Thread by @diaryofa9jagirl

When I was younger and lived in Sogunle, I used to lead many fights, instigated some and fueled some. What I never did was participate.

Until this day...

Issa #thread

Right opposite our compound was another block of four flats, owned by a rich and proper man. He spoke good English, discussed politics (calmly) with the neighbours during environmental sanitation and everyone was impressed with him because he would sometimes travel to “London”

We called him Baba Yomi, He had 3 girls and one boy. Two of his eldest daughters were grown adults while the last two, Yomi and Peju, were between 12 and 15.

Yomi and Peju didn’t stay with their father, their mother dropped them off during weekends and some holidays.

It was obvious Yomi and Peju were “butti” kids. They also talked about London quite a bit.

Both of them would come to my compound to watch us play competitive football, ‘suwe’ (hopscotch) and ten-ten. We amused and entertained them but they never partook of the games.

On this day when the fight broke, the kids on the street were in my compound playing partnered ‘Suwe’ while the boys played football.

Yomi and Peju, as usual, sat pretty by Papa Ngozi’s balcony,watching and running commentary.

We were all good until Peju accused me of cheating.

My stone had crossed the line and I was about to hop and move it into another square box when Peju screamed, “Ahn Ahn! You people can’t see?She moved her stone twice. The stone didn’t cross the line the first time.”

Everyone stopped to look at me,wondering, “how did we miss it?”

I was furious! I hated to cheat and be cheated. So I took it personally that Peju would accuse me of cheating. Before I could defend myself, my friend and partner in crime, Onyinye fired back quickly, “Na you no fit see. How you take see am from there? Abeg comot there!”

“But she cheated, I saw it.” Peju insisted and my heartbeat went haywire.

“If your name is Peju, come down here and tell me to my face if I will not beat don’t be silly out of your body” I pointed at her, looking her in the eye, furious. She was a “butti” child,

She would never be able to rise to the challenge.

Peju surprised me and jumped down from the pavement that also served as Baba Ngozi’s balcony.

Before I knew it, the other kids had formed a big circle around us. As it is custom in the ghetto, those who initiated fights...

were given the opportunity and space to fight to their satisfaction.

“I’m here, Oya what are you going to do? What are you going to do?” Peju the butti had turned to a razzo, she’d gotten in my face, bumping her chest with mine, taking me aback for a quick second.

I recovered quickly.

“Ahhhhh. Mo ma na omo yi” (Ahhhh, I’ll beat this child) I bragged to my friends. They all seemed to agree it would be a piece of cake.

Peju removed her earrings and handed them over to her brother, he had a sly smile on his face as he collected them.

“Finish her!” My friends yelled. Onyinye’s voice was loudest.

I had never fought before but I had witnessed many fights to know that I needed to warm up. So I balled my hands into fists, bouncing on my toes, wondering where to hit first, telling myself to go gentle but...

to make sure to teach the rich kid a lesson.

Peju stood arms akimbo and said to me arrogantly, “stop jumping around, stay in one place so I can beat you well.”

This excited the small crowd and some people actually cheered.

It was time for me to show her something!

I moved close to her and shoved hard. Before I could shove again, she moved closer so fast I still have no memory of the transition.

It was as though she disappeared and reappeared in front of me.

Peju shoved me back harder and as I stumbled,

she simultaneously swung her feet under mine (rake style) sweeping me almost completely off the ground.

I landed flat on my back.

———————

Ello, Ki la go? (What’s the time?) Just now now it was 2pm, why is everywhere suddenly dark? I blinked fast, Nepa brought back the light.

“ONE- O” Yomi shouted from the sideline, the small crowd was inclined to agree.

My pride was on the line. I rolled around on the floor and got up quickly. What I saw caused me to think twice about my next action.

Peju had taken a Bruce Lee stance, she hadn’t broken ANY sweat.

I looked at Yomi, he was smiling arrogantly.

It must’ve been my mama’s spirit that whispered in my ears to apply wisdom or everything would end in humble tears.

“This is Ojoro, she knows how to fight Chinese. See how she’s standing? She sabi fight Chinese! Let us fight gidigbo”

I screamed at no one and everyone. Pointing at Peju who had not moved an inch. She maintained her position.

“Can you fight gidigbo? (Local wrestling)” I asked her.

“What is gidigbo?” Peju asked as if she should have heard of that style of fight somewhere.

“You don’t know gidigbo?” One of the street kids asked her, totally shocked.

“Nooooooo.” Peju had relaxed now. It was my time to shine.

“If you don’t know gidigbo then I can’t fight with you. “

“Pschew! Chicken. You can’t even fight with all your mouth.”

Peju said this as she headed out of our compound while her brother chuckled behind her.

I made sure to have the last word, screaming behind the butti kids as they exited, “All those style you went to learn in London is not real fight...

Come and try me with gidigbo and see if I will not remove one of your eyes. Go and learn gidigbo and come back. Rubbish!”

Ya. Till today I only fight gidigbo, ain’t nobody got time for “Chinese fight”.

Go and fight “Chinese” with Jackie Chan...pliis dears.

#DANG