In Nigeria, this is how we roll.

In Nigerian Universities we had a couple of all clubs (equivalent of Fraternities in US colleges). These clubs had all sorts of suave names like Rho, ABC, Numero-Uno, GQ, Vogue and several others. These clubs had varying membership criteria, the only common criterion was that you had to be a male student in any of the universities in which they were registered. Oh yeah, and these clubs were usually kind of snobbish.

I belonged to GQ (Gentlemen’s Quintessence Club). What all University clubs (or frats as the case may be) have in common, were great parties. Everyone wanted to be at our gigs for several reasons. Some just wanted to brag their friends that they (were recognized enough to receive an invite), a lot of the girls wanted to see if they could get a hook up with a club boy, some for the great food (college students were always hungry) and others just wanted to have a great time (this was guaranteed at our parties).

GQ was a club with a lot rules and tradition, so our parties would usually flow along the traditionally regulated themes as laid down by our founders.

At the beginning of the first semester of each academic session, we hosted a small open-house party. No formal invitations were ever handed out; members just told friends. It was never quite a free-for-all, but we would accommodate anyone who we considered an ally (even rival club members could attend). The party was just to welcome everyone back and to signal commencement of full club activities (the norm was to throw it on the birthday of a member whose birthday fell in the first month of the new semester). We would usually set the date of our first formal meeting on that day. The food was light and the booze was heavy. In my opinion these parties were the best of the year.

In the second month we were usually ready to take on new members. We considered prospective members mostly on recommendation from existing members and we also considered those candidates who recommended themselves. The induction process was quite elaborate.

• It begins with all members hanging out together with the prospective members (we call them Testers) either at a club or a small get-together. This way members get to see and meet the Testers and form an opinion.
• The second stage is where we have a “Test party.” All testers are expected to have completed forms profiling themselves and to have paid the necessary test fees. The party is a strictly members-only affair. If the testers that year were few then we would invite some selected outsiders. The testers are expected to organise the party and invite the girls (sometimes we had to step in if we feared a flop -- especially with the number of invited girls). Part of the test was for them to ensure that hottest and most popular girls were at the party. Each tester had to make a sure a particular popular girl (usually a senior) we indicated was present.
• Stage Three was a formal oral interview for testers who successfully pass the first two stages. We just generally quiz them to determine how smart and confident they are. We ask some IQ questions and lots of bullshit to unnerve them.
• Stage Four we invite successful testers from stage three to our next club meeting where we school them on our codes of conduct and general tradition. Club vests and other paraphernalia (stickers) may also be handed to them.

In the third and fourth months we usually slow down with social activities, so everyone could get cracking at their studies (if you that is your preference). We have meetings fortnightly instead of weekly. We observe our traditional Friday night and Saturday afternoon hangouts together. If we get invited for a party by affiliated clubs we attend gladly.

After the semester exams we throw one last blow out party. Each member is free to invite a pre-determined number of guests; members that had steady girlfriends were given a double quota (we have great respect for any OFFICIALLY declared girlfriends- she was almost a member as long as they were still together). For some of us, it’s just the opportunity to get one last lay before the holidays.

End of first semester We go home for holidays and try to figure out lies to tell our folks, how else do we get money to fund the next semester’s parties? You don’t want to miss out on what happens in Second Semester.