Earlier today, around 10am, a man looking old and worn-out was seen trekking down the Umuida road. At a point in Umuadogwa, he decided to ask question to ascertain how far he will have to trek again before reaching home. He has been living in the West for about 40 years or thereabout. This week, he decided to go home. And here he is, in Umuadogwa.

He entered my uncle's domain to make enquiry. He asked them, which road lead to Aji, Enugu Ezike, his hometown. When asked, he said he left home at the time MCC company was constructing the Nsukka-Ogrute-Aji-Umuopu-Umueze road circa 1980. Since then, he has not been to his village, nor has he been communicating with those at home. He entered Nsukka yesterday evening and slept over at the park. Today, he boarded a transport to Ogrute Enugu Ezike. On reaching Ogrute, he enquired from an Okada man, the cost of transportation from Ogrute to Aji. When the Okada man told him it is #400, he decided to trek. Unfortunately, the Umuida road has not been coated by then, so he followed it, thinking that he is in Aji road which was under construction when he left. My uncle told him that this is Umuida road and he mighty find himself in Kogi if he continue the trekking. My Uncle gave him a seat and called an Okada man from Aji, who came and were able to identify him based on his family (He left before the Okada man was born). The Okada man was in tears.

Where is he coming back from? They called the place Iyaji, a title used by my people to address the southwest people of Nigeria because of there diverse nature in business and other enterprises. According to my Uncle, the earliest people to get development is the Benin people of Edo state. People were migrating to the place to work as hired labour in rubber production. Some people couldn't go because rubber production require some level of expertise. Later, West was discovered as a home for poor people to earn a living through cocoa farming. They practiced a kind of feudal system. A system by which the land owners enter into agreement with immigrants to work in their farm for a whole year or six months as a labourer. At the end on the period, they were paid between 10 to 20 shillings depending on the agreement. The workers also earn from selling animals caught in the farm like Snails, tortoise, porcupines, rabbits and other wild animals. This they do till they save enough to go home and invest in other area. They also used this to avoid the Igbo apprentice system(Boyï). But, some people fail to come back. Why?

There is something called "Bamijoko." This is, according to former dwellers, a charm used by the Yoruba landowners to tie down their labourers. This labourers spend decades there and come back old and empty-handed. Some of them endup having a cocoa farm after working for a decade or so. Many immigrants didn't make it home before their life expires. Some are still there looking for transport money to go home. While those that embarked on the journey back often miss their way.

There is something called "Bamijoko." This is, according to former dwellers, a charm used by the Yoruba landowners to tie down their labourers

PlayerMeji:
All these without a single picture.

helinues:
.

Here we go again with another Bunkum, so Nigerians that are living on street in different countries in Abroad have been charmed with Bamijoko as well?

Bamijoko ko, Bamidele ni

PlayerMeji:
All these without a single picture.

richiemcgold:
I purposely came here to see the man's picture.
op, where's the photo na?

DozieMartin:

There is something called "Bamijoko." This is, according to former dwellers, a charm used by the Yoruba landowners to tie down their labourers. This labourers spend decades there and come back old and empty-handed. Some of them endup having a cocoa farm after working for a decade or so. Many immigrants didn't make it home before their life expires. Some are still there looking for transport money to go home. While those that embarked on the journey back often miss their way.
Welcome home Mr Thomas.

©
Credit: Victor Chizoba Ugwu

DozieMartin:

Many immigrants didn't make it home before their life expires. Some are still there looking for transport money to go home.

helinues:
.

Here we go again with another Bunkum, so Nigerians that are living on street in different countries in Abroad have been charmed with Bamijoko as well?

Bamijoko ko, Bamidele ni

Snapchat:


The Yoruba people don but market from Ibo people Lmao. If this is not inferiority complex, I don’t know what it is. Must they always create thread to show their hatred? Lol

helinues:


As in it's getting irritated.

They want to be blaming Yoruba's for their woes. What's the business of Agbero with flying a plane?