Globacom colour , green and a spot of white, littered the field. The hustling and bustling of the roads, leading to the city confirmed that it was a celebration galore. Souvenirs, ranging from ‘T’ shirts, ball pens, towels, name it, were being distributed without any inhibition. Merriment galore! If you could not sing, you could dance; if you could not dance, you could look at those glamorous ladies with latest fashion dresses in town. The native dresses of the men were simply classy. It was simply breathtaking!
Hawkers of dodo Ikire, dodokido, aadun, kokoro,esuru, iru, agbado sise, as well as modern snacks were also on the fields plying their trades. It was a matter of choice. The aroma of barbecue seasoned with local spices made my tummy empty and eager to be filled to the brim, but the need to listen to the folkloric songs of Awele Onimaalu, aka, Mama Sekona pushed the aroma aside for the next thirty minutes.
On the field also was Iluyombo Marcel, the man I was going to be bethrod to immediately after the open party in our city. The idea for choosing that day was to make it a memorable day by pointing to the day that the king and all his sons rode to the city in splendor in a motorcade before coming down at the Mafimisere traditional gate to ride on back of camels.
Yoruba people are too civilized. They don’t spare anything when it comes to making sure that the end of their event becomes a positive story for researchers and students, even the fun lovers to make references to. Yoruba will always be Yoruba. They will never be copycats!
Marcel was seated gently amongst his friends, all in native attire enjoying the show. It was even good that the dress code for the festival was tagged “native”. Come and see various designs calling for attention. I tied my gele the way a Ghanaian would tie her headgear in the midst of singing to their local deities.
Ayobami ,my friend was just laughing and telling who cared to know how I detested headgear and scarfs. I also told people too how she was not the one that pounded the iyan and egusi soup that we brought to the youth side of the cultural festival. It was fun, fun and fun.
Moments before then, I had passionately kissed my fiancée, Marcel, in a long embrace that was disrupted when my father who was his boss coughed to show his presence around us. It was also fun. I keep mentioning the word “fun” because my story would interest you due to the fun attached to it.
Chief Agbara Agboroko was one of the richest men in my state. He was so rich that he gave out six buddings away on charity to all the tertiary institutions in my locality without blinking an eye within a week. His business acumen knew no bounds.
He was into cocoa merchandising, manufacturing, farming and so on. His supermarkets were about 10 in number and scattered round the nation. His trailers were always visible at the borders and the ports. His middle name should be called Wealth.
Students could play pranks, many ones. Some good, some bad, some even dangerous to the point of ending in the hospitals, and that was if you were lucky to escape the knife of the ritualists! One of the pranks we played at school was to stay by the roadside to look for free rides called lifts, or follow our friends out on a blind date. Blind date was even a tip of the iceberg. Some were to cram into the car any of the elderly men brought and go out to clubs or restaurants. It was just a way of catching fun. No bad intention in our worn out dictionaries.
I was taking a walk one evening when a posh car stopped by my side. So far, I wasn’t expecting anybody. I just dialogued with my leg. The car came after me and the man at the owner’s side calmly greeted me. I thought he was looking for a direction, but when he told me that he purposely came to see me, I was taken aback.
I was taken aback for many reasons. Number one, I didn’t have anybody in mind that could have sent him to me. Number two, I had not graduated to the level of big babes, carrying big men. Mine was still at the solo stage as Nigerians would call it. Finally, I was not gorgeously dressed to attract a wealthy man. But I was careful not to be rude to him and I was also careful not to allow any sugarcoated mouth to lure me away. Yes, my parents might not be as rich as this man in front of me , but they were proudly above average. I lacked nothing.
“ Fine girl, I could see that you were surprised to see me”
“ Greetings sir. Yes, I am surprised because I don’t know you at all,” I told him with surprise writen all over my face.
“ No problems. I am afriend and not an enemy”
“ Hmmmmm…….”
“ Why the hmmmmm?”
“No problem sir. I just don’t know what to say.”
As he said this, he told the driver to excuse us. After he stepped to the side of a guava tree , the wealthy man continued his discussion with me.
“I want to be your friend. I don’t want you to see me as a useless old fool. Who knows what God can do for us…….”
“For us sir, hope you are not….”
“I am not saying you should come and sleep with me. And I am not saying you should come and give birth to babies for me. I am just interested in you and your welfare. Anything and if at the end of the day, God seals our relationships with beautiful and memorable memories, so be it. Relax because I am not going to eat you.”
“You don’t look like an ogre, but I am afraid of talking to a stranger. I am afraid of being lost to a ritualist and so on.”
“It is good. I am in support of your notions. I am not in a hurry. Please, take your time to think over our discussions today. Here is my complimentary cards. The red one is for general. The green one is for the people of my class. Bring them to me, according to your need to see me. You can come to my offices. Just give me a thirty-minute notice”, he said as he beckoned to his driver to come closer.
By this time, Ayobami and Peggy, two of my friends had come to join us. They greeted him and he replied them with good tidings. As he was about to go, he counted wards on newly printed notes and handed them over to me, but I declined.
“ Have this for your relaxation”
“No sir, it won’t be needed”.
“ Sir, it is needed, we are just being careful.” That was Ayobami.
“ Truly sir, we are trying to be careful, but if you assure us that all is well, then I will take the money and hand it over to her sir,” Peggy said jocularly.
“ Do you think ruining the lives of three beautiful, young and promising ones like you all will gladen my heart. What if one of you were to be my own blood. I laboured for my money and God won’t allow me to tarnish my own image at this evening of my life”
“If that is the case, thanks a lot sir. I will give her the money. We are even yet to have our lunch at 5pm…..”
“Lousy radio! Haaaaaa! You are simply a walkie talkie. You have told a total stranger all your secrets now,” I yelled at her.
“This is an angel on earth for you and my mind, inner mind for that matter, tells me so. Thanks a lot sir, it is not in our character to talk to strangers, but my spirit is telling me you are a man of God”
“Thanks, my sister. Tell your friend to feel free to come to my office for now. Later, it will become my house.”
He sped off immediately he said this. I looked at his car and back to the money he left behind. I now squarely faced my friends and tongue lashed them.
( TO BE CONTINUED)