Based on a true story. “God, not like this. This isn’t how I’d planned it. God don’t let me die like this.” Those were my exact thoughts as I stood naked in the shower, sponge in hand, lather all over … Continue reading JOS: The day they came for us.
Very soon. I think it’s about time I bought a car. Two weeks ago I hopped on a bike. Before I dropped off, the well dressed driver made two attempts to ask for my phone number. I ignored the man and … Continue reading I am buying my car
What is NYSC? The call. The trip. Registration. Swearing in. Waking up. Sleeping during meditation. Dodging parade drills. Hanging out at mami market. Hanging from the upper bunk. Torn boots. Dirty tennis shoes. Brown shirt necklines. Funny shorts. Runny stockings. Attention! Ajuwaya!! Undersized head-dresses. Oversized khakis. White, white, white-everywhere! Camera flashes, teeth flashes. Under the sun or in the rain. Making up. Breaking up. Pulling out. Bonding with. The Beagle sings Good morning Nigeria! Good night Nigeria! The trek. The campfire. Victory. Defeat. Making choices by: losing yourself, then finding yourself. NYSC…. Nostalgia. Written in Camp Ede, Osun, Nigeria. 23.03.11. … Continue reading Nostalgia. A Poem
My childhood friend, N, had her wedding while I was in Jos. In fact, my vacation was deliberately set around that time because I had earned the delightful role of maid-of-honor 🙂 . I had missed so many important weddings, deliveries and birthdays during the year so this was a huge consolation for me. N had a simple send-forth ceremony: there was evening mass by 4 pm and light refreshments afterwards. The following day was the traditional ceremony held at the bride’s residence. In Nigeria this is the most important ceremony of the of the wedding process (or court, … Continue reading Jos Dairies II: The Wedding
Every morning I (almost grudgingly) wake up by 4:30 to prep for work. I try to leave in an hour’s time, but by then its still dark. Instead of taking the short cuts to the bus stop, I prefer to walk the longer route where I know that if something happens – God forbid – at least Its right in the open and not in some hidden place, and maybe someone else passing by can change the turn of events. I could even see it coming and decide to do something about it before it gets worse. Sometimes I like … Continue reading Please Be Safe
I love the beach! I remember the first time I saw a sea shell. I was still a kid and my mom traveled to Mexico for a women’s conference. During her stay there she had the time to go to the beach, and she picked huge seashells which she brought all the way back to Nigeria. They were smooth and heavy and pretty. I fell in love with them and could imagine her walking through the sand and carefully selecting which ones to bring back home. The shells formed part of our interior design and until candles were banned in … Continue reading Beach Diaries I:Sand in my shoes…
*** Get out of the car! Get out now!! I stare at the policeman in disbelief, then start laughing out loud. I say get out !! *** 15 MINUTES EARLIER Thanking my lucky stars for getting away from the bus fight without an elbow-blow to my head, I hop off the bus. There are about 3 buses all calling out for the next bus stop so I am spoiled for choice. I pat the beads of sweat off my forehead and decide on which of the buses to get on. Orile fifty naira! Orilie – Orile, fifty-fifty naira!! The bus … Continue reading #3: The One-Way Driver
4:45pm I got off work early today, woohoo!! I happily skip to the bus stop. If I’m lucky I’ll get a bus that I can walk into, not one that others rush and fight over to get a space. I have promised myself that I won’t struggle for bus space Ever Again. However I have developed a coping skill, this is it: when the bus is approaching and people are chasing it I estimate at what point it will stop and try to position myself there. When it does stop I should be located somewhere close to the door and … Continue reading EPISODE #2: THE FIGHTER
So yesterday I’m among the many Lagosians struggling to get home from work. I’d just watched a few minutes of “Think like a man” (for the third time) on the bus ride and am in good spirits when I alight the bus. I hop along the street with some song playing in my head and a smile on my lips. There are no buses in sight and the crowd is huge but its not my first time. I take my friend’s advice to chin up (I complained to him about the same traffic in the morning) and wait for the … Continue reading The Heroine Within…
Back in Jos I and my friends hosted annual Christmas Concerts which we titled Christmas for Everyone or X4E for short. It was a lot of fun and it usually took us about a month or two to prepare for. I always derived joy in getting the details taken care of, and despite the pressure it was all worth it in the end. However after every show, I would find myself emotionally, physically and mentally drained (I think and plan and schedule in my sleep. Truly.). It was more like an anti-climatic sage where I would spend a very long … Continue reading What to do when everything fades.
Writeforsanitysake 