Nigerians are well-informed people, information is at the tip of their fingers and one of the media of getting informed is the newsstand. The Nigerian newspaper stand can be described as a social place where matters (sport, politics, education, entertainment etc.) are been discussed by men. Daily tabloids (newspapers), magazines and other books are being displayed in the newsstand. You’ll see this newsstand in major junctions in Nigeria where newspapers are arranged and displayed for sale. Most times, the tabloids are placed on the ground for people to buy their copy. Different kinds of people then throng this arena. The different types of Nigerians you will meet here are seen below:
As a broadcaster anchors a program, so the anchorman starts the argument in a newsstand. At times, the anchorman could be the vendor or one of the visitors who brings up a trending issue (politics, sports, entertainment, etc.). The topic may also be from one of the tabloids. This forms the basis of the argument. Most times, it is only the topic he has to say and the other men take up the matter as he gathers information.
These are the set of people who makes the newsstand exciting. They take up the issue raised by the said anchor man and dissect it at the top of their voices. They want people to see their opinion and they find many ways to drive home their points. The debaters are the ones who will make passersby know the reason for the gathering of men. As the issue raised gets hotter, the debaters take it personally as they sweat it out exchanging words.
As the argument goes on, the window-shoppers are those who have come to read the headlines for the day. While in their standing posture, they scan through all the news. They even peep or ask a buyer to let them flip through the newspaper. While the debaters exchange words, the window-shoppers pick up one or two information. Some stay a little longer while others leave the newsstand after achieving their aim.
There is always a man at the newsstand who would talk and get others to listen. They may not look learned, but their words make them seem so. They are the historians and analyst who seems to know everything that happened even at the seat of government before it was created. They back up their points with facts as if they were the source. They relate the day’s issue with the last time such occurred. The learned do not talk every time, but once they do, it’s as if they were at the scene of events. They’ll make you question how they are not working at the Aso Villa.
These are the guys who just show up at the newsstand and buy the newspaper. Some are been held down by the readers who throng the newsstand. They say ‘’please, let me quickly flip through the details of the headline’’. The real buyers also include the big men who parked their car and have to be given their favorite tabloid by the rushing vendor.
You just have to visit a newsstand nearest to you to see this group of men.