Checked with the Ghanian ... he has no clue about the armband thing.

I just ripped that movie to my laptop for when I need a pick me up. Damn funny.

I was reminded of this thread today when I read this:

http://allafrica.com/stories/200406170377.html

Dead link.:(

Okeedokee. well, this is the gist of it:

Yoinked from Allafrica.com,


Hyena, Monkey Robbery Gang Arrested

This Day (Lagos)

June 17, 2004
Posted to the web June 17, 2004

Jare Ilelaboye
Katsina

Four armed gang who used a hyena and a monkey to rob their victims in Katsina State have been arrested by the police after a gun duel in Bichi, headquarters of Bichi Local Government of Kano State.

According to a statement made available to newsmen in Katsina, the robbers who were seven in number went to Kankia market in Kankia Local Government of Katsina State to display with the animals while they robbed their victims of N66,000 during their operation.


Shortly after their operation, the statement added, the robbers took to their heels and they were chased by the police down to Bichi in Kano State where they engaged the police in a gun battle which led to the death of two of the robbers.

During the battle with the police, the gang let off the hyena and monkey to fight with the police during which the animals bit one of the policemen who is now lying critically ill at the Katsina General Hospital.

Two of the robbers were killed while four of them arrested on the spot.





The police had however killed the two animals during the fight in Bichi.

Meanwhile, two robbers have been arrested by the police in Funtua for allegedly burgling the home of the former Minister for Special Duties during the Abacha administration in the country Alhaji Wada Nas.

Thanks Mike.:thumb:

DEAR SIRS

BY GOOD FORTUNE I FOUND YOUR WEBSITE. I AM DOCTOR BUFASTIA KELLINDIKOME FORMER MINISTER OF PETS IN THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT. I RECENTLY FOUND A FORGOTTEN PET STORE HERE IN NIGERIA WITH SIXTEEN MILLION (16,000,000) HYENAS AND BABOONS. IF I CAN FIND BY GOD'S HELP AN ASSISTANT TO HELP ME MOVE THESE PETS OUT OF NIGERIA I WILL SHARE THE HYENAS AND BABOONS WITH WHOEVER HELPS ME. I WILL KEEP 65% OF THEM, YOU WILL GET 30% AND 5% WILL GO FOR ANY ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS WE MAY INCUR.

IF YOU CAN HELP PLEASE LET ME KNOW. PLEASE INCLUDE RETURN CONTACT AND BANK ACCOUNT INFORMATON TO ASSIST IN THIS DELICATE TRANSACTION. LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU SOON.

In all seriousness, though: just what they need in a country with not-terrifically-great health care are pets that can shred you, or literally rip your arm out and beat you to death with it. Lagos, the capital of Nigeria, is noted for being the largest city in the world with no sewer system - 7 million folks the last time I checked. Good luck keeping those wounds clean!

If u wanna see a man who is great at makin fun... try true google or something and look for Azhar Usman....

NAME: AZHAR USMAN
AGE/DOB: 27 Y/O - DECEMBER 23, 1975
HEIGHT: 5' 14"
WEIGHT: SLIGHTLY OVER
EYES/HAIR COLOR: BROWN/BLACK
HOME TOWN: SKOKIE, ILLINOIS
CURRENT TOWN/NEIGHBORHOOD: MORTON GROVE, ILLINOIS
DAY JOB: BLOODSUCKER ... UH, I MEAN, ATTORNEY
HOBBIES: SLEEPING, EATING, NAPPING, AND SNACKING
"I consider myself a very patriotic American Muslim, which I means I would die for this country ... by blowing myself up ... inside a Dunkin Donuts."

:thumb:

Those armbands are a religious thing, a sort of charm, typically they're intended to protect the wearer from something particular. Different ones have different purposes, so you'd have to ask those guys to know what they're for. Maybe they're supposed to protect them from the animals! They can be seen across West Africa, they're not a "tribal" thing as they're not related to a particular tribe. These days in Muslim areas they typically contain verses from the Koran written on a little piece of paper, folded up small and tucked into the puch. That's a repackaging of an older, pre-Islamic tradition where they use other things (I don't know what). Nigeria does not have a Muslim majority, although the north is mostly Muslim, so it's hard to even guess what's in these without more information. Also, unlike most (any?) of you, I actually have been to Africa.

ive never been in Africa, but it is indeed a symbol, but it is one of different things.....some clans use it more as a sign not to mess with them, some have them for more religious reasons, but there s a lot a contradiction around it...
The "modern" africans say they dont believe in the power of sign anymore ...the more traditional keepin the faith...its like everywhere in the world...I work with a lot of refugees from several different african country's and the story's i hear sometimes...

Welcome to the Cellar, latjoor. :)
Why? Business, travel, family?

I, too, have been to Africa. Djibouti. SA. I was not impressed.

My mother's been to Ghana, Africa, does that count?