<<<<<<<Here is the link to the blog post-http://calabarboy.com/2010/05/03/welcome-to-lagos-telling-our-untold-stories/ by Reginald Bassey.>>>>>>>>>>
I’ve had the best and worst of arguments with pals about this documentary and read a host of blogs about it as well, then a few criticisms like that of Wole Soyinka (http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/apr/28/soyinka-bbc-lagos-documentaries-criticism) and I guess the majority (part of which I belong to 
,) of the viewers appreciated the stories behind the visuals and felt the BBC crew did justice to it.
For the haters though I’ve some words and recommendations to give…
1. It was a documentary and not a PR stunt for Lagos so why were you expecting to see VI/Ikoyi/etc
2. Our dirty linen(slums) was washed in public(International stage)… I’d say YES!!! the fact is that we’ve got one and it must still b washed publicly!!! since Nollywood can’t wash it neither can NTA/AIT/etc which I will tag “private” in this case
3. Would you be happier or feel worse off if after a nice day at the slum Eric goes home to Scam a foreigner? or you see Esther wearing a sexy top begging to cover her nakedness looking for customers on the beach? or Papa Patience beating up his wife and refusing to celebrate her Birthday? My guy, there could be worse stories!!!
Recommendation:
If you are so mad about the way you or your beloved city was portrayed, I can lend you my Camcorder then I will give you a print out of the map of the London tube. Going from Liverpool street at night to Paddington you will def. see enough hobo (a word I just learnt from Soyinka’s criticism) begging for pennies.
OR
Tell Ben TV to collaborate with Madam Rebrand Nigeria maybe NTA and co. can just come to spend a few days in the UK to film those unfortunate ones that the policies of the UK govt. don’t touch.
OR
Clean your house (Nigeria) so that another man won’t come and tell it stinks as Reggie puts it.
TO the BBC crew:
Nice documentary or Docudrama as Reggie puts it but I’m afraid to tell you to take a good look at Chimamanda Adichie’s “Danger of a single story” (http://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story.html) simply because you just told my stories as one of resilience in hard times with integrity, I don’t want u to show me that of resilience in hard times with “fraudulent means” like the Yahoo boyz.
But then again I would have to tell you to take that look because that title “Welcome to Lagos” is WRONG! You should have added “slums” to the title or “part of” lol… but overall I’d say well done.
NB: I for write my own article sef. but i get Exam wey i gas to tackle for here lol… Holy Reggie Nice piece. Ciao…
