ỊSÈ

"Ichié, you sent for me sir," Chiukwuemeka said as soon as he entered the car.

"You're late young man!" Uncle Akaji barked at him. "That instrument on your wrists, is it for fancy?"

He glances at his wristwatch hastily, "No Ichié."

"Get in! get in immediately we're late!" He says to the boy who immediately gets himself in.

"How can you be CEO of Uzoka if you can't perform a simple task of rising at first light?" He queries the boy, Emeka strives to not meet his gaze. "When I was younger, I had an uncle, he was kinda a kid during the events of the 1967 to 1970 Biafra/Nigeria civil war whom we all know was orchestrated by the outsiders who sought to divide us further and then make due with our resources at the time. It was evident because on February 24th 1966, the Osagyefo, the Redeemer, Kwame Nwia Kofi Nkrumah was ousted and the western global spy organization was in Ghana when it occured, boom! On the 4th and 5th of January 1967, after a few years of tension in the country, general Ojukwu of seccessionist Anị ọchịchị ndị Ìgbo Bịafra and general Gowon of Nigeria are in Aburi, Ghana, birthplace of Samia Yaba Nkrumah, the Osagyefo's daughter, to meet with the new Ghanian military head of state Arthur Ankrah and an agreement was reached but was later breached upon return to Dodan barracks in Lagos, Nigeria which evidently ignited the war on the 6th of July, 1967 which went all the way till January 13th 1970..." Chiukwuemeka yawns awkwardly. "Sorry kid, am I boring you?"

"No Ichié, it's not that, you called me out this early today, I was wondering why?" The boy asked calmly.

"Ah, good! You know, I know I talk alot and sometimes people are not so interested but that doesn't mean I should stop talking..." He stops glancing around a bit, "Sorry, what was I saying?"

"You were talking..."

"Exactly! So... Ok look, you're almost twenty, I'm sure, right?"

"Yes Ichié."

"Good! That means it's time I get you acquinted with your first office job, you know so you can understand 9 to 5s, understand your future workers, tell them you did it and there'll actually be evidence, even though you didn't do it as much they're going to, it's just so that there'll be evidence you care about..."

"Even when I don't?"

"Even when you don't boy!" He gives the kid an up top.

"Wow, that'll be great Ichié."

"Now you're getting it boy!" He nudges at the kid, "Dey play! 9 to 5 na your mate, you'll learn kid!" Uncle Akaji thinks to himself while throwing Chiukwuemeka what he perceives as a proud smile coming from his Uncle.

* * *

"Nné, we're doing this!" Uju says excitedly to her sister as they're both seated at the back seat of their Itaoua Native, the electric vehicle which was gotten from the western motherland region of Burkina Faso, they had a few more back at home.

"Nnya eh, school at long last, omo!" Chizoba says as she stretches out to grab a bottle of water from the fridge.

"Abeg, nyé kwúe m mmịrị jare," Uju asks of her sister who passes her a bottle of water too."

"I remember when people used to buy water," Chizoba remarks, Uju does a spit take upon hearing that.

"Ọnyé kwụrụ that thing?" Uju asks in surprise.

"Open a book you say no, now you're asking me about something of common knowledge."

"But why would a normal person make something we can't live without a produce to be sold in the market? Soon you're gonna tell me people didn't grow their own food but worked to buy food a few other people grew?" Uju says in disbelief.

"It happened before and if you look closely, it's still in occurrence, uncle Akaji is in an office not a farm."

"But he has investments on over fifty eight acres of farmland in Congo Brazzaville alone."

"Don't forget the ones in Congo Kinshasa but at the end of the day, that's the capitalism I was talking about but is it really ok?" Chizoba replies.

"When I was younger," The driver chips in.

"I was part of Gen A as you can clearly tell, we knew capitalism was a problem, Gen z realized it first though, we knew it was the reason why the world was in disarray but we knew we had to stop it."

"So what did you guys do?" Chizoba asks.

"We had our revolutionary voices, content creators and writers do what they do best, tell the people the fucking truth and today the UMR is in existence and all thanks to all who fought zealously," He says as he takes the final swerve.

"I still don't understand though," Uju says.

"The point is that, Africa is doing way better than it was when we were much younger though we expected the change to come like zoom but it's ok because the best things come slowly they say. Today, we still have evil people who still care about their pockets and not the collective good of the people and in as much as they're relatively few now, their wealth and negative impact on the economy of the African state make them the majority, sadly. But one day, soon enough, they will be totally eliminated and Africa shall be greater. 'The collective will of the people is stronger than the people in power' was the mantra of the 20s and 30s, since then though we have successfully eliminated the colonial powers and their tools, especially religion but some are still hell bent on jeopardizing our good just for their personal and selfish interests but karma will catch up with them.

"Ase!" Chizoba says. "Nné anyị bú Ọfọ ná ogụ ná bịa!"

"Iseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Má ọbulu ndí Ìgbo anyị," The driver says with a chuckle, Uju who had disappeared into her phone releases a hiss. "Ok ladies, have a nice day, if it's time just give me a ringy ding ding, I'll be in one of my farms in Ogidi with ndị Mendem m."

"Dude grow up!" Uju rolls her eyes and adds as she steps outta the car. Chizoba gives the driver a high five and she and her sister turn to the enormous school building as the car zooms off.

"School!" Uju exclaims.

"Am I right?" Chizoba replies.

* * *

"Boy, see am for here o." Uncle Akaji says shuffling the boys hair, "Your office!"

"So what will I be doing Ichié?"

Uncle Akaji laughs, "You'll be my personal assistant, in that way you can be in touch with whatever things you need, if you're diligent enough in that I may or may not..." He laughs again, "Yes I may or may not promote you to junior project manager. So just keep on working, we'll see how far you can go from here."

"Ok Ichié, I'll make you proud."

"Nope!..."

"Ok I'll make me proud!"

"Ok, close enough but no, you'll make both yourself and the Akubueziokwu, your father, Onyebuchi proud."

"Ok Ichié, I understand."

"Ok get to work, I'll see you in a long while."

"Ok Ichié, dàálụ rị nne," Uncle shoots him a thumbs up and leaves.

Emeka turns around on his swivel chair, he glances around, no refrigerator, no television, just a table, a standing fan, a laptop, a swivel chair, a bottle of water, a broken window with excellent rays of anyanwụ, the sun covering him.

"Anyanwụ nọ dụ m n'á zụ, nọ dụ m n'ị ru, nonyelu m ná akụkụ, daalụ," He beckons upon the sun, he turns and notices a wall art by the famous Ejuwede H, H from the Ejuwede family, very popular family from the South South of the motherland region of Nigeria, the art depicted a heavily pregnant lady of twins as her womb was transparent, carrying a basket of yams on her head, a baby girl strapped to her back and a bunch of plantains on both hands and her husband right behind her waving at the crowd who were gathered cheering the man on with placards stating:

World's best husband!

Man of the house!

Ọdọgwụ nwọké!

A real man!

Only a real man will leave the comfort of his living room to excort his woman to the market and back!

A real and generous man, a woman's place is at home, submitting, serving and worshipping her husband, any man that decides to give a woman a helping hand is generous to the core and should be honored because it is a privilege to the woman!!!

Look at a legend of the game, a true GOAT, fire for fire, he shoots, he scores!

Goated!

Women were made for men, women were created to serve men and submit solely to our wishes.

The man is a honorable for even lifting a finger to help his woman whom he paid for with his hard earned money.

It had no tag nor message so Emeka decided to interpret it as how ladies carry the family from generation to generation but men are still applauded by society for the ladies' efforts.

"So unfair though," He shrugs and stretches on the chair, "Anyways, Ólú! Work!"

* * *

As they stepped into school, every body glanced at them, sure they got the welcoming looks, everyone wanted to know the new students but Chizoba thought something was missing.

"I thought we would be given a hero's welcome?" She whispers to Uju as they both stand by the door, some eyes fixated on them, others minding their businesses.

"And why would you think so princess?" A voice spooks them from behind.

They both turn, startled! They behold a dark skinned, brunette, slim figured girl standing model-like in front of them. "I'm Chidimma Tobechiukwu Ogbendịda and I'm the student body president, and I'll be taking... Sorry, chauffeuring you guys around the school, we have been awaiting your arrival, my ladies, ndị Lọlọ anyị." She says giving them a mock curtsey. Behind them in the hallway they could hear snickering, they turned to behold people jesting at them.

Chizoba is clearly offended but Obianuju is indifferent, they both follow her around as she chatted on and on about the school whats and what nots. It was obvious Uju adored her, Chizoba seemed to resent her.

"And last but not the least, our class..." She turns to Chizoba, "Yes fine girl, me and you are in one class, deal with it!" It was kinda obvious that Chizoba was displeased with the state of events, she wasn't so good at hiding her emotions, she had learnt that one today, and so far, this Chidimma was capitalizing on that. "Class, these are our new friends, Obianuju Adamma Onyebuchi and the other one..."

"I'm Chizoba Ngozichiukwuka Onyebuchi, nice to meet you all."

The class gave a half hearted ovation and went about their normal businesses.

"Uju dear, please go have a seat at the front here." She says and walks out the class.

"She's the SBP, SP? Who made her that? A drunk?"

"Chill out girl, she's probably on her not in a good vibes era, you know how it is."

"Why's she tryna take it out on me then?"

"Chill out, just let her be, it's the first day of school and you don't want one pretty lady obviously very popular amongst the students and unfortunately on her not cool vibes era mess up your flow like... For the next three years. Remember, high school most of the time, yes, most of the time, makes or mars a person, you confirm shey?"

She looks her sister dead in the eyes a while, "Thanks sis, afụ m gị n'anya, I love you."

"I love you too bestie," Uju says giving her a hug.

"Fine girls, how about I come make that hug a threesome," They glance up to see a tall dark lanky boy smiling generously at them. Chizoba rolls her eyes, Uju twists her hair as she gives the boy a welcoming smile, nervously though. "Me ma wo akye, I'm Addae, from Sunyani in the Bono region of the motherland region of Ghana, I'm here on a student transfer program."

"And I'm gonna punch..."

"Sorry about that, ụtụtụ ọma o, she's in her not cool vibes era, I'm Obianuju Adamma Onyebuchi, I'm from Onitsha north in Onitsha, Anambra State, in the motherland region of Nigeria, I'm fourteen, I'm her elder sister, we just started... Ouch!" She exclaims as Chizoba kicks her ankle.

Chizoba smiles at Addae and proceeds to drag Uju outta the class, "Could you excuse us a moment?" Addae smiles in response.

"Nné, what happened? what's the Aburi?"

"Your self respect!"

"What?"

"Yeah, your self respect, stop simping for a guy, a man, and at that, one you just met."

"Nné chill out, we're just getting to know each other na."

"He told you two stuffs, you're giving him your entire maternal history? Nné, jịlị ákọnụché nè mé ìfè o, be wise in your dealings o."

"Baaaabes, chill out na! look, nothing's going to happen, trust your sister, I got this."

Chizoba stares her a while. "Uju, you don't got this but most importantly, experience is the best teacher they say, she's gonna teach you well, I'm off, go enjoy yourself."

"Chizoba, chill out, nothing's going to happen ok? I promise! Ok see, pinky promise."

"You know pinky promises once entailed that if the promise is broken, the one who broke the promise would have their pinkies broken off."

"Ei! Not my babies!" Uju exclaims, hiding her pinkies. "Bia way, Chizoba, Ì bịa kwá! dey well o, dey well!" Chizoba smiles as Uju walks away.

She takes a deep breath, "Omo! School! I wonder what you have in stall for us."

"Obianuju Adamma Onyebuchi and Chizobam Ngozichiukwuka Onyebuchi, bikọ, kindly report to my office with the student body president Chidimma Tobechiukwu Ogbendịda, daalụ nụ!" A voice from the speakers call out.

"Let's go princess!" Chidimma says from behind her.

"Nné! You startled me, ịkọ bé gọ? You don dey high?"

"Chill, ah! I was just coming from patrolling the hall ways and saw you standing like a mannequin looking lost. What's the Aburi?"

"Didn't you hear the principal's message?"

"Ok yes!" She peeps into the class, "Guys, History is coming o, settle down, it's a compulsory subject, no one leaves, arrange your selves o," Every one makes a move scrambling for their desks, "Obianuju, pull up na, Lọlọ akwụkwọ dey call us o."

"Who's..."

"So history is compulsory?" Chizoba asks.

"Ah ah! Áná jụ nkè áhụ ajụ? It can't be questioned, one who failed to learn from history must become part of history, history as a subject takes three periods of the day from Monday to Friday, each student must learn an African language, that takes two periods of the day, it's compulsory and then you get to practice what you wanna become in life all right from grade school, it's essentially essential."

"That's very lovely."

"Yup, exactly what our revolutionary voices fought for, now we don't need to be learning what will not benefit us in the future, all being learnt is for the benefit of us, to affect our Africa positively," She stares at Chizoba a while, "Wait, were you homeschooled?"

"Yup! Me and my elder sister."

"Doing what?," Chizoba shrugs. "My dad says he would have loved to be homeschooled back in his days because school then was shit, he doesn't like to call this school, he calls it an education."

"Abi? When I read back about the Africa of the past, I just wanna baff, like get me a baff bag like damn!" Chidimma laughs. "Absolute shit!"

"Thank the ancestors for the UMR."

"Iseeeee!"

"Hey girls, I see y'all are getting along now." Uju says as she joins them.

They both stare at each other a while with sly smiles till Chidimma replies, "Well, we're getting there. I was just telling the Adaeze here about how school works, how the education system holds, history most importantly, is top of the ranks in order of relevance because why not? African languages is next because we must communicate proudly in our culture, Kiswahili, the general African language is of utmost priority so in a way, we're kinda learning two and the exercise classes, aka maritime warfare lessons, guerrilla warfare lessons, just military trainings and stuffs you get? And gym sessions, top notch priority, then we have fun time in between lessons and a few normal school stuffs but the best part of it all is that we mustn't indulge in all, languages and history classes are compulsory right from kindergarten, unquestionable! every one chose courses and subjects according to one's taste, simple right?"

"Fair enough! I second it." Chizoba says.

"I don't like history though but I know it's for our own good... it's fun sha at the end."

"That's the spirit!"

"Ladies! I see y'all dilly dallying in the hall way, this is not time for jokes. History lesson is the most important life lesson you can learn and it mustn't be missed, with that, I wonder why y'all are not c-walking to my office!"

"Omo! Na by running ways o!" Chizoba says as they take to their heels.

When they got over to the principal's office, Chidimma knocks.

"Enter please," A voice welcomes them in.

"Ụtụtụ ọma Lọlọ akwụkwọ anyị."

She smirks, "Chiiiidiimmmaaaa, dey whine yourself," She blushes, "Anyways, how're the new students?"

"They're right here Odụà anyị." The girls pull themselves forward from behind Chidimma.

"Ụtụtụ ọma Odụà anyị," They say to a seated lady adjacent them.

"Ụmụaka, how are you both doing?"

"We're fine ma," they chorus.

"Ok," she turns to Chidimma, "Have you oriented them on how the education system works now adays? I learnt they have never been to a real school before?"

"Yes Odụà, I have," She nods and turns to the girls.

"Ladies, are you ok with it?"

"Yes ma, it's all fun and games for me," Chizoba says.

"It's not!" She says banging her fists on the desk, "it's serious business for us and you too because knowledge is power!"

"Yes Odụà, it's serious business for me I meant to say."

"Ofụma! Uju?"

"Apart from history, every thing in the system is nice."

"Obianuju, one who fails to learn from history must become part of history, it's undebatable, Africa as of the early 10s, 20s and 30s of the 21st century was in shambles because we had forgotten our history, taken gifts from our enemies and was taught that we should love our enemies as ourselves, the UMR parliament across Africa many years ago enforced knowledge of our history as it was as a top priority in all levels of education across the country of Africa so that we may never forget where we're coming from, and equally learn from our mistakes and our pasts ok? We don't forget the past, we keep it in mind so as to learn from it and to me that's an A triple plus to them in the parliament."

"But Odụà, shouldn't..."

"Chidimma, I feel you!" She turns to Obianuju, "Live your life queen, no problems, we have learnt over the years that students have different brain capacities and interests and can't be tested nor examined the same way on a particular platform or avenue and be expected to learn same lessons, you're different, that's ok, I'm different, that's ok, we're African, every African is an asset to the country, every student is an asset to the education body, no one's a liability, don't worry, history is compulsory, an utmost priority, besides, it's only History and our African languages that are the compulsory teachings that are to be strictly adhered to, asides that, there are other various varieties of courses according to your tastes, capabilities and interests for you to engage in, because that's what education is all about: LEARNING WHAT YOU LOVE BASED ON YOUR CAPABILITIES, INTERESTS AND TASTES, but on History and our African languages, you don't really have a choice on those ones, e get why, but we'll make sure that it's fun and interesting enough for your interests ok?"

"Yes... yes Odụà!" Obianuju reluctantly agrees.

"Ofụma! Now run along, lessons are ongoing and you must not miss them."

"Daalụ rị nné Odụà," They chorus, she hands them a thumbs up as they shut her door behind them."

"Thank my ancestors and the African ancestors in general for fighting for a United Union of Motherland Republics, a better African state free of colonial foolishness," she glances through the window, "Ewó!Anyanwụ apụtá ìfè! Time for my daily dose of sun light," She arises and takes a deep breath, "I love my Africa!"