Have you ever taken time to ask why some commercial drivers inscribe all sorts of slogans on their vehicles?? Ayodele, Abimbola in this piece, expounds the deeper message such inscriptions carry.
The culture of inscribing words on commercial vehicles and tricycles (popularly called keke napep) has over the years grown deeper into the hearts of many commercial drivers and riders in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
It is rare to see commercial buses, tricycles or taxi cabs without one inscription or the other. Some of the inscriptions read: e go beta, no condition is permanent, man must chop and many more.
These inscriptions create a form of amusement for commuters and passers-by who may see them as a form of escapism from the stress of life.
Aside being used for decoration, they express deeper messages and pass information depicting one event or the other. Some of the drivers expatiate on the meaning of some imprints on the body of their vehicles.
Mr. Michael Okpovure, a commercial bus driver who plies Lugbe route explains the message behind “mind your own” which was engraved on the body of his bus. According to him, “I use it to preach against backbiting. There are people who take pleasure in peddling all rumours about others rather than facing their own problem.”
According to Mr Francis Aderioye, who has an inscription written in Yoruba language, he explains that, “eni kan o la’ye” implies a situation whereby a rich and influential person who believes no one can ever beat or overtake his status is eventually beaten.
He gave an insight into the “stop sebe” which enjoys a large section of the rear window of his bus. He explained that it was meant to caution whoever is treading on a disastrous path.
Another commercial man who has been caught by the ‘fever’ is Mr. Bala Yaro, a taxi driver who etched “Alheri yafi mugunta” on the rear window of his taxi. He explained that the words implied, “Better things outrun the bad”
Mr. Ayo Olaonipekun who imprinted “Kukere” a popular song by Iyanya on the body of his bus, said that he decided to inscribe “Kukere” because the song is making waves across major cities in the country. Also, he wants to show that he is current with major happenings across the country.
Mr. Kabiru Ali, who had “falaki da nasi” displayed on the windscreen of his tricycle, said he did it to inform passengers that he knows every route in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) well. Mr .Yunusa Muhammed had “yaro dan bai wa 3” well etched on his bike. According to him, the inscription connotes a child who earns a living from the transport business he does. Hembelembeh Hembelembeh imprint on Mr. Bayo Ben’s taxi ‘is to show that I belong to the hembelembeh family’ Ben said; while Mr. Abeeb Idris’s? Matashi imprint on his bike is to tell whoever cares to know that he is a young man.
No matter how beautiful, hilarious or catchy an inscription might appear, there is always a message behind it and one can never be sure if he or she is the person the message is meant for.