DREAM WAKE

A

ventually - De

the days progress, but I've got t

to take my mum up on her words, not to ascend the throne --- definitely n

o Benin, I began tidying

oing to put a strain on my business, but I was able to lea

intermittent dismal weather reports on the

age, passed through customs and the usua

re grey around the beards, but still th

" He asked this, all the while glancing at me in th

to places and get them there in one piece

nually peering at me instead of keeping his eye

keep quiet then to allow my words sink in before I continued speaking agai

l, I was scared we would really have an accident. Luckily his eyes stared straight ah

s my mom sent, I gazed at the

e road, almost fighting for space with

nimals living inside the forest. One suc

side the forest with some huntsmen to hunt for

s true, while the other le

around the palace and the town at large, of how he al

prise me that he had caught

vingly, peering at the t

saw a horn extending from

obviously w

e a trick o

was

it of whatever had taken o

sleep. Soon enough, I was spread, as best as I could, across the comforta

er. I disregarded it and snuggled into the seats

d by a man's voice that sounde

don die. Abi you don die?" There was a long pause in which his las

lowed, released the tension from my shoulders and body. When I deigned to ope

k gates of my country home. The paint looked glossier than I'd l

st life-like as their eyes glittered from beneath huge manes. The staff o

rtistry of the staff, when the

ook my breath away. As a child I'd gazed at it in aw

ture of it. Mother had as usual, maintained it with a whole tank of pipe bor

heir wide wings outstretched, mouths smiling and arms opened wide, ready to welcome owner and visitor alike that

ets scattered around, totalling twenty, complete, each with a servant's quarter. Each chalet was individual

serving as a covering from the sun's merciless heat. It sheathed

been cultivated then. No trees dotted those areas. I'd wondered around, taking in the eery, but peaceful aura and brea

ing in the scenery before me, m

ed a left bend and come to where the other two

There, the car came to a halting stop in front of a huge edifice that served as the King

oked up, it seemed even more daunting than I had thought. It could

s knobs shone in the bright

ries weaved through my min

at the door in

me aside and heftin

nd leading me through

has come

ards me. It seemed the wind was beneath her f

, making me exhale through my mouth with a loud whoop. Her hol

t the words out, until I

ements but I couldn't tell if th

e her head was on my shoulder, but the je

on my shoulder and

r to me, cradlin

Don't cry." I took a hold of her

red me towards the door, where an ent

They all chorused in unison

hem while mother hel

ide, a feast await

fit for

ng on stepping into the big sh

in appreciation of the spread s

the long dining table --- that could seat thirt

is was fathe

ours." She cut

nd settled down into the wide hi

't feel

and position myself somewhere else, but once mother sat beside me an

ad to su

s mother regaled me with funny tales of the theatri

with food, as servants kept placing

t I was Shrek or an Ogre, who could e

ed in the lounge, with mum fast at my heels. She was like a watch

She hadn't seen me in awhile, so she was

ked, I bec

I drifted off into

u

u

u

I tried valiantly to swat at the pesky

e me alone!"

wake

pierced through the fog

I found her peering at me, con

was feeling the beginnings of a headache

eat with the strength of two men and half - pushed me thro

ter chandelier, until we stopped in front of two wide doo

go of my hand. She looked at me searchin

remember, my brain couldn't grasp at the tendrils of memories struggli

and my feet moved toward

!" She i

but did h

a lion's head, I pushed and the steel door creak

e and I shielded my eyes ag

rroundings, scanning the large cavernous room with an awe t

red Thro

the high chiefs sat, totalling twenty. Behind them, numerou

y eyes continuing to drink in e

orary one's. Carvings of the first king, dating back to the eighteenth ce

settled to the bright light, I gazed up at impressive looking chandeliers hung from the ceiling adorned with cobwebs. I guessed this room h

de path way, all the way up to the gold plated steps that led up to the throne chair. There, a tiger head s

The look it gave me seemed to say --- proceed if you dare. I quickly glanc

asp

r. . . the reve

endent, maje

leather seat that could comfortably sit three men t

od on either side, caging the throne chair and serv

h pilar, gain entrance into the palace and pass through the steel doors.

the leather - padded seat

al perch on the seat. Nothing I describe will sh

etings with the chiefs, and play with the staff while he held it in his

s I stood, staring and w

ng at me, her head cocked to one s

, pierced through

cat. "You brought me here because you thought it woul

wered it all. The play of guilty e

e room, anger surging thro

, knowing fully well I w

he try to b

I banged the door shut behind me and made straight for

s amount of liquid into the glass, but

he bitter liquid coursed down my throa

and so fueled with adrenaline, I t

ng, I looked at the empty bottle in my hand and threw it against the

would eat alone in my room, not wanting to talk to anyo

d at my door. I ignored it and continued typing. The knocking starte

eir hands. While I was still watching with bulging eyes, mother came in, not meeting my eyes. S

d backed away from me. Mother dismissed them and they

the corner of my eyes as mother began removing the dish

f, keeping an

to eat." She pointed to the table, where two empty plates

heavenly smell hit my nostrils,

f one of the empty plates, while mother took her plac

e. The other dish held chunky - sized chicken and assorted meat. She picked out two choice looking pieces of mea

nstead, she was picking listlessly at h

nitely not with my mother. A twinge of guilt spiked through me, and I struggled to swallow the mors

and at my side with a glass of

aid, looking up g

I sighed, picked up my cutlery once more a

at her, regret and sorrow lacing my eyes. "I'm sorry ma. I really am. I just don't like press

remember when you were taking your final year exams in secondary schoo

ead all night and when the morning came, I was co

k at the questions laid in front of

I was literally having a silent breakdown. By the time the teacher looked up f

ther continued. "We saw you in the prin

ther had sat down beside me a

ready for your exams. You calmed down and went back into the exam hall and aced all your papers. You'v

. "Now I promise, I won't talk about it again. If it's not what you want,

n festivals?" I as

oundation of this town, if we loose tha

don't want us to quarrel anymore." I repl

t smelt distinctly of tobacco, a smell I hadn't taken notice of the day before. B

stock his library with poetry and histor

r his literary skills while in the university. His tro

irst time how I was going

ing to think. I didn't have to top his ach

ascending the throne

ss in my hand and noticed I h

scared me. I didn't want to be one of those men

eet up on the wide mahogany table and my eyes glanced at

efilled. I sniffed at it then poured it into my gl

eck, I slugged it down my

like son eh

a? I pondered on this after awhile. He norma

de him

witched his drink to something stronge

him on this seat, attending

an in position of po

ff in my head --- T

ying to wrestl

acing as the bitter liquid cour

out but part of the edge got torn in the process. It was a picture of my dad

ked on the d

aid, stifling a yawn. This drink

Sir! Your mum has need of your presence in the main sitting r

t g

he table to take a snooze. I got up

h

the desk, and gingerly

th a man. They were making light conversation when I got

o arms were together in front of him, in a form of s

ordship." He said,

ell him to stand up or else he won't.

ring my throat. "Pl

her. I looked up at him with eye brows raised enquir

to a seat. This whole get up, seat down was

nt for the upcoming festivals." Mother looked at me imploringly. Tha

acked some native wear. I can alw

Well, it's important for you to show up looking the part of the King's son. He has brought som

o rock the boat with me. "Very well then," and I in

als were overboard with their intricate styles, so I made sure to choose the

raised in question. "Mothe

about, my son?" She

, the tailor greeted me the same

n you already know the ans

familiar tightness in my chest was com

n the morning and woke me up. She said we had to be at the town square by

my finery, I looked a

beads round my neck. I smiled to myself

intricate designs on the wrapper shown golden in contrast against the deep red colour of th

s re

e bonnet of the car. As we moved, sirens blared from behind us. I turned round, and sure enough there were two police vans wit

"Son, it's customary, let's not get into an argument about this. It's also

emies?" I ask

n't know about, my so

e about this?" I continued

wanted to dethrone him. He was about to get to the bottom of it when

kay, only fond memories. Today we celebrate. No tears, al

t. I kept holding her unti

t fifteen years ago and what a development. Last I remember it, ther

ow, was an expense of land

yes could see. A smaller throne was put beside the throne. A large canopy was set above the make shift throne to shield whoever s

fully adorned with bright flowers and garlands.

t on the throne?" I t

and my place is right beside you on the smaller one."

I turned to look at my mother and it seemed I was seeing her for the first time. She looked very regal beside me with the royal beads around her neck and wrists. She wor

I squeezed her hand

hey knelt down on one knee with their two hands in front of them and their heads bowed. Exactly the same

widened with t

ht, still pondering on th

, standing up, but mother put a hand o

on the chairs around and my head began

You must have figured it out by now, my son. I'd

o that, just stared strai

hink I'm going to take dad

lenched

city to move to this township which, b

d many cars on the way here. The faces I saw on the road looked happy an

ce. You took it from the bushy, underdev

ing into the square and taking their seats. Drummers were setting up in one

very conspicuous on the raised throne I was sitting. Some people had already began t

and sat down beside me. "Ma!" I w

, my son. The festi

this festival

s here this evening. The festival of matu

Looks like we'd be

on my face. Patting my knee, she said, "Yo

something about oneness and unity and branches. Heck, the man was a dro

like the city. I sniffed again, noticing the clean earthy smell. I

hought, whew! Then suddenly a man got up, and taking the microphone, h

ic. I felt my spirits soar just listening to it. I made a note to

our. Cheers went up all around as masquerades with brightly colored masks and clothi

hey seemed to defy gr

the bodies of the masquerades. They climbed to the top and stayed the

h dropp

he masquerades and lifted their feet into the air. There, th

earing for

f they

ving, my son, you were too young to remember this. Your f

ks and ankles. They held beaded gourds in their hands and as they sang, they beat them to the rhythm of

oroughly. Palm wine was brought to u

the high chiefs got up

ster. I muttered

g maidens who will compete amongst themselves to dance. Those who dance well will be seen as ma

became tense but I wasn't going to allow his little

chinn

tied round their waists. Beads adorned their wrists and ankles and they jiggle

lowly, with the change in the beat of the drum. The beat of the drums were

acted out a scene with their hips, twisting them left and right, their bodies mo

remely exciting to watch. I hadn't even realised when it became dark. I

of the dancers. There was silence everywhere and as I looked round, all eyes were on the dancers and

me, their chests heaving from the exhausting dance. I didn't know when I got up

came young boys wearing loin clothes round their waists. Their bodies were oiled and they shone as

ther and the drums started again, but this time, it

, grunting as they tried to outdo each other. Th

, one of the boys grabbed the neck of the other, and hef

etely left the canopies and moved

t it

winner and would be accepted as a mature young

ir opponents, they bowed and left the t

efs stood up to dance and with their walking sticks raised occasionally in the air,

heir display. Mother stood up. She looked at me, as if to ask for permission, so

beat as she smiled. I didn't know she was such a good dancer.

wards me, holdin

g out there. I would only make a fool of

and began cheering

ally,

yself, it would

ld on to me, so I closed my eyes and tried to rememb

in his hand, lifting it up and bringing it down and when it came d

d I was holding a walking stick. With my eyes closed,

dy jerking and jumping with each cut of the beat, until it rea

, annoyed that my fun had been spoilt. Just

sed looks on the faces of people. Th

s rested on a shadow in the midd

I heard the whispers. "It's the wise o

raised a gnarled looking hand

there was no one behind me. Mother was stood afar f

zuwa, you can not run away from your destiny, you will be our next king and you will make this town great, bu

arkness. A sliver of fear sliced through me, it felt like co

"My son, let us go

the high chiefs shout.

after that ominous declar

moving to the middle of the floor to dance. Money

ent was ov

hatever her name

our seats, the high chiefs called her attention and she g

nded yam in mortars with their long pestles at a corner. It

mortar. It is said that the pounded yam is made sweeter by the sw

to wait to f

told her I wasn't feeling well. She understo

of the wise woman. I would ask my mother about it the next

and dropped into bed, tired to the bone.

, I bid father good night, knowin