Shishir 2024 Stories - Osedebamen Oamen

 

Omora The face of Illaye

By Osedebamen Oamen

 

Omora was a very beautiful young girl. She was slim, with pointed nose, long hair, exotic dentition, smooth shining and dark skin. She lived with her parents and grew up in a community close to one of the biggest cities called Ebadan. He father, Atubu, was a Head Teacher in IIlaye, the only primary school in the community, while her mother was a petty trader in the same community.


Omora was very lucky to have been birthed by a father who was a teacher; hence she started school early in a period when young girls were not allowed formal education beyond basic schooling because it was touted in the community that the training of the girl child is only a benefit to her husband.


At the age of six years she was already in primary six, which was an uncommon achievement in Illaye since its inception and in the only Ile-Aye Female Secondary School in her Region, which was some distance from IIlaye. Omora had very good upbringing as she lives with her parents. She was very good in doing virtually all the house chores.


Everybody knew her to be a decent and well-mannered child in the community. This attracted some young men in the community to admire and make passes at her because they thought she was like other girls who were interested in early marriage because they are bereft of ambition for secondary school education. But she was not ready for intimate relationship with the opposite sex because she was not ready for distractions as she was just gaining admission into secondary school.


Omora’s secondary school admission made the women of IIlaye very happy when they heard about it. They jubilated because the young girl had broken barriers, as none of them, who grew up in the community was ever allowed to attempt the common entrance examination into the secondary school because of their gender.


It was not because they were not brilliant or their parents could not pay school fees. Most families in IIlaye had large cocoa farms and others were rice farmers. These are crops that ensured income into the family’s purse every year.


But the male children in IIlaye were sent to very competitive secondary schools far away, best in academic and sports, unlike the female children, who were kept at home to do house chores and assist in farm work after primary school education.


Omora’s mother was a victim of this communal inhibition of young girls’ educational prospect as it truncated her ambition to further education. Mrs. Atubu got married to her husband when she was seventeen years old. Before that time she stayed at home and helped her mother in her petty business and when she got married she started her own petty trading.


Mrs. Atubu was not happy with the denial of higher schooling. She would often tell Omora and her other children that if she had been allowed to go to school her intent was to become a nurse, and this would have given her the opportunity to help sick people, particularly children. Frequently, she talked to the children about her inability to achieve her ambition.


Occasionally, she would charge her daughter, Omora to ensure she filled her gap in the league of young girls and women by ensuring that she attained higher education, particularly in the specialty of nursing so that she could be of help to children and mothers. Omora was often reminded by her mother that if she was able to achieve her own wish it will serve as a model to all the young girls in the community as well as influence parents to further the education of female children.
They would realize that when you train a girl child, you trained a mother who symbolizes a nation, as the mother in turn would aid the training of her children and other children in her community.


Omora would always listen to her mother with keen interest and promised her that she would do her best and over time she builds the desired confidence to hold on to her maternal counsel to achieve her goal. After Omora left secondary school, many suitors visited her father’s house to request her hand in marriage.


Although her mother was very happy because her daughter was beautiful enough in character and appearance to attract men who wished to marry her, she had reservations about the timing. She would call Omora and advice her on the need to acquire a professional certificate in nursing before going into marriage. Omora heeded her mother’s advice and with the support of her father, hard-work in her studies she gained admission to a nursing programme in the University Teaching Hospital, Ebadan and graduated with excellent degree.


A combination of her intelligence, hard work and humility gave her a prime job at the University College Hospital, Ebadan. Her parents were so happy, even the people of her community. IIlaye was agog when they heard that Omora had graduated and she got a job immediately at the College Hospital.


The joy the people had was evoked by Omora’s resilience to the point of breaking a barrier that has held young girls bound from furthering their education even up to secondary school, this was what young women suffered since the inception of IIlaye community. It was an achievement for her and for every IIlaye girl, born and unborn. The success Omora attained was described by the women in their dancing chant song as;

 

So amazing, like trek to the surface of the moon
A child of hope in our time, worthy of emulation
Showing we have light in us, spirited to excel
A graceful assurance for our future

 

Chorus: Omora, the face of IIlaye

 

Omora, we dance to celebrate you
With the legs that supported your birth
To a world of justice for our daughters
Our worth proven beyond maternity

 

Omora, scaling the traditional limit
Girl child of tomorrow for IIlaye
We smell wealth of hope for all IIlaye
As the desert anticipate rainfall.

 

Omora’s achievement brought a change to her mother’s name; she was now known as Mama Nurse. Mrs. Atubu’s joy was bursting because she was alive to witness her daughter live her dream. Her father was the first indigene of IIlaye to train a daughter to university level. It was a gracious and joyous period for the family of Atubu.


Omora did not relent on her quest to top the best in her area of nursing practice. A year after her employment she went to London for a postgraduate programme in Pediatric Nursing. After her programme she decided to return home to resume work. While in the ship traveling to Nigeria, she met Segun Atiloye, a medical doctor who has just graduated from Oxford University Medical School at a cocktail party organized for pre-landing of customers at the Lagos harbour. They exchanged contacts and upheld their friendship until they landed in Nigeria.


The successful arrival of Omora from her London training sojourn stirred the joy of the people of Illaye once again. It was particularly important to them because an IIlaye daughter is now one of the “been-to” a name synonymous with Nigerians who have been to London. It was a name that gives swift description to an elite class fascinated by the then London visitors. It was a prestige to be referred to as been-to in those days.


A couple of months after Omora returned and resumed work at University College Hospital; she met Dr. Segun Atiloye at the entrance to the out-patient ward at the hospital. They were very happy to meet again, as they embraced each other and stood a while to chat. As they depart from each other, Segun who had taken the first step stood still and watched Omora walk away.


Suddenly, Omora turned a few steps away and looked back; she saw that Segun had remained where he was watching her with a broad smile on his handsome face. They grinned at each other and waved farewell.


It was barely a month later, on a Tuesday morning, she saw an envelope on her pigeon hole. She picked it and opened it, and behold it was a greeting card and an invitation to dinner that weekend at the Total Garden Restaurant location. It was one of the most flamboyant restaurants in town at that time. She took the envelope with her to the office with an etch of smile plastering her face, sat on her desk, opened and read the content of the invitation again and again, which make others to wonder what is going on in her mind.


On that Friday, Segun was at the restaurant before four o’clock, the time he fixed for the dinner. Omora arrived immediately after he was already seated. As soon as she arrived, he stood up to welcome her, and sat down only after she did. As soon as they were seated, the alert waitress appeared and took their order as they engaged in chitchat and they held their hands and gazed into each other’s eyes.


Their dinner turned out to be so much fun and pleasure. A while after, the waitress returned with a tray of their order, served them and disappeared. The waitress exit released a sort of freedom to their togetherness.


As the dinner came to an end, they both walked out of the restaurant towards a set of beautiful flowers planted by the wall and posed by it as if they were to take photographs. Suddenly, Segun took a small box from his trousers’ right pocket, opened it and brought out a glittering gold ring, showed it to Omora as he held the middle finger of her left hand.


Omora screamed as she pushed the ring to the hilt base of her finger, then he proposed marriage to her. Omora leapt and shouted as they embraced each other. They hugged each other briefly and then walked Omora towards a black Morris Minor car popularly called Black Maria. They both left in the car that was waiting with a driver.


It was not long after the proposal by Segun when Mrs. Atubu, Omora’s mother sent a telegram to the daughter that she would be happy to see her as soon as possible and if she delayed to come she might not meet her anymore. Omora applied for a week casual leave to enable her travel to IIlaye to see her mother.
Before travelling, she went to inform Segun that she would be travelling to IIlaye to see her mother who needed her attention urgently and Segun requested for the description of the route to Illaye. On the date, Omora travelled as planned and got to lllaye on time. As soon as she arrived at the motor park within the heart of the community, those who recognized her ran home to tell others that Omora is visiting her family. In a short time the road to her house was lined up with children, particularly young girls who wished to see the so much talked about Omora.


It was seemingly a “Shero’s” visit to the community. She had a rousing welcome to the point that the Oni-IIlaye of IIlaye, the traditional paramount ruler of the community broke protocol and visited the home of the Atubus. However, it was not without intent, as rumour had it that the traditional ruler went to indicate interest to marry Omora. He told Omora’s parents that if they allowed her to marry him he would invite the white man to build a clinic in Illaye for Omora to work as the Head Matron.


When Omora arrived home, her mother was the first to come out of the house to welcome her, before her siblings and father. She embraced her mother with shock, because when she received the telegram summoning her, she had thought her mother was very sick but quickly remarked on her mother’s obvious good health as they sat at the sitting room, Omora “Yes “I was sick and I shall tell the cause of my sickness after you have taken your bath and food”, her mother replied.


As neighbours came to welcome Omora and exchange pleasantries with her, they went back to tell others that it is not a rumour, that they had seen Omora with their own eyes. Young girls with ambition were more in number among the well wishers as they come with the belief that if Omora could make it, they too would make it against all odds if given the chance. As twilight began to reduce the number of Omora’s guests, she excused herself to the bathroom to take her bath, after which she took dinner. After that, her mother announced to a few guests who came late that she was already asleep. They readily agreed that her early bedtime could be due to the fatigue of long distance travelling on a bad road.


The following day, Omora woke up at dawn as usual to sweep inside the house and the surroundings. Then, she went to tidy the kitchen and wash dishes. Thereafter, she washed the toilet and bathroom before other members of the family woke up. As Omora’s mother woke up and met her doing house chores she was so pleased to the point of calling her younger siblings to come and appreciate what their elder sister was doing.


Although they were not happy, because they had been doing the same job since their elder sister left home, however, they thanked her for a job well done. As they joined their elder sister, their father met them; she appreciated her daughter and admonished other children to emulate her good job. He told them that whatever good thing you learnt at home would accompany you wherever you go.


As soon as they were done with the chores, Omora went to her parent’s room to arrange and tidy things. Her father and mother were so pleased that Omora showed a resounding example to her siblings. As soon as Omora was done, her mother invited her to the sitting room, where her father was already seated. Her mother sat beside her father, while she sat facing them.


Omora’s mother cleared her throat and called, “Omora”, and she answered “Ma”, “Omora”, and she answered “Ma” “Omora”, and she answered “Ma” with a smile.
Then her mother began; “you came quickly when you got the telegram because you thought I was sick. Indeed, I was sick, but not physical pains. I had heart pains, thoughts of you were the cause of my distress.”


With surprise Omora responded; “why Mama?” “Ehen, my daughter, it is because you have not come home with a potential husband.” “Ah Mama, I understand what you are saying…”


Then they heard a knock on the door and they all responded, “who is that”? Before her mother could stand up, Omora got up to open the door and behold it was Segun who stood there waiting.


Omora shouted “what are you doing here”? She asked. Immediately, they hugged and she led him into the house with fingers clamped. As they came inside the sitting room, Omora’s parent exchanged contemplative look.


Omora’s parent’s welcomed Segun to their home as their daughter introduced him with an expansive smile as her husband to be. One could see Mrs. Atubu beaming happily. The coming of Segun was like a pain reliever to her as she suddenly become strong and feisty. A short while Segun said to Omora “I thought Mama was sick and that was why I came to find out if I could assist. Now that she is not sick, it an opportunity for me to”… they smiled at each other. That was what I thought too, but according to her my arrival and your coming in now has relieved her of the pain, she responded with laughter.


It was an opportunity for Segun to announce to the family of Omora about his plan to marry their daughter. He did an official self introduction beginning with his family background. He mentioned Atiloye of Itagun, the Ologun Ibarato, Omora’s father raised his head and tried to recollect.


Suddenly, he pointed at Segun in amazement. “Ah, are you the son of Atiloye the former Headmaster of Itagun Primary School”? He asked. Yes, Segun responded. “He was the headmaster of the first primary school I ever taught when I left the Teacher’s College in Oyo. Sit down my son.”


Segun sat down, and told the Atubus’ his intent to marry their daughter. Though he regretted telling them about his intention to marry their daughter, because it was not the right time as that was not his reason for coming.


According to him, “he came to find out if she could assist Omora based on the telegram sent by Mama, now that the telegram gave opportunity for it I have to take advantage of it”.


They were very pleased with him and her mother joyfully asked when the wedding would be? The young lovers took a snap, eyed each other and Segun asked the family which date would be convenient for the introduction. They chose two dates, this was to enable him meet with his family and any of the dates should be convenient for them.


They began to chat as food and drinks were served. Soon, deep silence welled up and only the sound of cutlery and tinkle of glasses were heard. Amidst the eating and drinking, the female youths of IIlaye community sent an emissary to Omora that they are waiting for her in the local town hall to address them on the “possibilities for girl child education in IIlaye”.


Omora’s response was that she would be with them shortly because they were almost done with her family.


As Omora was ready to travel back to Ebadan with Segun, they bid her parents and siblings farewell as they came out of the house to board his waiting car to the local town hall along the road to Ebadan. On arrival to the venue Omora was welcome with ovation. As they introduced her to the podium, she was referred to as the “breaker of girl child education barrier in IIlaye”. She stood on the podium and thanked the young girls for the recognition of her efforts and for the initiative.


She told the gathering that she came with an important personality and she introduced Segun to the gathering as a friend and colleague. On the topic she praised the young girls for the timeous topic. She told the curious assembly of young girls that the girl child education in IIlaye was already a possibility because of their consciousness. It is the consciousness that initiated this gathering that would drive them to study harder. She advised them on the need to avoid these practices as they could hamper good education.


She advised them on the need to avoid these practices as they could hamper quality education. She encouraged them to read all available recommended texts, and those who had the texts should share with those who do not have or could not afford it. Then she encouraged them to organize discussion groups on relevant difficult subjects. She concluded that they should aim higher and that she and other women have succeed means they too can succeed.


Then Segun lent his voice by telling the group to avoid unwanted pregnancy as no parent would be happy to see her daughter with unnecessary burden having invested money on fees, books, uniforms and others. He emphasized cleanliness and stressed that disease that could affect anyone who indulged in casual sex and uncleanness like none washing of hands as it is only a healthy person who pursues life ambition like good education.


He also admonished them to help their parents to support their education. Before they left, Segun and Omora promised to build and donate a library for the support of the girl child education in Illaye. They came of the town hall with ovation as almost everybody bids them farewell. They boarded the vehicle and they bid the young girls too.

 

Oamen Osedebamen David Oamen from Nigeria has a Ph.D, B.A. Dramatic Arts, Ile- Ife, Nigeria, M.A. and Ph.D, Theatre Arts from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. He is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Theatre and Media Arts, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State. He has over fifty six published works in international and national journals and books. His research focuses on cultural policy evaluation, cultural industries and creative economy development, art, artist and theatre arts management. He is also a Playwright, Novelist, African Storyteller and Poet. His plays include; The Scar and Ukpusomi (2005), One More Wife Some More Trouble (2005), The Women of Orena are Wiser than the Gods (2009), Tomorrow is for good Character and the pain is worth the gain (2017), Leadership Scale (2019), and recent researched work; Performing and Visual Artist Management as a Career (2020).

 

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