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Marlians: An emerging clan of millennials

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No doubt, what occupied the minds of the youths nowadays is far more than development in Science and Technology but to grow in anti-social activities and violence. These days, listening to music is almost on everybody’s favourite list because it is somewhat a sort of remedy, a lift for the soul up, and a soothe the mind.

However, studies have revealed that music may potentially have the most negative effect on teens as a result of explicit lyrics, messages of these genres, accompanied by videos or graphics containing destructive themes. Presently, there is an emerging clan of Millennials in Nigeria popularly known as Marlians. The question from a sane mind is who are the Marlians?

Marlians are the fanatic followers and fans of a Nigerian singer and songwriter, Afeez Fashola professionally known as ‘Naira Marley’. Naira Marley is presently enjoying a huge fan base more than any other artist in Nigeria. Almost on a regular basis, he releases musical hits which evoke memories, images, emotions and feelings into the conscious minds of the millenials.

The youths are now influenced by his music and music videos. It was concluded that the majority of the youths, including teenagers, have a strong affection for his style of dressing, characteristics, speaking of Naira Marley. They have cultivated more habit of watching and listening to his music than any sensible musician in order to improve and master all his ways.

Either consciously or unconsciously, many young boys and men, even girls (ladies) now, publicly identify and associate with the Marlians. This tribe – ‘Marlians’ are spreading not like wildfire but like the deadly COVID-19 pandemic. Interestingly, many prominent Pastors and Imams children, top politicians children and children of top civil servants, among others, are the followers of Naira Marley!

Investigations also unearthed that the Marlians, just like any other group, exhibit some predominant characteristics. The female Marlians don’t wear a bra, while the Male among them wear trouser to half of their buttocks and adhered strictly to ‘Zero belt’, that’s why they are called ‘No-belt gang.’

Naira Marley gave this rule in the lyrics of his song titled PUTA. He specifically mentioned that folks should believe in and follow the practices of “Zero belts, thousand trousers”.

Marlians consume drugs and alcohol excessively. Almost all his videos encouraged alcohol and India hemp, among other drugs. Naira Marley called himself ‘Igbolabi’ meaning he was born to smoke weed. Unfortunately, these young boys and girls, who pride him as their role model, also consume alcohol and drugs to express their loyalty to the Marlians group.

Since Naira Marley wears long dreads, most of his followers also keep dreads.

The group labelled itself Zero Manners which was established in the lyrics of PUTA, where Naira Marley reiterated that ‘Marlians don’t have manners’. The interpretation of this is that they are meant to defy all manners taught initially and disobey constituted authorities.

Continuing, they have little regard or fear for anything or anyone as reechoed by their Idol, Naira Marley when ‘he forty’ as ‘O fo ti’; meaning that folks should not be afraid of anything whatsoever.

In a related development, the singer promotes get rich quick philosophy by glorifying internet fraud known as ‘Yahoo-Yahoo’. Most of his songs encouraged internet fraud. He believed money made from fraud should be spent on alcohol, drugs, and sex.

Another important rule of Marlians is, “Marlians don’t graduate, they drop-out”. This rule sounds controversial because Naira Marley who said “Big Booty Is Better Than Having A Masters Degree”, graduated with a distinction in business from Peckham Academy and also went ahead to study Business Law at Crossways College.

It is no gainsaying to submit that the influence of Naira Marley through his music and lifestyle in the world among Nigerian youths have become rooted in his behavioural pattern of its audience. The concern now is that his music has affected youths in the way of dressing, speaking and behaviour. He is now the major determinant of their ways of life. He has successfully contributed to a fall’ in the moral standard of our society.

Parents are advised to watch over their wards and children, and also understand the characteristics so that they can proactively learn to engage them in meaningful ventures.

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Eight Stabbed, Hundreds Arrested at Notting Hill Carnival

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Police officers make an arrest at the Notting Hill Carnival in west London on August 26, 2024. (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS / AFP)

 

The Metropolitan Police have confirmed that eight people were stabbed and hundreds were arrested during last weekend’s Notting Hill Carnival, one of the world’s largest street festivals, held annually in west London.

In an update on their policing operation late Monday, the Met reported that five people were stabbed on the final day of the three-day celebration, which is internationally renowned for its vibrant display of British Afro-Caribbean culture.

This followed three other stabbings on Sunday. Three of the victims were left in life-threatening conditions.

Police made at least 230 arrests on Monday alone, including 49 for possession of an offensive weapon.

These arrests added to the scores of others made earlier in the weekend. In addition to the arrests, three firearms were seized, and 35 officers sustained injuries during the event, which attracts around a million attendees every August bank holiday weekend.

The number of arrests and incidents this year closely mirrors last year’s figures when there were 10 stabbings and approximately 300 arrests.

Despite the heavy police presence, with around 7,000 officers deployed, the carnival was once again marred by violence, particularly knife crime. Nevertheless, the vast majority of the hundreds of thousands of revellers enjoyed the event without incident, filling the streets of Notting Hill with colour, music, and dancing.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Ade Adelekan expressed his frustration over the recurring violence, noting that a woman attending the carnival with her child was among those stabbed.

“We only very narrowly avoided a fatality,” he said, urging attendees to report any crimes they witness.

The Notting Hill Carnival, a celebration of British Afro-Caribbean culture, has its roots in the 1950s, following the post-World War II influx of immigrants from former British colonies.

The annual event is known for its feathered dancers, steel bands, and earth-shaking sound systems, symbolizing the rich cultural heritage of the Afro-Caribbean community in the UK.

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Portable Granted Bail After Night in Police Cell Over ₦14m Debt

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Habeeb Okikiola popularly known as Portable. Photo: @portablebaeby/Instagram

 

The Lagos State Police Command has freed renowned street artist, Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, following a night spent in police detention.

Portable was apprehended on Tuesday in Lagos’ Abule Egba vicinity for purportedly defaulting on the balance payment for a G-Wagon vehicle he had purchased from an auto dealer.

Reports suggest that although the ‘Zazoo Zeh’ maestro acquired the vehicle valued at ₦27 million, he only disbursed ₦13 million, leaving a ₦14 million outstanding balance.

In footage that went viral, Portable was observed scaling a gate as law enforcement officers approached him with an arrest warrant.

Subsequently, another video emerged depicting him being restrained, handcuffed, and conveyed by approximately four policemen into a waiting vehicle.

During the altercation, a female voice, purportedly that of the car dealer, was heard in the background, issuing profanities and recounting Portable’s alleged threats when confronted about settling the debt.

The Police spokesperson in the state, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed that Portable was released on bail on Wednesday after spending Tuesday night in police custody.

He further disclosed that both Portable and the car dealer are expected to reconvene at a later date.

“He (Portable) has been released; he was granted bail on Wednesday to come back with the complainant later,” Hundeyin stated, stressing that “the outcome of that meeting will determine our next line of action.”

This incident marks not the first encounter between the singer and law enforcement.

In April 2023, Portable was detained by the police in Ogun State and arraigned on five charges related to alleged assault and theft at the Ifo Magistrate Court, in the Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State.

Subsequently, he was held at the Ilaro Correctional Centre before being released upon meeting bail conditions.

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Autopsy Results Fail to Determine Cause of Mohbad’s Death

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In a recent inquiry into the untimely demise of Nigerian musician, Ilerioluwa Aloba, better known as Mohbad, held at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Prof. Sunday Osiyemi, a Forensic Scientist and Pathologist, revealed that the results of the autopsy conducted on the deceased failed to unveil the cause of death.

Speaking before Magistrate Adedayo Shotobi, who presided over the coroner’s inquiry, Prof. Osiyemi cited various factors contributing to the inconclusive findings, notably the significant decomposition of the body due to the extended delay of 21 days before the autopsy was performed.

Highlighting the urgency of the situation, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Wahab Shittu, representing Mohbad’s family, emphasised that according to the pathologist, the body should have been exhumed within 12 hours post-burial to prevent decomposition, a critical factor in determining the cause of death.

Shittu further elucidated that the pathologist referenced the administration of certain drugs to Mohbad before his demise, suggesting a potential correlation between the drugs and the difficulties encountered in pinpointing the cause of death.

“He also went further to say that it may be attributed to reactions to certain drugs administered on him before he died. Again he then qualified that to say he does not know whether it is those drugs that actually led to his death,” Shittu stated.

With the cause of death remaining elusive, the coroner adjourned the proceedings to June 11th for further examination and cross-examination of the pathologist’s findings, signaling a continuation in the quest for answers surrounding Mohbad’s untimely passing.

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