Leye Adenle – Spur des Geldes (InterKontinental, 2025)
Gelesen: 30.09. – 07.10.2026 (netto 360 Seiten)
Aus dem Englischen von Yasemin Dinçer.
Im ersten Band der Trilogy stand Guy Collins im Mittelpunkt – ein britischer Journalist, der Lagos besucht und dort in gefährliche Ereignisse verwickelt wird.
In der (direkten) Fortsetzung tritt Guy nur im Hintergrund auf, diesmal geht die Geschichte voll fokussiert auf Amaka Mbadiwe weiter.
Amanka ist eine unerschütterliche, bis zur Kühnheit mutige Aktivistin und ein selbsternannter Schutzengel der Sexarbeiterinnen von Lagos. Und von Frauen insgesamt.
In der drückenden Hitze des überfüllten Oshodi-Marktes wird Amaka nicht nur Zeugin einer verstörenden Gewalttat (und verliert ein wichtiges Beweismittel an einen flinken Dieb), sondern gerät auch in einen großen politischen Skandal.
Backdrop ist eine Wahl, der Spitzenkandidat kommt bei einem Flugzeugabsturz ums Leben. Sein Nachfolger, Chief Ojo, hat jedoch einiges zu verbergen – darunter Besuche in einem exclusivem Sex Club (geführt von Amankas Nemesis Malik).
Ojo möchte seine sexuellen Vorlieben vor seinem Schwiegervater, dem manipulativen „Königsmacher“ Otunba, geheim halten. Otunba will sicherstellen, dass die politischen Rivalen nichts Kompromittierendes über den neuen Kandidaten in Erfahrung bringen.
Doch Amaka weiß Bescheid, hat respektive hatte Beweise und die Folge ist, dass alle Jagd auf sie machen, um sie zum Schweigen zu bringen.
Jede Menge politische Machenschaften, Drama, Korruption und der zynischen Geist, der offensichtlich für nigerianische Wahlen seit der Rückkehr zur Demokratie im Jahr 1999 oft charakteristisch ist. Der Gegenkandidat für das Amt des Gouverneurs von Lagos zB kommt aus den USA, zunächst versucht er ein Mann mit Prinzipien zu bleiben. Er erkennt jedoch bald, dass er sich die Hände schmutzig machen muss, wenn er eine Chance auf den Sieg haben will.
Im Grunde ein realistisches, wenn auch deprimierendes Bild des heutigen Nigeria.
Die Story wird in rasantem Tempo und aus einer Vielzahl unterschiedlicher Perspektiven weitererzählt. Schnelle Szenenwechsel befeuern wunderbar und zuverlässig das Kopfkino.
Und am Ende rettet sich Amaka in den Flieger nach London, zu Guy. Und das legt die Spannung für Band 3 hoch!
It’s autumn, it’s time for the annual Bad Job Boys boat trip on the M/S Hedi. Almost perfect weather, sunny during the day and getting a drop colder in the evening, luckily sans rain. And sure thing it was sold out in less than 24 hours after tickets became available.
The Bad Job Boys re-arranged the setup this time and did not invite guest singer for cover songs, focusing on their own hit’s and a tight Best Off set instead.
Bad Job Boys – Setlist (M/S Hedi, Hamburg, 07.10.2026) (c) gehkacken.de
The only setback was that their Bass player Piotr was off sick, luckily Arne took the challenge and gave them the needed umpf from the bass. How fitting that Stéphane was actually using his C³I (R.I.P.) drum set for this show.
Bad Job Boys (M/S Hedi, Hamburg, 07.10.2026) (c) gehkacken.de 2026
From the start they focused on their non-nonsense Punk Rock, putting hit after hit and aiming for a great show (despite non-existing lights and some sound issues) on a packed Hedi.
They still do not speed, they still have more songs with structured song writing than just bangers. And in good moments they get into Clash-end-of-the-70ties territory, which is a bonus in itself.
Bad Job Boys (M/S Hedi, Hamburg, 07.10.2026) (c) gehkacken.de 2026
Arne did a great job filling in, Stéphane hammered it (sometimes too loud) forward, Bodo was a wee bit too silent with his guitar and Frank played the entertaining master of ceremony.
And they did a terrific job in doing it again, slightly different. With those surprises, Boys, just carry on with an annual show boating trip to light up the quickly darkening days of autumn.
After the headliner came the headliner, Demolition Girls quickly took the floor of the Hedi and dove into asking the lot if they where ready for some darkness.
From there it was no holding back with sing-a-long songs that made many sing, many smile and gave the lot a pretty good time.
But whilst at, it also had a hellish moment: When they tried to sell the souls on board of the Hedi the waters went rough, the small vessel rolled from port to starboard like crazy and some prayed for survival steady feet.
Come on, so I sold my soul again Well, I can’t turn back ’cause it’s the place I put my damn self in And I will sell my soul to you Well, now what I need has long been overdue
Luckily we survived the mighty river Elbe current and safely dropped back to the mooring.
The Demolition Girl set was just near perfect, the not-so-perfect sound did not matter that much, it added to feel-good and sing-a-long atmosphere. Their choices of cover songs are excellent and they always bring the fun element!
Great trip, yet again different. And this is what makes these dates worth it, next to simply being surrounded by like minded connoisseurs.
Setting sail at 1900, back at 2100 sharp and strolling back to the subway with a net view on the harbor and the stars. For elderly like myself just perfect.
Back to the Hafenklang, where much to my surprise Kate Clover was due to play the smaller upstairs rather than a fully packed downstairs. From where i sit she should already have made it so much bigger, on the other hand maybe she thrives going through the ropes ctd.
She got nicely paired with Küken, who just played 2 days prior with The Law and another band outside Hamburg in Elmshorn, a slot i unfortunately had to miss.
Küken had to kick off early, as the whole thingy was supposed to by over by 21:30 sharp. They took a bit of grace time but then in their typical nonchalant & unpretentious manner they took the stage, smiled at each other and …
… pushed the audience with their unique wall of sound.
I honestly can not think of any other band around that offers the same. Period.
For a surprise first time attendee of a Küken show they might sound all the same but if you give it a careful listen, if you see the subtle hooks, riffs and breaks within, then you realize what a perfect niche they have created.
Those accustomed to Küken largely smiled away and slightly moved their upper bodies, those new to the proceedings stood in awe. Among them Kate and her band, i would wildly guess they have not had heard anything like that prior.
15 songs, spanning across all their output. I guess i am damn lucky to be in Hamburg, where i can see them as often as possible.
In sum simply a near perfect show, a mate noted “best ever show i saw of them” and i got to admit that i had the same feeling. They are more then ready for their upcoming two weeks tour, if you have a chance to see them – go!
And whilst at it, buy their 2026 EP. It is out now for some time and in my household was/is on heavy rotation.
I am yet to see another band that condenses a full concept album into an EP of give-and-take 6 minutes. Best Sicilian holiday for the least amount of effort and cost!
Go – see them live!
Next Kate Clover and her band, dressed for the occasion.
All though it is a repeat i have to say that i fall for every band that chooses to wear stage uniform, chooses to dress in a selective way. So here is Kate in a shiny glittery red dress with black lighting and her band in black tuxedos, red shirts, black skinny ties, red socks and shiny black shoes.
And a red neon “Kate Clover” sign on the bass drum.
Dressed to deliver a show. And convincing me to a large extend already prior to the first chord.
Kate Clover (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 05.10.2026) (c) gehkacken.de 2026
Once that first chord came that feeling of “it’ll be good” turned into “it is great!“. Sure the show largely centers around Kate (sans center lights) but that is how she choose to bring her music to world: By her own. That why it is called “Kate Clover” on the ticket.
They blasted through the set that somewhat was cut back by Kate by 3 songs, damn! Wild guess: As a professional musician she simply choose to match the 15 songs of Küken to make it a round evening for the audience…
Kate Clover – Setlist (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 05.10.2026 (c) gehkacken.de)
Still, it was great Power Pop set, with a speedy & hard undercurrent. And within that covering a wide space (of sounds). In an interview in 2017 Kate set the markings for that space very self-assured:
And that is why i wondered how it comes about that she is still playing rather low key shows and venues.
In a better world, she would make it bigger, or?
Toss that thought, enjoy the moment with Kate Clover:
The only “downside” was that it was quite loud and not all the vocals came across fully audible as a consequence. For my mu-sick-al receptors the backing band volume could have been tuned down a wee bit (and the lights could have been a bit brighter).
The show sure had some of these stereotypical American showmanship elements (and some of them i simply can do without) but by and large Kate kept it at a good level and made sure the audience had a good time.
Kate Clover (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 05.10.2026) (c) gehkacken.de 2026
As far as i got it this was a touring band, compiled specifically for the EU run this year and if i was not completely off it included the Bass player of The Manikins (the SE one rather then the AUS ones from 1976).
No clue how many also played on her very recent 2nd LP, but here you go anyway:
The icing actually was that not only Kate and the band dressed for the occasion but she also made sure only ever high quality custom Tortex plectrums where used in … red and white.
Just think of this one with a little bend on top and i’d like to think she gave me a red heart. I am melting…
Illustrates the quality standard: Tortex “never break” plectrum…
Kate Clover, a great musician, a great performer and the best word to describe her is simply enchanting. Period.
I do hope that this month long run through Europe with daily shows is boosting her to the point that her next return over here gets her bigger stages, more listeners (than the max 60ish folks attending) and in return even more energy back to her.
Perfect Monday with two convincing acts from different angles and with different sound. There ain’t nuthin’ better for a Monday evening.
