Opinion article by Duke of Shomolu, Joseph Edgar
Yesterday, I went to change my earrings. I suddenly woke up and it was lost. I was in despair because l know getting an appointment with Jibade would be very herculean.
He is a massively talented tattoo artist with an institutionalised practice.
I love tattoos and as at the last count, I have about 6 all over my body. The last one I had was in the UK and the way I got it was very smooth and painless.
It was a big breasted white girl who did it for me and with her breast on my head? Even if there was pain, it was ok. So she gave me my biggest tattoo- a cross.
The other ones were done by Yoruba people and they nearly killed me. One even gave me gentamicin to fight any infection from the bleeding. I nearly died from pain. I say what kind wahala be this.
So for years? I suspend that part of my life. Then i met somebody and was inspired. The way she mothered me and lived her life? I say make i do tattoo again.
I can be crazy like that. Just seeing someone talk to me and I was inspired to get a tattoo. But I didn’t want the Shomolu or Allen avenue artists who will come with funny instruments and smell like cow dung.
So I asked my staff and four other people to get me a clean tattoo artists and all recommended Jibade.
We reached out and he said N50k. I said aghhhh. For one tattoo? And he said, ‘ sorry sir, go somewhere else.
The arrogance nearly killed me. I called back and we spoke and i got the appointment and I went.
Now Jibade’s practice is well set up. The instruments are brand new and he works like a surgeon. Its no wonder he is so busy with clients.
He starts by explaining to you what he wants to do and how he will do it. He covers his face like a surgeon and has the overhead light they wear on their head so he can see well.
He wears his gloves and has all of the surgical equipments you will normally see in a hospital theatre. Lets just say that he has more equipments than a Government hospital theatre.
He is meticulous and above all very neat. You are on appointment and you cannot come before your appointment so you don’t distract him or his clients.
I loved the service. His demeanour and didn’t mind the arrogance because I could see that he knew what he was doing.
So over the weekend, I lost my earrings and I knew I was in trouble. I chatted him and he said, he didn’t know if he would be available.
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He don start, I said in my mind. I say bro no vex na just to replace the earing and he says, I’ll get back to you on my availability and I humbly say yes sir.
You see, getting a tattoo or a piercing is a very sensitive thing and if you are not careful you will be fighting with keloids on the lower spectrum and HIV on the higher one.
So rather than go anywherelse, I go wait for arrogant Jibade. Finally, I reached out and said bro na only 2 minutes o and he said come
Now you get a code to enter the street and the code changes regularly. So before you enter Lagos traffic and reach there the code fit don change
Anyways I got there and the mallam said I cant enter. I had to call and Jibade had to give the ok.
Now you will wonder why. Last time i went there. He took permission from his client for me to come in. She was stark naked and he was working on her body.
So the need for privacy and sensitivity was key to the operation. Hence all the James Bond like thing.
Two very beautiful girls came out and i was ushered in. He examined my ear and put some cleansing agent. All masked up like a surgeon.
Carefully brought out a vast array of earrings and decided that we should go for the metal white.
He cleaned my ear with menthol again and placed the ear piece carefully and with surgical tools he carried out a very beautiful operation.
After it all, he gave me a pack with cotton wool and spirit and said clean very often. Now the pack had instructions.
Healing period for all kinds of tattoos and piercing and how to maintain it and keep it clean.
He said, uncle you have to go now i have clients. When i stepped out there were about three people waiting.
I did a mental calculation and came to the rough conclusion that this boy could be averaging about N500k daily and will be seeing naked babes on top.
I whistled. This was a young man who knows his onions and set up his own business and today is a millionaire – i think. just from doing what he enjoys doing.
Anyways, as I walk away i look at the very pretty ladies who had come to either pierce their nipples or tattoo their bodies and wonder if it is too late for a career change at 53.
*Duke of Shomolu*
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