Sons and Dads

Kogi's Visit to his Grandmother

Kogi was born in a rural African village. Major changes were taking place in the country, independence from British colonialism was around the corner and a prolonged drought had hit the whole country. The usual green appearance of the countryside had become a monotonous brown color as grass, shrubs, trees, corn, beans, millet, and other crops were scorched by the hot tropical sun. Majority of the water streams dried up and rivers were reduced to mere rivulets. Herders of domestic animals, such as, cattle, goats, sheep, and pigs wore gloomy faces as they watched their dead animals scattered all over in their farms.

Life seemed hopeless

Kogi's maternal grandmother lived near a major river. In her little farm along the river bank, she planted drought resistant crops, such as arrowroots, yams, and banana trees. She watered them using river water that flowed through a canal dug by her late husband. Her little farm was like an oasis in the middle of a desert.

Kogi's maternal grandmother's health was failing as she grew older. Kogi's mother decided to come and live with her mother to help in cooking and watering her crops. In return, her mother became Kogi's caretaker. Kogi's grandmother enjoyed caring for him. She sang nice lullabies to Kogi. She cuddled him, fed him, told him stories, and taught him how to walk and speak his vernacular. Kogi became more attached to his grandmother than to his mother.

When Kogi was six years old, he and his mother moved back to their home where his father lived. Kogi's father had built a better and bigger house for the family after the drought had disappeared.

Kogi grew up and loved his grandmother greatly. He looked forward to every Friday evening when his mother gave him food to take to his grandmother. He also helped do various domestic chores, such as, gathering firewood from a nearby forest and fetching water from the nearby river.

One morning at about 8.00 a.m., Kogi went to fetch water from the river for his grandmother. The sky was clear, brilliantly blue, and the sun was shining brightly. The birds chirped as they flew from one tree to another, making Kogi's journey to the river less lonely. Kogi was the first person to arrive at the river that morning. He perched himself on a stone in the middle of the river where water looked cleanest and started to fill his calabash (gourd). No sooner had Kogi half-filled his calabash with water than three boys appeared, each carrying a white plastic container for drawing water.

"Hey, young fellow, give way for us to get some water!" one of the boys barked at Kogi. Before Kogi figured out what was happening, he was pushed aside to fall into the shallow water while clutching to his grandmother's calabash. Kogi was wet, scared, and also furious. He gathered his courage. Suddenly, he grabbed a smooth piece of stone from the river and before he flung it to the face of the bully, another boy intervened. The boy grabbed Kogi's hand and ordered his comrades to immediately cease drawing water.

”What's your name?" the boy asked.

"My name is Kogi. And yours?" Kogi inquired.

"Comba," the boy replied.

Comba asked Kogi to fill his calabash with water while the other two boys watched. Meanwhile, Mbaya, the bully, became restless, hissed, shouted insanities, and splashed water all over Kogi.

"What is wrong with you, Mbaya?" Comba asked his younger brother. "The river belongs to the community around here. Kogi came earlier than us and has the right to draw water first.," Comba admonished his younger brother, Mbaya

"Go on and draw water," Comba urged Kogi.

Trembling and speechless, Kogi filled his container with water protected by Comba. After everybody had completed filling their containers with water, they all walked up the hill together heading to their destinations. Kogi arrived at his grandmother's house first, while the other boys went on to their home.

Kogi did not tell his grandmother about his encounter with the three boys at the river. He pondered over the differences between him, Comba, Mbaya, and their third sibbling, notably, their behavior and the clothes they wore.

"What other differences could there be between them and me?" Kogi wondered.