Road from Ikenne to Lagos

Leaving Ikenne after four days and heading back to Lagos.

Sunset then full moon over Ikenne

Almost full moon over Ikenne, Nigeria - and sun set

What Message Now?

In December of 1999, I purchased a new Isuzu box truck for my business buying and selling old thingz, almost a year and 9 months before 9/11.

When 9/11 happened, I quickly painted on the back of my truck “Thou Shalt Not Kill” in big letters and underneath in smaller letters: "unless securing 60% of the world's resources for 4% of the world's people" and hurried around the country to engage with primarily womyn about the threatened war looming in our near futures.

I returned to California a few days before congress was giving Bush the right to go to war and my courageous congresswomon Barbara Lee, was the ONLY one out of over 400 congresspeople to stand up and vote NO.

Protesting this horrific vote on the steps of the SF Federal Building, I learned about CodePINK: Womyn For Peace. Realizing I had two more 14’ billboards on either side of my truck, I repainted one side of my truck “CodePINK: Womyn For Peace” and the other side “Proud To Be Another American Womon For Peace” and set off across the country again.

The sides have now morphed into other missives: one side an anti-monsanto/womyn growing peace mural given to me by an awesome local Berkeley artist Phoebe Ackley; the other side “End Violence Against Womyn And Children: #SayHerName and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Womyn and Girls”.

Since 9/11, I’ve put about 498,000 miles on my truck – mostly protest action miles – and I’ve repainted the back often, depending on what’s happening in the country.

I’m ready to get back on the road but I need help deciding what message I should paint across the back this time. A message that will bring inspiration and support to those of us who are devastated by the racism and sexism overtly embraced by the majority of white amerikkkans, to keep our fight alive and vibrant while we work to protect those most impacted by those put in power.

Here are some versions of the back of my truck- not in date order:

Abuja Here We Come!

Last night, we flew from Lagos, by way of Ikenne, to Abuja, the ‘new’ capitol of Nigeria. It is not only very obvious from the roads, buildings, services available that we are not only in a ‘new’ part of Nigeria but it feels like we are in a totally different country – a country that appears to have more resources and more resources spread around.

Or maybe it is just the neighborhoods we are being exposed to.

Today we went to a huge and beautiful vegetable & fruit market. I’m on the fruitless search for mangos, not wanting to believe it is not mango season yet: and yet another reminder of how privileged we are in the u.s. as every season is mango season.

Emmanuel has headed my request for local food and takes us to a wonderful restaurant with delicious, healthy food from various parts and peoples of Nigeria. Each item on the menu identifies what part and people of Nigeria the dish comes from as well as how it is prepared. By far the best food we’ve had – except for the Jollof rice we had from the street vendor in Saguma (the large city about 6 miles before reaching Ikenne)

I can't wait to experience more good, delicious Nigerian food!

Abuja is now the capital of Nigeria. Although the process of relocating the capital from Lagos started in the middle 70's, the transition wasn't completed until 1991, when Abuja became the official capital.

The buildings here are among the most unique and as beautiful as a building can get. I will try to post some pics tomorrow.

Our dear family, friend and generous host Emmanuel is driving us around to see some of his favorite neighborhoods in Abuja, which is a huge city. There are over 4 million people in this city spread out over miles and miles of land – 2,824 square miles to be exact – whereas Jacksonville Florida, the u.s. city with the largest acreage of 840 square miles.

Although the internet/wifi is readily available, it is slower than molasses running uphill in January and again is another reminder of how privileged we are in the u.s.