Yet another experience

Gbenga Oguntayo 13:31 - 23 August 2018

Nevertheless, I was angry and at the same time baffled, I began to ask myself why would someone else determine what colour of clothes another person will put on and how much less, a fellow student? Why?

A week after my fearful encounter with the guy who took my cap and stormed away, on my way to the motion ground to take some passport photograph needed for the completion of my school payments and registration process.

Right in my front was a lady full of hatred in her eyes questioning another gentle looking one on why she was on a pink top and skirt, she went as far as slapping her and warning her never to try that within the school!!!

Seeing this, I was so alarmed and afraid that I wanted to run but for an inkling of courage that tickled inside of me so I just walked past them.

Nevertheless, I was angry and at the same time baffled within me, I began to ask myself why would someone determine what colour of clothes another person will put on and how much less, a fellow student? Why?

Yet, I kept moving till I got to where my business of the day was --------- To take passport photograph, then complete my registration.

NAIVETY à MOCKERY à EXPERIENCE

The same day in the evening, at the balcony while having our usual after school gist, I contemplated discussing my awkward experience with my neighbours ---- I had two roommates, one was a fresher like me while the other was a year our senior. I decided against telling them for fear of being laughed or ridiculed especially by our other neighbours since our hostel was a 12 room Face to Face bungalow outside the campus.

Finally in the corners of our room, I could not keep the experience to myself anymore so I opened up to my two roommates all that has been happening to me, and how I could not just understand whatever reason(s) why all these harassments are happening within the four walls of a civilized higher institution.

Upon hearing my narration and seeing the level of my naivety (looking back now after over a decade, I realized how naïve I was), Betty my roommate who was a year my senior laughed so hard that the ladies who occupied the next room to ours rushed to our room to enquired why there was so much laughter and happiness in our room.

Betty being who she was(free spirited but lousy),did not care how her laughter of mockery had already affected my spirit opened her mouth and re-laid my story to them and just as I had suspected, everyone of them busted to more laughter, and this time it was so outrageous and annoying.

After they were done laughing, Betty and one of the other ladies from the other room faced me and chorused together saying --------- Welcome to School then they chuckled even more!

After a while when some sanity has returned to the room and maybe seeing that I was somewhat embarrassed, Betty then sat down and began to explain somethings about what I saw to me……………

According to Betty, the guy who accosted me was most likely a CULTIST and of course this meant the colour I was found on is the colour synonymous to their sect. I was completely aghast when I heard this and had two main questions running through my head and these were:

I thought these groups were called SECRET CULT whose activities and membership are not supposed to be known to other members of the public or non – members?
If Cultism in Nigerian University is against the Law and anyone

It took about 30 minutes for Betty to explain or rather expose me to Campus Life in another light and for all the time, I had the questions which even my mates could not provide answers to, yet I kept them all in my mind hoping that one day I would be enlightened enough to have peace from all that trouble my naïve mind!

Nonetheless, it’s been over a decade I graduated and my questions are still left unanswered, most especially why you should determine what costume I put on!

Written by Bukolami Ajayi.

Bukolami Ajayi is a Pulse blogger, a Mentor, Pedagogue and an Entrepreneur.