Style! with big round glasses to match!), we all walked in, taking time out to make sure that there were no camera's about. Before long, there was a dancing competition and because I liked to dance like ikoto then, my friends nominated me to participate, with a very popular girl who later
became a prominent fashion designer in Lagos with her own fashion house.
Needless to say we won hands down. Dancing to music from The Whispers, Shalamar, Kool and The Gang, Dynasty, Lakeside, Evelyn King, Brothers Johnson, Rafael Cameron, etc. But what I did not know, was that it was being televised LIVE on air and everybody including my parents saw me dancing on TV. You see, they had hidden cameras installed so you would not know you are on TV
After an enjoyable evening, we now went home and the following happened.
My Dad: Ekaa bo, Ni bo lee tin bo? (Welcome, where are you coming from?)
Me: A aah Daddy! sebi mo so fun yin pe an'lo si party cousin waa (But Daddy, we told you we were going to our cousins party)
My Dad: Cousin yin woo? (Which Cousin!)
By now my mum was mouthing somthing like my dad had seen me on TV dancing live but I could'nt comprehend what she was saying!
My Dad: Cousin yin woo! Alajota, Gbogbo Eko lo ti re e nibi ti e tin jo
(Which Cousin, Dancing Major! All of Lagos has seen you dancing live on TV)
All this in the midst of (igbamu and igbajo) (Smacking and slapping!)
My Dad: Oo ni disgrace mi, o Oga meji o lee gbe inu ile yi, yaa lo ko gbogbo
eru e, ki o ja de kai kai, omo iranu alajota!! (You will not disgrace me o!
Two heads cannot live in this house so pack your load and get out of my
house, useless boy, dancing major)
Need less to say even though I was local champion at school and church amongst my friends, for a while, I was shown real pepper at home as I went to heaven and came back.
mmmmm! those god old days...
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