The Aboki

The term 'Aboki' is one of the rather popular words in use across Nigeria. The word with it's origins from Northern Nigeria denotes friend. Till date its use in Northern Nigeria retains its original meaning of friend. However in other parts of the country it may convey a different meaning based on the intent of the speaker. In the Southern part of the country it is general used to refer to tradesmen of Northern descent. So when you hear someone being referred to as an Aboki in Southern Nigeria ,friendship is likely not what is intended but a reference to an individual from Northern Nigeria.

In some other instances a negative connotation or jest may be the intent is behind it's usage. Thus when two individuals who are clearly not of Northern descent are discussing and one refers saying to the other "you are a real aboki" note that the recipient of the speech is usually being made jest of unfortunately with a word that ordinary connotes some sort of camaraderie.

While growing up 'the Abokis' in the part of the country where I reside used to be amongst the best set of tradesmen to transact with. Their mainstay is usually textiles, foodstuff such as grains, yams, onions e.t.c, jewelry and bureau dexchange (buying and selling of foreign currency). The reason why they were good to do business with was because of their honesty and moderation in pricing of their wares. This still remains true to some extent for some of them. It is for these reason that when I intend to purchase certain food items I have a preference for 'the abokis'.

The abokis also offer mobile food vending services although no longer exclusive to them. This is done by stacking up food items on wheelbarrows and moving from one location to another or in some cases a specific location for sales. The advantage of this service for buyers is that sometimes if you're lucky to encounter these mobile vendors you may be saved of the burden of having to visit the local markets especially if you aren't purchasing many items.

These vendors usually sell food items such as grains, fruits and tubers. There are also those who also sell non-food items. Sadly rather than receiving encouragement for rendering a somewhat essential service some make jest of these hardworking individuals because they usually have to trekk long distances to sell their products on an almost daily basis.

Similarly over the years there seemed to be a subtle mockery of the honesty with which many of them carried out their transactions as some persons deemed them foolish or 'unwise' for charging low fees for their wares. This to me was and still is rather unfortunate and disturbing for people to be mocked for being honest and considerate in charging for their wares. In some circles they were termed not to have "opened eyes" meaning not seeking excessive profits in this instance.

Unfortunately these days many of the abokis have now 'open eyes' and are competing with those who once mocked them and beating them at the game of 'opening eyes'. Those days in the process of negotiations or haggling for wares , once an aboki gives you the 'last price' you know indeed that is the least amount you will get that ware from any seller and you could seal the transaction knowing that you got the best deal for the item in the market.

Sadly that is no more the case with many 'abokis' as they have now mastered the art of inflating prices like sellers from other tribes. Hence when an aboki gives you 'last price' these days save for some of them you may need to do your research from negotiations with other sellers to ascertain that you are indeed getting the best deal in the market.

I remember an experience some years ago when a friend intended to purchase a piece of jewelry and had approached an aboki selling such wares. The amount which the aboki offered was rather exhorbitant and my friend briskly left him to find out from other sellers ( a common technique to persuade a seller to review his or her selling price downwards) and later returned. Shockingly the aboki eventually sold the item to him at an amount which was outrageously lower than what he initially offered.

I also have a personal experience, it so happened that on a particular day on a weekly basis I had to visit the city centre which has some areas where foodstuff are sold , so for convenience sake instead of having to commute down on another day to make my purchases, I took advantage of the opportunity to do my shopping for foodstuff and groceries. I had become a 'customer' to an aboki who sold tomatoes.

Initially I could tell I was getting a good deal for the money I was parting with then one day he offered a rather exorbitant asking price which I promptly turned down and vowed not to return. I eventually got the same ware for a much lower price at another location from another aboki. This experience reinforced a lesson which I had previously learnt in dealing with tradesmen and women during my National Youth Service year.

NEVER become a 'customer' to a particular seller that is do not stick with purchasing your items from only one seller over an extended period of time. The reason being that some sellers tend to take advantage of the trust built over time with their 'customers' to start exploiting them or 'sitting jobs on their head' as it is said in some circles.

So next time that seller you've always been patronizing you calls you 'customer' it may not be a friendly compliment rather he may just be subtly welcoming you to part ways with more more than you should for a ware while you think you're getting the best deal in the market. Hence endeavour to always do your research about the current price of commodities possibly before visiting the market place.

Shukran

Danke

Merci

Gracias

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Спасибо

for reading.