As I alighted from the bike that brought me to Alaba International Market Ojo in Lagos, it felt good to hear all around me, a familiar language, the language of my brothers;my roots, Igbo language.


I was here to do a sort of market survey on many products for a starter in the electricals/electronics line, back home in Imo State.

As I wandered about, it struck me as amazing how one can hear so many dialects of one language being spoken freely in a region that is far far away from home. Being here, it was hard to believe that I was not in Onitsha or Owerri towns.

Anyways, when I entered a shop, I found myself speaking my own dialect and the shop owner understood me easily, and helped me with my inquiries. Thirteen shops I went to, all but one attended to my request easily; some going the extra mile to enhance my results. The only one that didn't help out, and was unwilling to wasn't a tribesman; else he'ld have ruined this narration.

The most beautiful part was nobody showed any surprise at hearing me speak Igbo in a foreign region. They just took it in their stride as we conversed.

Even the person who gave me wire quotations recognized my Mbaise dialect and asked directly if I was from there. It was a jolly moment trading pleasantries at a place where I was expecting to be hard done.

I'm home now, reminiscing over the day, and I'm happy I got to feel at home away from home. Igbo kwenu!

Evidence of High Blood Pressure will soon begin to manifest on this thread