UNEXPECTED JOY AT DAWN
-ALEX AGYEI –
AGYIRI
Alex
Agyei-Agyiri is a Ghanaian novelist, poet, and guest writer for the Writer’s
Project of Ghana-born at Adamoribe in the Akwapin South District of the Eastern
Region of Ghana. He is a product of the
University of Ghana, Legion, and a legal practitioner.
His works include the award-winning poems.
“Passover”. “Ancestral faces” and “This death call” and adjudged to be among
the best-selected poems for the BBC Arts and African poetry award for 1982 and
1984. His two collections of poetry won the Ghana Association of writer’s
literary prize for literature in 1982 and the Valco Award for literature in 1982. Unexpected
Joy at Dawn is his first novel and it won a Valco literacy award for literature
for the best manuscripts in Ghana in 1988 under the title “Alien”. This novel was “commended” at 2005
Commonwealth writers’ prize, African Region.
SETTING BACKGROUND OF THE NOVEL
The setting of
the novel is both traceable to Ghana and Nigeria. The novel captures the turbulent political and
economic situation of the late 1960s through the late 1970s and the early
1980’s. The novel which has a scrappy history
is retold and also emplores the rottenness of our social and political
heritage.
The historical footage of this novel can be
likened to the Biblical “eye for an eye”
between the two countries, Ghana and its brother, Nigeria. The expulsion of Ghanaians from Nigeria in
the 1980s under the then government of Shehu Shagari could be considered as a
punch or revenge in the face of the Ghanaian government, in retaliation for
expelling Nigerian immigrate in 1969 under the leadership of Kofi Abrefa Basia,
the then Prime Minister of Ghana who demanded and forced Nigeria migrants out
of Ghana for reasons including economic concerns and xenophobia.
According to
Mama, the immigration officer reminded her of the past. He remembered how the government of Ghana
passed a law known as the Alien’s Compliance Order of 1969 asking all aliens
without resident permits to regularize
their stay in the country or vacate with immediate effect. This was because the opposition party accused
the non-Ghanaian residents of running the
country and made a mess of the Ghanaian economy, They attributed their inability to
fix their country to aliens as scapegoats. Mama’s mother and father died in the
truck on their way to Nigeria. Other
persons also lost their lives or relatives.
However, the Nigeria government did not retaliate
this unfair treatment immediately.
Nigeria and Ghana were good allies and have been maintaining their
friendship before independence till now.
But this friendship was threatened during the regime of the then
Ghanaian Head of State Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings and the Nigerian
Presidents. Alhaji Shehu Shagari in 1980s.
As they were not in a good terms, Rawlings accused Shagari who was a good
friend of Ghana's former President, Hilla Limann of helping Hilla to overthrow
his government. This beef continued
between the two governments. Those
aliens in Nigeria threatened the peace of Nigeria as they continue to
perpetrate heinous crimes in the country.
Out of the robbers that attacked Alex Ekwueme’s house, two were
Ghanaians. The government took drastic action and ordered the immediate
expulsion of illegal immigrants especially Ghanaians out of Nigeria. This marching order gave rise to the
christening of a bag called Ghana-must-go ‘because these bags were the only
affordable bags they could easily use to convey their property.
In addition, the physical setting and
psychological situation in Ghana before this reprisal deportations should also
be considered here. The power that-be
was said to have crippled the economy as the technocrats and skilled personnel
have also left the country. The country
is exposed to economic gloom, even Nii, who is an Assistant Manager in a bank,
has to do part-time teaching jobs to survive.
It is a period of panic economic measures like the withdrawals from
circulations of fifty cedi notes, the highest national currency highest
denomination, which has left a lot of people penniless. A woman who has lost forty thousand cedi dies
of a heart attack. It is a period of
scarcity, and lack of petrol has turned people into human caravans, some
persons have resorted to cunning practices especially Tally O. Naidoo, a friend
of Joe who is civil servants and businessmen.
It is also a period of anarchy and military brutality. An armed soldier chases a ten-year-old girl
for selling above control price.”
Therefore, the Ghanaian society in this era is in a total mess as it
pushes its citizens and non-citizens to live crime oriented life of
irresponsibility.
Another part of
the setting includes Ijase, Nigeria where the last part of the incident takes
place. The story ends when fate makes
Nii and Mama Orojo reunite. Like Anyi Kwei Armah’s The Beautiful Ones Are
Not Yet Born, the setting of the novel is full of the symptoms of the social
and political malaise and national
disintegration. No wonder the novelist
describes the events in the novel as “story of a nation in labor” (39) whose the delivery date is unknown.
PLOT ACCOUNT
Alex Agyei – Agyiri’s Unexpected Joy at Dawn
tells the pathetic story of the two Nigerians who are blood relations,
separated by two deportations. It captures vividly their endless search or
quest for a reunion. The story is about two siblings Nii Tackie and Mama Orojo
daring the 1983 deportation of
Ghanaians from Nigeria under the Shebu Shagari government. Nii who is based in Ghana is a Nigerian by
blood but a Ghanaian by birth. He was
left in Ghana by his parents as they made the tortuous journey to Nigeria when the Ghana government enacted the Aliens Compliance Order
without the required papers as
aliens.
Mama Orojo is among those
Nigerians affected. Nii abandons his dead wife, Massa at the
hospital and runs to Nigeria as a
result of economic hardship in search of his family in order to start
life a new, armed with the conviction
that with a Yoruba mark on his face and a
Nigerian name, he would easily
trace his root to his family. His
arrival in Nigeria clashes with a
deportation order by Nigerian government asking of aliens numbered about three million, to leave within ten
days.
Nii soon discovers that he needs more than a tribal mark and a family name to
claim citizenship. At least, he needs to
speak or understand one Nigerian language, so that he can be reintegrated into his society. Mama Orojo on the other hand is busy
working in the same direction. She travels
to Ghana in search of Niii and suffers the same ugly fate as Nii. She must go
through the trauma of a fruitless search until fate finally leads her to reunite with Nii in
Nigeria. Along the line, both become
Victims of overzealous and wicked security agents such as policemen and Immigration officers.
Away from two siblings searching for identity
and reunion, the prose narrative also captures how the economic hardship in
Ghana has affected all and sundry. Millions of its citizens including market
women, artisans, workers, skilled and Unskilled laborers are languishing in
pairs and worries-their future hanging Precariously on the palace of
uncertainty because of harsh economic law which includes the withdrawal from
circulations of fifty cedi notes, the national currency’s highest denomination,
which has left a lot of people penniless. Also, all savings in banks above fifty
thousand cedis have been frozen and to make a withdrawal from such accounts, one
must obtain clearance from the Attorney General’s Department. A certain market woman who lost
forty thousand cedis dies of a heart attack as a result of this. Aaron on his part has abandoned his dream.
Anti Hill Company, when he could not get a desired loan from the Expense Bank, to
travel to Nigeria for greener pasture.
He ends up in a construction site with Nii who works at the Expense Bank, up to the post of assistant
manager, has to do part-time teaching job to survive. And still, the economic gloom forces him out
of Ghana to start life anew. Also, the leader of the Susu Union, absconds with
the market women’s money, leaving his wife and children to wallow in abject
poverty and lack. He lost his life in
the struggle for greener pasture in Nigeria.
It is the same economic the stranglehold that makes Nii dump his dead wife, Massa, at the Koforidua mortuary and disappears.
The story also explores the general atmosphere
of corruption, filthy society, and
absolute anarchy on the part of security personnel such as soldiers, policemen and
immigration officials. For instance, a
ten-year-old girl is chased by an armed soldier for selling a product above the
control price and her mother becomes traumatized.
The security agent such as police aid and
abet the likes of Joe and Naidoo who engage in illegal business of gold and
diamonds. The atmosphere harbors decay
and rottenness. Nil’s experience at the
Korie Lagoon where he goes to ease himself proves these “dried feces were scattered all about”.
Finally, Nii in the company of Aaron and others experience multiple travails in Nigeria. For example, when Nii is caught by an officer while trying to cross to
Nigeria’s border, the officer in charge takes them home to protect them and also
gives them a stern condition that if they resist he would hand them over to the
police or immigration officials for deportation. Nii and Aaron struggle to escape at the camp
to Ijase where fate finally, smiles on them.
His final meeting with Mama Orojo, her lost sisters whom he has not seen
for the past fifteen years creates unending unexpected Joy at dawn in his mind.
MAJOR EVENTS
IN THE NOVEL
PART ONE
Nii Tackie’s wife, Massa is critically ill
In
Ghana, Nii discovers that Massa’s sickness has come to its worst and the doctor’s prediction has come true at last “she has a few days on her life” the doctor
confirms. Nii begins to blame
himself for hoping her conditions would change for the better. His worries are beginning to overwhelm him
for he’s dying of exhaustion and tension.
He presses her chest to be sure of her death before he announces it. They have been to several physicians and all
of them have only one Solution or verdict, “ Just a few days and they have also
wished her all the best. Life has treated them well for two years
before she is taken ill. Not long before, one of Nil’s friends has
advised him to consult a faith healer, herbalist and a spiritualist who is nicknamed “God is beyond science and his real name is Odeefo
Nkansah.
Anyhow, Nii is faced with
financial challenges as the bank manager. The bank he works with has written him
a query about his indebtedness”. Well, it is an I.O.U” Nii bellow.
Mama Orojo And Her Friend, Ibulk
Embrace Amen Kristi Religion
In Nigeria, at
IIlere, Mama Orojo complains to her friend about the lack of progress in their
evangelical work in the town and the people they earlier preach to, and it becomes clear to them that the
Sahm brotherhood does not want to see them preaching to people they see as
potential converts. Mama always reminds Ibuk about the day of their initiation
into the Amen Kristi. That day, they kissed the cross. Kissing the cross was an important ritual
and every “initiate” accepted Jesus
Christ first and the third day is to evangelize. Ibuk
bit the cross and they almost have her rejected. The missionary work in the town is their sixth since they joined
the church Ibuk then shares a second secret with Mama on how her husband had vowed never to
join Amen Kristi especially any church
that is younger than himself.
The sight of
immigration uniform startles Mama which leaves her friend panting for breath. It is about the memory of what happened to
her fifteen years ago when she came to
Lagos from Ghana. She came to Nigeria
because she was considered an alien in that country. The government of Ghana
raised a law asking all aliens without a resident permits to regularize their stay in the country because the government of that time had made a mess of
its management of the affairs of the Ghanaian economy and blamed their failure
to do things right on us alien”
scapegoats. So many persons died
in the truck they traveled with and buried including her mother and father.
Grandmother refused to come with them.
And the first year of her stay in Lagos was terrible and miserable. Ibuk then shows a sign of remorse and pity for Mama’s story.
The
Aliens and State of the Nation
As the government has placed a directive
on all aliens to leave the country, the CBS news in Lagos announces thus “we’ve
got to get every one of them out of this
country”. It is also called total war
against waywardness. Every alien or non-citizen should leave the country before the 25th. The fact is that about three million people on the road is not a possible
test.
This takes us to
the situation in Accra, Ghana. Following
the movement of many citizens of the
country to other countries, those leaving the country include some of the most
experienced personnel in the public service, commerce, and industry, and the young youths with little
education are not well equipped or trained to take their place. These
youths claim to be bidding goodbye to hunger and corruption.
They cry the
slogan “Hang us if we fail” The country began to experience a terrible drought and there was a widespread crop failure. Its foreign reserve fell, though exports in some
areas increased. The price of the cocoa commodities fell on foreign markets and the burden of the country worsened.
Nii disagrees with the manager over the loan
Consideration
Nii Tackle who is the assistant manager of
Expense Bank implores the manager during
the interview to carry out a thorough assessment of Anti Hill Company because
they must do that carefully to stay in business. Among the application also is the one submitted
by one Aaron Tsuru, a building technologist engaged in soil research. Mr.
Tsuru needs financial support from the bank for his project.
Linda, the back typist walks in with the news
of the alien issue in the paper “If I had my
way, I’d sack all aliens here” (25) the manager exclaims, but Nii smiles and
matters. Xenophobia! Though of Nigerian Parentage, Nii has been born in Ghana and his upbringing has entirely
made him a Ghanaian. He is afraid that
one day Ghana would sack aliens as it had done fifteen years before. The paper put the numbers of those being
deported from Nigeria at three million of this number, two million were Ghanaians.
Nii
Tackie takes to a part time-Job
The harsh economic reality has seemed to
suggest to Nii to travel to Lagos but
defies going. He decides to take a part-time job to earn extra income to supplement his salary. Despite those efforts, he is still indeed
indebted to the bank, and Massa’s bills are still pending. The doctor has agreed to allow him to settle the rest of the bill by installment.
His major problem as a worker is his
inability to overcome lateness.
He often misses the bank bus and he will have to cover the one mile to the
bank.
Nii has missed three lessons in one week as
the students keep complaining about his lateness and irregular attendance at
classes. The headmaster keeps expressing his disappointment with Nii’s lateness.
After the interview with the headmaster, Nii
visits the market with the hope of
collecting ten cedis per trader as Susu.
He notices that the market is quite empty. One woman says that those who went to the farm gate to buy
food-stuffs could not buy any owing to drought.
“There is no petrol and roads are
bad, only a few vehicles manage to go to Hinterlands these days” (30). Another man
attributes this to be withdrawal of fifty cedi denomination from
circulation as the root course of hardship and the man rains abuse at Nii. “You
people… will soon kill us all and then
take the country, take everything and remember to buy death too” (31) When Nii ask about the whereabouts
of Auntie Joe, he becomes shocked when
told that the woman died of a heart attack when she lost forty thousand cedis as a result of the withdrawal
of the fifty cedi denomination from
circulation.
Nii discontinues the day’s collection as a
result of the situation at the market and heads straight to the Susu union
leader’s house but is disappointed to hear
from the wife that the leader has absconded with the little money after spending the rest. He only left a note behind. Nii shows compassion for the wife and the
children by giving those ten cedis left in his pocket. He also gets home very late to see Massa vomited into her cloth
as she was struggling to get up.
Mama Orojo and Tom Monday evangelize
Mama appreciates the effort she and Tom
carried out this afternoon, which has to
do with sharing the word of God. Their
discussion cut across adultery, Self-doubt, fear, and sin. Mama Opines that death is a sign of sin.
They
digress a bit too personal business “You said you deal with telecom
interest” Tom inquires and also demands
to know if she has the means to undertake any contract before she is paid for
it.
Nii discloses the news about aliens to
Massa
Nii has come
home after being held at the human traffic at the railway station to meet Massa in
deep pain. They live in slums where Mice
and mosquitoes walk freely unhurt. Nii
who is in a very bad mood wears a long face that makes Massa suspect that he’s
in deep worry. “You’ve been worrying of late… is it the
alien issue” Nii does not want this
issue to be a topic of discussion between him and Massa because it would worsen
her condition. After much persuasion,
Nil opens up and utters that the news in the papers is bad and it is stirring
xenophobic feelings in the people and the government may be thinking about
measures. And Nii thinks his tribal
marks would not conceal him. Massa
dismisses such a possibility.
Meanwhile in Nigeria, Mama Orojo is getting
set to travel to Ghana. She is having
six contracts lined up. Her major
concern is her construction business.
The foreman had reported that Dele Sand and Stone Ltd does not deliver
any six trips of sand ordered from them.
The journey in question appears to be a serious burden in his heart. She
tries to locate her destination in her mind’s eyes but so many things came to
her mind. Mama’s flight is scheduled for 10:45.
While on her way to the airport, the engine in the car cuts, and she
leaves the driver and asks him to take care of it. She gets to the airport in no time, but some
thugs try to deceive her into boarding a bus but refuses to yield. While in the plane, the situation there is
not in any way palatable because the plane goes up and down as a result of
snow. The flight that is supposed to
take fifty-five minutes, takes hours before they finally landed, she meets a
man as their discussion gets going, Mama indicates her interest in the gold
business. She recounted how a friend of
hers traveled between Europe and Ghana to buy and sell Gold. The man is willing to sell his ring to her
for only two thousand Cedi, hoping to sell it at a higher price in Lagos if she
decides to sell it later. She pays for the
ring and collects it from the man.
Nii
and the application for a loan
As the manager rejects Aaron Larshibi’s
application for a loan, he feels quite at
ease. The management of the bank does
not find his project particularly suitable for a loan also. Due to the economic slump, very few loan
applications could meet the criteria set by the banks. The Central Bank has issued several
directives in an attempt to curtail further slump in the economy and control
inflation.
While on his way out, Aaron meets Nil and he admits
that he tries his best to recommend his application for the bank but they
refused it. Nil assures him that he
would have helped him. Aaron promises to
fight back. His determination to get the
loan sounds convincing to Nil.
Mama
buys a fake Gold ring
The taxi driver that takes Mama home is quite
friendly. As they engage in an exciting
conversation. She shows the ring to him
and she declares she loves gold because it puts her in touch with her
ancestors. “I come from a long line of Chiefs.
I am a royal…. every African is a Chief or a royal” (78). Mama
assures the driver. On closer
examination of the ring, the driver exclaims.
“This is no real gold-ring it is
fake”, and he further narrated his past to prove to Mama that the gold is
rather fake. The driver says he was once
a gold dealer too. He was dealing in
Daga, an illegal gold business. He stopped doing the business when the police
arrested and severely tortured him before he decided to start driving his own
car. Mama who has saddened by the realization that she has been cheated pleads with the taxi man to take her to
the nearest police station to lay a complaint.
Right there, she is shown the passport-sized pictures of people wanted
by the police.
Mama is able to
identify the man. “I paid him two thousand cedis for the ring “(82) she snaps in
rage. The name of the man she
identified is I-put-it-to-me and that is not his real name and he’s a wanted
criminal. Mama dismisses the taxi driver
and opts to walk down. A policeman runs
after her and assures Mama that he knows where she can buy an original
gold. She is still not convinced because
she has never experienced such deception in her 18 years of stay in Ghana. His being a policeman gives her some
security.
The Rise and Rise of Joe
Joe often explains that his success in life is
a mixture of chance and hard work. He first settled at Oda as an apprentice to
a tailor fixing button on a uniform and worked on the farm of Alvorovo on
Saturday for his master. The advent of second-hand clothes and when his master
moved to the city for greener pasture ended Joe’s dream of becoming a tailor.
One day, his long last friend named Kuuku who
was already doing well in his business visited him and introduced him to mines
business. Kuuku had two cars and a house
already and Kuuku admitted that the business was not without grave risk because
one could get arrested or even get shot.
Joe did not accept to follow his friend, Kuuku to mines immediately, but tried a few
other businesses on his own first. Joe
told Tally O. who is also poor about the business but opted for it. Their first attempt to maul diamonds was
successful as they sold them easily to the black market. At this time Joe was already 30 years old and
a bachelor. Though two women had had
children by him, because he was poor, the relatives of those women he
impregnated did not encourage him to marry them. That is all about Joe’s past life.
Meanwhile, Mama Orojo and the policeman have
come to see Joe who deals in gold. “I told her you are the right man who can get
her genuine gold and diamond, the policeman whispers to Joe. Joe then announces to Mama that the market is
dry and gold is a bit high for obvious reason.
The story of how Mama got swindled on the Lagos-Accra flight move Joe to
pity. Mama agrees to pay three fifty
thousand cedis and she promises to come for additional ones within the week.
Suddenly, Naidoo’s friend who serves in
mineral boards bumps in with the news and details of the future of mining in
the country. “A Canadian team has conducted feasibility
studies on our gold resources and their verdict is that “We are sitting on gold
over here in Ghana. Our gold deposits
run across the country. So we
recommended a massive gold hunt for both local and foreign prospectors. It’s going to be gold” (98) Naidoo
laughs. At this point, Joe becomes very
excited and appreciates Mama for being the lucky charm of good news. Joe’s friend offers to take Mama and the
policeman to the airport as a result of fuel scarcity in town.
The
students make a mockery of Nii
As Nii looks at his watch, he begins to
entertain fear that the headmaster will ask him not to come to school again
because of his constant lateness. Nii
can’t just afford to lose the money he earns from the three-hour weekly
teaching job at the school. He has been
late on all the days he comes to the school to teach the class. The proprietor is also taking note of his
days of absence and lateness. On this
day, he arrives when the period for Economics is nearly over, with bare ten
of sixty minutes left. He enters the
class with a few students to teach the topic, taxation. The message the students put on the
blackboard make some laugh. It reads ‘Nii, learn to use the transport and save
your legs – fat head, fat clothes don’t suit your thin body, lateness is not a teacher”. Nill who could not control the students’ disturbance in the
class, holds out the exercise book to bit the head of the first boy, lose his
balance, and falls on the cement floor.
To save the situation, the headmaster
intervenes and implores the student to be respectful because it is a curse to
insult a teacher. “It is a curse to insult a teacher. And to behave in such a way that he gets hurt
is abominable. despite the poverty of
those of us in the teaching profession…” (107) the headmaster, snaps at the
students. He agrees to pay Nii for three
weeks and also to change his class. Nii
leaves the school premises satisfied with the amount he got from the old
headmaster.
As soon as Nii leaves the school, he decided
to pass through the market because he notices that some persons are rushing to
the other side of the market. A group of
soldiers are parading a ten years old girl caught selling fuel above the
control price and she is led to a woman who denies she is not her mother. Nii runs into Mama Okosua who threatens to
hand him over to the soldiers for alleging to have escaped with her two
thousand cedi she contributed to the Susu.
“You and Susu boss – Don’t think you are
clever and can make use of my money just like that. You are going to pay. I swear” (113). Nii begins to pant, and as Mama Akosua tries
to reach the soliders, another made rush occurs and Mama Okosua collapses on
the ground and faints right where she fell.
There is an instant occurrence of stampede, as Nii slightly dodges
herself and of the crowd and bends straight to Linda’s house because of the
curfew in town. At this point, so many
thoughts streams his mind which include, aliens, clandestine jobs, Susu
collection, bank work, death at the market exile cheat, debt at Expense bank,
Mama Okosua, revolution, etc.
Joe meets the landlord of Beyeeman
building complex
Joe visits the landlord of Beyeeman building
probably to acquire room four and six.
Joe appreciates the arrangement of the one story outside. The old man has a good sense of history and
does not hesitate to display it. He
laments about how the central region has lost its place as the gateway to
Ghana. He was once a singer before he
lost his voice. Their conversations also
span through the recent revolution in town.
He declares that young people shout revolution but railway industry is
gone with the coming revolution – many industries are gone.
“I believe in change; he resume “I believe also that every change should
have positive impact if it’s to be respected”
(117) the old man submits. He
is basically saving money for politics, I
will see party politics again before I die.
Not all the old ones are corrupt.
Some of us believe strongly that political leaders should be mature men
of integrity and of proven track records of industry and honesty, not
demagogues (119).
The purpose for
Joe’s visitation is defected as the old man agrees to give Joe another room
other than the one at the complex, even when Joe convinces him that he is
paying five years advance. “I told you the young ones are rushing into
things. Five years advance isn’t my
worry… at my age I keep to my principles” (1119) the old man disapproves –defeated, Joe
leave at once.
Linda tries to woo Nii to play the role
of a husband
Linda tries to
convince Nii to travel to Lagos with her despite Nii’s condition at home. Nii is beginning to understand the reason why
she is being pestering him for a visit.
She tries to offer herself to him so that Nii will yield to her request.
“I will let you have me for free here and
in Lagos, too… I know your wife is sick, quite sick and has not been well for a
long time” (120)
Linda sounds
lewdly, Nii tries to rack his brain to ascertain the reason behind this
Joseph-like temptation before she opens up.
“My husband wants me to join him
in London, but I need a British Visa. I couldn’t get it at the British High
Commission here. My only opportunity is
to go to Nigeria and obtain a British Visa there. Just agree to play the role of a husband.
Since you are a Nigerian, my entry into Nigeria won’t be difficult (12) Nii
has found himself in a tight situation and he cannot leave for home because he
cannot walk through the curfew.
Suddenly, an idea strikes him once, and he keys into it – removes his
trousers, shirt and under pant, put them in his bag, opens the door and dashes
out. He runs towards the soldiers at the
barrier shouting. “Curfew is a bar” I am
behind the bar and he is led home by the soldiers and they admonish him to
always respect the law.
Nii and Massa visit a spiritualist home
Nii decides to
take his wife, Massa to the spiritualist home as her sickness persists. The caring powder from the spiritualist only
stopped the frequent stooling. The
journey to the village is quite tempestuous and tiresome. Massa on her part could not make the journey
and she passes out in the vehicle. Nii
pleads with the driver to convey them to a nearby hospital for medical
attention all to no avail. On getting
there, Nii is ushered into an office to pay for service at the hospital
mortuary. He is to pay the sum of one
hundred cedi for each day and it must be increased if the corpse is kept at the
mortuary for more than three days Nii’s mind is occupied with so many things
such as; the cost of transporting the corpse, the cost of burial, the coffin,
clothing and drinks.
As soon as Nii
gets to the spiritualist home, he meets a young man addressing a group of
visitors and the inscription on the signboard reads. God is beyond science. God
is the ultimate intelligence. “There is more to the physical things we
observe. Life is more spiritual and more complex than we can possibly
imagine. Confess your sin… In your
prayers God intervenes in the affairs of men”
(127) the man instructs everyone present.
Nii happens to be the twentieth person
in the queue of those waiting to make confessions. He informs them about Massa’s death and his
fear of government decision to expel aliens in Ghana. “God put me where I belong with a home parents… I want to see my family
again, I want to see my sister (132) Nii confesses his sins as he breaks
into uncontrollable sets.
Nii embarks on a journey to Nigeria
Nii abandons Massa’s corpse in the mortuary
and travel between Benin and Togo to Nigeria because the border between Ghana
and Togo has been closed. The journey is
not without risks and dangers, as he’s reliably informed the whole length of
the border is under the watch of security personnel day and night. The soldiers are mandated to shout on
sight. They must watch out armed
soldiers who patrol the area looking for dissidents. Nii has just seventy naira
in his pocket.
A friend of his had
earlier asked Nii to always pretend to pick up things from the ground when he
sees or hear that guards are coming near.
There in the border, he meet Aaron Larshibi who claims he’s on the road
because the bank frustrated him.
Unfortunately, one of the travelers gets shot and the rest of the
travelers are asked to pay a fine of ten Naira each and if they insist they
would be taken to tribunal to be tried as dissidents. Nii arrives safely and he’s informed that a
car will soon take them to the Benin border.
PART 2
Nil’s captured at the Nigeria border
Nii’s trip from Lome to Benin is uneventful
for he experienced the worst era of his life.
He meets Ursula, a guy he knew at the University who is now a trader. Nii is disposed of his money by a cyclist who
helped him to cross Nigeria border to Lagos.
The cyclist demands more money from Nil to enable him settle the
immigration officer but Nil insists and the man over powers him as he delievers
two stringing punches on his cheeks and he fails on the ground. He brings out his knife and snatches the
remaining twenty naira from him.
As Nii kneels down playfully, someone is
standing by him, a custom officer. “Omo Ghana” The man echoes as he demands
to know his name and identity. The name,
Nii tackie Moses akong Na bi has convinced the officer that Nil is every each a
Ghanaian. “Look at the tribal marks on my cheeks. I’m a Nigerian citizen like
you. why all this harassment?” (145)
Nii protests vehemently. The fact that
Nil cannot speak any Nigerian language further gives the officer the conviction
that he’s a Ghanaian. “Many Ghanaians come here professing to be
Nigerians, but some of them are smart.
They learn the language, but they are not proficient. At the end of the day, we get to know the
truth”(146) the officer bellows. As
Nii does not have any means of identification such as passport, he’s taken away
alongside other captives which include Aaron.
“Our cells are full now… I’ve got some farm at IIlere, and I need more
hands… I’m giving you a chance, I’ll offer you a job’ (150) Paleo, the leader
of the captors instructs them. He
implores them to either cooperate work for him or have them handed over to the
police. Nii feels bitter about the
situation, being a slave in his own country.
He soon realizes the futility of trying to convince the officer to
believe him.
Nii, Aaron and other captives here settled
down to work and earn some wages before they may gain their freedom, but Nii
his not relent in his anxious plan to link himself with missing family in
Nigeria. Nii meets one Tom Monday who
has affirmed that Nii’s face resembles a woman he befriended some time ago, and
the woman is somewhere in Lagos – Ijase Nii exclaims in amazement and when he
demands the address, Tom |Zooms off because of the dark smoke emitting from the
Miliki house on fire.
As Nii’s endless search for the family reunion
produces no urgent result, he decides to embrace the job of unloading cartons
of beer or crates of minerals. The
caretaker engages Nii in a conversation, and he asks Nii what he’s been doing
in Ghana. The man feels pleased to know
that Nii was a banker, an assistant manager.
Nii claims that he has come to Nigeria to locate his family. “No one
will believe your story” (162) the
caretaker disagrees.
Nii is beaming with hope that they may gain
their freedom in three days time. His
joy is unlimited as he’s told that a certain woman who resembles him very much
lives at Ijase in Lagos, “she bears my
family name. Orojo, and I’m sure she
will be a key to my arriving at my reward: my citizenship” (164) Nii gives
himself hope. But the carpenter
disapproves of his claim on the ground that it might be another Orojo or has left
Lagos.
Nil goes to visit a lady he met at Miliki
house in a hotel called Hotel Irohin.
Her name is Marshak who resorted to prostitution as a result of the
tides and life challenges. She hopes to
quit the job and gets married someday. “I can be a good wife. I surely will… but I can’t go back to
Ghana. I’m scared scared of what they
would do to me”(174) she bellows. Nii also finds out that her (Marsha)
mother is also into that business in Abidjan. When Nii returns that evening,
the caretaker charges them for attempting to abscond contrary to their pledge to abide by his instruction, and they plead for forgiveness.
Nii works as a slave in a farm to pay for
his freedom. Nii, Aaron and others are taken to a cassava farm
under the close watch of the caretaker to clear the farm, pack and burn the
leaves. The experience is not a funny,,,,, one while
trying to burn the rubbish, the speck of fire on Nil’s shoulder burns the
spot. “We are in sly” (185) Nii
exclaims. They reserve the better time
in the farm discussing their individual dreams for the future. Aaron vows to revive his business. Ant Hill.
“This place is not going to be the
end of my life. Ant Hill and my life share a common bond” (187) Aaron
boasts. On why he was running to
Nigeria, Aaron confesses that he needed money to feed his family and then
looked for prospects for Anthill. The
caretaker shows up immediately and asks them to stop talking and concentrate on
the work at hand.
Mama’s mind is occupied with the desire
to meet her brother, Nii
Mama seems to lose interest in the gold
business she is said to partner with Joe. She informs Joe about his
brother. Nii who works at Expense Bank
whom she has not met for the past fifteen years. They both visit the manager of Expense Bank
to obtain any useful information about Nii’s whereabouts. Mama introduces herself as Nil’s sister who
had lost contact with Nii a long time before.
The manager informs Mama that Nii is on leave and he brings out a letter
from the drawer addressed to Nii. The
letter reads.“Would you arrange for the
removal of a corpse you deposited here on the 21st of May?” (191)
At this point, Mama’s mood is worsen by the mention of a corpse. She is in deep thought as her mind brings up
so many questions.
Mama visits
Nii’s residence but she is reliably informed that. Nii and his sick wife. Massa have not been seen in the house for
five days now. Mama picks the letter and
uses the address therein to go to Koforidna hospital to verify the death of
unknown person and a corpse connected with Nii.
The journey to the hospital is not an easy one. The nurse on duty tells them that Nii told
them that they were going to a spiritualist home but Massa, his wife died on
the way. The place is called “God is beyond science, and many people
do go there to repent from their crookedness.
The nurse on duty also complains that there is no space in the mortuary
and they have been rejecting dead bodies.
Their visit to a spiritualist home does not yield any result as the
attendant informs them that he dissuaded Nii not to travel but insisted. The man indicates that the lady in question
hails form Sampa.
Mama takes Massa’s corpse on Sampa for
burial
Mama and Joe
convey Massa’s corpse to Sampa village for burial. The procession to the cemetery is a pleasant
one. The people in the town gave them
warm welcome and appreciate their efforts in bringing Massa’s dead body home. Mama learnt one thing about Massa, she had
been an adopted child and had not visited the village for a long time.
On the contrary, Mama’s mind is still raving
with series of questions on where she could find her brother. She feels that he’s still alive and he can be
found in Lagos.
Marshak,
a leopard that can never change its spots.
Nii who is now at the cross road of
considering Marshak’s love affairs engages his mind in a number of telling
issues. Their past hurt both of them
greatly. Nii does not want to associate
with a lady who carries similar past ormisfortune with him. Marshak also has the same notion as
well. Nii knows Marshak is not free of
misfortune, she is spiritually troubled, and she is a fugitive. A curse is running in her family and whoever
gets attached to her would be infected.
She does not have a questionable character as she has completely changed
from her former lifestyle.
Marshak on the other is putting constant
pressure on Nii to do something about his current situation of being a fugitive
in his own country.“You’ll have to do
something with yourself and about this situation… a Nigeria must live like a Nigerian, not like a
fugitive or an alien” (200) Nii on
his part vows to do something about his unrecognized status in his own country, but he needs money to enable him
travel to Lagos to search for the Orojos “I
‘ve got to do something senseless run from my bondage, avoid the police and the
immigration and search until I’ve located an Orojo” (202) Nil boasts. Marshak then gives him twenty
naira. Nii needs a fresh start and he therefore needs a virgin. But Marshak is a life away from virginity. However,
Nii’s visit to Marshak is met with heart break and the only explanation to it
is that a leopard can never change its spots.
She has not changed as about two men knock at her door for normal
services she is known for in the past.
This includes a fifteen year-old boy.
Joe is in love with Mama
Mama’s business
partnership with Joe and their recent involvement in the search for Nii is
beginning to spark their feeling for each other. The gold and diamond business is about to
suffer, as they are carried away by this relationship. Joe on his part is still nursing the way or
better time to let his feeling for mama out. “I’ve something to tell you” (207) Joe finally declares his
intention as they sit along. “I believe … the two of us can face the world
confidently ;;;; will you marry me …? Honestly, I love you …we could combine
our resources – gold money and Oil money”
(207) Joe drops the bombshell.
Joe who cannot hide his admiration for Mama’s physical features has
demonstrated his own worth and trust towards her over the years. As a result, mama’s answer should be yes!
Soon, both commence with their marriage plans,
Joe feels that there is a need to contact mama’s parents or any other relative
to facilitate the process. She informs Joe that her parents are dead and the
wedding will be done at Amen Kristi, her own church, she attends in
Nigeria. “The priest is a father to me and I think you’ll like him” (222), Joe brings out a gold ring and engages
Mama. Her mind raves back to the
imitation ring she bought from “I-put-it-to-me
on the airplane.
The soon-to be
couple continues in their mining business, this time around they are trying to
device another way to smuggle gold and diamonds without getting caught or
arrested, because there has been some adverts on the newspaper placing ban on
exports and soon it will be outlawed.
Their intention also is to do the business in a genuine way. “Together
we’ll do mining the proper way, we’ll not offend the law … I don’t want to be
running from the law all my life, I’m sure I can live like any other good
citizen. It’s my pledge to you that, God
willing, I’ll be a good – a good man and a good husband to you” (223 – 225) Joe assures Mama that after this
night, there will be no more hide and seek with the mine guards. “It’s
to have a clean white sheet of life” (226)
Marshak is found dead in the pool of
her own blood
Nii pays Marshak a visit once again, to
apologize to her for walking out on her the previous night, and also to advise
her to join them to Lagos where he hopes to reunite with his family. When he
knocks and opens the door, Nii meets three women standing over Marshak’s bed.
Nii spots a chamber pot filled with blood.
He urges the women to take her to the hospital but insists that they
don’t have papers, if they set out, the hotel proprietor will get them arrested
and hand them over to immigration officials.
One of the ladies confides in them that Marshak has taken some drugs to
abort her pregnancy. They contemplate on how to bury her since there is no land
available. The hotel proprietor has
asked them to vacate the room already before the immigration arrive. All they need to do is to run away or be
arrested and taken to the camp in Lagos.
Nii puts the blame on himself. “Marshak might have committed suicide” (229) Nii submits to his thoughts.
The
death of Tally O
The tragic death of Tally O. Marks the end of
illegal mining business, known as Daga, On that fateful day. Tally O, Joe and
other colleagues are supposed to go for mining hunting. He’s quite very worry since no one is in
sight. Some of the questions running
through his mind include: “How was he to survive if the others did not
come! (230), Tally O’s life has never lacked activity. He had lived a life full of disasters but had
survived. He has once confessed to Joe
that his life lacked genuine meaning. He
tries to calm himself and ‘reason that if his accounts had not been frozen
because of the Central Bank directive, he would have withdrawn some money and
travelled.
Suddenly, Joe and other colleagues showed up.
Unknown to them that the guards are on the alert. During the operation, Tally O. shoots a guard
while trying to protect himself from attack.
He suddenly falls into a ditch in a slippery part of the forest. They tried to pull him out all to no avail
because of his weight. They feel that
leaving him there would be dangerous.
Someone volunteers to conceal their identifies by using an axe to smash
his head and cover him in the hole.
Mama
visits Amen Kristi to seek marriage approval
Mama goes to see the chairman of Amen Kristi
on her decision to settle down with Joe. Tom Monday is also in attendance. The chairman is of the opinion that in
marriage, distance and tribe counts, “Why do we preach about the oneness of the
tribe nation, people, and races? (243) Mama mutters “Let me warn you. Your decision
could create a rift in our church and if you cause trouble. I’ll throw my whole weight against you” (243) the old man admonishes Mama. The old man therefore persuades Mama to marry
Tom Monday instead who is a son of the soil.
Mama then visits the secretary of the church
and the secretary disagrees with the chairman’s stand over Mama’s decision to
get married in the church, because marriage is a private affair in which tribe
does not count. All he needs to know is whether Joe is Christian of which
Mama’s response is negative. Ibuk then
asks her to make Joe join the church.
An argument then
ensues between the secretary and the chairman and also extends to other members
of the church. A vote is conducted between the two factions – those in support
and those against the marriage. The first one is conducted and the result is
four for, and two against. The second vote is taken to decide whether the
church should endorse Mama’s union with Joe. Mama and the secretary voted for
the acceptance of the marriage; the chairman, the doctor and the pastor voted
against it, while the waden refuses to vote. A meeting of the council is
scheduled to decide the explanation of Mama for failing to attend the opening
ceremony in church.
Marshak’s body still Iying at the hotel
The immigration officials meet the hotel
proprietor to inspect the room. He notices that the girls have been taken away
by the immigration.Marshaks’s body still lies on the bed, dead. Nii who has been having series of sleep
talking in the house confesses to the striking similarity between Massa and Marshak. He suspects that Marshak must have taken her
own life and he attributes his reason to be fear she was nursing; fear of hopeless future. “It was all my fault. I didn’t do enough to allay her fears. Nii then suggests to his colleagues that they
should leave immediately for Lagos, and they should contact the caretaker for
the advanced payment.Unfortunately, the caretaker denies them and threatens to
blackmail them.
However, Nil, Aaron and the carpenter
escape to a village called Ngori through the man they meet called Kwaku.
Mama rescues a child from a building
gulped by fire
Mama continues to preach the gospel with Amen
Kristi brethren; this time they are at Egba while Joe is still busy with his
business and alien issue. Suddenly,
the house at the front gulp fire. The
mother and the children are trapped inside the building. Mama rushes into the inferno snatch the child
from the mother ignoring the mother’s rushes and jumps out. “I could take care of the baby, if the authorities
world allow me, until the father or a relative comes” (264) ? Mama pleads. The damage to property is estimated at
several millions of naira and it includes the loss of several lives.
The mass expulsion of aliens
There is massive
exodus of human and property to the border because the deadline for the
departure of aliens has expired. Nii and
his colleagues show no concern because it is not humanly possible to move out
in ten days. The situations they experience give them a stern warning that the place
they are in is no longer safe, even the fire engulfs the place, and they fear
that the police would be attracted by the fire and come to arrest them “Lets go to Ijase… we would get help if I
meet my sister (271) Nii whispers.
K.K comes with another idea that his friend is leaving at ABC not far
away from there, they can wait there until morning and continue to the border
from there. Unexpected happens on their way to ABC. Three armed soldiers are seen chasing the
fugitives. The carpenter is arrested. The journalist who attempts to take a clip of
the happenings have his camera shattered against the wall and same thing
happened to the second journalist’s camera.
Nii and others escape through another route.
The inexplicable hardship at Haji camp
On the 25th of the month, all
those aliens not yet out of the country are forbidden to leave. A new order by the government directed all
such persons to go to the Haji camp, near the airport in Lagos instead of the
Seme-Badagry border post. When Nii and
his colleagues arrive at the camp, the space available is not much. Even some persons who have been there for
three days have no access to food and water.
Nii meets Linda a secretary at Expense Bank, she apologizes for her
unreasonable attitude towards him in her departures, and the way they parted
when he told her to go to Nigeria. “I had hooked a Nigerian, who helped me
obtain a Visa for London. I have written
to my husband I am coming to London the day after tomorrow, but look where I am
(280) she laments bitterly.
Nii also meets the man he called boss, who
embezzled Susu union money and ran to Nigeria in camp. He vows never to return to Ghana. His reasons for coming to Nigeria is to work for a while and go
back home to settle his debts. He’s been
hiding in a village before the immigration officials got him. The man cannot be traced and his wife
confirmed. That he had made used of all
the Susu money. The kafor Didi market
women back home would tear him apart if he enters Ghana again.
While Nii and Linda are still engaging in chit
chat an old man walks toward them, he pleads with them to render him help. He confesses that he will die very soon
because anyone, who sleeps at the corner-pointing to the corner, dies. All that he needs is just ten kobo to buy
water to drink before he finally dies.
He slept there last night since there was no space in the camp.
As Nii and others
continue to fashion out the route of escape, he recounts on the memory of those
who are already dead in the course of the struggle for African unity, including
Massa, who was an Africanist it’s also
in memory of all those who have fallen victim to hatred and bad laws and those
undergoing all forms of degradation and persecution.
Unexpected occurs at the camp, one of
the sergeants forces his way through the people, draws out his gun to threaten
those standing by his way.The corporal warns against the use of placard after
he destroyed it. A young woman who
followed the lady is in labour also discloses to people that one of the
security personnel at the camp attempts to seduce her, an act the people view
as an abomination or cowardly attempt at desecrating our people. The mad crowd react in protest and they swam
around the corporal and Nii snatches his gun.
Everyone expects Nii to shoot the corporal in revenge for the very
dubious and real reason of cruelty to the aliens, He know how to use gun but
thinks otherwise.
Nii Aaron, Linda feel that the hour of escape
has come as they hurry past the gate, leading for the plane along the airport,
leading into a cassava farm. Linda is
heading straight to the airport to take a flight to London. Everyone is in high
spirit as their hopes rise, but there is bad news for them as a dead body is
seen dangling on a tree. Nii recognizes
him back in Haji camp, Nii calls the people like the man dangling on the tree
martyrs, numberless heroes in the Diaspora. At this point, Nii is beginning to
accept the fact that he is a fugitive in search of a soul, and in search of
identify. “Humility is beautiful, but
unpredictable (287) Nii whispers bitterly.Aaron suggests they should go to
Ijase, but the old man seems to have an objection because the village is in
trouble. They have money, but the people
there are proud. The journey to Ijase is
not without difficulty as they disappear into the bush whenever they sight an
immigration officers.
Nill and Aaron’s thorny journey to
Ijase; the road to the grave.
Both Nii and
Aaron continue in their journey of Ijase where Nii hopes to reunite with his
lost family. This time around they have
stopped asking people in sight about the route to Ijase because it will further
expose them to police or immigration officers. Aaron compliments Nii for
refusing to shoot the corporal because that would have alerted the soldiers who
may hunt them like deer “But do you think
he survived? The crowd won’t spare him at all, Imagined what followed the
confusion and stampede” (293). Both
of them reason in unison. They resume
their journey and fortunately they land at a construction site. They demand to see the fireman to ascertain
any possibilities of securing a job there and earn some money, to keep body and
soul together. They are also confronted
with a number of problems. They include;
where to pass their night, the fear of immigration officials who haunt them
greatly. This is because it will take
only one busybody to whisper their location to any security officers, which was
not uncommon, and they will be in all manner of troubles again. Hunger and thirst for water can put them to
untimely death. They are not also ready
for sleep, for sleep brings death. This also reminds Nii of the
Susu man who died hanging himself in the tree. Their discussion shifts to
themselves again. Aaron then wonders how
they can survive in Nigeria without any friends, relatives or job. The tempestuous and tortuous Journey to Ijase
has made Nii and Aaron consider death as an alternative. The arrangement is that one person must die
before the other. if it should happen
like that the survivor will watch the departing one gasp for his last breath.
Aaron hands over all documents and certificate to Nii.They include: Ph. D,
diploma in project management, his research findings. “I have one child I have a mother.
We are walking dead men. You can
keep the papers. His final wish for his
mother is a photograph he took a year ago and the certificate of honour he
received as a lecturer at the University of Ghana. He once used his car as taxi to make ends
meet, and is no more road worthy. “The axel broke, I abandoned the useless
thing” (29) Aaron makes his wish. It is now Nii” turn to share some of his
thoughts as Aaron did. “I have no one else who will complain
if I die, the earth does not reject a
corpse. If I die today nature would not
reject my body. I came here to find my
sister and now I have to die. I must die
because I have a sister” (229) Nii
also prays to Massa to forgive him for refusing to take responsibility, to give
her a befitting burial.
Rumour has it
that robbers have dealt a savage blow to the peace of Ijase a wealthy man is
shot dead and he is being buried.
Meanwhile, Aaron and Nii have already arrived Ijase Village. But they need to wait in the bush until the
darkness is cleared. On their way to the construction site, they find a
signboard which indicates that they are right in Ijase. The foreman considers them for the job. But unfortunate accident occurs while walking
in a building. Aaron walks to the pole,
lifts it up, and the wall collapsed instantly and Aaron is trapped under it,
thereby rendering the full day work useless. Taking him to the hospital is no
option at all, because they have no papers and money either. They are alien who
may face arrest when caught. Worse
still, Aaron is dying of pain, his head and neck are swollen. It is only an X-ray that could tell whether a
bone is broken or a ligament is torn.
The only available relief is a tablet of paracetamol.
Aaron
foresees his death
Aaron is becoming rather talkative. It seems the injury he sustained at the
construction site has affected him badly.
He talks about his project and expresses the hope of visiting home
again. “Ant Hill is a key to the building
revolution back home. I tell Joe” (312).
He can see angel and Aaron then complains of dizziness. he begins to
slip gradually until he falls to the floors inside the room and falls asleep.
A certain woman
who sells at the uncompleted building that serves as Nii and Aaron abode raises
an alarm over the two people suspected to be armed robbers. She compels her drunk husband to hunt the
robbers like his fellow men. “Go to the upstairs room and find out for
yourself. (313) she urges him. Two
people knock the door of the room they occupy.
Knowing fully well that they are in grave danger, they opt for the only
option which is to jump. Aaron is the
first to jump. He lands on his feet, and
a group of people led by Mama, rushes to the back of the building. Aaron sprawls on the ground on landing. Nii shakes Aaron and finds out he is already
breathless. He imagines he is dead or
has fallen into a coma. Death or a coma
means the same thing to him. Nii who has no means of escape…midst the vigilante
and other people standing by the corner of the building with his arms, raises
hands a sign of unease, despair and surrender.
Mama
Orojo and Nii Tackie finally reap unexpected joy at dawn
Mama and Nii
meet again after fifteen years of separation as blood brother and sister. The meeting is quite unpredicted. Their meeting is an event imagined long
before, but it faded from their minds, because it had neither clue nor possibilities
of being attained. Now, it is a
reality-sheer melodrama. It is dawn on
Nii that it is wonderful to live through difficulties knowing there is hope for
the eventual success that would come.
Mama tries to recollect an image of her
brother when he was a small boy innocent, intelligent, temperamental. She smiles broadly knowing fully well she is
now reaping an unexpected joy at dawn.
Her world is dominated by love and unity. Economic hardship xenophobia suffering,
struggle, societal evils could not separate Nii from her. It therefore implies that problems in life
are just stepping, stone to actualizing your dreams and there is always light
at the end of the tannel.
However, Aaron
dies while trying to escape from their handout.
Mama, Nii and Joe take the body of Aaron to the mortuary to enable them
give him a deserved decent burial. Nii
also mourns Massa. Nii extols the
elusive qualities of Aaron as an intelligent young man with many talents who
lost his precious life for the struggle and bad government policy. Joe also eulogizes. Mama and calls her everybody’s hero for
recurring a baby from inferno. “No one will taste a meal without mentioning
your name, so you are everyone’s menu”. (319) Joe praises Mama to the sky.
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