₦airaland Forum

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Project 1: Ghost Stories of Oluyole
The Nigerian literary scene has been characterized by such timeless classics such as Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart, Prof. Wole Soyinka's Kongi's Harvest and relatively more recently, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's marvelous Purple Hibiscus.
The passage of time has initiated a clamour for Nigerian works exploring genres other than contemporary literature, works that are good enough to stand toe-to-toe with that of writers from other countries with a more established structure in place. This gave rise to masterpieces like Ben Okri's The Famished Road, and Nnedi Okorafor's science fantasy novel Who Fears Death, amongst other projects that have proven to be a good enough answer to the question: can Africans write speculative fiction? A quick browse through the astonishing works on thedarknotes.com exploring the horror genre should belay whatever fears an inquisitive mind might have on the flexibility and ingenuity of Nigerian writing.
That is why Aiki Initiative, a multimedia content creation and production outfit is embarking on a project that will explore one of the often neglected genres in Nigerian writing: horror. Aiki Initiative's flagship project is an embodiment of the organization's emphasis on ingenuity and creativity and it will feature a roster of exiting new young writers, some of whom are not particularly strangers to the Nigerian audience. These writers will contribute short stories on the theme 'a ghost story set in Ibadan' and the collection will make up the anthology, Ghost Stories of Oluyole.
The project is simply the first of many on Aiki Initiative's production schedule poised to explore the genres otherwise consigned to oblivion. Alongside developing exciting content for the reading audience, Aiki Initiative will also produce films and musical content in a way that the world has just not seen yet.
It is said that there is nothing new under the sun, Aiki Initiative is set to prove otherwise.

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Without further ado, I typed in the address of Decorhubng.com and started looking through their amazing range of interior decoration items and accessories. They had virtually everything I needed to make it happen in my living room, and what made it even more exciting? They would deliver the items I ordered as quickly as possible and help me transform my living room into the perfect arena for the life changing moment that was upon me.
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Baba Ni Jigi: Tales Of A Coloured Girl (part 6)

He was a mad man!!!
A lunatic had the envelope !!!!
****
Mrs seila rushed over to me and pulled me up. She was checking my body for bruises. I told her i was fine. The only thought that occupied my mind was the envelope. We had to get the envelope. Chasing a lunatic would seem like a wild goose chase, but the envelope had to be retrieved.
Mrs Seila suggested that we should ask around about the lunatic, we might be able to get information. There was an old woman just across the street. She sold "boli"- roasted plantain. She had the looks of an "olofofo", a gossip.
We proceeded to her small shed.
"Mama good afternoon". She shifted her gaze from the plantain she was peeling. There was a welcoming smile on her face. She responded:
"I saw everything that happened, you don't have to worry much. Giasa is a good lunatic. Your envelope will be returned, all you have to do is buy food and water for him. He will hand the envelope back to you. His shed is just a few blocks from here, let me finish with this set of "boli", i will take you there"
I wasn't not listening to anything the woman was saying, the "boli" had my attention. The plantain was a dull yellow, but as the heat from the burning charcoal simmered into it, the dull yellow faded into a golden light brown. The woman turned it, my mouth watered. I was hungry.
Mrs seila noticed my absent mindedness, and she knew what had gotten my attention.
" Mama we would have two "boli's" and ground-nut".
there was a spread of happiness on the mama's face. She wrapped the boli in separate daily times paper.
Their was a bench just beside me, i sat down and took a very large bite of roasted plantain...
****
The boli seller had kept her word. She led us to Giasa's den.
" I have kept my word, now i take my leave. Just toss the food and water to him, and your envelope would be tossed right back at you"
She scurried away, the echoes of her sinister laughter lingered in my ears.
The lunatics den was unusually clean and free of odor. There was a large stack of books resting on the wall adjacent to the entrance of the den. The floor was littered with biscuit wrappers and nothing more. The entrance had a curtain, but no door.
Mrs Seila beckoned for us to go inside or at least to make sounds that will announce our arrival to the lunatic.
I was scared to my bones, i had already forgotten all that happened earlier in the courthouse. There was a new challenge to overcome.
Mrs seila led the way, she clutched my hand very tightly.
I tip-toed behind her. I could feel my heart almost giving away with every step i took. It took us about fifteen minutes to reach the entrance. On a normal day, we would have covered such distance within a minute.
The curtain was a bright yellow, with images of cartoon characters. She peered into the den, and made a quick sweep of the den with her eyes. There was a tiny smile on her face when she turned back to feed me with information.
"He his not inside, and i can see the envelope. Its on his television set, let's make a quick run for it."
A lunatic had a televsion?
I could never have imagined that.
We entered the den hurriedly, and Mrs Seila took the envelope which was lying lifeless on the television set.
The den left me in awe!!! It would have passed for a normal persons room.
This was a strange lunatic.
We had gotten the envelope and were about to leave the lunatics den. Mrs Seila was tucking the envelope into her bag and was carried away for a few seconds.
I turned back and got a shocker. The lunatic was standing at the entrance, he had a vicious look on his face.
I took a quick glance at him.
There was a kitchen knife hanging loosely from the many pieces of clothes that he was clad in. Thick liquid dripped from the knife. A pool of red was forming on the floor.
Mrs Seila hugged me from behind, i could hear her whispering "the lord is my shepherd". I skipped to the fourth verse.
"Yea,though i walk through the valley of the shadow of death, i will fear no evil : for thou art art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me".
The lunatic was coming closer now. He could smell our fear.
The color of victory was bright on his face. He was going to kill us.
We were going to die.
Mrs Seila was still whispering her prayer, i had stopped. I was thinking now, what were we to do??
He was in front of us now, he was touching us. He fondled my breast, he grabbed Mrs Seila's waist.
He was going to have his way with us, the thought sickened me. My mind was blank, i couldn't think of anything.
Thy rod and thy staff!!
Yes, an iron rod was lying carelessly on the floor, just a few inches away from me. I would make a run for it. I would strike him where it hurts.
Just as i was about to make a run for the iron rod, he repelled from us with an horrible shriek. He scurried to a corner and coiled into a round knot.
He muttered gibberish. He was terribly shaken. He was scared.
"They say the devil dines with the lunatics".
Lucifer. The master was here.
Mrs Seila grabbed my hand and we raced out of Giasa's den, the moon was above us, the stars glittered...
****
The aroma of seasoned tomatoes and onions simmering in hot vegetable oil filtered into my nose. I opened my eyes, it was a new day. Jinadu was still asleep.
I made for the kitchen, i had to make myself useful to Mrs Seila, even though she had never asked for me to do any of the numerous house-chores that she busied her self with everyday.
"Good morning ma", she turned with a motherly smile.
"Kofo, how are you? I'm making breakfast", go and have your bath, and after that we would check what is in the envelope we went through so much trouble for.
"Ok ma".
I left the kitchen with a smile, it was a good feeling to be loved. I would talk to Mrs Seila about adoption, she should adopt us. She was the mother we never had...
****
Jinadu was on my laps, he was also very anxious to know the contents of the envelope. My mind wandered.
What was inside the brown envelope ??
Mrs Seila joined us in the sitting room, the brown envelope was with her. My heart skipped a beat.
"Now, Kofo and Jinadu, let's see what is inside the brown envelope." She removed the seal from the envelope and opened it very carefully.
The envelope contained A4 sized papers, their was a slight frown on my face. Jinadu was disappointed, he left the sitting room.
Mrs Seila beckoned that i should come sit beside her. She was going to read the contents of the papers to me.
The first one had a bold letter heading on it that read:
BLESSED CHILD ORPHANAGE
Certificate of Adoption.
Mrs Seila Shifted from her sitting position, and adjusted her eye-glasses. Then she read the paragraphs that followed very slowly.
Baba mi was not our biological father, we had been adopted by him.
The second paper read:

ATILA MEDICAL INSTITUTION FOR
THE MENTALLY CHALLENGED.
Mrs Seila read on, the second paper was an admission letter of a certain " BANIRE AJANI" into the medical institution.
"BANIRE AJANI" had been diagnosed with "DID"
-Dissociative Identity Disorder".

The third paper was a photograph of a woman. She had a bright face, she was pretty.
The fourth paper was a letter from baba mi, in the letter he gave a brief explanation of our adoption, and also made it known that the woman in the picture was our mother.
Mrs Seila tucked the papers back into where they came from, the brown envelope.
I could tell she didn't know the exact words to say, she gave me a warm hug, my eyes swelled with tears.
This was too much for me to handle, i wanted to go to the seventh heaven. I whispered a prayer :
Dear God, take me to heaven. Amen.

****
The week that followed was a problem free one. Mrs Seila had taken us to a museum, we also went to an amusement park. She did her best to make us happy, she was particularly concerned about me. Jinadu was still a kid, he doesn't understand the way of this life.
There were so many questions i wanted answers to, however the most pressing one was maami's illness, it was a mental one.
Does it mean maami is also a lunatic?
The admission letter had stated that she was admitted for
DID.
What is Dissociative Indentity Disorder
Even Mrs Seila had no idea about it. I needed this questions to be answered, baba mi was locked away in a prison facility, after recent revelations he was the last person i wanted to visit.
Maami on the other hand, was in a mental institution. I was confused.
Who was our biological father
The question screamed in the silence of my heart...
To be continued.
Written by : Odutuyo Adeyinka Sasa-Eniyan
Email : adeyinkatuyo@yahoo.com
BBM : 28228B46

Was this really home
Baba mi's trial is tomorrow, the sleep got to me.
****
The dreaded day was finally here.
I was reluctant to wake up from my sleep. The task ahead of me was more than I could handle.
Was I to live the rest of my live with the guilt of sending my own father to jail ? The society would tag me a bad child.
"Omo buruku"
Was I to live the rest of my life with the guilt of setting free a man that ruined my life ? I would never forgive myself.
What was I to do
I stared blankly at the leopard print mini gown that Mrs Seila had picked for me to wear. Baba mi bought the gown for me a long while ago. The thought of putting on a dress he bought for me turned my stomach, but what was I to do?
Baba mi bought every piece of clothing i owned.
I stripped off my cloth and stood in front of the mirror on the wall. I was naked.
There was a scar on my left breast.
I remembered how baba mi had fondled my breast roughly. My eyes swelled with tears, but I refrained from letting them out. Today is not a day for tears. I had to be strong. A woman should be strong.
"Kofooo!! Its almost 10am, we have to be in the courtroom by 9:40am." It was Mrs Seila. I slipped into the gown hurriedly and whispered a short prayer as I raced out of the room.
"Dear lord, give me courage to speak the truth"
"Dear lord, forgive my sins.
****
The trip to the court house was a rough one. Mrs Seila had arranged for a "Keke Napep" to convey us. It was my first time in a "Keke Napep".
The driver reeked of alcohol. He had a big pot belly, i could see a loose flab of soil-brown flesh hanging loosely on his laps.
"Madam, wetin you won go do for court ? Shey you hear say our president don invite obodo oyibo people say make dem con catch all this malla wey dey bomb everywhere. I even hear say na government people dey give all this malla money. Madam, you no tok anything?
Mrs Seila was obviously irritated with his rants. She wanted to reply him when he cut her short again.
"Madam, shey u know say mama bikiki no let me touch am again, she say my belle too big. Bet today na today, after all this alcohol wey I don drink, I go finish her for night"
This was the only thing that got my attention. This man was going to forcefully have sex with his wife. I felt like banging his head against the windscreen, but then I remembered ; he was going to do it with his wife and not some random teenage girl.
But still, he shouldn't have sex with his wife without her consent. That was wrong.
I was still making a mental judgment about the drivers situation when he announced that the court house was right ahead of us. He was not allowed to go any further.
My heart skipped a beat. There was a sudden rush of fear and terror through my body. My lips flapped against each other. My hands were shaking.
Mrs Seila must have noticed me. She stopped halfway and reached for my hands. The touch was warm and relieving, but not as soothing as the words that she said to me.
"Kofo, you can do this. You have been through so much, and i know you will make it through. You just have to speak the truth."
I flinched at the mention of "Truth". She noticed again and said
"Kofo, the most important thing is for you to follow your heart"
Yes! that was just what i needed to hear.
"I will follow my heart, even though I knew it was not on any path....
****
The courtroom was a very big room that had been divided into cubicle-sized sections. The paint color was a bright cream and coffee brown. The painter must have chosen the colors to portray lightness and darkness. The cream representing light and the latter dark. A brilliant representation of good and evil. Or may be that was just the best color that suited the room.
A big brown desk rested on the wall, and there were several other desks arranged in front of the very big desk. The Judge occupied the first desk. She was a fat woman, I didn't know women were allowed to hold such positions in the society. The registrar's desk was next. He was a young man with deep tribal marks and the most ugly set of dentition i had ever seen. There were several other officials in the room. The prosecutor (the policeman that had decided to take up baba mi), Defendant (Baba Mi). Baba mi looked more like the man in the mirror, gentle with an innocent face. I could see a big scar on his forehead, that must have been the aftermath of the stool I crashed on his head.
I sat beside Mrs Seila, she was stroking my hand very softly. I wonder what I'ld have done without Mrs Seilas support, she said it was going to be a judge - alone trial. ( The judge decides if the defendant is guilty).
All rise!! (The court was in session.)
Calling the case between Plaintiff (Kofoworola Ajani) Vs Defendant ( Raufu Ajani). The registrar called us to come forward. I was scared. Mrs Seila whispered: follow your heart.
I was asked to step into a brown cage-like podium. A man in a black suit approached me. He had a Bible and a Quran.
I was to swear by the holy book. I had no idea I was going to swear by the bible.
"Ms Kofo, do you swear by your belief and the name of God to speak nothing but the truth: i do.
Can you narrate the event of that night to us:
Yes i can. My voice was shaking now. The man asked me to go ahead and narrate.
The courtroom was silent now, everyone present rested their gaze on me. I felt so naked and vulnerable. I could not decipher the look on Baba mi's face. Mrs Seila had a look that urged me so much to narrate how my father had raped me. My heartbeat was racing, so many thoughts swirling around my head. Baba mi, jail, Jinadu...it was too much for me to handle. I had a mental block.
The Judge was getting impatient now; "Ms Kofo we do not have all day, please speak.
I heaved a sigh, i looked at Mrs Seila, she still had that look on her face. I remembered how her son had molested me the previous night, and then I spoke
"I left the house without my fathers permission and i came home late. He got very worried and gave me a terrible beating after i raised my voice back at him. He was under the influence of alcohol, i ran out of the house with my younger brother when he wouldn't stop beating me." That is the truth.
There was a loud murmur in the room. Mrs Seila looked like she was about to die. Baba mi just stared blankly at me. I had followed my heart. I had failed myself.
"Baba ni jigi, even when he chooses to rape his own daughter."
Baba mi was called next, and he narrated the story in the same pattern as i did . He made the necessary additions and subtractions. His innocent look made him appear sober.
The registrar announced a one-hour lunch recess.
I was thrown into a state of confusion. I had violated my own rights to justice. Mrs Seila left the courtroom. She must be mad at me; but she can't be mad at me; even her son had violated me!
I had to get some air, i was almost suffocating...
****
All rise!!!
The court was back in session, it was time for the judge to pass her judgment.
The courtroom became quiet. The judge cleared her throat, shifting her gaze from left to right. Baba mi wasn't going to go free, i'm sure of that. I only reduced his punishment by twisting the story, he would still have to suffer for child battery.
The judge spilled.
"After a critical examination of stories from both sides, Mr Raufu Ajani is found guilty of child battery and assault. This court hereby sentence you to 6months in jail with hard labor. You will be granted a bail sum of five hundred thousand naira. Kofo Ajani will be in the custody of a guardian while you serve your term"
All rise!!!
There was a loud sound of wood banging wood.
****
Mrs seila clutched my hand like her handbag. She was not saying anything. We were outside the gate of the courthouse now. I had a terrible stomach upset. I was hungry.
A "keke napep" stopped in front of us; just as we were about to enter, i heard the wailing sound of a siren.
It was a black maria van that was conveying baba mi to a prison facility. My eyes swelled with tears. I could see baba mi peering through the window.
He shouted my name and tossed a brown envelope.
"Give it to that woman, tell her to read the contents to you"
The enveloped roamed the air before it finally landed on the floor, i raced to go and pick it up, not being mindful of the careless okada riders.
I bent down to pick the envelope. An acrid smell engulfed me! I could here Mrs Seila Screaming my name!!
Kofooooo! Kofooooo! Kofoooooo!!!!
But it was too late, i was knocked over by him, he grabbed the envelope from me and ran like a mad man!
He was a mad man!!!
A lunatic had the envelope !!!!
To be Continued.
Written by: Odutuyo Adeyinka Sasa-Eniyan
Adeyinkatuyo@yahoo.com Whatsapp :07085178536

I searched for the rechargeable lamp, it was lying lifeless on the floor. I raced back to the room.
I shined the light on his face. It was covered in blood.
I looked closely and shined brighter.
It was baba mi.
****
There was a rush of terror and fear on my face.
I was confused.
I was scared.
My body trembled, I didn't know what to do.
Baba mi was moaning in pain, a pool of blood was forming around his head. I sat down on the floor and watched as he called my name
"Kofoworola, help me, go outside and call for help...
I was beginning to feel pity for baba mi, I was beginning to feel remorse for what I had done...
Then the woman in me screamed at me!!
"Kofo, what are you still doing here?
This man raped you, take your brother and run away from here, run as fast as your legs can carry you, run before the monster gets up.
Run!!!!!!
I jumped up and raced to drag Jinadu out of bed, he was still snoring. I slapped his thigh, he winced.
"Jinadu, open your eyes, we are leaving this place, go and pick up some of your clothes...
I could see confusion spread over his face, he wanted to ask questions, but this was not the time for questions.
I had already packed a few cloth and was waiting for Jinadu, I gazed at the wall clock, it was fifty minutes after midnight.
12:50am.
Jinadu joined me, I grabbed his small hand and made for the door. I had already opened the door and was about to go out, then I felt a sharp shot of pain through my body!
It was my hair!!
Baba mi had pulled me by my hair. I staggered and crashed against the floor. He was about to pounce on me and attack me with his fist which was already tied into a knot. I closed my eyes and expected the rain of fist!!
" You are a wicked and stupid and bastard and foolish man".
it was Jinadu!!
He was cursing baba mi with all the fowl words that his linguistic repertoire could manage. He had a pestle with him.
Baba mi turned to him and before he could manage any action, Jinadu banged the pestle against his head.
He banged it again and again, hitting every other part of baba mi's body.
"Jinadu!! Stop it, he wouldn't bulge...
Seeing Jinadu with such rage and fury scared me.
I saw a monster that had to be killed in him.
I saw baba mi in him.
****
We ran as fast as our legs could carry us, we were headed to Mrs Seilas place. She was the only one we could run to.
The street was empty, an hausa man was just selling his last pieces of suya to one of the many bus conductors that hanged around abandoned buses.
My legs were heavy, I could not keep up with Jinadus pace. I was getting unwanted flashes from the days event, I felt a sharp pain beneath my stomach...it was hunger!
Blood was trickling from my pants. I wanted to tell Jinadu to stop, so we could rest for a few minutes. He was a little bit ahead of me. I called his name, he didn't hear.
I called again, gathering all the strength I could. Jinadu didn't hear...
He didn't hear because my voice had been reduced to a whisper, I could feel the life slipping out of me.
I passed out...
****
"Sister kofo, sister kofo!!.. wake up, sister kofo!!"
My sister, what has happened to my sister??
Is she dead??
I was scared, the street was dark , there was no one around. Not even the area boys. I sat beside my sister and watched her. I didn't know what to do.
What if we were kidnapped?
What if a spirit attacks us ??
There was blood stains on our clothes.
I couldn't locate Mrs Seilas place even if I wanted to, it was too dark...it was midnight.
I was going to wait here with sister Kofo until help comes.
****
I could hear footsteps, someone was coming. My heart raced. The street was very dark, so the person would not see us if we remained still.
Sister kofo was still not awake.
The footstep was getting closer now. I strained my eyes to see who was approaching.
The sight was scary.
He was big and tall, like a giant. I couldn't make out the face, as it was very dark. The person had several pieces of fabrics strapped loosely around every part of his body. He was muttering gibberish. He occasionally bent down to pick empty wraps of biscuits,sweets and all other dirts that littered the floor. That was when I came to terms with reality. He was a mad man.
My heart stopped in silence has he made his way past us. I heaved a sigh of relief as he left.
Just as I was recovering from the mad man scenario, a strong beam of light fell upon us, revealing us to all sorts of evil that crept in corners waiting to devour us.
Then a deep husky voice followed.
"Who are you?
"What are you doing there?
I didn't say a word!, i could feel the heavy burden of liquid waste product in my bladder.
The light was approaching us now, the cells in the wall of my bladder stretched and became thinner.
"I said what are you doing there??"
I remained quiet.
Hot urine made its way through my urethra.
I was wet and scared. I was harmless.
Did he not see that I was a helpless poor boy in the dark?
Did he not see that sister kofo is not awake?
Did he not see ??
****
The sweet voice of Mrs Seila filled my ears. She was making pancakes. The aroma made its way into my nostrils. I wanted to continue sleeping, and enjoy the warmth of the bed, but my fantasy was interrupted with a quick flash from the events of yesterday!
I jumped out of bed. Jinadu was not in the room. I walked hurriedly out of the room. I could still feel pain in-between my legs.
Baba mi.
Jinadu was being questioned by a man who seemed to be a security operative. He was dressed in black and he had a long wooden gun strapped around his waist.
Mrs Seila was seated beside Jinadu.
"Sister kofo! Sister kofo!...Jinadu called me".
The gaze of every other person in the room shifted on me. I carried Jinadu and examined every part of his body.
He seemed to have forgotten everything that happened yesterday. He had a lollypop. He looked so gentle and innocent. He was different from the Jinadu that banged baba mi repeatedly.
Mrs Seila told called me to come and sit beside her.
" Kofoworola, thank God you are finally awake. You have been asleep for two days now. This man here saved you, he brought you and jinadu to my house after he saw the both of you out in the streets. You should thank him"
I looked at the man with utter disgust. He reminded me of baba mi. I hate older men.
I managed a fake thank you. The man didn't even seem bothered. All he wanted was details about what happened with baba mi.
I narrated the ugly event, with tears swelling up in my eyes.
I held back the tears, i didn't cry.
If i was a woman, I was not going to be a weak one, I was going to be a strong woman.
The security operative left after a thorough session of questions that seemed unnecessary.
"I am going to get an arrest warrant for your father. We are going to press charges."
He waved his hands in the air as he banged the door against us.
Men, I hate men.
" Come and have something to eat Kofo, you have gone too long without food." Mrs Seila is a good woman. She is a mother.
****
Mrs Seilas house was a three bedroom flat. She had one room to herself, one for her two sons, and one for visitors.
She had cleared the visitors room for me and Jinadu, she even offered to get us some proper clothes. She had condemned the ones baba mi had bought for us.
Her two sons were very nice and charming, just like their mother. The elder one was Farook and the younger one Fareen.
We played together, ate together and argued together. I was drawn to Farook because he was very intelligient and always thought me new things. He was in his second year in the university...
Life seemed so good. We were happy with Mrs Seila.
****
It was a sunday evening, Mrs Seila came bearing news about baba mi. She said we were going to the court house the next day, that I had to prepare my mind to speak Gods honest truth when I am called to give an account of what happened.
"The lawyer is going to wave the injury you inflicted on him as an act of self defense, so you have nothing to be scared about". She went on.
" Kofoworola, whatever you say about your father is going to used to judge him. Make sure you make the right decision?"
Thank you ma, i said. She left the room saying something about food...
I was thrown into a web of confusion...what was the right decision, send my father to jail ??
Its been a month since the ugly incident, I was going to see baba mi tomorrow...
****
After dinner, I went straight to bed, my mind was heavy with the burden of baba mi's fate.
I rested my head on the pillow and took a long breath, my eyes were closed, but i was wide awake.
I was lost in my thoughts when I was suddenly distracted by the sound of the sinister hiss of the door.
The door opened slowly, very slowly.
I fixed my gaze on the door and watched as Farook made his way inside the room. I managed a smile.
What was he up to, some funny prank??
He was tip-toeing towards me, I wanted to jump out of bed and scare him.
No, I'll let him have the honor of scaring me, after which we would both laugh it all off. That would be a good way to get my mind off baba mi's trial tomorrow.
Farook was already beside me , I closed my eyes and layed still.
Oh he really scared me, he was another monster.
Farook abused every part of my womanliness with his hands, he touched everything. He touched my breast. He touched my vagina.
He didn't rape me, he touched me.
He kept on touching until he stopped suddenly and grabbed his penis. He made a funny sound and shrieked.
Then i felt a shot of warm pap-like liquid splash on my face. He wiped my face with his top and raced out of the room.
Hot tear drops burned my chicks as they rolled out of my eyes effortlessly. I was still.

Was this really home
Baba mi's trial is tomorrow, the sleep got to me.

To be continued.
Written By Odutuyo Adeyinka Sasa Eniyan.

Baba Ni Jigi : Tales Of A Coloured Girl (Part 3)


I wasn't going to open the door.
I was a bad woman.
I had failed to protect Jinadu.
I cried, more red gushed out of me...
*
It was getting dark already, I had spent more than six hours in the kitchen.
I wasn't going to open the door for baba mi.
Never!!!
I had failed to protect Jinadu...the thoughts piecered my heart deeply. I wallowed in self pity.
"I was going to call Mrs seila and narrate all that happened to her, she is a good woman...
Sister Kofo, sister kofo...
It was jinadu!!!
I jumped up and reached for the door handle.
I opened the door!!!
I had forgoten all about baba mi, I was so happy to hear my little brother call my name.
I carried him and inspected every part of his body for pankere bruises. There was none. I felt a stream of relief.
He was all that mattered to me, I couldn't bare to see him suffer for my cowardice.
" Sister Kofo, baba mi has gone out, he did not beat me. He only made me fake the cry so you will open the door"
There was still a shred of humanity in baba mi...
I hurried to the bathroom. I had to clean myself up. I was feeling so dirty and red.
The events of the day played in my head as the water washed away the pain and red. Hot tear drops flowed freely across my cheeks. The feeling of hot tears mixed with cold water was different.
I was going to visit Mrs Seila and narrate all that happened to her. The thoughts of leaving the house again without baba mi's permission sent a shiver through my spine!
The water flowed freely, the red struggled for dominance, the fragrance from the soap filled my nostrils...
****
Baba mi did not come back until very late in the night. I pulled my wrapper over my head as I heard him slam the door of the sitting room. He always does that.
Mr Isqilu calls it arrival syndrome.
My eyes were closed under the wrapper, with outrageous thoughts playing in my head. What if he comes, drags me out of bed and beat my skin till it peels off, or what if he does this or does that...
My mind kept wandering deeper and deeper until it could wander no more.
*
Ku-ku-ru-koooooo
There was a cockcrow!
It was morning already, i must have fallen asleep yesterday night. Baba mi never came to drag me out of bed.
That was strange.
I got out of bed and tip-toed to the sitting room, making as little noise as possible. I was very close to the sitting room door when I banged my leg on a lifeless plastic bottle lying on the floor.
I cursed silently as the bottle swirled carelessly across the room banging into yet another bucket!
The noise was annoying!
I wanted to race back to my room and jump on my bed. On a second thought, I decided not to. I went on and ahead to the sitting room. I opened the door very carefully peeping through the opening as it grew wider.
The sitting room was empty!
Baba mi was not in the sitting room.
The wall clock read 8:32am.
Where could he have gone this early?
I was lost in my thoughts when Jinadu's voice filtered into my ears.
"Sister Kofo, baba mi said he had to leave for work early."
When did he tell you that ? I asked.
"He came to tell me this morning when you were asleep, and he also said he left money on the table if we needed to buy anything."
"Sister Kofo, baba mi did not use the pankere on us today. He smiled and jumped on the three seater chair."
There will be no more pankere! I had made sure of that with the stunt I pulled the previous day.
Baba mi has acknowledged me as a woman. I smiled. I was proud of myself.
Jinadu was singing "Omode meta n sere".
I was happy to see my younger brother like this.
A part of me was happy. The other part was scared.
My emotions were confused. Baba mi must be up to something. All this sudden niceness, and to think that he has not apprehended me for what I did.
Or has he really acknowledged me as a woman and decided to treat me with more respect ? I was not sure.
I joined Jinadu in singing.
"Omode meta n sere, ere o won sere ayo...
****
For the next days that followed, baba mi didn't say a word to me. If he wanted to pass any message, it was through Jinadu.
He made his lipton.
He left the house early and came back late. He stopped using the pankere on us.
There was still no word from Mr Isqilu.
****
Two weeks had passed since my liberation struggle with baba mi. Things were going well. There wasn't much of baba mi around the house.
I liked this new change.
I had decided to go and see Mrs Seila today. I was going to take Jinadu with me. It would be terrible to leave him all alone in the house.
The short journey to Mrs Seilas was eventful. The first scenario had been that of a woman who bit off her husbands ear after she had caught him having his way with their house girl.
People were gathered around them, interestingly nobody separated them, they were all cheering and cursing, the husband landed a heavy blow on his wife's face, she screamed! Blood oozed from the husbands ear.
Jinadu pointed to the ear on the floor, with terror and irritation, I dragged him along and we left the scene.
Terrible things on the streets of Mushin.
We were already in Mrs Seilas street, we just needed to locate the building. I checked the paper for directions.
" Block 38, OLORUNSOGO STREET"
The handwriting was so straight and neat.
We had gotten to block 32, just a few more blocks away.
"Sister kofo , sister kofo!!..is that not Mr Isqilu inside that shop??"
I looked in the direction of where Jinadu had pointed!
It was Mr Isqilu. He was conversing with an aged woman.
I screamed his name
"Mr Isqilu !!!!!
His attention was divided, he was shocked as hell to see who was calling out at him.
He beckoned for us to come and meet him.
I had so many questions that I wanted to ask, I started with why we hadn't seen him for so long.
"Your father told me to stop coming, that he didn't have money to pay for my services. I told him I would keep coming for free, but he refused "
It was so good to see Mr Isqilu again, he said he was going to visit us soon.
Mr Isqilu and Mrs Seila were friends.
A coincindence. A good one.
Mrs Seila talked about a lot of things, she liked Jinadu.
I didn't tell her about what happened with baba mi.
His recent change of ways however strange, portrayed him in a decent way.
I didn't want to ruin that.
Mrs Seila made pancakes for us and wrapped them in a disposable foil container.
She also gave us some money.
Mrs Seila treated us like her children. It feels good to be loved.
Would maami have shown us this much love if she was around?
****
Baba mi was not around when we got back. I was tired. I went to the bathroom and washed my face. I could hear Jinadu snoring soflty... "That boy can sleep for Africa"
The time was past seven, I could hear the call to prayer of the mosque behind our house. The noise was so much, it made it difficult for me to sleep.
When I finally drifted, the sound of an arabic chant from the mosque lingered in my ears...
*
I felt a soft tickle and sluggish drag of what felt like cold hands running against the warmness of my skin. I sent a terrible slap on my thigh with high hopes of killing whatever was crawling on my body and disturbing my sleep.
I missed, and flinched from the rush of pain that I had brought upon myself. My eyes were still closed. I didn't want to open them because that would mean disrupting my sleep and having to wait for several minutes before...
The hands came again, this time with a roughness!
I opened my eyes, there was someone on my bed.
He reeked of alchohol. I wanted to jump out of my bed, but he overpowered me, and stuffed my mouth with a piece of fabric. I couldn't scream.
He reached for my pants and yanked it off carelessly, sending a sharp pain through my body. The room was so dark!, I could not see.
He licked my breast like a dog and fondled it roughly, he pulled his shorts, I felt something strong and soft touching my skin. I struggled, but my strength was nothing compared to this man.
Where was baba mi?
His only daughter was about to be raped,
Where was he? I could still hear Jinadu snoring, it was loud now.
Hot tears flowed freely from my eyes. I could not scream.
Then I felt an excruciating pain between my legs!, my body trembled! I could not scream. The pain was out of this world. It was that type of pain the son of God felt when they nailed his hand.
The man was going in and out of me. He breathed heavily, sweats from his body rained on me, the acrid smell of alchohol choked me.
Suddenly!,
There was a new rush of energy to my body, the man was lost in what he was doing, i stretched my hands to the left side of the bed, there was a stool beside it. It was a few inches from the bed, but my hands could not reach it. I stretched more, with every inch of my arm feeling like its about to come off, the man kept going in and out of me. The pain inbetween my legs was unbearable. The pain became my motivation.
My hand finally reached the stool. My hand roamed the stool,
I need something!
I needed a weapon!
There was none, I tried lifting the stool, it was heavy.
The man was thrusting deeper into me!
With an amazing rush of adrenaline, I lifted the stool and sent it crashing on the mans head.
He flinched in pain and landed on the floor, I sent the stool flying on his head again!
He cringed in pain and coiled into a knot the way an earthworm does when you pour salt on it.
I ran out of the room, crashing into everything in my way.
The power supply was off.
Who was this man that just ruined my life and brought me pain?
I searched for the rechargeable lamp, it was lying lifeless on the floor. I raced back to the room.
I shined the light on his face. It was covered in blood.
I looked closely and shined brighter.
It was baba mi.
To be continued.
Written By : Odutuyo Adeyinka SasaIEniyan

Baba Ni Jigi : Tales Of A Coloured Girl. Part 2.


"No more pankere from Baba mi, no more lashes."
I'm going to fight back if he tries to...
I'm going to protect Jinadu.
I just became a woman!
*
I got out of bed and didn't know what to do. I was overwhelmed. I decided to go to the bathroom and wash myself up. My trip to the bathroom was fast!. Jinadu could not see me in this state, he would freak out.
I washed and washed and washed. I was scared. I needed maami. How was I supposed to stop the bleeding??
How long was I goin to bleed for?
I was lost in my thoughts when a loud bang on the bathroom door sent me flying.
It was Jinadu, he wanted to have his bath. I must have spent so long in the bathroom. He was still asleep when I made for the bathroom.
"Sister Kofo, open the door, I want to bath."
I grabbed the towel and wrapped myself up. I opened the door.
"Jina Jina", how are you? He didn't answer me.
I smiled, he never wanted me calling him "Jina Jina"
Seeing my innocent little brother reminded me of the promises I made to myself earlier on.
I had to embrace the new me. I had to come to terms with the person I had become. I am a woman.
Do not ever underestimate the power of self assurance.
With renewed zeal and energy, I embraced the power of decision making. I did what I could never have done when I was a girl.
I went out of the two-bedroom flat without permission from baba mi. I had told Jinadu I wanted to go out to get something. The fear and terror on his face had motivated me more. Baba mi was not God, he was a mortal.
I am a mortal.
My trip outside the two-bedroom flat was a very fast one. My steps were long and calculated, with my head constantly scouting and making mental judgements about everyone that passed me by. I had to be extremely cautious.
I had heard scary stories of how dangerous the streets of Mushin could be, stories of little girls being abused, stories of mothers who bite their own children and send them hawking. I had even heard stories of men abusing boys.
What a life!!
I was already in front of the super-market when I realized I had no money on me. What was I going to tell the ibo shop -attendant?
He had the most scary face I had ever seen.
My mental judgement told me to run, but my instincts said otherwise. Again, I embraced my decision-making power. I was going to tell the ibo shop-attendant that I just became a woman.
I took a leap of faith into the lavishly stocked super-market. A woman had just finished paying her bills. She turned to leave. I was about to start my narration when the woman pulled me to her side and shouted at the shop attendant to toss her a pack of "Always sanitary pad".
Whatever that meant...
*
Mrs Seila pulled my pants, cleaned me up, and gave me a very comprehensive instruction about how to use the sanitary pad. She answered all the questions I had been seeking answers to.
She was a good woman.
She had even given me her address and told me to visit her whenever I had more questions.
*
Baba mi was panting and pacing when I entered the two-bedroom flat. Jinadu was lying on the floor naked. I could see fresh sets of pankere bruises on his soft and tender skin. I felt pity for my brother.
" Where are you coming from? he shouted.
I went to....I went to...the words struggled for freedom.
I was terrified. I was mortified.
Kofooooo!!, where are you coming from? his voice was calm and soothing now. What was this man up to?? I questioned myself.
Baba mi, I went to get san...the "pankere" crash landed with heavy force on my cheeks, sending a sharp and agonizing pain through my body.
I struggled to finish my lines with the courage of an angry woman.
"Baba mi, I went to get sanitary pads, I just became a woman. And this is the last time you are going to raise your hands on me or Jinadu". My eyes were pregnant with tears.
He was stunned, he laughed. A wicked laughter.
He made for the pankere and was about to let it down on me with all the power he could muster. I dodged it , and he crashed on the three sitter cushion set. He was enraged and was up again, he was coming for me and was going to totally reduce me to a pitiful little young girl,I couldn't allow him that pleasure. I'm no longer his little girl. I'm a woman now.
I made a quick run for the kitchen door which was luckily a few inches from where I was crouched up. He was very close to grabbing my flower patterned skirt when I slammed the kitchen door on him and turned the lock as fast as I could lay my hands on them. I could see defeat boldly written all over his face as the door slammed.
He banged and shouted.
"Kofo, so you now raise your voice at your own father? ehn, open the door and come out of that kitchen or..."
His voice was loud and scary.
I felt proud of myself. I stood up for myself. That is what a woman does.
I was not going to open the door, I was going to stay in the kitchen for as long as it takes, at least until I'm sure baba mi has gone to bed or calmed down a little.
The red moist was back again, I could feel the warm trickle of blood against my skin. The sanitary pad was supposed to keep the blood flow locked.
What was happening??
Then I remembered what Mrs Seila had told me about having heavy flow. I was having a heavy flow. I pulled my skirt. I could see a large pattern of blood on the flower designs of the skirt. It gave it a somewhat appealing look.
I was going to soak the skirt in soap and water before I washed it.
My white pant and the sanitary pad was a dull red now. There was a funny smell too. I didn't like it.
The sanitary pad Mrs Seila bought for me was in the sitting room.
How was I going to get it??
Baba mi, must have seen it. The thought of him holding the sanitary pad turned my stomach. I wasn't going to tell him, but now he knows. I should ask Jinadu to bring it for me.
Jinadu !!!!!
I had completely forgotten Jinadu, my poor little brother. The picture of his naked body on the floor when I entered the flat played in my head.
My poor little brother...my "Jina Jina". My eyes were getting moist. I was going to cry.
Bang Bang Bang!!
I jumped up clutching my skirt and tying it loosely around my waist. Baba mi was back.
"Kofoworola, open this door before I break it down".
"Kofoworola, I will beat you to a pulp if I have to break down the door".
"Kofoworola, you are playing with fire, open this door!!"
"Kofoworoa, hahahaha...you want to die!"
Kofo this, kofo that. Baba mi wasn't going to break down the door, and I was not going to open it...not until its safe for me.
He was quiet again. My thoughts returned to Jinadu.
Paargh Paargh Paargh !!
That was the pankere!
The sound was followed by an agonizing scream from Jinadu. He was crying. Baba mi was lashing him again.
"Kofo, I know you can hear your brother cry." You had better open that door or I would keep lashing your sweet little brother!
The man is a devil!
Baba mi is a monster!
He was lashing Jinadu, I could hear the agonizing sound of pain and suffering.
I didn't know what to do, opening the door was not an option. Baba mi would finish me, he would write an epistle on my body with the cane.
I could hear Jinadu, crying. He was calling my name now,
Sister kofo, sister kofo...his sweet little voice was overpowered by baba mi's voice.
"Kofo, open the door!"
I cried and screamed at him to leave Jinadu. I told him I was going to open the door.
I wasn't going to open the door.
I was a bad woman.
I had failed to protect Jinadu.
I cried, more red gushed out of me...
To be continued.
Written By : Odutuyo Adeyinka Sasa-Eniyan.

BABA NI JIGI "Tales Of A Coloured Girl".

My father never smiled. He was a disciplinarian. We called him "Baba mi". He never wanted us running around the house. We were always in our room.
A very small room.
Baba mi was not the man in the mirror.
The man in the mirror had the face of a gentle and kind man. The man in the mirror always had a warm smile. The man in the mirror was a good man. The man in the mirror was handsome. The man in the mirror was a good father. The world only saw the man in the mirror.
The man in the mirror...
Baba mi was not the man in the mirror.
Baba mi was a gentle monster. He was a discplinarian. He was never concerned. He was that man that would ask for the other 20 percent if you scored 80 percent in your exams. He was that man that never wished you a happy birthday. He was bitter, not bitter like the cola nut. He was that kind of bitter that lingered on your tongue when you drink water after eating a pineapple. He was a complete stranger to the man in the mirror.
How was he so different from the man in the mirror ??
It was a mystery.
*
We only came out when he had to lash out butts. He said it was a reminder.
Reminder for what ?? He never told us.
My name is Kofo Ajani. My younger brother is Jinadu Ajani.
We lived in lagos.
Mushin Olosha, Lagos.
Our house was a two bedroom flat. We hardly came out of the house. Baba mi never wanted us going out, he employed an home tutor for us. We only went out of the house when it was necessary.
All we knew about the world was revealed to us by Mr Isqilu, our home tutor. He was a different man from Baba mi. He was kind and gentle, he never lashed our butts. He always had goodies for us. He was a good man.
Today is monday,
Baba mi never went to work on mondays. That was strange. Mr isqilu had told us that monday was the most important working day in the week. If you had to stay away from your workplace for any reason, it shouldn't be on a monday. Baba mi is a strange man, I wonder where he works.
I was lost in my thoughts...
Kofooooo !!!!
The voice was loud and distant. I wonder how he did that. Baba mi was calling, I raced to his room.
His head was buried deep in a newspaper. It was Alawiye. A Yoruba gossip paper. The sun shined on his head, I could see strands of grey. The man was getting old.
He wanted a cup of lipton. I headed to the kitchen.
Panic stricken.
Why did he do that? It was not necessary. We were good children. We never disobeyed him. We never told lies. He was just a wicked man. A wicked and lonely man who took out his frustrations on his children.
Thank God our thoughts were private. He would have killed us a long time ago.
He was going to lash our butts after he had the cup of lipton. That was his daily routine.
I dropped the hot cup of lipton on a stool beside him. I hurried out of the room and went to Jinadus room.
"Jina Jina" that was what I called him, he never liked the name, but I never stopped calling.
" You had better get out of bed and come for todays lashes, Baba mi is having is lipton now, and you know what follows after that."
I pitied Jinadu, he was just 8, he shouldn't have to be subjected to unnecessary lashes of "Pankere"
One day I promise, one day I will put an end to all of this.
"Oya get up and let us go before Baba mi calls, you know how terrible that can be"
He was still turning and tossing. I carried him. We made for Baba mi's room."
Jinadu had a small frame, so it was easy to carry him.

Paarh, Paarh, Paarh, Paarh, Paarh, Paarh. Paarh, Paarh, Paarh, Paarh...
It was six lashes for me, and four lashes for Jinadu.
I had gotten used to it already, for 13 years of my life the pankere had been a loyal punisher. I didn't see any need to shed tears again.
For Jinadu, it was a different story.
There's only one abbreviation to capture my reactions to his display of emotions.
L.O.L -Laugh Out Loud.
Mr isqilu used it whenever he wanted to express laughter when he was chatting on his blackberry.
One day I will own a blackberry.
*******
"Amrica"
No, its A-M-E-R-I-C-A,
Repeat after me,
"Amewica"
Jinadu, its A-M-E-R-I-C-A and not what you are calling it. Repeat it for the last time.
"Amewica"
Ok, we will continue from here tomorow. Make sure you read the passage on "Public Opinion"
Yes sir,
Jinadu had finished his session with Mr Isqilu. It was my turn.
I had an opinion about why my younger brother could not pronounce "America", I decided to tell Mr Isqilu.
" Mr isqilu, I think Jinadu has R-factor" he cannot pronounce the letter R.
Mr isqilu agreed with me, I felt like an "Efiwe" but then, he went further to explain.
He talked about Linguistics. He talked about an international phonetic alphabet chart. He talked about the place and manner of articulation.
I always enjoyed his lessons, even when I didn't understand what he was saying.
Amewica..
Baba mi had told us that maami travelled to America and would not be back in a long time.
I miss maami.
I wonder if she still remembers us, she never calls.
Would I even recognize maami if I saw her ?
I wondered.
Mr isqilu rounded up his session with me talking about menstration. He said I was going to experience it.
I wanted to ask questions,
Why would I bleed?
How long was I goin to bleed for?
What are ovaries and eggs?
So many questions, but Mr isqilu had other pressing issues to attend to, he promised to answer my questions the next day.
****
The room was dark and big. It was endless.
I was running out of breath, it was still chasing me, I wanted to scream, but I felt a big lump in my throat .
I stopped to catch my breath.
Oh my goodness, is this the end?
It was catching up with me, I started running again with double speed.
How come there was no one around to help me,
Where is Baba mi?
Where is Jinadu?
I kept on running, I was getting tired.
I was loosing hope, the life was slipping out of me...
I said a little prayer.
Dear God, forgive my sins.
Bless "Baba mi".
Give Jinadu strength to endure Baba mi's lashes.
Open the gates of heaven for me.
Amen... My eyes remained closed.
Suddenly!, I heard a voice.
It was loud and distant! I wanted to open my eyes, but the strong rays of bright light that hit my pupils made me close them slightly.
I could see a very bright light ahead, it reflected from a man in white,
The light was so bright and blinding.
The man was moving closer, the light was shining brighter
he called my name
"Kofoooooo"
He was my saviour. He was the son of God.
He held out his hand, I reached for it.
I was going to heaven.
"Paargh, Paargh, Paargh"
The sharp pain from Baba Mi's Pankere brought me back to the world of the living.
I coiled into a tight knot and screamed with all my strength.
It was the first time in years that the Pankere would put my lips apart.
I was dreaming the whole while, and Baba mi was the man in my dream. I managed a silent laugh.
" I'm off to work " he said, as he walked out of the room.
I was about to get out of bed when I felt a sickening moist in my pant.
My hands probed the area.
I thought I had bed-wetted.
I was wrong. I stopped wetting the bed a long time ago.
This was a different moist, it was a red one.
I was bleeding.
"No more pankere from Baba mi, no more lashes."
I'm going to fight back if he tries to...
I'm going to protect Jinadu.
I just became a woman!
To be continued.
Written By : Odutuyo Adeyinka Sasa-Eniyan.