I Am Coming Home | A Free write

Bisi is coming to Nigeria for the first time in her life. She has lived in the US all her life. Having heard of her country home in Nigeria where life gets busy and fun every December, she decided to come home to familiarise with her cousins and other relatives. When her mother told her about the social and cultural life of her people, she had refused to accept visiting Nigeria. 

One of her excuses was about insecurity and some other unholy rituals that are shared in social media about Nigeria. Bisi, after accepting to visit Nigeria, went to the internet to search for Ejinrin, her paternal home. It was at this point that she discovered some more interesting facts about Ejinrin and Nigeria as a whole. 

Erin is known very well for being the commercial nerve of consumable products during the colonial occupation of Nigeria. All the farm produce from the southern hinterland had been tolled to Ejirin for exchange for European products. 

In the company of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Oropo, Bisi landed at the Marital International Airport, Lagos. She beheld the beauty of Nigeria from the airport. She used to think that people were still on trees as painted in some parts of the world against Nigeria. 

Her cousin, Dolapo was there to pick them up at their home at Ikeja where they would stay for two days before their convoy headed to Ejinrin to celebrate Christmas and new year. 

It was a great reunion. Everyone was happy that Bisi had finally visited Nigeria after what seemed like an unending battle coined from the infatuation she had heard about home. On the third day of their landing, when all offices had closed for the year, they all moved to Ejinrin. 

The journey was quite enjoyable except for some parts of the road that needed to be patched up. What caught Bisi's affection was the different goods on display in traffic jams. She loves to eat junk and this is an opportunity for her to exhibit her nature. 

Close to the popular Itoikin market, Bisi was encapsulated by freshly fried snails with chilling pepper and red lobsters. She asked Dolapo to halt the car so she could buy some. Without asking how much they were worth, Bisi picked four large stick sauced snails. 

I'd like to have some lobsters too

The hawker doesn't seem to understand what she meant. Some just stared at her, waiting to be called. 

Anti, ebewa an oun can't

She bought some lobster too and their journey continued. 

When they arrived Ejinrin by midday, Bisi was still refreshed, ready to visit the warm spring she read about that is located at Ikogosi. That's one of her highest points in coming to Nigeria. 

Dolapo was looking out for a lady to marry and would gaze as much as possible to find one during the festivity. So, he was going to attend every traditional event and won't miss church services. Who knows where the lucky woman would be. 

Early in the morning of the next day, the community town crier with his loud gong announced the clearing-road ceremony to begin. The King and chief-in-council had agreed that the ceremonies begin with music and cultural display. 

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It is going to be Bisi's first taste of a cultural vibe. She woke up, took her bath and had breakfast. It hopes to be an interesting event.

The harmattan is the only problem but Bisi, having lived in a colder region in the US had no issue.

The village drummers have taken their space, playing with melodious songs and some women took to dancing the famous atilogu dance. What a life, Bisi thought. She had been missing a lot all the while she had refused to come home. 

It was at the masquerade display on boxing day that Dolapo met Wande, a lady he married after three months of intimate friendship. 

Wande also lived in Scotland and had come visiting Nigeria for the first time like Bisi. It was a celebration of love during their wedding at the Anglican cathedral in Ejinrin. 

 Bisi has resolved to always be back home yearly to find more truths about her roots. 

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