Book Two
Ayetoro, Ogun.
Monday, February 4, 1794.
Seven p.m.
‘Sir, I want to go home.’ Mide adjusted herself.
‘Why?’ Mr. Ajifowora asked.
‘It is getting late and my parents would beat me if they don’t see me.’ Mide rose up from his mat.
‘Let me get you something to eat before you go.’ He rushed out to get amala lafun and ewedu soup for Mide from a food vendor.
Ademide ate the food and Mr. Ajifowora helped her clean some particles with his thumb at the side of her mouth.
‘Sir, I am ready to go.’ She felt uncomfortable and stood up.
‘Let me follow you so that I can beg your mom to forgive you.’ Mr. Ajifowora stood up alongside with her.
‘Sir, my parents don’t like visitors and my dad won’t take it easy when he sees you.’ Mide winced.
Mr. Ajifowora convinced Mide not to worry and he followed Mide to her parents’ house. He met Mrs. Ajisafe picking beans; Mrs. Ajisafe dropped the tray of beans when she saw her daughter with a man.
‘How may I help you?’ Mrs. Ajisafe stood up from her stool and adjusted her wrapper.
‘Good evening ma, I am your daughter’s teacher.’ Mr. Ajifowora extended his palm towards her.
‘So? Is that your name?’ Mrs. Ajisafe avoided his palm and queried him.
‘My name is Ajifowora.’ He introduced himself.
Mrs. Ajisafe eyed her daughter and called out to her husband, ‘Baba Mide, you have a visitor o.’
Mr. Ajisafe came out with a chewing stick in his mouth. He looked at Mr. Ajifowora in disgust.
“Good evening sir, I am Ajifowora.’ Mr. Ajifowora paused and got no response from the father. ‘I am your daughter’s teacher.’
‘You are part of the people that made mama Mide to send her daughter to that devilish place.’ Mr. Ajisafe sat on a bench.
‘What do you mean sir?’ Mr. Ajifowora had a slight frown on his face.
‘I don’t know why Nigerians are copying these oyinbo people.’ Mr. Ajisafe chewed on his Miswak (chew stick). ‘Why are you dressing like them? What type of cloth are you putting on?’ He looked at Mr. Ajifowora in disgust.
‘Sir, I am on a shirt and suspender trousers.’ Mr. Ajifowora gave a friendly smile.
‘Sus… What?’ Mr. Ajisafe spat out. ‘Where are our buba, esiki and sapara? What you are wearing does not beat our Aso oke like gbariye (Yoruba men attires).’ He turned towards his wife and noticed his daughter.
‘Since I do not have a son, Ademide would have been a very good hunter if her mother did not send her to that devilish place called school.’ Mr. Ajisafe put his Miswak in his mouth. His Yoruba accent was so strong that you could notice his h-factor in his speech.
‘Baba Mide, do not say that again o.’ Mrs. Ajisafe tried to control her anger.
Mr. Ajifowora used the opportunity to educate Mide’s parents on how to treat a child. He also tried to preach the gospel to Mide’s father.
‘This Jesus, can he make fire or send thunder like our gods? And what is this salvation you are talking about?’ Mr. Ajisafe spat out.
‘Jesus is the son of the living God and God is an all consuming fire; he is the greatest example of generosity, I can’t explain or describe him because I can’t explain eternity; he died on the cross of cavalry for our sins. In his flesh, he demonstrated the word to the world.’ Mr. Ajifowora smiled.
‘Why would a man kill himself because of someone? You are saying nonsense.’ Mr. Ajisafe stood up. ‘Do not try to engage my daughter in your religion or you would regret it.’ He pointed his fingers at Mr. Ajifowora as a sign of warning and he stepped into his house.
Mrs. Ajisafe was surprised because no one dared to preach Christianity to Mide’s father. Mr. Ajisafe was the greatest hunter in Ayetoro village and he was one of the most feared persons in the village.
‘Young man, where did you take my daughter to?’ Mrs. Ajisafe adjusted her wrapper and moved closer to the teacher.
Mr. Ajifowora explained how he met Ademide but he did not share it with the mother that he took Mide to his house. Mrs. Ajisafe was not moved with what Mr. Ajifowora was saying and she bid him goodnight.
Mrs. Ajisafe noticed her daughter’s new uniform and accused Mide of stealing her money. Mide lied that it was her biology teacher, Mrs. Jejelaye that got her a new uniform.
‘I don’t know if men are touching you now,’ Mrs. Ajisafe whined aggressively, ‘that’s why you have been rude to me.’ She hissed.
‘No food for you today as your punishment.’ Mrs. Ajisafe left her daughter.