THE CRITIC’S AUDIENCE

'Baby watsup?'

I had barely opened my fb page when it popped up. I fumed and spoke to my laptop screen.

“What is wrong with people? What am I even doing with over a thousand friends on facebook?”15percent of whom I don’t even personally know (yes, I am guilty of that).

Tired of the annoying posts and chats, I decided to go on an ‘unfriending’ spree and as I clicked to open my friends list, I had a thought.

Picture this:

       A dancer. Her gait beautiful in motion. Hips like the perfect curve of a master craftsman’s pottery. Her waist thin and flexible like the tail of a boneless fish.

The stage is her territory; Extensive and undisturbed. Under a single spotlight with her music in her head, she moves with the boldness of a lion, the stealth of a snake, the elegance and pride of a peacock.

The beginnings of a sweat mixed with the concentrated frown on her brow tells the story of focus. The ease in her carriage speaks of experience and mastery.

She knows her art. She is her art.

Slowly, the dance comes to an end. Spent and breathless, she bows. But in the place of an applause is silence.

Here’s my thought; such a dramatic waste! For all the talent and beauty put into the performance, the dancer was unaware of the absence of her audience till the very end; and such is the life most of us live until the day we pause to take a reality test (usually a little late).

I have had the privilege in my life to meet and work with so many talented persons. Men and women who are skilled in their art and will give anything to deliver to perfection. Question is: to whom do you deliver?

It is so easy when deciding our ‘peeps’ to say things like;

A is so razz and disrespectful.

B is so slutty.

C has got no class.

D’s English embarrasses me.

E is too ungodly and indecent.

F stabbed me in the back and gossips too much.

G is fat and inelegant…….bla bla

If we on the basis of what we currently see and where we are decide to do away with every ‘less than suitable’ person, who then will appreciate our suitability?

If as the light of the world all that surrounds you are equally light, how do you expect to shine in the absence of darkness?

If you do not understand my point, understand this one thing; we live in a world where everyone is needed. Good, bad and ugly, we rely on each other for identity. Some are made for the stage, others are best at applauding and encouraging but it doesn’t make one better than the other. Tell the performer to rush off the stage after a performance to applaud himself and you’ll know what I mean.

PS: I deleted that particular ‘friend’ of mine anyway. I’m not his baby. I’m not a hypocrite either. I’m just an advocate of balance and moderation.

Bukola Odu.