1. ONE HAND ONE LEG

My name is Joe, am not your average teenager no, I am hard headed, tough as they come, built like a rock and always spoiling for a fight. Despite my stubbornness, I wouldn’t say I am a bad person, I am not rude, I respect my parents, I respect authority but I do not take shit from my pairs. I was used to been that one kid, everybody knows better than to mess with, but all that was about to change.

When I gained admission into the Eastern University, my cousin who knew I was temperamental and interested in bravado activities came to have a chat with me.

“Congrats, on your Admission.”

“Thank you”

“Do you know why I am here?”

“Yes to give me tips about survival in the University.”

“Good, everybody know you are naughty and we don’t want you to join Confra.”

“What is Confra?”

“See you pretending, Confra are violent gangs that fight for supremacy with the university environments.”

“I know them as cults.”

“Well they are one and the same, anyway you have to promise me that you won’t join.”

I stayed quiet, I won’t make any promises, because I felt he was been a hypocrite, because during his undergraduate years he was a member of one of such gang and is still member of their national chapter.

“Why don’t you want me to join after all you are a member. “I pointed out to him.

“I won’t lie to you it was something I regret, if you have keen interest in joining, be patient and wait till you graduate. The graduate arms of this associations are more matured and devoid of the senseless violence displayed by their student counterpart.”

My cousin went further and gave me gory details of countless risks he encounter as a student and telling me tales of how he lost good friends.
“So what do you advise I do, if people tried to intimidate me.”

He laughed and told me not to worry that he had me covered. He scribbled a note on a piece of paper and said to me “Once you are settled down in school take this note to a pub called swings, ask for Bigbug give him this note and I assure you, no one would dare tamper with you, but you must promise me not to join”.

I didn’t make any promises, I took the note and tried to read it but it was written in code it read.

ABOY BROTHER, IT IS I,IT IS I, ASMUND, RUGGED FEDERATION XW, A.K.A FLAMING ICE, A MIGHTY LORD OF WAR, SALTED AND TESTED AT ABC OLD HAWKING’S. THE ONLY SURVIVAL OF THE TEST AND ENTERNAL HERO. ONE TIME DOOM CHIEF AND CURRENT FLAG BEARER. THIS IS A DUTY OF TRUST, A COMMAND THAT MUST BE OBEYED. GUIDE THIS LAND LUBBER I PRESENT TO YOU AND KEEP HIM LUBBERISH FOR THE REST OF HIS DAYS. LET NO VANDAL CROSS PATH WITH HIM AND MAY HE NEVER SEE THE POINT OF NO RETURN. HERE IS SOME TREASURE FOR THE SHIP, THAT YOU SAIL. MAY THE BLOOD IN YOUR VEINS NEVER CLOT AND MAY YOU KEEPING SAILING FOR VALHALA IS YOUR DESTINATION… BEWARE OF SHARKS

I asked him what it meant and he laughed saying ,I shouldn’t worry about that but he has assured me that I would be protected at all time and no harm would come my way as long as I DON’T JOIN. He then gave me an envelope containing the sum of ten thousand naira and told me it should accompany the note. I got confused.

“Big brothers are you bribing him to take care of me, because I am not a baby.”

He laughed and said to me “No, it isn’t a bribe, I am just observing tradition, I am no more a student so I can’t just give him orders like that, I need to … never mind”

He changed the subject, and gave me a rundown of thing, which he said are the unwritten laws that govern student life on campus. I summaries them to four commandments.

Thou shall not fly colours of gangs.
Thou shall avoid girls linked with gangs.
Thou shall avoid gang member at all cost.
Thou shall avoid hanging out in pubs.

When my cousins left, I was filled with amazement, little did he know that the note, his little display of power, made me crave becoming a gang more than ever before.

A week later, I got to the school environment, I had no choice than to stay Ugate; which was a piece of land very close to the school gate. It had a market, restaurants, pubs, and numerous houses that were privately owned and rented to students. This was because the hostels were already filled. I finished my registration and started attending lectures. Then I remember my cousin had told me to deliver a message.
After lectures I went to bar called swing, as I got there I was accosted by some fella.

“Hey you why are you standing there and watching who are you?” He said to me.

I was about to reply when he pushed me, blew smoke into my face and screamed at me to empty my pocket. I refused, been the hot headed fellow I was, for there was nothing special about the guy and in a fair fight, I was sure I could beat him to a pulp and probably send him to the hospital.

He got upset that I did not do his beading, he raised his hand and attempted to slap me. I caught his hand in reflex, instantly I saw a display of pure menace, four boys rushed towards me. One was holding an empty bottle of beer, two were unarmed and one unhooked his belt and was about to attack me with the buckle. When I screamed out “I have a message for Bigbug.” There was not fear in my scream only authority. He paused gave me a grim look and the one who was trying to extort me asked.
“From who?”

“My cousin.” I replied.

“WHO IS YOUR COUSIN?” He shouted.

I could smell his breath, it stunk of beer mixed with cigarette smoke and it was a bit discomforting. I had stolen sips of gin, from my dads bar but I had never smelt such a poignant concentration, it repulsed me, so I stepped back.

“He said I should give this to him.” Holding the note out in my hand.

They pointed me toward Bigbug, the sight of him brought down my moral. Bigbug was huge and terrifying, the scars on his face made him look like someone who had fought a lion and won. I handed over the note to him but he did not open it. He looked at me in the eye, I swallowed saliva then I remembered the envelope of money. I handed it over to him. He peeped inside and his face broke into a smile.

“Sit down” he ordered me.

I sat down and he told the bar attendant to give me a bottle of beer. While he read through the note and all of a sudden he screams.

“WOW! Brothers this is the little cousin of our federated brother flaming ice.”

There was silence in the bar, as if the name Flaming Ice had sent chills down their pine. I never knew my cousin was called Flaming Ice. Who was he and why did his name have this effect on them? It filled me with amazement and more admiration for him.

“Your cousin was a living legend, a mighty lord of war” Bigbug said to me.

Next thing he got up and walked towards the fellow who accosted me and said to him “Jazz down!”

The fellow prostrated flat on the floor and Big bug said to him “How dare you humiliate an envoy from the MIGHTY LORD OF WAR, How do you plead?”

“I didn’t know respected doom chief, BSD.” the fellow replied and his tone sounded honest and remorseful.

“Take him to a corner and drill him” Order Bigbug.

The other fellows who joined to attack me, lifted him up from the ground and dragged him away, to do what I didn’t know to him. I was excited. I felt privileged that my cousin had handed me over to a fellow that command so much respect and authority, but at the same time, there was a little fear in me.

Bigbug noticed I was frightened and he urged me to relax.

“Your cousin was a Warrior, that’s the name of our gang, he was very dedicated, and he paid his dues, if you ever have any problem let me know. I would handle it for you, but you have to make me a promise” He paused looked into my eyes and I could feel his gaze piecing into my soul. I did not back down, I stared back at him in the eye, after all my cousin was a mighty lord of war.

The silence was getting tense, I wondered what he would request, and my first thought was that he was going to ask me to join his gang.

“You have to promise me not to join any gang” He requested

My mouth was agape in shock, I didn’t reply and his face broke into a frown.

“That’s what your cousins want and it is what I want, you are young and I know you are strong, I can see your muscles, but focus on your studies and avoid trouble we are here for you.”

“Thanks” I replied not knowing what else to say.

“When I say any gang, I mean even us the warriors, if you join us I swear to Thor, I would break your leg and gouge one of your eye out, during your initiation and if you join another gang. I won’t give you the chance to become a menace. I would visit you with my cartel and make sure I kill you personally.” He waged a finger at me, Bigbugs face was mean, squeezed and unpleasant.

I was speechless, why was he threatening me, I wondered. I took a sip from my beer and just kept staring at him, and kept a serious face. Then I notice the other guys walking in with the guy who accosted me, they were all in a jolly mode, even though the guy looked like he had just received a beating due to the dirtiness of his cloth and a bruise on his left arm. As he entered he chanted in a loud tone.

“I am not strong!”

And the other replied in one voice “Yes, we are strong!”

Everyone kept on drinking and after my second bottle, I decided to take my leave. Bigbug decided to accompany me and he invited the fellow to follow us. The fellow began to dialogue with me in a cheerful tone.

“Boy my name is Dirty D, so you are Flaming’s Ice cousin, that’s something to be proud of you would make a great warrior, I see courage in your eyes, don’t ever think of joining a different gang.”`Dirty D said.

“Hey, I don’t want to hear any talk about joining anything, leave him to make up his mind himself, remember whose cousin he is.” Bigbug cuts in.

“Nice to meet you DirtyD, how come you all know my cousin?” I asked “He graduated ten Years ago.”

“Lol, every Warrior has heard stories about your cousin” Dirty D replies with a smile.

We get to my door and they bid me good bye and exchanged numbers with me promising to come check up on me from time to time and bidding me to feel free to come and hangout with them in swings anytime I wanted.

When they left I was so excited, I called my cousin and thanked him for the note, and told him all that had happen. He told me it was nothing and warned me not to join once again.

***
The next day I went for lectures, the lecture theatre was a big hall with a black board and worn out wooden chairs and tables. Nothing eventful happened but when I was done, I became friends with a dude named Charles.

Charles was slim, smartly dressed and wore glasses that made him looked geeky. We discussed about the university environments and of the various gangs that existed. He told me that if he ever wanted to join any gang it would be one called the Assassins. His reason was because they looked calm and many of them did not have scars and they hid their identity. I gave my opinion that I felt they were cowards, that was why the hid their identity, telling him that if I was a gang member, I would be proud of whom I was.

He quizzed which one I would like to join, if I must join and I told him it definitely has to be the warriors. He asked why and I told him proudly that my big cousin was one and I always enjoyed the stories and things he spoke about them. I spoke with so much passion, he asked me if I was sure I had not yet pick up a membership form, but I laughed and told him I would never join a gang, because I hated authority and wouldn’t subject myself to a regimented group. He gave a sign of relief and we decided to stroll out of school together.

On our way I was surrounded by four guys. They ordered my friend Charles to continue walking so he left me behind not wanting any trouble and left. What is all this I thought to myself? One of them walked towards me and said. “Why are you impersonating, who you be?”
It was then it clicked, my cousin had warned me not to wear certain colours, explaining to me that it was impersonation and it is an unforgiveable sin to gang members. I just looked at him and said in a proud and commanding tone “Bigbug won’t like what you are doing oh” I saw their reaction they were startled and they paused for a moment.


“Are you related to him?” one asked me.

Before I could reply one recognised me and said “Are you not Flamings Ices cousin the one that came to swings yesterday.”

“Yes.” I replied full of pride my cousin name would save me.

“Ok, remove your beret and your t-shirt and hand them over.” He ordered me without a smile on his face.

Huh! I was shocked all my boasting could not deter them what’s wrong. They rushed towards me. Snatched my beret off my head, pushed me around and screamed at me to remove my shirt. I let them have their way and the left me with only my singlet on.

When they left, I called Bigbug and explained the situation to him and he ordered me to come to swings and meet him.

On getting there, I saw the guys sitting together on a table at a corner, one was putting on my beret and it pissed me off. I complained to Bigbug pointing at them, but he warned me not to point that the person putting on my beret was a high ranking officer, whose duty is to maintain order and he warned me not to wear any gang related colour or accessories.

Explaining that if I hadn’t called his name or if it was another gangs attire I wore my story might have been different they would have beaten me. I told him I would not wear them again but could I at least get them back so I can wear them at home during holidays, but he told me they had rules and he could overturn rules for no reason.

I was pissed and angry who the hell do they think they are, I called my cousin but his reaction was the similar to that of Bigbug, he just laughed at me and reminded me that he warned me not to wear certain colours and advised me to even avoid swings. He warned me to only call Bigbug if am in serious trouble, as he didn’t want other gang members to assume I was warrior and targeted me in error during wars.
I hid to my cousin advice but I fell little, sad and deep down I longed for more I wanted to be free to do as I please. These guys only had strength in their number but this are the rules to my new reality.
****

It didn’t take long before I and Charles made three new friends in our class, their name were Jude, Frank and Mathew. We began to walk together in groups and avoiding trouble. If we were thirsty for a alcohol, we would buy gin and take it to one of our rooms and drink it there. Whenever we strolled and we noticed a group of fellows that look intimidating or daring we would change direction or walk looking away, hoping the wont notice us. When we met girls we were quick to ask if they had gang related male friends and if yes we avoided them. That was how we avoided trouble and it was all working fine but some days were terrible.

Once Charles came for lectures looking so sad, when I asked what happen. He explained that a short smallish looking guy just pushed him out of the way and when he questioned the fellow the fellow slapped him. He was dumb founded but it did not stop there, three other guys who apparently where in the same gang with the guy, came up to him and accused him of insulting their man because he looked small, he pleaded with them explain what happened to them but they slapped him and collect all his money.

I was pissed I asked if he could recognised them so I could tell Bigbug to intervene, but he urged me not to worry. He was grateful to God that it was only his money they took. I was sad in my heart, is this how we would live forever, why do they like picking on us, just because we didn’t belong to any gang I wondered.
****

I enjoy body building, but I could not find any gym Upgate where I lived, excepted one and it was owned by Warriors. It was a make shift gym, located under a big tree, the weights were made of concrete solidified in plastic buckets. I told Bigbug I was interested in body building and he promised to come pick me every morning. The first time we got there, almost every ten second someone would look at me as if irritated and scream out loud “Who be this man!”. Bigbug always explained that I was with him and they would keep mute. I hated it when this happened but it happened all the time.

One day after waiting for two hours for Bigbug to come and get me in vain, I went there alone by myself. Next thing DirtyD walks up to me.
“Boy come and buy me weed.” said DirtyD His tone was commanding.

“Ok no problem, I can do that for you.” I replied trying to convince myself I was buying it out of my own free will.
I can explain why I did not protest was it fear or was I just tired of running to Bigbug anytime someone harassed me . I and DiryD strolled together like friends to go purchase the weed.

“So, why do they call you DirtyD?” I asked trying to strike up a friendly conversation.
“Because, I enjoy given people dirty, painful slaps.” Dirty responded with a smile on his face. His palm wide spread as if he was admiring it and imagining he was given some poor fellow a dirty slap.

We go back to the gym and he rolled the weed and offered me some.

“Aboy, take a puff, let me welcome you to the weary world.”

“I don’t smoke.”

“Why are you behaving like a child try it.” He insisted.

I nodded and I stood my grounds and he laughed and start a narrative.

“Which gang do you think is the toughest?” He asked

I stayed mute just staring at him. He breaks a stick off the tree and I am wondering what he wants to do with it, hope he was not trying to intimidate me for I would not stand for that. My nostrils were flaring up and my fist was clenched.

Suddenly he draw the map of Nigeria on the floor with the stick and point at several spots.

“This are the places where universities are, and in all this regions, Warrior rule.” He looked towards his men and screamed “Abi, I dey lie?” He asked them if he was lying and they replied “very true brother, na we rugged pass!” in chorus. Then he chanted “What do we do when other challenge us?” they replied in chorus “We use their skulls to drink our dark brew and their bones to beat our drums!”

“See Joe, I need to advice you sooner or later, I know you are a great warrior it’s your destiny. Other gangs dem no get mind, they are made of weaklings, but not us. We don’t back down form a fight. You might not believe it, but most people already see you as one of us, they might even come after you but I promise you something if any of our rivals kill you in error we would strike them back” DirtyD looked at me his eyes thin and redden from marijuana.

I wanted to ask why they would fight for me but without me saying anything he let the cat out.

“For the fact that they killed you thinking you were one of us, we won’t give them the satisfaction of going Scot free. Lia lia, we would revenge for a friend of the family is as good as a brother. Listen, our ship would soon sail and I don’t want you to miss the next initiation ceremony, don’t be scared; I know you’ve heard rumours of it been very brutal.” He laughs and the other laughed also their laughter were frightening. “It’s just a series of test and a small beat down nothing life threatening. Physically you are strong and I can see it in your eyes. You have the blood of a pure Norman voyager!” As he said this statement other warrior scream out load.

“Awoo! We are strong, the blood of Eric the red flows in our veins!”

“Just think about it you don’t have to answer now, but know it within you that our ship would set sail soon and I don’t want you to miss out.” DirtyD concluded. Then he broke out in Song and his Warrior brothers joined in.

Looking for Adventure and need a crew
Come join the Warriors crew
Feel you are weak and need some strength
Come join the Warrior
Seeking thrills and pretty dames
Come join the Warrior
Our Ship is streaming and ready to sail
Come join our jolly crew

Their song made me fill like a child once again. I imagined myself as a little kid signing along a nursery rhyme with his mates and I felt a childish bliss I’ve often missed. My mind was made up I didn’t need to think about it I wanted to join, If was the only way, I wanted to be free to go to pubs and drink beer. I wanted to be free to chase after girls without having to confirm if they had links with Gang members. In all I wanted power respect and glory but I didn’t show any excitement. He invited me to the weight and helped me lift it up. Normally it was Bigbug that did this.

When I got to school that day I kept up humming the melody of the song, DirtyD and his gang member had sang earlier in the morning .Its catchy melody and the childish bliss I felt just couldn’t get out of my head. I told my friends how DirtyD draw the map of Nigeria on the ground and they all found it funny all except one Frank. Something was weird about him today he seemed angry. He began to talk about his hatred from Warriors and he opened up to us that he was joining the red soldiers. Our countenance changed we all felt sad Charles, Mathew and Jude advised him not to do it because they felt it was stupid and something he would regret but he went on and on about how he wanted to join because of us. To him if one of us was a member he could protect the others.

“Frank don’t be stupid if that’s the reason you want to join, let me join instead its obvious I am the strongest and most fearless among us all and Red soldier really common you can do better Warriors are tougher than those chumps” I didn’t know when this words came out but they did.

“Joe you are a fool to think you are better than us because you have muscles, when have you ever stood up for yourself, all you do is rush to Bigbug your school daddy. So that he can come and bail you out of your troubles” Frank replied

We stood eyeballing each other and I couldn’t take it anymore I swung a punch straight to his lower lip and it burst splattering blood on his shirt. Charles came in between us and Mathew tried to hold me back but I shove him off and I was still approaching him.


“Charles step aside if you don’t want a piss of this” my fist was clanged and I was pointing it toward Charles

“Don’t do this Joe we are all friend and friends stick together there was no need for all this”

His statement warmed my heart and I felt bad. I apologized to Frank but he got up laughed and said to me “When I become a red soldier I would pay you a visit” then he stormed off. There’s a cold silence between the rests of us. Charles broke the silence and blamed me for it all, I didn’t say a word but deep down my mind was made up also. I stormed off also going to meet the only person I felt would be right to guide me on my journey to become a warrior and I knew where he would be.

Now, it's interesting!

I got to Swings and sat beside Bigbug and told him I had something important to tell him. He advised that we talk outside their anchor point. We took a stroll and I told him I wanted to join the warriors and he slapped me. The slap was so hard and painful but I thought it was a drill probably the 1st step. Testing my endurance I assumed.

“Are you stupid? Haven’t you learnt anything, do you think it’s a game people die. See listen I swear with my last drop of blood I would protect you, if I let you join the warrior I am not protection you I am only putting you in harm’s way.” He scolded me like his kid brother.
“Do you know how many enemies you would make by becoming a member?” He asked it was rhetorical question.

“Every member of a rival group automatically becomes your enemy, even if they were once your friends. You won’t be permitted to be friends with them as this would be seen as fraternization. I wouldn’t wish my son or any of my relative to go through the pain I go through every day as a warrior. Do you know how many of my friends have died? You might think your life is hard because you are not free to live it to the fullest but there is more bondage here than enjoyment.”

I was getting angry initially but I saw something I didn’t know Bigbug was capable of. He was in tears and I knew it was out of love he had slapped me. He pulls me close hugged me and tells me to go home. That he would pay me a visit later. Then he wipes his tears dry and lit a cigarette. I smiled thanked him and decided that nothing would make me join. I would live the restricted life I’ve been living. I would apologize to Frank tomorrow at lectures so that we would become friends once again, if he had chosen a different path that was his choice.

Bigbuy came to my room that evening as promise and he did not bring up the issue again but he pleaded with me to give him some money explaining that he was broke. He asked nicely so I gave him and he began to tell me a story.

“Don’t ever believe what anyone tells you about the origin of cult gangs in Nigeria, they are all lies no one knows the truth not even my Warcheif the highest ranking officer but I do.”

I wanted to scuff and asked why I should believe his story but I didn’t.

“I was privileged to meet once of the founding fathers of this nightmare and he told me a tale, a tale that made me bleed my eyes out. A tale if I had heard earlier, I would have never joined a gang. It’s a story of betrayal pain and fraternity all gone twisted and sad.”

His pause his face looked sad but he had passion in his voice.

“Long, long ago while Nigeria was still under colonial rule, seven young elites decided to form a kiln a clan a brotherhood for the fraternization of like minds with the agenda of piety, anti-colonial mentality, instilling the African identity and to encourage enlightened discussion. They had a dream that one day they would be the ones to fight for our independence. They wanted to be known fear and respected as a group that both commanded power, knowledge, loyalty and a hint of secrecy. So they locked them self up for 21 days and they fashioned a CODE OF ETHICS, a blue print that would serve as the foundation of this group and they adopted the Jolly Roger as their logo. The seven of them were nicknamed the magnificent seven. They were rich kids and it would be solely for the rich. They created a regimented hierarchy so that their authority would be dominant and so that mediocrity wouldn’t interfere with their ideals at least not while they were still in charge. Their ideas were borrowed from the conquerors of old, sailors, adventurers, pirates and Vikings. People whose history, code and believe had help achieved great things.
The rule was fifteen men on a dead man chest so they could only accept fifteen members per university. They recruited eight extra brothers who shared their ideas and designed a secret initiation using pain torture and symbolism to impact the knowledge of their code of ethics. Together they soared to greater heights none of their GPA point would fall short of a second class upper and this was closes monitors, for they didn’t want individual who could not balance a health academic life with their agenda. Failure was a sign of weakness and they had strength. The seven had assumed roles names and ranks and new code name which gave them authority over the others as well as inflicting fear to the unknowing but they were harmless.

In less than a year they had spread their gospel around all other Universities in Nigeria and their presence became strong. They began to start campaigns write articles and entertain other students with songs of gyration. They were recognized by the school authority as a jolly good fraternity. They single handily stopped student riots , the used their power and influence to create change in campus environment but they were vengeful as they didn’t take kindly to intimidation so if you try to intimidate one of them they would unscrupulously find a way to deal with you for they had it all the money, the power and influence. Others fraternity tried to spring up but they wouldn’t let them it was too early for completion so the suffocated them out, no single fraternity could be formed and those who dared to start one were made examples through mockery ridicule and subtitle intimidation no violence.”

He pauses for a cigarette break and offers me a pull I declined his offer.. He smokes in my room dropping ash carelessly. I didn’t complain I was just eager to hear more.

“Lectures and politicians alike saw them as a force to reckon with for their words was ye in the student community and students watched them in admiration wishing they would be lucky to be chosen as part of the fifteen but one had to graduate or leave before he could be replaced by a new member. They had designed punishments for their members to make them pure of heart and to make them desist of engaging in criminality or vice. One of such punishment was very extreme but it was only designed to instil fear, the vetted their members carefully and as a member of their fraternity you would be in so much abundance of ladies that such a thing would never cross your mind. It was rape and the penalty was amputation of one hand and one leg.”

He stopped and looked at my face trying to see my reaction. My face was pale as death, yes rape is a terrible thing but to permanently rid a man of a hand and a leg is to render him useless.

“Wow!” I exclaimed wondering would happen next.

He continued “One of their brothers had committed this crime and they had found out about it, the victim didn’t go to the police because of the shame and stigma it brought she had summoned courage and reported to their Chieftain. She knew surely that it would be dealt with accordingly. When he was asked to plead his case, he pleaded guilty and begged for mercy explaining he didn’t know what came over him. The magnificent seven wanted to spare him but it would be a slap to their authority, it would mean all their rules were games and it would dilute the honour of the brotherhood. They pinned him down at their secret spot of meeting, a place they called their island it had no name, at least none I knew of. They had a sharpen machete with them but none of them was courageous enough to do it. The others were watching something had to be done so they left him in the care of the others and they, the seven met in conclave and casted lot. It fell on one man. He was to become a scourge, their righter of wrongs a Punisher.

They retuned back and the six of them pinned him down and the scourge lifted up his blade. The guilty fellow screamed cried and begged for mercy. There were tears in their eyes they wish they didn’t have to do this. As the Scourge tried to summoned courage which he didn’t have to do this the other members seven of them rushed forward and went on their knees and coded a quote from the quote of ethics “Brothers should never kill brothers” The try to explain to them that they were not going to kill him but the others objected that cutting his hand and leg would cause serious bleeding and could lead to his death and this was against their code.

Deep down in their heart the seven had been praying for a reason to stop them from doing this so the quickly bought into the idea. Instead the decided to black spot him give him the mark of a brother who had betrayed their cause and ordered him not to ever associate with them or anything that relates to them. He begged he pleaded for a Seafarer was all he was ,all he had become and he couldn’t stand the shame. People would ask questions and wonder why he was kicked out the horror would be dreadful he begged them to meet out the punishment instead but it had been decided. The ordered him out and when he refused to leave they attacked him and pushed him away and he finally left. It was a sad night that day, they didn’t sing their songs of gyration, they didn’t drink gin or make merry like they used to. Where did they go wrong why would he bring shame to them in their moment of glory. Little did they know they had taken a decision that would come to bite them in the ass?”

He pauses for another cigarette. I am so eager to hear more I found the tale fascinating. It sounded like I was in a movie, but I knew this was no movie just another of the numerous rumours of how gangs came into our university never the less I yearned for more.

“So what happened next” I pleaded

Mek I catch my seat before pple kon occupy everywhere.

“So what happened next” I pleaded

He smiled and laughed “I am too sober to continue telling this story do you have any liquor here”

I had a bottle of cheap gin I have been drinking . my cousin had advised me not to go to pubs so this was my new habit. “Yeah” I said passing the bottle to him. He looked at the half empty bottle and gulped it all at once.

“Arrrrrgh give me more” he bellowed like an aggressive dog

I didn’t like his tone.

“That all I’ve got” I replied in a humble tone.

“Don’t worry my friend let me continue. They replaced him with a new member a fellow they felt was worthy of them for it had to be fifteen men on a dead man chest no more no less. Weeks passed and nothing happened but the black spotted fellow was lonely alone he felt like an outcast. He couldn’t mingle with common folks anymore not after he had once be singled out , chosen and approached to be part of the most prestigious association he could ever belong too. He begged, he pleaded but they all ignored him. Till one day he was tired of it all, tired of been in the shadows. He came up with a plan, a very stupid but impetuous plan since they could spare him from his punishment they could change their minds and accept him back he thought. If only they saw him once again in his splendour. So he dressed up in their attire, wore his beret, his eye patch and dressed in their regal attire and went around signing gyration songs, especially ones that deal with brother hood and unity. He sang these songs and journeyed to where he knew his ex-brothers would be located.

It was matriculation and during this period they always put up a show. They had rented a trailer and decorated it to look like a ship. The trailer drove around school while they beat their drums and sang gyration song . People watched in admiration and jealousy but all this was about to end. He sees them at one of their rendezvous spots and he jumps unto the trailer. They order him to get down but he refused they reminded him that he had been black spotted but he pleaded with them explaining he had begged the girl for forgiveness.

The seven couldn’t take it anymore, the shame the honour a rapist in their mist they charged to attack him. He saw their anger and he fled but they chased after him, he was going to get what he deserved, he would be treated like a non-member who is impersonating his barret would be seized and he would be stripped off of all their regalia. He ran and he ran and refused to be caught but they wouldn’t give up. He had to be thought a lesson so they chase and the chased. He gets to the hostel and runs up the stairs in flight for safety only to slip and fall. He lands with with a heavy thud and his head hits the edge of the concrete staircase and split open. His death was instant. What had they done the thought to them self. Someone they once refereed two as brother was dead and they were the cause. They carried his dead body to the morgue it was the only fair thing to do at least. It wasn’t their fault, they explained his death as an accident skipping the incident that occurred.

They went back to meet their other brothers to tell them the story but they had heard already. Their jolly parade had been changed into a day of sorrow darkness and tears. The other eight members accused them of killing him accusing, claiming they broke the first rule of the brotherhood; a brother can never kill his brother no matter his offence he should be dealt with accordingly. The seven swelled with anger the didn’t plan to kill him it was an accident they explained, but the anger of the other eight members was more I guess the felt it would have been any of them and wondered what would happen if they themselves broke rules. They assumed the roles once assumed by the magnificent seven and one of them who was now self-appointed captain announced “You all have been black spotted for killing a brother, you shall not identify yourself with anything that concerns us” the magnificent seven called them an ungrateful bunch and it ended up in a free for all fight.

The eight brother decide they were better off on their own and decided it was time to create theirs. They the eight created an authority and ranks called themselves the piece of eight which represent the highest ranking authority in their new brotherhood. They took time out to fashion a new rule book and their first law was No brother would be black spotted every brother who has joined is a brother for life and should be protected but discipline in a control manner if he goes against the code. Their regalia were similar to that but slightly different they decided that instead of been a tiny group of elite members. Theirs would be one which everyone could apply to join but members would be selected after a series of vetting and a dreaded ghastly initiation rite. This was the birth of fraternity rivalry in our system and the agenda of piety, anti-colonial mentality, instilling the African identity and to encourage enlightened discussion was lost and replaced with violence and supremacy battles. ”

He looked at me and said “Can you remember what I told you when I started to narrate this story to you” and he smiled.

“Yeah I shouldn’t believe anything, anybody tells me about the history of gangs, that no one knows the real story” I replied “Very good that’s my boy; I need to take my leave duty calls”

Booked

Continue dis interesting story

alright... so I pardon the guy that took the first seat.....