The year 1995 comes with good tidings on the one part and world records on the other, some of the events that happened in 1995 are but not limited to; the 44th Miss pageant event which was hosted in Namibia, making it the first and the last time such event will be held in Africa, 1995 was again the year where regular multi-party election will be held in Ethiopia after changing to their new constitution. On a sweeter note, it was the year South Africa beats New Zealand at the Rugby world cup, a period historian's tagged iconic being post-Apartheid era.
1995 started, but before it went far, I was born, birthed on a beautiful morning, with singing and joy on the face of the father, the birthing was supposed to be the last, being a male child the laboring mother as at that point knew this was not the end, another trial will go in, just because of the love for a girl child. Having two male children prior to me. In the Yoruba culture, when a new child is born; families, friend and well-wishers pour in a congratulatory message, saying "Well-done for a safe delivery", some will say the child will grow beyond the reach of the parents, visitors will then chant Amen.
What do one say about a presumed Medical Doctor who now grew to become a very skilled footballer, at a point named after the legendary footballer Jay Jay Okocha. With a penchant for girls, I lived to appreciate the sanctity of womanhood, I do believe all women, ladies and girls are beautiful and I won't stop at wanting to become friends with all irrespective of their tribe, religion and belief system.
There remains a problem I hate while growing up, over a decade after my birth, my Mum would deliberately wake me up to join her in preparing the food the family will eat while my elder brothers and younger sister continue their sleep. It is common knowledge that around 5am is the best moment of sleep in those days, at a point I will be like why always me! I do have a sister who is so beautiful, I believe she remained untouchable due to the habit of pampering last born children. I got an excuse when another was added, but it was a renewed call for more early ups, my dad once confided in me that the last was an afterthought(smiles), he loves my mum.
Growing up became a little bit of unending story, ranging from bathing in the open when it rains, or bathing publicly, due to the age long culture of reaching a certain age before you could start bathing in the bathroom, these moments were not easy ones, because you have passerby who tends to look at your little below the waist. It was also a show of pride then, that you will cover your below when your girlfriends approaches your house. While other children go to bed after each play in the evening, rolling worn out motorcycle tyres in the afternoon, for me it was a time to go to my corner, pick my books, read them and assimilate new knowledge. I was such in love with books.
I was so vast in my studies that I do teach some of the students in the senior class up to two levels, I was not carried away with this endowment, I pressed on. This awesome part of me help me become an inborn extrovert, I won debates, quizzes, and at a point when I was to be elected as a Senior prefect in elementary school I was given a yellow card due to my height, almost all my class mate were a way taller than I do, It became a challenge, my Mum was invited for a chat to accept Punctuality Prefect Boy, sometimes in life you have to make compromise, no one ever thought I was being groomed to become an emerging politician that will be good negotiating deals and positions.
Also read: My first date at 17
To a story I will never forget; there is a friend of mine, who pride with the idea that she hails from a rich home, and beat everybody to that pride, okay! On this fateful Monday morning, we were set for the general assembly, and she vomited Eba - a staple food made of roasted cassava flour, prepared in the form - a boiled water poured in a bowl, the cassava floor will be evenly spread on the water till it is thick to satisfaction. After a while it will be turned with a wooden stick, and served hot or has preferred, it was a great day in school, as the news reaches both seniors and other classes, it was a day to swallow ones pride.
Proceeding, on every graduation day, I do accept several gifts, as my name is mentioned, proceeding out of the guest tent, receiving the principal handshake, while halfway to sitting down, my name will be called again. It was a moment when there was a fire, it can be more sparkling than it is when the effort is put in.
28 years after, the story is yet to complete, as the stone touches each other to make a fire, there comes a spark, remembering I have a little soul I love, just like Kyndal Inskeep narrated, "I was wishing we were something more than friends that kiss." Noting that a creative mind is a fertile land for growth, I became a writer and learnt the ways of life, through books, religion, politics and the attitude of friends.
Until the story gets completed, every fires begin with a spark, this is me, expect me, If 1995 was a year, then January 11 was a day, I see me!
Interesting..
ردحذفإرسال تعليق