The much
anticipated 2017 edition of the annual musical concert, Felabration, has come
and gone. However, the lasting memories and impact on lives will be felt for
years to come.
The weeklong
event was put together by the family of late afrobeat legend, Fela
Anikulapo-Kuti to celebrate the life and struggles of the late revolutionary
African musician.
This year’s
event which held between Monday 9 and 15 October, 2017, with some of the finest
Nigerian and international acts such as such as Femi Kuti, Wizkid, Sauti Sol,
Burna Boy, Lagbaja, Dice Ailes, Sound Sultan, Seun Kuti, and Omawumi and many
others thrilling guests and other attendees to breathtaking performances.
However, the
event did not only afford music lovers and other enthusiasts the opportunity to
observe their music idols in close quarters. It also afforded petty traders,
small business owners inclusive of security guards to make quick cash.
During the
weeklong event, security guards saddled with the responsibility of guarding
apartments, work offices and other properties used the premises for profit
reasons. Due to the number of attendees who drove down to the New Afrika
Shrine, the security situation at the location and the unavailability of
adequate parking lots, the guards swiftly opened their gates for willing
‘customers’ to park for a fee.
As a result
of the event running late into the wee hours of the night, the security guards
gladly watch over the cars – since it was park in their facility – while also
keeping watch of the property they were employed to guard.
Speaking to
Eyes Of Lagos, an attendee of Felabration, Uchendu, said the drivers charge
between N200 and N500 depending on the hours you leave your car in their care.
“if you are worried about your car been damaged or stolen, just drive to any of
the gates located on the Shrine street, you will get security guards calling
you to come use their facility to park.,” he said.
“The guards
charge N200 the first time I left my car with them. I didn’t spend up to three
hours before I left. The next time I allowed my car spend the night there, I
was charged N500 for parking. I didn’t bulge because I knew my car was safe and
the guard won’t allow anyone vandalise my car since I left it under his watch.”
Uchendu added.
Another
source told Eyes Of Lagos that the guards usually leave an instruction that
drivers who park in their vicinity return before dawn to remove their vehicles.
Eyes Of Lagos gathered this was a ploy used to avoid their employers knowing
about their business during the night.
Similarly,
petty traders, food vendors and small business owners made a fortune during the
event.
At night,
food vendors are seen lined up at the surroundings of the New Afrika shrine
with attendees patronizing them to have a bite of what they sell. A plate of
noodles garnish with carrots and egg sold for N500 while a cup of coffee was as
high as N300.
In addition,
a piece of menthol sweet which usually sells for N10 was sold at three for N50
naira during the weeklong event while drinks in pet bottles were sold as high
as N200.
Commenting
on this, a food vendor, Mrs Ilesanmi said “we can only take advantage of the
event to make small profit. People usually complain in the first few days but
they get accustomed to it after a while.”
“They can’t
complain much because they need the drinks and it is even lesser compared to
the amount they pay in clubs or joints,” she added.
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