N. F. Kenure
Humans of New York is definitely one of the most amazing pages on the Internet. I struggle to find the words that would judiciously describe it. It is inspirational and not in the sappy way that makes skeptics like me struggle not to roll eyes privately. The accounts are unembellished, self revealing, introspective and sometimes heart wrenching. Brandon captures amazing depths in his photography even as they reveal sometimes juxtaposing positions or experiences.
Like many others, I've wondered how Brandon gets people to be so revealing, in their wonderment, celebrations or even their sufferings but what I liked about HONY in particular was the randomness, it especially didn't seem to have an agenda - except let people tell their own stories. As HONY has expanded into much more than revealing personal quirks and troubles, and has become a platform in its own right, it has gained the need to tell a different story, especially as it has expanded into other parts of the world.
When Brandon announced he would be in Lagos and wanted potential guides to reach out to him, like many HONY enthusiasts, I was very excited for the stories of Nigeria that would emerge. Who would be the lucky few, whose stories would humanise Nigeria to the rest of the world, just like HONY had done in many other countries?
Next, I had to wonder about Brandon's ability to meander the streets of Lagos inconspicuously to find the perfect story, and it was immediately obvious that his guide would have to play a major role in finding "appropriate" subjects.
And then it began; Brandon was pointed towards a viral story of a hawker who'd throw in pretty much all of his merchandise into a vehicle transporting prisoners.
Good, right? Nigerians portrayed in a different light on such a large platform to the rest of the world. I was hopeful.
Then there's this.
A different perspective that I personally appreciate.
And then he finds the one guy who says Africans need to get over themselves, especially as we were complicit in the Transatlantic slave trade.
Okay.
The guide soon steers Brandon with some hesitation towards his own wife with another heartwarming story, and as valid as her story is, I'm thinking, hey, not fair, some of us are strolling around the streets of Lagos in our sunday best in hopes of encountering Brandon, so we could lay at his feet our wrenching and insightful anecdotes.
I have no idea why this lady had to link her art selling to Yahoo boys, but somehow she got to tell another story and this time, she puts SARS (Special Anti Robbery Squad) front and centre. 
Brandon follows up with another story exposing the thuggery that is the Nigerian police and I begin to feel a certain unease. As much we want the Nigerian Police reformed, is this the right platform?
Hopefully there's more to come in the original fashion of HONY, but now I fear I'm going to have to worry about an "other" telling our stories.
Sep 30, 2018
