"Do you know who I am?", the older man yells with his nose scrunched up like I have never seen an African nose scrunched up before. "Who the hell are you? Who cares who you are, Oga? Don't touch my bag again. I have warned you", the younger lady dressed in a baggy, brown T-shirt … Continue reading Cabin-ish Fever
Category: Africa
Book Review: Second Class Citizen by Buchi Emecheta
I find the author, Buchi Emecheta, very interesting. I often wish she were alive so I could have a chit chat with her. The trick to splendid writing is honesty and honesty is often best drawn from our own experiences. We feel it so deeply that when it's spilled out through words, it is simply … Continue reading Book Review: Second Class Citizen by Buchi Emecheta
Can I eat in you?
'I'll quit right now if you insist', I said looking my co-worker straight in her ocean blue eyes which looked bigger behind her thick rimmed glasses. She knew I was serious and I was. My earliest memory of how a toilet should be was when I was in Nursery school. I had been escorted by … Continue reading Can I eat in you?
9 months later…
9 months ago, two people were born. My ever-smiling son and me, Fifi, the fiercely loving mother. Perhaps one of my greatest traits and weakness (ironical, eh?) is my propensity to love the heck out of people. Motherhood, however, opened up an insane truckload of excess and overwhelming love. If you gaze closely at me, … Continue reading 9 months later…
My whole world
I had a nightmare last night. In it, strong hands were around my slim neck. A hard slap caused my teeth to break the skin of my inner right cheek. A forceful shove and I was face down kissing the earth. Except when I now put a hand on my face, I know it wasn’t … Continue reading My whole world
Over a pot of stew
‘Ha!’, Nkoli exclaims and scratches her scalp under her newly installed weave covered protectively in a large bonnet. Her thick thighs open and close rapidly to the beat of her racing heart. She’s seated on the edge of her bed facing the closed door. She’s waiting. She’s been waiting for the knob of the door … Continue reading Over a pot of stew
Happy International Day of the Girl Child!
With the ongoing protests in Nigeria and my preoccupation with remaining informed of all the happenings, somehow I missed the celebration of the International Day of the Girl Child. "This international observance day of October 11 was declared by the United Nations to support more opportunity for girls and increase awareness of gender inequality faced … Continue reading Happy International Day of the Girl Child!
Always so close
It was the year 2003. The 14 year old me waited impatiently to hear the closing bell and head to Mr. Biggs, a then-famous-Nigerian restaurant, with my friend to buy what had become our favourite pastry. At the sound of the bell, we began the 12 minutes trek from our school to Mr. Biggs. As … Continue reading Always so close
One superficial advantage of my African Hubs
In my single, dating years, I was always busy in the bathroom during spring and summer. Busy shaving! ...because, you see, I am super hairy and the culture around hair on women in Canada is a big no no! Ironically, even during winter, I couldn't live my best, hairy life in peace because my white … Continue reading One superficial advantage of my African Hubs