All’s Fair in Love and War.
“Aluta continua!”
“Victoria Ascerta!”
She didn’t have the look to attract an audience yet she pulled a huge crowd. Her skin has an even tone of red, white and yellow with a bit too much of red. Her golden and creamy hair contrasted her brown pupils as she struggled to capture the image of the protesters before her. Her voice, like a deep contralto could stir up a storm within the calmest mind. Ololade- her name, did not suit her look yet she was Yoruba and born with the skin and focal length of an Albino.
“Greatest students of AOU! Today, we shall boycott classes. Not because we are truants but because our lives are cut short like the wick of a lantern. This year, we recorded a total of 50 deaths of students killed by the hostility of the indigenous people of this community and we shall not be silent!”
Ololade was not always assertive. She used to be an introvert and would hardly have an altercation with anyone. Her involvement in Campus politics started on the day she stood up for a stranger, another student, at the Mini Campus. They were in a bank when a temperamental teller decided to unnecessarily embarrass the student for wanting to withdraw only one thousand naira from his bank account.
In one day, she became a campus celebrity and later, when she decided to contest for the SUG president, she swept the board.
“Solidarity forever, solidarity forever, solidarity forever, we shall always fight for our rights.” The students chorused continuously. Soon, the protest that started off peacefully became a riot. Ololade did not intend that things should turn this way. Nene, her maternal grandmother who raised her, always pulled her ears to avoid trouble especially due to the trauma she had faced as a child in the hands of her supposed father.
Her father did not like that she was an Albino and did not treat her as one of his own children. Ololade’s mother did not hesitate to send Ololade off to her mother’s place so she would not become a bitter child. Yet the trauma grew as other children in her new neighborhood taunted her with her look.
“Afin”, Kola would call her, “Hope you did not eat salt and pepper today.”
Ololade would roll her eyes and just walk away in silence. Nene taught her to do so. She often said that silence is golden but Ololade always wished she could go back in time and give those mean people a piece of her tongue. Where on earth did the idea come from that Albinos shouldn’t eat salt or pepper? Sometimes she wished she had run after that pot-bellied Kola and hit his ever-shining kwarshiorkor head with a pebble.
Looking back at those years, she smiled at who she had become - an advocate of justice for others. But then, this campus upsurge isn’t what she had envisaged.
Three years ago, after she had gained admission to study History and Diplomatic Studies in Ambali Omotayo University, she never imagined she would become a representative of the people. Her routine was to go from class to church, to the market and then back home. She had a small circle of friends- Maureen, Phillip and Akachukwu, the ones who saw beyond her squinted eyes and creamy skin.
“Oyibo”, Akachukwu will sweetly call her but she prefered to be called by her real name. She recalled a student celebrity wannabe who tried to woo her with sweet names but started off on the wrong foot.
“Oyibo Babe?” He started.
No answer
“Omalicha Nwaocha”
No answer still.
Getting a bit irritated, he tried harder.
“Whitey, it’s you I’m talking to now.”
Silence.
“You think you’re fine, ehn? I’m trying to manage your half-baked skin yet you’re forming posh, Afin Osi.”
When he used the last abusive expression that means “Useless Albino” when translated from Yoruba, Ololade clapped her hands, laughing in mockery. Her oppressor was shocked to see her reaction. Little did he know that Ololade was baked against criticism and stereotypes. She laughed so hard the guy got confused and just walked away looking embarrassed. Her reaction wasn’t expected at all.
It wasn’t that she did not want to date men but she didn’t really have the time for it. How would she combine her studies with emotions that are mostly short-lived? That would be a distraction to her goals. Her new distraction in 400 level is the Student Union Government and it’s really draining her of physical and emotional strength.
Sometimes she wished she had that very intimate friend who would hug her close and tell her he got her back but that would mean being in a relationship and she was not sure she was ready for it. Besides, there are just a few men who have the gut to date an Albino. Phillip, her secret crush, was not in love with her. He loved books instead and paid more attention to Maureen.
“Ololade, the Oba’s palace was burnt down!” Akachukwu came running to break the news to her, jolting her from her momentary reverie. She was just returning from the Vice Chancellor’s office and the meeting did not go well.
“The police are involved now.” Akachukwu narrated breathlessly. “There are teargas and shootings everywhere and everyone is running for their lives. Come with me Lolade, I need to keep you safe.” Ololade noticed a different look in the eyes of her friend. She saw fear and deep concern.
“Aka, I'm the SUG president. I need to get this sorted out.” She cried in anguish.
“Matches, Wale and Kaka have mobilised some boys to help take students out of town. You are our warrior, we must protect you to win this fight. If anything happens to you, more lives will be lost.”
Ololade knew he was right. He had always been her backbone and adviser and she could see how scared he really looked. The situation must be grave to have aroused such strong emotions from him. She started running with him towards the dense forest that encircled the Main Campus, their only route of escape. Suddenly Akachukwu made her halt. He slowly placed his hands on her cheeks and looked down at her worried eyes.
“I must say this before we go. The journey ahead is tough but be assured that I’ll protect you. I love you deeply, Ololade, and I promise you that as long as I breathe, I’ll let no harm befall you.” Confused but with renewed hope, Ololade followed Akachukwu into the unknown.
The forest of bush babies as the campus students often called it, was virtually what it was described to be. Branches intertwined with branches and Akachukwu broke off a branch with which he cleared their path. Diverse birds chirping resonated in the wild and eerie howlings seeped among the bamboo trees. Some trees had funny shapes and forms but Ololade felt the warmth of her new love as he held her close. Akachukwu’s right hand encamped her shoulders with sweet affection.
At a far distance, they heard a sharp, piercing voice and Ololade shrieked.
“What was that?” She asked her lover in trepidation. “I think we are not the only ones taking this forest. Maybe someone needs our help.”
“Who’s there…” Ololade started to say.
Akachukwu suddenly drew her close to him. His sweaty right palm covered her mouth as he pulled her behind an enormous baobab tree. Her heart was beating rapidly against his chest as she leaned against him. Was it the feelings he had just professed to her that made her heart beat or was it the fear of becoming a prey of the angry villagers? It must be the latter, she concluded.
Akachukwu knew what those traitors could do. He had heard how some students were gruesomely murdered at Orugbo. One of them, a girl, had hidden with her neighbours hoping they would keep her safe. Unfortunately, they were the ones who informed the angry indigenous mob of her presence in the house and she was brutally tortured before leaving her half dead by the road side.
He held Ololade tightly but the fair skinned woman was not raised to be timid. She freed herself from Akachukwu’s grip and…
(To be continued)
