Dr Freaks Journal - Change

"Moving doesn't change who you are. It only changes the view outside your window" -Rachel Hollis

My earliest memory of the word "change?" If you belong to my generation, words like 'Grundig,' 'Sanyo,' 'KDK,' 'JVC,' 'Singer,' etc should 'tickle your fancy!'


"Baba Agric" (my father) of blessed memory had this "two-in-one" Grundig radiogram. "Radiogram" I later came to learn was a portmanteau word. A blend of radio and gramophone. Our (I dare use the pronoun "our" now because Baba Agric has gone to be with the Lord) radiogram came in a shiny formica box that rested on four tiny but rugged legs.

 By virtue of my position in the family (do I need to repeat that I am the last born of the house?) I was the "unofficial DJ" of the house. Baba Agric had a rich record library at the time. The said library stocked almost every song the likes of Sunny Ade, Ebenezer Obey, Dele Abiodun, Emperor Pick Peter, Dele Ojo and a few other selected Yoruba artistes ever waxed in their lifetime. 

I think we had one or two countryside music records though and most importantly, Fela Anikulapo Kuti (Koola Lobito) records made the list.


I was always "on call" and I never failed to entertain Baba Agric in his little spare time (and few good moods) even at short notice. That was how we carried on until "change" came. After all, the only constant thing in life is change. It was time to separate the gramophone from the radio. I forgot to add that the radiogram had no antenna. Please note that that "thing" called antenna is the meat of this write-up.


Radiogram gave way to two distinct units, to wit, the turntables that came with layers of cassette players, radios and record players on the one hand; and the cassette players which came with radios on the other hand. Baba Agric (a poor civil servant) after months of savings was able to buy a JVC cassette player. Black, with chrome-linings. It was beautifully designed and we were all excited about the latest acquisition. 

However, the joy was short-lived! 

Olakunle, in his usual jumpy element had gone to explore the latest technology after school hours but he was not lucky this time around as he inadvertently broke the antenna! Just close your eyes and imagine the greatest caning/flogging that you ever received in your school days (mind you, this is not applicable to the new millennium children. I would gladly exempt them) and you know what? That was what awaited me!

 I could have denied if there was no witness, but hey, there were witnesses! Everyone, but Baba Agric himself had direct evidence against me! Mum quickly came up with a plausible solution. May the good Lord rest her amiable soul. 

She assembled the finest defence legal team on my behalf comprising dad's cousin who lived next door and dad's in-law. They swung into action. They assembled in our living room and appealed to Baba Agric to "spare the rod" at least on this singular occasion. Guess what, I was in luck! He spared the rod! That isolated case won't spoil the child after all.

That was how I escaped the rod for the first and only time during the lifetime of Baba Agric.


Back to my topic -change. 

Few years back, politicians promised us "change" and bandied the change mantra within and around the length and breadth of the territory of the Federation and even beyond. It is almost six (6) years now and if you ask some of us to recount our tale of the so much touted change, it may not be so different from that of my transition from radiogram to cassette player that came with trouble.

We now live in perpetual fear in our own land. I was even lucky in my time, I had a mother who was willing to defend and intervene on my behalf. Today, we are at the mercy of our Maker. Our various governments have abdicated their exalted thrones.


May Nigeria succeed!

Stay safe...

Its Kunle!