07/08/2020
IKECHUKWU IN LAGOS
It was Ikechukwu's first Sunday in Lagos, he got out of bed and started wondering what church he'd attend. He decided to walk through a street following an echo of gospel musical instrument with a sweet song. He eventually saw the church and went in. He enjoyed the praise and worship session but not satisfied with the message preached. After service, he called his people at home and told them he misses everything; especially their home church.
"Oh dear, what is it about the service that you didn't like", Chinwe asked. Chinwe is Ikechuwu's younger sister. She is the most-talented 'speaker' of the house. Her brother always cynically says that she can speak for Africa in any competition. Her brother knowing who his sister is quickly said, "it was the message o" and then asked about their daddy. Their mum screamed, "your daddy is fine", a subtle way to remind IK he always asks after her only after he had asked after his dad. But Chinwe wasn't done, she asked, "en en, what is wrong about the message, the pastor used Quran instead of Bible?"
The next thing he heard over the phone was Mr Okafor's loud laughter. " Don't be jealous, Ijeoma. He loves us both equally. Chinwe, you are a comedian. How are you, Ik?" IK responded with a shrug, "i am fine, just wondering what Lagos has for me."
Ikechukwu, being the first born of the family, remembered how he left Ngwachukwu village in Umuahia for Lagos with high hopes of better life. His uncle had always come to the village every December with beautiful clothes, shoes. His ornamented necklace with a dangling cross as the pendant had always been enough testimonial of the richness of this God's own land - Lagos. Uncle Chi had always talked of great possibilities in Lagos, so much that his dad promised to do anything including giving this Uncle a plot of land if only Ikechukwu could be shown the way to Lagos. "Hmmm, now I am here", IK sighed.
At this time he heard that annoying notification from his service provider; " you have less than one minute for your call".
He blamed Chinwe for exhausting his airtime with her flippancy and thanked his parents for their constant support, before he ended the call.
In less than a week of their arrival in lagos, uncle Chi left IK alone in the 2 bedroom apartment and disappeared to see his family abroad. He wished Uncle Chi had stayed a bit longer to show him the ropes on how to be a Lagosian. At least that way, he wouldn't have almost missed his bus stop just now. And he would've avoided the insults of the conductor. He thought he had trekked too far from home, only to realise that it was just 3 junctions away from his house. As he trekked from his bus stop to his house, he heard some music from a small church. Uncle Chi had sold the ideology of the bigger, the better to him, so he despised this small church- as it reminded him of the village life, he had left behind. Yet, the angelic voice of the lady singing kept calling out to him.
IK had never been a ladies' man. Infact, he was a shy guy, but when he saw the lady, in the choir rehearsal he walked into, he was dumbfounded.
"Hello, are you here for choir rehearsals?" Some random guy asked him. IK's mouth was open, but not to produce speech and his eyes were fixed on the angelic manifestation on the altar. He was blind to the remaining 10 people in the room.
"Excuse me, brother. I'm asking because I've never seen you in our church before. Are you first timer? Helloooooo".
"Eh sorry, were you talking to me? I didn't hear you. Eeem, what did you say?" IK tried to gain his composure as he rolled his eyes around, gently turning his neck while scanning all there was in the church. It was a world of difference in sight from the church he was in, earlier this morning. The make of this church brought back the thoughts that had filled his heart earlier in the day as he thought of the dualism of the city life. You have lives in all flavours. You will see a beautiful estate laced with greens lawns, crafted landscapes, swimming pool and sport centers and just beside it, a slum with men and women squeezing in a tent. The roads are a mix of Mercedes, "Leggedes" and "Leglesses". When the traffic light gives its momentary pause on the racing cars, it is time for beggars to have a momentry sight of the smiling children inside the cars with popsicles and gummy bears in their hands. What kind of city is this?
The publicity of the GENG Church was repeated on the TV four times on Saturday evening alone. The billboards were screaming with the faces of international preachers lined up for each week of the next two months in the GENG church, you can't miss the church. It was more than his uncle said it would be.
But there he was, in a church that can only sit 70 people if arranged like it is in a stadium. Though the ambience was conducive, there were no cinema lights, assorted speakers were missing and the stage lacked the big plasma screens.
"Yeah, brother, I am asking if you are here to join our choir, I am Brother Leirbag, the choir master and singing there is Sis. Alicsirp, we call her Sis Alice. By the way, you can call me Bro. Lee.
IK replied; "yes, i will like to join the choir, but i have a problem."
Bro. Lee asked; "what is your problem brother?"
"My voice sounds like that of a roaring lion. I don't know if i can cope singing with these your angelic voices I am hearing."
"ohhh bro Ik, lamented Bro.Lee, Don't worry. We all were having different issues that had to do with our voices but with commitment and by God's grace, we were trained on how to sing. If you are serious, you will be able to sing even better than we do.
IK asked, "Are you serious? Bro. Lee responded; "Yes Bro. Ik, just make up ur mind. You can do it."
Those words encouraged Ik. He decided to join the choir and became so commited.
It's been 2 years now, and IK is well settled in Lagos. Uncle Chi left the 2 bedroom apartment to him, and finally joined his family in the UK.
IK was also fortunate to manage his uncle's hotel and send a cut to the UK.
Things were going well for Ikechukwu. He even ended up being the church drummer (as it appeared the lion-like voice wasn't a joke).
