FARU FARU....... A place of Rebirth (part 1)
Watching the premiere of the 2nd season of the series, Sons of the Caliphate last Night on Ebony live TV opened flood of memories; my mandatory one year NYSC service in Sokoto. It made me recall the royal grandeur, grace and glory of the Sokoto caliphate. The rich cultural milieu, the sights and sounds of the state, the warm, generous ,generally amazing people and other things that made Sokoto a cultural jewel of the Savannah. Not forgetting the era that marked the beginning of a change in my narrative ..... A place where my luck turned around.
My NYSC posting came at a time when every thing that could go wrong in my life went wrong, my family ran into bouts of ill luck and when I thought it couldn't get any worse..... I got posted to Sokoto(Sokoto bawo?).
I didn't even have any emotions left to process the news, I was numbed, strangely aloof..... I was detached. Somehow in the maze of the desolation I knew the show had to go on.
As an alumnus of university of Ibadan that lived in Queens hall all her days in the University, I had earlier on in life master the rudiments of branding; image(packaging)is paramount.
I proceeded to yaba to sort myself out (baffs and sneakers wise) and by the time I was through I was flat broke save for my transport fare to Sokoto.....but my aesthetics game was tight as hell.....
I proceeded to yaba to sort myself out (baffs and sneakers wise) and by the time I was through I was flat broke save for my transport fare to Sokoto.....but my aesthetics game was tight as hell.....
I remembered boarding a Young Shall Grow Bus @ Iddo Motor park, with my travel bag fitted smugly around my shoulders, I dived head on into destiny.
I was vaguely aware of Corp members trying to socialize with one another in the bus but I couldn't be bothered I was properly medicated throughout the journey.
I was vaguely aware of Corp members trying to socialize with one another in the bus but I couldn't be bothered I was properly medicated throughout the journey.
After what felt like an eternity(and I'm not even exaggerating o), packed like that kinta kunte slave ship. The bus finally stopped in front of the Farufaru Orientation Camp.
Getting down from the bus.... It hit me..... The Sun hit me!! Then and there I wondered if I was going to die of heat stroke or meningitis.....
After a short while, the accreditation started and the queue was endless. Thankfully enough, I began to spot familiar faces from school, kiakia I move towards the familiar faces and with that I was able to shunt the queue effectively. Soon enough bed space allocation began and since I didn't resume on the first day of camp, all the spaces in the main hostel were taken remaining only makeshift hostel. As I joined the queue to collect my mattress...... I heard someone yell out my name! Couldn't believe my luck, as it turned out to be fehintola, whom I went to primary school with.
Getting down from the bus.... It hit me..... The Sun hit me!! Then and there I wondered if I was going to die of heat stroke or meningitis.....
After a short while, the accreditation started and the queue was endless. Thankfully enough, I began to spot familiar faces from school, kiakia I move towards the familiar faces and with that I was able to shunt the queue effectively. Soon enough bed space allocation began and since I didn't resume on the first day of camp, all the spaces in the main hostel were taken remaining only makeshift hostel. As I joined the queue to collect my mattress...... I heard someone yell out my name! Couldn't believe my luck, as it turned out to be fehintola, whom I went to primary school with.
Fehintola resumed Camp a day before and had gotten one of the best bed spaces in camp with fan.... Sharp sharp I just collected my mattress and squatted with her for the next three weeks.
Farufaru camp was one of the most porous camp then ..... So corpers didn't have problems leaving the camp for breathers, (there was no fence sef.....) Once things got stressful you could just take a stroll out to town. The soldiers were quite friendly so there was unspoken mutual understanding /agreement.
Farufaru camp was one of the most porous camp then ..... So corpers didn't have problems leaving the camp for breathers, (there was no fence sef.....) Once things got stressful you could just take a stroll out to town. The soldiers were quite friendly so there was unspoken mutual understanding /agreement.
As a wonder working God that God is, we were paid bicycle allowance the 2nd day of camp and the governor of the state showed some of his generosity by giving us money...... and at this point I begin to suspect....maybe.... Just maybe good fortune is beginning to shine on me.
I didn't bother with the morning drills.... I found it really strange and even more disturbing when I saw female Corp members as early as 5am with full facebeat ;eyebrows on fleek out for the morning drills (did I forget to mention that the sun rises by 4am in sokoto?).
OK!! maybe a little exaggeration......
(To be continued...)
OK!! maybe a little exaggeration......
(To be continued...)
Comments
@iya ileonkan always on fleek