Manoye stared at the grey walls in the tunnel. He was stuck in Carleton University’s winding tunnels, witnessing the changes through the last four decades. As a group of young men walked past him staring at the rectangular instruments they held in their hands, his mind wandered back to his arrival in Canada over 40 years ago.
He had arrived towards the end of summer, and had been well warned about the freezing Canadian weather. His father had told him how the ice-box wouldn’t compare to the cold described in books about Canada vicious weather. Manoye smiled as he remembered how he had once pictured Canada as a country full of ice huts and snow covered trees. He had imagined snow to be like sand that fell from the skies. To his surprise, when he reached Canada’s shores, he felt warm winds hit his face. It was a very warm day and the humidity was comparable to the heat from the firewood in his mother’s hut.
His thoughts travelled back to his father, Chief Ikpoki of the Omera clan, in the dense rain forest region of Nigeria’s Niger/Delta. He smiled as memories of his proud father walking out of the scholarship office with his scholarship letter stamped. He had been granted a scholarship to study at Carleton University, Ottawa Canada.
The scholarship would cover his expenses and tuition. The words danced at him, and his eyes glazed over. It was 1968, Nigeria had gained full independence, the opportunities seemed endless, Manoye and his father discussed wildly about how much change could come to Nigeria.
Chief Ikpoki walked steadily with his walking stick and full traditional attire. Today was a happy day for him; his first son was going to make him proud. Chief Ikpoki thought about the positives that could come out of this trip and smiled. His son would come back with sacred knowledge to help him boost his farm produce and enlightenment the villagers. He was elated at the thoughts that his lineage will now bring wealth to the family. It was a great day indeed.
Chief Ikpoki called upon the village elders and excited told about his son’s sojourn to faraway lands to bring back enlightenment. The news spread across the village wildfire, the Oogbeun dancing troop was told by the elders that a village sendoff of Manoye was eminent in the coming weeks. They began preparation and planning making sure the village maidens were ready to adorn their polished beads and dance away deep into the night. The village high priest, Olodi, had also been called upon to bless Manoye’s trip. He gave Manoye a carving, a good luck charm to bring him good luck.
Manoye’s mother, Eniye, met with the women of her clan and excitedly told them to bring their tastiest goats, cows, hens, plantains, yams and cassava. She squealed with delight and boasted that the sendoff of her son was going to be a divine feast, after all Chief Ikpoki had asked her to spare no expense.
Her first and only son was going to leave the African shores in style. The palm wine tappers and ogogoro (local gin) brewers were ready for the feast.
Manoye grinned… this was a good day indeed!