This Motherless Land

Kate couldn’t pinpoint the precise moment The Ring had become ‘home’ and Lagos demoted to ‘where I used to live’. It had happened slowly, by degrees, with smiles, looks, assurances and hugs.” - This Motherless Land by Nikki May

Her mother was being kind. Something was terribly wrong. Maybe I’m dying.

What on earth made them think they were better than her? Yeye people with their shabby house, rickety furniture and smelly old car. They couldn’t even afford hot water. And they were dirty. Grandma only had one bath a week! They ate raw meat and uncooked eggs. Even kolo people knew you’d get jedi-jedi.

Aunty Chloé was Mum’s best friend, Femi and Olumide were best friends, and she and Oyinkan were best friends. Funke loved the symmetry of it. Dad and Uncle Ade pretended to like each other but Dad was always moaning about him to Mum; he hated the way he used his long-leg connections to get what he wanted. Funke was glad Dad pretended, though; they all enjoyed staying in Uncle Ade’s chalet at Tarkwa and going to Ikoyi Club as his guests.

Good people made me who I am