11 days in Dusseldorf, Berlin and Humburg

Saturday November 20, 2010

11 days in Dusseldorf, Berlin and Humburg SAM ANOKAM, who was in Germany to witness the celebration of Nigeria’s 50th independence anniversary concert, reports that one experience he would not forget is witnessing two teenagers having sex in the open, in a night club. Saturday, November 20, 2010 Photo: SAM ANOKAM More Stories on This Section When our plane touched down on October 10, at the Dusseldorf Airport, Germany, the blast of chilly air was the first sign that we were no where in the tropics. The weather was extremely cold that I shivered, despite the thick coat I wore. I told myself: Welcome to Europe. It was my first trip to Germany, the country that produced Adolf Hitler. It was not as if the unfriendly weather was a surprise. Before we left Nigeria, we had been warned of the extreme cold in Europe, at this time of the year. I was among three Nigerian journalists who went with ace musician, King Wadada, a KORA reggae award winner for 2010 and Acho, another KORA nominee for a concert commemorating Nigeria’s 50th independence anniversary, at the instance of Miracle Day Music. I would say that we had prepared for the cold, by arming myself with warm and thick clothes. But what I experienced at the airport told me that Europe cold defy thick clothes. Indeed, coming down from the plane, into the cold, was like going to hell. It was with pain that we eventually made our way from the aircraft to the shuttle bus, just six metres away. Our first attempt to disembark from the aircraft was aborted, as we could not face the chilly cold. We had to rush back into the cosy warmth of the plane, as soon as the cold hit us. None of us could dare the short dash to the bus. However, we had to face the music, as it were, and made it to the bus. At a point, between the aircraft and the bus, I felt so cold that I thought I would freeze to death and become a pillar of human being. Once in the bus, I temporarily came back to life. And as I sat down in the bus, I remembered my experience at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, from where we departed. It was a different world. In Lagos, the temperature was 31 degree celsius and the atmosphere was warm. Even when we got to Tripoli, in Libya, for a brief stopover, as Afriqiyah does, the temperature was friendly. It was just like Nigeria. I also remembered my experiences on the plane. Members of the cabin crew were courteous and the food good. I had kept myself busy watching TV throughout the flight, not wanting to miss anything. The shuttle bus took us to Dusseldorf Airport lounge, where we passed through the immigration. The halls in the airport are breathtakingly beautiful. Flight boards are placed at strategic places, giving information to travellers. After immigrations formalities, we stepped into the arrival hall, where we were supposed to meet the organisers of the tour. When we got there, we were shocked that nobody came to receive us. In fact, at that time, our host was miles away, in Berlin, eight hours by bus. To reach him, a good Samaritan came to our aid. He offered us his phone to call Omenka Uzoma Day of Miracle Day Music, who travelled ahead of us. Surprisingly, the good Samarithan, who we later discovered was a Cameroonian, did not understand or speak English. He could have sensed our predicament and offfered his phone. Apart from offering us his phone, the Cameroonian was of immense assistence. He directed us to the nearest train station, from where we went into town. At the train station, one German, seeing Wadada with a guitar and his dreadlocks, assumed and rightly, that we were musicians on tour. He told us he was a musician too and helped us to buy train tickets from a slot machine. We took the train into town. We went to Burgher King, an eatery, where we waited as Kenneth Gbandi of Heritage International Business Concept GmbH, whom Omenka had contacted, to make hotel arrangement. Dusseldorf is no different from other German cities, I observed that it has a large number of young people. Boys and girls roam the streets freely in the city. Often, you see couples, including same sex, kissing openly. Where their counterparts in Lagos might be more discreet in publicly displaying affection, these German youths do not give a damn. They are more brazen and daring. I observed that Dusseldorf residents like bicycles. However, there are cars and trains. What Nigerians may call exotic cars are used as commercial cabs in Dusseldorf. Traffic laws are obeyed to the last. Defaulters are immediately penalized. For boarding a train without tickets, for instance, a defaulter would pays as much as 2, 400 Euros. The ticket costs only three Euros. I observed the good road in Germany. Indeed, from Dusseldorf to Dortmund and Hannover, the roads are smooth. The country is a cashless place. You can stay for days without seeing anybody paying for something with cash. The medium of exchange is mostly credit cards. Also, transactions are done mostly through the Internet. The Berlin experience Berlin, the capital city of Germany, is very much the same with other cities in the country, in terms of weather and style of buildings. However, the city has some unique characteristics. It is the seat of government. It is also the cultural capital of Germany. Going to Berlin, from Dusseldorf, was not quite eventful. A Turk, who drove us from the hotel where we lodged to the train station, told us we would be departing at 6.30am. We thought he was joking, until he arrived as scheduled. By then, we were not ready. We finally left the hotel at 7.30am for the train station. I observed that there are more Turks in Germany than other immigrants. Next are the Afghans. From Africa, Ghanaians are more, followed by Nigerians. Home food abroad Savouring pounded yam and egusi in Germany was what we least expected in Germany. London is famous for its amala joints and suya stands, most of them owned by Yoruba proprietors. However, there are indigenous recipes in the heart of Germany. For us, it was a welcome relief. Until we found Nigerian food, we had practically lived on pastries, bread and spaghetti. We also resorted to Arab recipes, like kebab. All that got us hungrier for indigenous meals. It was in Berlin we got our chance to eat Nigerian meals, thanks to Nigeria Hous, a restaurant run by Mama Joy. The restaurant serves Nigerian and Afro/Caribbean dishes. In this restaurant, you can watch local (Nigerian) stations, such as Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), African Independent Television (AIT) and other African channels, like Ben TV, South African TV, OBE TV and others. Interetingly, the operator has lived in Berlin for 22 years. Another Nigeran eatery, Wazobia, is also owned and run by Mama Joy. The two restarurants are patronised by visiting Nigerians and Nigerians in Diaspora. A Nigerian told Saturday Sun: “This is where I come to catch up with my African roots.” Straight talk from Nigeria’s envoy It is interesting that Nigeria’s Charge d’ Affairs, Mr. Ayodele Ayodeji, interracts with Nigerians visiting Germany. He uses the opportunity to advise them to be of good bahaviour. The envoy had told our team: “As soon as you land in the country, you are being watched. Do not do anything against the laws of the land. Try as much as possible to present the image of the country in positive light throughout your stay here.” Harassed by a junkie You can’t come to Berlin without visiting clubs. Notable for such music genre, like rock, German clubs are popular. Our experience in one of the night clubs, called Sage on Heinrich-Heine StraBe, is remarkable. Through Omenka Uzoma Day, who knows the terrain, we entered free while others were on queue. Inside the club are different large rooms. We were just five blacks out of all the crowd therein. A rock band that was singing, “All my friends are dead,” was on stage while fun lovers were busy drinking and dancing. When we got tired of dancing, we sat down to catch our breath. There were different platforms, like bed and pillows made of leather, at different areas, including a swimming pool side. I was on my own when one girl, without hair on her head and dressed in black attire, suddenly sat beside me. She wispered something in German to my ear. When I did not respond, she said: “ English?” adding: “I was asking if you have weed for sale.” I told her I was not into such business and she again said: “If you see anyone selling weed, tell me.” She walked away. One hour later, she came back and folded herself in one corner of the bed shivering. I went to meet her and asked if she was alright. She said she was and later staggered outside. I never saw her again. As I closed my eyes to catch some sleep, one guy, who I suspect was gay or drunk or both, just dragged me off my temporary bed unto the dance floor. I politely gestured that I was not interested in dancing, but he held me tight and kept dragging me along. He was saying something in German, which I did not understand. I managed to free myself and went back to where I lay. Again, as I was dozing off, Wadada tapped me and pointed to something. Just close to us were two lovers having sex, without a care in the world. The journalism intinct told me to take a photograph of them, but sensing that this could put me in trouble, I decided otherwise. After the act, they stood up and left as if nothing happened. The big event in Hamburg We had a swell time in Hamburg, wgich was our next port of call. Here Nigerians celebrated the country’s 50th independence anniversary in style. It could be said that this German city is home to many Nigerians, just as Berlin. We were picked up at the bus station by Twelve Stones. As he drove us to his house, in the heart of Hamburg, one could observe the wide streets, wider than Berlin’s. Twelve Stones’ beautiful wife served us hot rice and some drinks. I discovered German beer is light. A drunk in Nigeria can consume a crate of beer withpout staggering on his way out. Afterward, we watched a popular programme on television, entitled, Das Super Talent, where people with exceptional talents were showcased and rewarded. We also watched Vitali Klitscchko, as he pummeled America’s Shannon Briggs at the 12th round, at the O2Arena, in Hamburg. We thereafter, proceeded to the venue of the Nigerian independence anniversary celebration and had a good time. Of all the musicians who performed, King Wadada and Acho justified their being KORA awardees. It was fun, as Nigerians in Hamburg converged to celebrate their nation. People from different tribes in Nigeria came together as one indivisible entity to celebrate, in an event which had Nigerian ambassador, Miss Nigeria in Germany, and many other important dignitaries in attendance. Popular compositions by Nigerian musician, like Willy Onyeabor, Evangelist Sunny Obey, Danny Orji of the Peacock fame, D’banj, P-Square and Austino Milano, among others, were played. Hamburg-based musician, Black I, moved the crowd with his latest hit, Kolo, just as Ade, a seasoned musician and photographer as well as Tommy James did not disappoint. Twelve Stone told us that Germany rewards hard work. “If you come here and work hard, you would rise and get what you want, but if your intention is to go the fast lane, you would suddenly find yourself where you never thought you would get. Remember, you are being watched constantly,” he lectured us. On a Sunday morning, at the lobby of the hotel we stayed, a young teenager was busy browsing on her laptop. Omenka, curious apprached her, having seen a big book, which looked like the Bible, with her. He asked the girls if she was going to church. She looked at him and said: “This is my diary” and continued what she was doing. We went attended an evening church service. Nigerians present were not up to 100. The guest speaker, a Nigerian thrilled the congregation with his sugar-coated tongue, like an average Pentecostal preacher in Nigeria. Of course, there was time for donation – in Euros mind you. Hamburg, being the biggest port city in Germany, is busness district. Close to the port, there are Hafun city and Alster. Our stay would hardly have been complete without coming across the ubiquitous skinheads of Hamburg. Also called Neo-Nazis or lazyheads, they’re mostly angry youths whose major grouse is that foreigners take their jobs. They are always attacking foreigners, mostly blacks and non-Europeans. Just as the Klu Klux Klan members wore hoods, skinheads wear black and shave their heads completely. The highpoints of Germany German citizens enjoy efficient social system that caters for jobless people. Education is almost free. House rent is paid for by the government and jobs are provided. If one owns a dog, the animal gets paid. Also, if you have a baby, he or she gets paid.