IS THE STREET TAKING OVER?

“Just don’t let the streets get the best of you”…R. Kelly & Jay Z (The Streets: Best of Both Worlds)

Beyond a Path

Back where I come from, unending negativity is attributed to the streets, so much that when older folks talk, they make reference to the streets like there is  always a lurking danger around the corner patiently waiting to pounce on you at your earliest vulnerability, a thought which virtually keeps you psychologically glued to your home like it’s the apparent safe haven you’ve got, but is it all true though?

With time, as the world becomes more of a global village to us individually and there is an increase in our understanding and exposure, we realize that the apparent dark side of the street is relatively stereotypical, as you will mostly find that the kids that linger on the streets are usually homeless, orphaned, lost, confused or imprisoned children that simply long to be free physically and not surprisingly, also in spirit.   

 

“Freedom has many difficulties and democracy is not perfect, but we have never had to put up a fence to keep our people in”…J.F. Kennedy (35^th President of the United States)

What’s in the streets?

I strongly believe that the street is a relative term or place depending on your experience which ultimately influences your opinion. To a well groomed kid, the street is a scary place, but to the homeless kid, the street is more of a sanctuary. Ironically though, perhaps if only the street could talk, it’d simply say it’s a level playing field which gives everyone a free opportunity to taste, exploit and explore it.

The street has to be our reality, because whatever you do, wherever you go to, you must pass through the streets and experience what it has to offer at any given point in time.

It’s also good to realize that as a matter of principle it is good and probably also imperative to take advantage of the street in order to learn from the experiences that other people have deposited on it, as the street is like a market that respects no one even considering the fact that it doesn’t discriminate tribe nor gender.

For example, you like super stars right? Well they had to pay their dues to the streets in order to be skillful in their craft and ultimately celebrated by fans such as you.

“And I remember going to the studio and there was a park across the street and I’d see all the children playing and I would cry because it would make me sad that I would have to work instead”…Michael Jackson

A Playground and a Battleground

The street is like an oxymoron, but I doubt if it’s a moron though. We’ve heard valid stories of people losing their wealth and even lives to and on the streets, on the other hand we’ve also seen folks that made their fortunes on the streets like it bore them, the bottom line however is that whatever harm which befalls us on the street will only make us stronger so far it doesn’t kill us.

 

Let us look at it this way, of all the truly great people you know ranging from those that inspire you to the ones that through their act of perseverance and dexterity made a huge impact on the world in whatever sector, how many of them do you think or know actually were born with silver spoons?

It gets tricky here because ‘riches’ is a relative term; some people are actually so poor that all they have is money. Being rich is way beyond having lots of money and material wealth, true riches lie in our hearts, it has a lot to do with our emotional intelligence and how we use it to touch lives, especially by helping others find their voices and inspiring the whole world with our talents, time and treasures.

Now tell me where you can hone such craft with limitless boundaries, the street of course. Don’t get me wrong, the family definitely has a huge impact on our lives, it’s just that there is always this virtual string called the safety mode which kind of restricts the true potential of an amazing kid just desiring to fly.

“Who’s the new Ramones, who’s the new Guns ‘N Roses, who’s the new Motley Crue, who’s the new Black Sabbath? They’re coming, they are on the street, they’re 16, 17 years old”…Nikki Six

Behold the future

Back in Nigeria where I come from, there is an unbelievable abundance of raw and human resources, so much that the western world are taking more advantage of it better than Nigerians themselves.

The situation is so conspicuous to the extent that Nigerians have failed to appreciate the value of their resources, their cultures and even themselves as a unique set of people.

Africa generally has been plagued by illiteracy, poverty and greed for so long that it has been difficult for them to believe in themselves for as long as I can remember.

However, with new discoveries of the massive greed that has led past leaders of Nigeria to stash staggering national wealth abroad without impunity, and that has led to mass down-sizing of companies, wealth is having a new face. Youths have found out that the more they believe in themselves and become confident and virtuous with their talents and creativity, survival is just the beginning.

Now Nigerians are not only passionate with the arts such as singing, writing and performing, they are also aggressive about it, surprisingly adding considerably to the economic bottom line of the country.

Now tailors are more innovative with African design, singers coin genuine lyrics with African stories, typical blueprint for deep rooted African interior is taking the centre stage while local content is currently appreciated globally.

See? The future is here and now, and here we are, apparently understanding the reason to be ready to make a huge difference in the change oriented world.

Is the street taking over, “Hell Yeah!” like my American folks would reiterate passionately. By tomorrow, the way things are going, only those who are street smart will be able to eat at all.

Thank you.

Akin Abimbola (akinzogee@yahoo.com)

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