Seun Akioye, who joined the Deaf Supporters Group (DSG) in its end-of-year party, writes on the peculiar challenges faced by people with hearing impairment, their lives revolving around the sign language.
Inside the drab, dilapidating buildings of 3/7 Kakawa Street, Lagos Island which housed the Deaf Supporters Group (DSG), an association made up of hearing impaired persons – the excitement had reached the highest pitch. As the uniformed crowd of DSG members continued to pour into the venue, there were hugs, from friends and acquaintances, backslaps and a general shout of excitement.
The President of the DSG, Afolabi Dahunsi was at the centre of the excitement, dressed in a matching uniform of purple ankara, a flowing agbada and a fitting cap to match, he laughed, pumped hands with the members and obliged the many requests for photographs and to give out his business cards to the guests. The President has a special business card complete with phone numbers and emails. But curiously, a caveat was employed at the end of the telephone, it says “text message only”.
At the gate, the security agents had a herculean task controlling the crowd; a curious observer might wonder why the organisers could not get a more professional security agency to handle its affairs. But this was no ordinary event; it was one which would only yield to people of its kind. As the guests were all deaf and dumb, only security agents of such inclinations can adequately cater for them.
Inside, loud music blared from a section of the arena, but it made no difference to the excited crowd of the deaf as diverse conversations went on from one small group to the other. It was silent conversations, one which was accompanied by sight and not sounds. Sometimes the eyes popped up in amazement at some exciting news and then all the emotions which spoke all that was needed would rush into their faces. The members of DSG resided in a world of their own, one which is open to only a few outsiders, a world reduced to grunts, groans and signs.
How does one empathise with the deaf? How does one understand his emotions and frustrations? Living under a terrifying economic circumstances is bad but being handicapped, unable to hear the sound of the world as it whistles pass and unable to hear one’s own voice surely adds a new dimension to the frustration. The deaf and mute of the DSG have little love for their hearing counterparts, somehow, one gets the impression they feel the hearing society ‘owes’ them and when such debts are not paid, they feel persecuted by the world and are constantly in conflict with the larger society.
That is why they have acquired the reputation as possessing fiery temper and ill-manners. It was in order to debunk these stereotypes and prove that the deaf and dumb have brains and can contribute positively to the society that the DSG was founded. And every year, they come together for a few hours to furnish themselves with the universal happiness which has been given to all humans irrespective of their disability.
Though, it was the beginning of the year, the members of the DSG chose to celebrate their end of the year events. For some years, this event had unfailingly held at the same venue but the date depended on the charity of “hearing” philanthropists and kind-hearted public servants. This year, the charming philanthropist has been Senator Oluremi Tinubu, wife of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos State and leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
At 11:00am, the Compere, Wole Ekundayo who had been an interpreter for the deaf for 17 years, breathed heavily into the microphone, an action that signified an end to the loud music. But the end of the music did not stop the loud chatter coming from the members. Immediately, three interpreters placed themselves at different positions facing the crowd and began a furious spate of interpretations using sign language. One of them, Adeyemo Steven has volunteered for the DSG since 2005. Ekundayo darted round the assembly speaking and furiously using his hands to call for ‘silence’.
When calm was restored, Ekundayo announced that there would be the singing of the national anthem. A cue was given and the anthem blared from the loudspeakers. All the members stood at attention, some placed their hands across their breasts while others made a sign of the salute. Though they could not hear the words but followed every line from the interpreters who used the signs to communicate the wordings. Though, no words were spoken, the anthem as rendered by the deaf seemed the sweetest and the most genuine ever sang.
When it ended, Ekundayo made a sign to them to applause. When the message was understood some merely raised their hands to the heavens while others waved them. The event proceeded in a slow and sluggish manner, understandably so because every word spoken by the compere had to be interpreted jointly by him and the interpreters. But he tried to make the event lively, making fun and jokes, switching from signs to speech.
The President, Dahunsi was lavish in his praise of those he called “Friends of the Deaf.” He said the organisation has made significant improvements in the lives of its members: providing employment and improving access to education and health. He also said some of their members have gained employment with some local governments while others have been granted financial assistance.
He then solicited further assistance from the public which include: a generating set, office equipments and training and empowerment of its members. But as much as Dahunsi tried to be optimistic, it was clear all was not well with the deaf in Nigeria. The National Coordinator of the DSG, Okiki Adeyemi was visibly angry when he took the microphone. He accused many corporate organ-isations of “refusing” their request for help. A flurry of furious sign language followed and there was a general groan of disagreements.
“Help us to explain to our leaders,” Adeyemi yelled, turning to the journalists. “The deaf wants to contribute positively to the nation but we need help. We need to set up our members in trade so they could stop begging on the streets”.
Some members from the northern part of the country, who sat differently from the others, rose up when they understood what Adeyemi said and gave him some applause by raising their hands to heaven. But Adeyemi was not done. “We sent letters to some corporate organisations to support our organisation with Christmas presents so we can share to our members. We asked for food items and we got letters sent through the courier saying they cannot help us. If they had sent us the money used to send the letter, we would have bought the bags of rice,” he said.
Adeyemi said the DSG had sent letters to Shell Petroleum Company, Lekki Concession Company, Dangote Foundation and Julius Berger Construction Company and they all sent letters expressing their regrets at not been able to grant the groups requests. With that, Adeyemi threw down on the table one of the packages used in ferrying the letter.
More groans, grunts and signs
Comfort Asare took centre stage afterwards. She was a tall, beautiful woman with penetrating, but charming eyes. She began by establishing that the deaf beg because there are no jobs she said the deaf do not have a dedicated police that understand their plight or medical personnel that can help them. “One of us died in Berger last week on the street, with his begging bowl beside him. We have to fight for our rights, we are special, and for how long will we be begging? The deaf are dying, please fight for us, we are not useless.
“The deaf in America, they are equal, but here we have graduates but don’t have jobs, we want our own police, we want our own doctors; those who can understand us.”
Asare was very angry. The crowd yelled. It was again that unusual yell accomplished in groans and grunts. When that seemed insufficient, they clapped. It was the first time they clapped since the event began.
Kingsley Njoku, who graduated from the University of Ilorin in 2011, said, as soon as potential employers know you are deaf, “they quickly dismiss you”.
But Alhaji Sulaiman Dagbo, a lecturer at the Federal College of Education (special) tried to encourage his people. He insisted they must not use their disability as an excuse, he said they are better than beggars and they possess one of the best brains in the world. The people listened to him, but few were placated.
The deaf children
The children of the deaf are generally referred to as deaf children. Though all of them present at the event could hear, they are also proficient in the sign language. Tayo and Boluwatife Ogunwale followed their deaf mother, Funke to the event, they seemed happy with their mother and declared that they are not ashamed of her. “We learn the sign language and we communicate well. She is our mother and we are not ashamed,” they said. There were others too. In the midst of the silent world their parent’s lives, they serve as the inaudible voice in the world of silence. Life for them is two- faced: One spent in silence and the other spent in hearing.
Hope in disability
Senator Tinubu brought a message of hope. Represented by Mrs. Salau Bashua, the wife of Lagos Island East Local Government said, despite the present challenges, they can be useful to themselves. She enjoined them to think higher and have greater goals in life. The compere had his own version of the speech. “Don’t say you can’t do anything, you can do more than those who hear.” The crowd yelled; there was silence.
Senator Gbenga Ashafa brought more message of hope. For many years he has patronised the group and sent two representatives to the event. “We are here to support you, Senator Ashafa has always supported the deaf and we shared in your aspirations. Next year, we will provide the canopies and all the food that you need,” Otunba Lekan Adebayo, who represented the Senator, told the excited crowd.
An American, Erica Mcvey said she is in the country to see what assistance she can render to the deaf. “I have made lots of contacts and I hope I can use my experience and resources to help them. I love the people,” she said.
To show ability in disability, the Refuge Dancers were called up. Four young men took to the floor and choreographed to a gospel music with amazing precision and timeliness. Though, they did not directly interpret the song, they however made it their own and gave it a new meaning. Their manager, Gbenga Sodehinde said: “We teach them through signs and counting of beats and tempo. We are available to entertain at any function”.
The music began again. Ekundayo moved to the centre and began to dance; it was a clue to the deaf to join in the show. Many came forward, beautiful young girls, dancing away to the latest dance-hall music. Even though, some danced out of tune, they looked normal. Soon, the dance reached a crescendo and the dancers twisted and turned, performing all manner of erotic maneuvers. Men abandoned their dance to feast their lustful eyes on the deaf dancers.
