By Sulayman Jeng, UK
The people of Kankary Kunda have for long been known as very compliant which won them the admiration of many visitors and the envy of their neighbours. A handful whinge about their daily hardships; while the majority just get on silently. Everyone knows that the Seyfo is responsible for their quiet crisis which trapped them in abject poverty and blistering political misdemeanour but none is willing to risk grumbling openly or even alluding to it. The Nyapinkang Kafoo which operates directly under the commands of the Seyfo has unlimited powers. They can arrest and detain anyone in Kankary Kunda at will. What makes it even unbearable is the inhumane way in which they treat their detainees. Some of them are so badly treated that they lose their sense of dignity. Others are released with permanent physical and psychological scares. It is also believed that in every family at Kankary Kunda, there is one who is on the payroll of the Nyapinkang Kafoo. Perhaps this explains why majority of the Kankary Kunda people recoiled in a shivering silence.
Amadou has left his native country for the Toubabou Bankoo for many years ago in search of greener pasture. Unlike many of his fellow hustlers, Amadou quickly settled down. He met a very charming and caring Toubabou girl whom he married. Amadou do not subscribe to sex before marriage. He made it clear to Nyakoi, his Toubabou girl, if she really loves him the way he loves her then they should get married instead of living a sinful life. Nyakoi is five foot six with a slender frame. She has an oval face dotted with piercing blue eyes. Her lips firm and soft reveals a milky evenly set of teeth whenever they widened in a capturing smile. With a curvy hips and long smooth legs, Nyakoi walks majestically with endearing strides. Amadou, on the other hand, is of an ebony complexion. He has an athletic stature with broad shoulders. With few inches taller than Nyakoi, his face is also oval with a carefully chiselled high cheekbone. His nose even though pointed is slightly broad towards the nostrils. He has bushy eyebrows above his bulging whitish brownish eyes. Amadou equally has a very charismatic smile; clean, even set of white teeth. Their relationship was very cordial, open and honest. Albeit they cruise rough waters now and again, they always come out of it with renewed commitment, love and support for each other.
Every month, Amadou remits a certain amount of money for the up keep of his family back home. Once in a while, an uncle, cousin, sister or nephew will phone him for financial help. He cannot say no. Even if he does not have money on him, he will borrow from Nyakoi to bail out his family. He built a cement house for his mum and dad. They had both electricity and water which Amadou has to foot every month. At one month, the electricity and water bills rocketed to two thousand dalasi. While at others, despite of weeks blackout, the bills will still be surprisingly high. Amadou at first thought his family was pulling a fast one on him. How on earth can one pay for a service he has not used. His mum explained that they have to economise their use of electricity if not; they will not be able to pay the bill. During the day, they will turn off all their appliances until sunset. They will switch on the lights and fridges between 21:00 and midnight before they are turned off again for the rest of the night. The main reason for this high cost of electricity and water bill is the lack out accurate meter reading by the electricity and water agents. Most of the bill are drawn by mere assumption and guess. After a while of contemplation, Amadou advised his mum to switch to cash power instead. With it you will only consume what you toped up. Since they are now aware that most people of Kankary kunda are opting for cash power meters, they decided to increase the water tariff. They have to suck the marrow of the poor either this or that way.
Amadou has told Nyakoi a lot about his native country; how nice its people are, the beautiful sandy beaches and lovely weather. This summer, they decided to go home on a two weeks holiday. Nyakoi has never travelled to Africa. To give her a balanced and comfortable holiday, they agreed to stay in one of the hotels for a week and the other with Amadou’s family. On arrival at the airport, they quickly seen by a young immigration officer in her early twenties who stamped their passports before she handed them to the customs officer. As soon as he opened Amadou’s suit case, he grabs the mobile phone in corner of the suit case. “Is there any other phone in the bag” he asked authoritatively. “No” replied Amadou “I just brought this one for my mum”. “No problem. You have to pay £10 as duty for it or else I will seize it” he added. Nyakoi jaws dropped in surprise. She tried to reach for her purse but Amadou stopped her. “Pleas officer tell me you are kidding me. This is a second hand phone which is for my mum. As you can see it is the only one in my bag” Amadou tried to persuade him. “Listen young man. I do not have time to waste beside there others in the queue to be served. You either pay the £10 or leave the phone. When you people come here from Europe you think you are special and above the law” he retorted. “What has me coming from Europe got to do with this anyway?” Nyakoi was now losing her cool. “Babe, please give him the tena and let us go. It been a long flight” coxed Nyakoi. Finally Amadou reluctantly gave him the £10 but insisted for an official receipt. “My boss is out and he is the one that keeps all the receipts. You can come back tomorrow for it if you insist of getting one.” He said arrogantly.
From the airport to the hotel, everywhere one turns was a huge poster of the Seyfo in immaculate white kaftan or grand mboubou dazzling his sword and diary in one hand and waving his prayer beads with the other. “Who is this guy?” asked Nyakoi. “He is the Seyfo.” explained Amadou. “No one is allowed to put up his or her picture in the streets apart from him. Very selfish of him, isn’t it?” The Taxi driver adjusted his rear mirror and took a closer look at his passengers. He cleared his throat and said: “It is obvious that you two are not from here. But in this place no one openly speaks about the Seyfo. I don’t know why you are here or how long you intent to stay, whatever it is don’t ever talk about the Seyfo openly otherwise you will land yourselves in trouble”. For a while both Amadou and Nyakoi thought they were dreaming not believing what they just heard from the driver. At the hotel, they were ushered to their room and everything else when out smoothly. The following morning, Amadou took Nyakoi to meet his parents.
The house was full. Word has gone round quickly in the neighbourhood that Amadou was bringing home a Toubabou wife. At first, Amadou could not believe what he was seeing. Everyone was looking malnourished. There was something disturbing in each of their eyes which he could not figure out. Some of the children were touching and feeling Nyakoi’s hair and hands. Others were asking for sweets and pencils. After a long exchange of the traditional greetings, the neighbours began to take leave of Amadou and Nyakoi one after another. When the first one left without Amadou giving her anything, his mother cornered him and instructed that he give each one something when the person is leaving. He started to protest but his mum won’t hear it. He gave in. when everyone was gone; his dad explained how things have changed at Kankary Kunda since he left. From his dad he learnt how prices of basic commodities are rocketing daily, the endless arrests and detentions of innocent people, the numerous killings and untold hardships. His father went further to disclose that even though people rarely talk about it, everyone is silently lamenting and praying for the removal of the Seyfo.