What Is It With The Etighi Dance?

Kate Henshaw doing the Etighi

For one moment laughter filled my heart and I could not but laugh my heart out. I was thrilled by the story my hubby just told me when he returned from his journey in this crazy city called Lagos. Was is it really funny or perhaps the wry wit?

We would sit every evening after dinner and share our experiences of the day. Some unforgettable, some annoying while others are boring or simply too good to be true. But on this particular day, I could not help but erupt in laughter as he thrilled me with the amusing sights of Lagos. It was funny but at the same time disheartening because it gave a picture of what idleness have turned the youths into- Etighi Dancers.


He journeyed that morning amidst the hustle and bustle of Lagos. He worked his way quickly halfway through his destination. He met a little traffic and turned towards the side of the road to keep abreast with the sights and sounds around him. And then he was transfixed at one spot. Two young able-bodied men and two young children about ages 4 and 5 sat by the fence of their building that morning watching passers-by. Obviously the men had nowhere to go from their appearance; they were simply enjoying the sights and sounds of the ever busy roads of Lagos. 

He watched in amazement as these men suddenly stood up and began to give their non-paying audience a true show of the etighi dance step. One faced the other and with each step battled each other in a fierce monday morning dancing competition- Etighi for Etighi.  The children clapped their hands and cheered them on. No one knew the winner as my hubby had moved on with the free flow of traffic.

I laughed so much because a few days earlier, we drove past a barber's shop undeterred by the lack of customers. We watched as he battled with himself in front of the mirror, etighi for etighi. Na wa for Lagos o- Nothing wey you no go see. You needed to see the serious expression on this barber’s face as he moved his body to the melody in his head. Abi if I know see customer, I no go dull myself. As light no dey to play music, I go dance anyhow.

So, what is it with the etighi dance step? Is it a stress reliever or a jolly jolly dance move? Perhaps it has a way of calming your nerves from the craziness and hustle of this society. You can see how our government has made etighi dancers out of the youth, many of whom are unemployed, some struggling to make ends meet with poor infrastructure and lack of power.

A sad reminder that many wake up each day with nothing to do. They have become spontaneous in creating ways to make themselves happy. Make me sef do the Etighi jor. Or what do you think?

Ufuoma Fijabi
@9jaFlave