The Turbaned Village Boy

By: Enewaridideke Ekanpou

Home is home to whoever that chooses it as a luxury after labour.
Home is still home to everyone - chosen or not chosen.
To home every creature - man or animal -  goes after a fulfilled labour.

From home to another home my mother Timiebi journeyed on 30 August 2020.
Towards the disappearance of July 2020, my mother told me it was time for her homeward journey.
She planted a lovely embrace on me and left full of smiles, waving.
It was a dream world where I had  the final embrace from my mother.
Awake, I wept like Jesus Christ.

My mother's death presage was the period money was on a rebellion strike against me.
In my wakeful state my supplication to my mother was for her  not to die until the rebellion strike of money was called off.
In the duration of the rebellion strike I would be stripped of the power to buy a coffin.
Home to the underworld she would without a coffin conveying the corpse
Fervently I prayed for time-extension until the rebellion strike would be called off.

With pains and fears I waited for my mother's response.
Money called off her rebellion strike on 29 August 2020.
My mother left her home to another home on 30 August 2020.
July and August 2020 became special to me in my life because they bowed to my supplication.

August paid homage to her speciality again in 2025.
I was named a doctor on 5 August 2025 at Unn, Nsukka.
My mother left me in August after a lovely  embrace planted on me.
July repeated her cycle of speciality in 2026.
It was in July my mother told me she was ready to journey to the underworld, away from the home she had known for 79 years.
25 July 2026 marked the day I was turbaned as an academic Doctor who had crushed the spikes on the path.
Beyond spikes I was authorised by Unn to journey everywhere as an academic Doctor.
Beyond spikes I have been licensed to tell stories, including the stories bequeathed to me by my mother.

Out of twelve months in a year only two -  July and August -  have chosen to dwell in the best part of my life.
Timiebi Maika, that your son you spoon-fed with folktales has been turbaned by Unn.
Timiebi Maika, that your son to whom you announced your waiting death has been turbaned by Unn.
Timiebi Maika, Jking Dr. Izonebi Alfred has been singing everywhere that he be possessed by your storytelling spirit.
Timiebi Maika, Izonebi Alfred sings everywhere  he wants to tell your stories.
Dear Timiebi Maika, shower your storytelling spirit on Izonebi Alfred.
Dear Timiebi Maika, let Izonebi Alfred tell your stories.
Dear Timiebi Maika, let Izonebi Alfred tell my stories.
Dear Timiebi Maika, let our stories flow like water-weeds because your son has been turbaned by Unn.

High Chief Tompolo, you are not High Chief Tompolo if you don't celebrate this turbaned village boy.
Dr. Paul Bebenimibo, you are not Dr. Bebenimibo if you don't celebrate this turbaned village boy.
High Chief Barrister Igbadiwei Macdonald, you are not High Chief Barrister MacDonald if you don't celebrate this turbaned village boy.
High Chief Kestin Pondi, you are not High Chief  Pondi if you don't celebrate this turbaned village boy.
High Chief Dr. Dennis Otuaro, you are not High Chief Dr. Otuaro if you don't celebrate this turbaned village boy.
His Excellency Barrister Kingsley Otuaro, you are not His Excellency Barrister  Otuaro if you don't celebrate this turbaned village boy.
High Chief Joseph Penawou, you are not High Chief Penawou if you don't celebrate this turbaned village boy.
Monday Ebikpolade Zorab, you are not Zorab if you don't celebrate this turbaned village boy.
Professor S.U.N Ugwu-Okoye, you are not Professor Ugwu-Okoye if you don't celebrate this turbaned village boy.
Jking Dr. Izonebi Alfred, you are not  Jking Dr. Alfred if you don't celebrate this turbaned village boy, even after Timiebi Maika's storytelling spirit has descended upon you like Elijah's garment upon Elisha.
Gbaramatu Kingdom, you are not Gbaramatu Kingdom if you don't celebrate this turbaned village boy.
Ngbilebiri Kingdom, you are not Ngbilebiri Kingdom if you don't celebrate this turbaned village boy.

The archived lovers of this turbaned village boy are those who turn percussionists and bury themselves in madrigals and antiphonies.
They must be madrigals and antiphonies that pierce and ripple the creeks and rivulets of Ayakoromo, Akparemogbene, Oyangbene and Ekameta.

In a year of twelve months only two chose to offer the turbaned village boy their  camaraderie on his 55th coronation day at Unn, Nsukka.
This camaraderie of July and August shall dwell forever in my archives of very important personalities;
Not even the waiting surging madrigals and antiphonies can dismantle this camaraderie of July and August.

Dr. Ekanpou Enewaridideke writes from Akparemogbene, Delta State.