Blacktalisman

Episode 4: I made friends with the soldiers and became a regular at Mami-market. If there was anything a soldier man likes next to respect, it is a free drink. Surely, money was no problem as mum ensured so. In return, I enjoyed certain privileges every youth corper would crave. Between me and the uniformed men, it was a simple maths of scratch my back and I scratch yours.  The cultural nights started and I was promised a whole lot of fun. Every night at the general hall, we gather for programs ranging from announcements to entertainment. I was beginning to get my footing. After a beautiful night of cultural dance performances from each platoon, I was gisting and laughing with Mahmud and Bayo ‘a hostel colleague and a new friend’ when I spotted Seun with a few friends heading towards the girls hostel. My heart leapt for joy as I hurried to her calling. “Hello Joe, how was my performance tonight, hope you loved it?” she was beaming in the faint reflections of the stree...

EPISODE 3:   After  getting through the stress of registration, I was given my kit and asked to go change to my white shirt on shorts. I was headed for hostel ‘Z’ as I saw Mahmud jugging towards me. He told me how he had met a former lesson teacher of his who now works for NYSC. That the mummy had helped him secure a room space at Hostel ‘B’ which I later came to realize was one of the best on camp. He was holding some documents of his registration he had finished filling and was on to submit. ‘One lucky lizard he was’. Reaching my hostel, I was greeted by some Yoruba boys who seemed to like me at once as they were all calling me ‘Aboki’ which means my friend in my language. Who says this country isn’t united. All the joy of the moment disappeared as I saw the interior of my assigned hostel ‘Z’. A big dormitory, filthy and noisy. This has to be a mistake. I headed back to the admin block to complain at once. After twenty minutes of arguing with the receptionist, th...

Episode 1: The town crier went about announcing the time of curfew in the village of Erin. The Oro (masquerade) is going to be unleashed the following night and anyone caught wandering about would be captured as the gods’ sacrifice. Sitted in his compound, Baba Adetoun was enjoying his discussions with his friend Baba Aduni over a keg of palmwine. They were laughing when the women returned from the farm.  “Good evening my husbands, hope the village meeting went well?” The annual village meeting comprises elders from the three joined villages of Erin, Ajatala and Eruku. The central and biggest of them all was Erin. Most of the kings come from Erin, presiding over the three sister villages while Baales’ rules over the rest. “The meeting was good Iya Adetoun. As you have heard the town crier going round announcing the outcome..” before he could say more, Baba Adetoun cut in “please get us more palmwine and meat Iya Adetoun before I suffocate from a dry throat”.  She turned...

EPISODE TWO: I stood and watched as Unc- Gee and his pal hustled to change the tyre. It was getting dark and we were still about 4 hours away from Lagos. A vehicle passed us by and the driver shouted out “don’t be long there”. Whatever was his business with us, I wondered. Seun came over to me offering a stick of cigarette, I had no pleasure smoking but with her beautiful big eyes gazing into mine, I could smoke for Africa. We sat near the bushes slightly out of view of our comrads to smoke. Seun slid up my chest pulling away the unlit cigarette from my lips and kissed me, my mind was blown to a thousand pieces. I wasn’t going to back down as I gently stroked her back and pulled her closer. My NYSC was beginning with a lot of sense. Taking the romance further became my motive as I slid my hands into her jean trouser to grab her plump buttocks. I became as rigid as a plank. She noticed my overwhelming excitement and started pulling at my pant trouser teasingly. I was sure i...

My name is Joshua Maisamari, a Kaduna born and bred, but you can call me Joe Wax just like my friends. I was born with a silver spoon with lots of Jelly’s to scoop. My Dad owns an engineering company linked with an oil firm…if you get the gist. I am the third, last and only boy of the family and I just got the clarion call. I woke up this morning to the knock on my door. Mum had helped pack my luggage for my journey to Lagos where I was to resume camp. After 2 hours of flight delay I began to get pissed. Just as I was about calling off my trip a voice called out to me from the other end of the lobby. Mahmud came jugging down the escalator shouting for me to come. Mahmud was my best friend and school mate right from the good old primary 2.  I picked up my bag and hurried to meet him, he pulled me by the shoulder towards the exit to a waiting van. In the van was his brother who delivers home accessories for an online company, a friend of his, Timothy and the girlfriend. Before...