"Son, hurry up! We don't wanna be late!" The middle aged Man called upon his Son as he went to knock on his door.

"I'll be out in a minute Nna m," The Man replied. His Father heard the door click open soon after and adjusted making way as his Son came out elegantly dressed in neatly pressed black cotton trousers, Isịagụ (an Igbo traditional red, short sleeved tunic bearing imprints of a tiger's head) and an Okpu Agụ, (a Leopard's hat which was made of red and white nets which the tail always rested at the back of the head.) He equally clad a brand new designer shoe which had stopped reigning, trending a while back, the complete kit of the Dịọkpara, the first or only Son of a titled man in the Igbo culture or of an Igbo person in general.

His father gave him a proud stare, patting hack he remarked, "Omekannaya one!" The boy smiled feeling proud of himself as he knew his father was equally proud of him which he had just displayed by calling him Omekannaya, from Onye na eme ka Nna ya meaning "One who acted like their Father," a very rare praise only bestowed on those who followed the paths of their Father.

The boy knew he had done exactly that not only tonight but in other aspects of life in general which he or his Father deemed honorable. Tonight he looked onto his Father who had equally done himself and he the Boy, his Son proud as he clad his Isịagụ top, neatly pressed black cotton trousers and traditional Okpu mmee decorated neatly with the white feather of a rooster at the top which was only specific to Igbo communities with the Nze na Ọzọ, a sacred institution that signified nobility and which meant the person was now a living spirit or ancestor. They, both decorated with their mgba aka (traditional hand beads), mgba ukwu (traditional leg beads) and mgba onu (traditional neck beads) and he the father armed with his mkpọ, traditional walking stick crafted from the finest woods in Africa, and his Akụpe, traditional Ozo hand fan made from real animal skin bearing imprints of mkpị, a cow horn on both sides in the middle, it was carefully crafted and decorated with the name Akụbueziokwụ ofu nke Ọnicha Ado N'ịdu engraved around it on both sides right above the horn imprints, the name was Onyebuchi's Ọzọ (chieftaincy) title or name, it meant "Wealth is truth" and ofu nke Ọnicha Ado which meant "One of Ọnicha Ado N'ịdu" They gave each other proud looks as they walked majestically to their ride which had been awaiting them, the latest model of Innoson Vehicles motors brand, the IVM G9.

When they arrived their destination, the most influential people in the event all rose in applause to the presence of the Man and his Boy. The DJ wasn't even given a chance to make introductions, but was any introductions necessary? Who in the building didn't know the man who had just arrived the event?

To the outside world he was simply Onyi, a producer and CEO and president of the Egwu na eti eti Group but to the people in there, he was no common man, excluding the disk and video jockey who just did his honors of announcing the presence of this renowned music mogul and businessman and his only Son, he was definitely gonna do his bid that day to get a signing or even just a meeting with the music giant. The entire house knew that he was Onyebuchi, he was more than a music icon, he had shares and investments in every business that they owned across the lands of Africa, all seated there, he had them all under his fingertips.

And there seated amongst them were Africa's top business moguls, politicians, law enforcement agents and top top celebrities alike from Ọbọdọịkụkụayala (Nouakchott) to Ọbọdọditọ (Tripoli) to Idemmịlị (Victoria) to Osịmmịlị (Praia) to Ọbọdọpụkụ (Antananarivo) across to Nwakaego (Katanga) in Akpaego (Kinshasa) up to Ekapaa (Cape town) and Tụshụwane (Pretoria) over to Akụnaụba (Juba) to Ajammee (Maseru) and across Anịnne (Africa), he was influencial, he was shrouded from the knowledge of the general public but he wasn't alone because as he went to take his seat, the guests arose again in applause for him...

"May we all rise in applause to the arrival of..."

His greatest competition and rival... "CEO and business mogul Ichie Ubazụrụoke (The Fortunes or Riches are complete.) Okafor nwa Agbalanze," He forced a smile as the applause continued, he rose and approached him with open arms for an embrace which Okafor reciprocated wholeheartedly both smiling and patting each other like old friends... they were! They shook each other's palms and Onyebuchi led Okafor to his seat right next to him as the applause slowly decreased.

The DJ could not help but wonder why out of all the top guests in arrival, it was only these two middle aged, long time friends who were not even top dogs in their various fields that all these top, important and revered celebrities, politicians and entrepreneurs alike stood up for. He, like the general public didn't know what went on in the background, he didn't understand the underground affairs of the top dogs shrouded in mystery and they weren't about to find out any time soon.

Onyebuchi took side glances at Okafor who got into a conversation with the seven year old Chịụkwụemeka, his only Son and kid... for now he hoped. Onyechi knew that Okafor had three daughters, the last being Emeka's age mate and the only advantage he considered himself to have over Okafor was the fact that he had a son, a heir and he didn't, but he would always recall Okafor's words when they were in junior high school, middle school.

"Omo way, if my partner no later deliver a Boy and she only creates Daughters, no nsogbụ, I go simply turn our Daughter into a very rich Man, that's to say she won't just marry a rich Man, tufiakwa! That's backwards mentality bro, she'll become a rich Lady herself so that her standards will be high and that of her friends and her Daughters. Their high standards won't be because of their body, never! That alone has caused more harm than bad to Ladies everywhere and society in general, society is its own problem. Anyways, my Daughters' standards will be so high because of their intellectual property, the work of their hands and not the rhythmic movement of their bodies and the Men they'll pick to court will be forced to match their status and standards because my Girls will not ever settle for less, no Girl gotta be subjected to settling for less by society because of her age or gender, my Girls will be no man's property, objects of sexual gratification or appendages and what not but they will be proper Ladies, decent and independent. Marrying at below thirty is settling for less because a Girl should begin thinking of marriage at twenty four, by then they're matured enough and ready to begin thinking of Marriage, nothing less than twenty four. Because you'll never see a Guy who actually wants to be mentally in marriage like Women are sadly trained from childbirth to be marrying below thirty. At thirty, he's still busy chasing success and trying to be one so why should it be different for my daughters or any other Lady in general across the world? No my Mother Nneka didn't teach me that. Besides who needs heirs when you can raise Queens and heiresses?" He would always state, "But if I ended up getting Boys, ndị Mendem, that's ok because that will give me ample reasons and opportunities to teach them to respect their Sisters when they eventually came and to respect Ladies in general because Ladies are the givers of life, not Men like some crazy ass book stated and humans gobbled up, Ladies are Life and Life is Ladies, Woman is Life, Woman is Chineke (fate and destiny), they are fate and they are destiny. From them we came and to them we will go back, Mother Earth, Anị, Mummy anyị, Mother Africa, Alkebulan, Nnemmadụncha, Mother of all Peoplekind, Ladies, they are great and mighty and we humans, we people, the children, we the Men are nothing without Women. I'm great today because of my Mother, Nneka Nne m is great ma na Nneụwa kachasịrị (My Mother Nneka is great but Nneụwa is the greatest) My Mother is Nneụwa because she gave me Life. So I'll teach my Sons to respect Ladies like they would an Alụsị, a Goddess or a God, a deity, like they would Chịụkwụ who is Nneụwa, the great Alusi, the supreme being, the supreme deity, the supreme Heiress, the supreme Queen, you get, ọkwa ya?" Onyechi would remember always making arguments about Ladies being appendages like the religious books stated, he even cited the religious books as evidence and how society championed and exemplified misogynistic mentalities and ideosyncracies but he knew there were so much strong elements of truth in the words of Okafor his friend but still chose to just make arguments for the fun of it and Okafor with his valid points and precise, firm teachings and attitude would always embarrass him and after three plus years, he finally gave up ever arguing with Okafor over anything.

His respect for Okafor grew and tripled with time, most especially when after getting three girls from his late Wife he didn't fright or complain or even adopting or worse remarrying, he kept to his words and as they sat there, his daughters were single handedly handling businesses and brands which they had created and funded by themselves, all three of them even whilst studying. The saying kept ringing in his ears 'Who needed a heir when you could raise Queens and heiresses?' He wanted so much to applaud his friend, he secretly did in his heart from time to time but not outwardly because of the fierce rivalry that had begun in senior high as a result of embers that had been heating up since grade school and junior high kọ nọ Middle school.Throughout high school, University and in Life, the rivalry burned unquenchably till they both had taken their names and families to the top tier of the world order, the Uzokas and the Agbalanzes.

Onyechi had his own block of investments in stocks and shares under the name Ụzọka, one of his Grandfather's name and Okafor had his under his Mom's name. Okafor used his Mom's name as his afa ịba (surname or name from the Ancestral homes) Agbalanze is her name, her who had single handedly brought him up, the seed that fertilized by a forced act which had her attempting to take her own Life after not being granted rights to abortion by the province in a time of political crisis that one only hoped wouldn't occur again in the Omambala province of Biafra, she got some pills to end it all but for sheer grace, Onyechi's mother Nweke which comes from the phrase Nwa Eke which means A Child born on the Eke market Day. 'Only a Sister truly understood a Sister' the old Ladies would always say.

Now successful and all, they both sat beside each other occasionally taking side glances, though laughing and smiling as it seemed, they were both thinking of business ideas to better the continent and least importantly, outdo themselves.

They were at the bachelor's party of Aboagye, son of the representative of the Motherland region of Ọbịụdọ (Ghana), Onye otu (Unionite or Comrade) Biakoye. The boy was to be wedded by Kutlwano the Daughter of the representative of the Motherland region of Gbọswana (Botswana), Unionite Umoja. He had learnt from his wife Adamma that Kutlwano was hosting her Spinster party that same night in the Eastern regions of the Motherland and she had gone a day earlier in one of their family private plane to honor the invitation at the Savute Elephant lodge in Chobe, in the Motherland region of Gbọswana. He was shocked however that Aboagye insisted on flying to his region to host his bachelorette party and in honor of he and Okafor at that, Kutlwano and her Mom Umoja decided the wedding was to be hosted there in the Western Motherland region in Owụwa in particular and Aboagye didn't wanna be in a position to object his Wife's decision, this wasn't something both of them had to think through, they were one, no one was lesser than the other, so, he stuck to her opinion like chewing gum to hair.

"Power is power my friend," Okafor says to him as the event came to a close.

"No, Money is power bro, Ego bụ Ike! Akụ bụ eziokwu, Wealth is truth, Akụ bu ihe niile! Wealth is everything (all)."

"I thought knowledge was power Dad?" Emeka asked as he clutched his Dad's palm. His Father shot him a mouth shutting glance to which Okafor laughed and tapping on the Boy's back, he said to his bro.

"Way Onyechi! Nye ya way nya ọsịsọ ọsịsọ! Clear road for the Boy, the Boy has a fucking point or two you know," And Onyechi laughed shuffling his Son's hair.

"Abi?" He laughed some more. "Ehm, Okafor, e go dey be na, till next time," Onyechi bid him fare well with hugs and slappy handshakes.

"Ngwa nu bro, see you when we will," And turning to the boy Chịụkwụemeka, he said, "The Boy! The myth! The legend! See you around kid."

"Normal!" Onyechi replies for he and his kid as they each entered their various rides and are driven into the night.

Far from the event the driver decides to take another path much to the distaste of Onyebuchi.

"Azeez, where are you headed?" He questions the driver hastily. He got no reply. As he began screaming for help and reaching out to his phone to locate help while Emeka makes to flee the moving vehicle but immediately feels a gun at the back of his head.

"Now kindly close the door like a good little Boy and relax for the ride," He hears the voice behind him command softly. He did as he was told and turning a bit he found his Father in the same state. As they fearfully relaxed, they are both immediately stabbed needles to their necks and they pass out within few minutes.

The driver contacted someone as soon as they had passed out, "Alaye mi, the job's done, moving them to the factory immediately."

"Good!" The voice blares from the speakers below. "I'll be waiting." The Men proceeds to knock the two out by hitting the gun on their heads so that he too can relax.

When they arrive at the factory, a dilapidated building due for renovation the next week, they tie up both Father and Son and for the next few hours await their awakening.

Soon the duo wakes up much to the relief of the Men who had been waiting on them for a long while, "Alaye, dem don resurrect o." One of the men called out to the masked figure by the corner. As soon as he arrives Onyebuchi sent a hard slimy ball of saliva flying straight at his face landing on the mask. Though previously trembling in fear for being tied up like hostages he found this act from his Dad rather amusing and fought unsuccessfully to hold back his laughter.

"Shut up Boy!" One of the Men shouts and gives him a slap right across the face.

"You get your filthy hands off my Son you nkịta ara!" Onyechi shouts in retaliation as Emeka begins to cry. The masked figure steps forward and gives Onyechi a hard slap, a knock on his head and a kick right across the tummy to which he groans loudly coughing out blood and saliva in the process.

"I've always wanted to do that you foolish human being, look at you now, sitting here looking helpless, not the richest Man in the world anymore hey? You said your money could buy you the world, it did but can it buy you your freedom?."

"Look! I don't know who you are, but I stand on my word in stating these two things, one being, to some, money sure can't buy everything but I only wish those people could look hard and realize, poverty can't buy anything, they had better pick a side and stop side hopping. And two, if they had also looked well enough they would realize, my money can buy me anything." He chuckles and continues. "What's your price? Ọ Nde?(Is it Millions?), kọ Ude? (Or is it billions?), Ozuele? (Or rather trillions?) Na Egonne? (in Afrozx?) or Nnefes? C'mon, I'll get them for you, any amount you want."

The masked figure looked him dead in the eye and responded. "Nice offer Ichie, Ọnọwụ, Ikenga, Atakata abua! But I think he made a far greater offer."

"Who?" Onyebuchi with his hands tied behind the plastic chair with new rope asks. The masked figure pulls out his phone and dials a number which answers in seconds.

"Onyechiiiii!"

"Uba?" And with that the masked figure pulls out a revolver and aims it at him.

"Nna m ooooo!" Emeka screams as the tears welling up in his eyes begins to flow generously, "Please leave my Daddy alone, please leave my Daddy alone, hapụ Nna m o! Hapụrụ m Nna m o, biko zie oooo, please, please, we'll do anything you..." Another slap was sent across the kids face and his mouth was tied up with a rag as he struggled, mumbling the same words.

"I said leave my Boy outta this you cowards!" Onyebuchi commands.

"Alaye at the top," The masked figure calls out to the voice over the line.

"Run am!" The voice said calmly and authoritatively. And right before Emeka, numerous bullets were deployed into the heart region of his Father much to the amusement of the masked figure who was performing the deed. As he sat there looking at his Father's now lifeless body emitting blood and saliva in mass quantities from his mouth, heart region and all over, he suddenly began to scream as loud as his voice could take him, sadness and anguish ladden in his tone as the rag could not hold his tongue no more, the Men came to restrict him but he struggled so much with them that he and the chair fell to the ground breaking in the process, he was still screaming, crying out for his Father whom he just realized, he would never see again.

As they picked him up, the masked figure points the gun at him. Calling upon his Ancestors in his heart to receive him and grace him the ability to watch over his Mom and protect her and the unborn kids she was carrying as he would now be a dead relative, he shut his eyes waiting for the reception into the spirit realm but when they heard some rustling of leaves outside, they took to their heels toppling him over in the process and leaving him still restricted and to fate. To him, he was happy to be by his Father whether dead or alive, the worst could come, he had no one else now, suddenly he sees black all over again...

"Uju Nwanne m Nwaanyị (my Sister), where are you?" He calls out to her.

"Nwanne m Nwọke (my Brother), I'm here!" She responds running out to meet his wide open arms in an embrace. Chizoba follows suit in a bid to get in on one of those but she gets a rather cold embrace, not as warm as the one her elder sister had just received. "Nwanne m nnọọ (welcome)," Uju greets excitedly, she's so happy to meet her brother, it has been a week.

"Good afternoon Mummie m." He says as he lifts her up and plants a kiss on her forehead. "How's my baby doing today?"

"I'm fine brother. See brother, did you get me the apples and the bananas that I asked for?"

"You know you can always get what you want, you can always get the fruits from anywhere in the continent... Country," She jumps down from his grip upset as she folds her arms and looks away.

"It always tastes different coming from you. It's extra special," Chịụkwụemeka smiles heartily while Chizoba rolls her eyes, shaking her head in wonder.

"How the hell are you thirteen months older than me sef you overgrown baby." She snipes at Uju and as Emeka lifts her up again she replies.

"An entire year, three hundred and sixty four days, don't you forget it."

Chizoba glances at her in ridicule, "Onye ara!" Emeka smiles and sneakily, he gets out a small basket of apples and bananas hidden behind a table next to them and hands it to Uju. She immediately lightens up, hugging him so tight round the neck he thinks he is gonna explode like a balloon.

Chizoba turns to Emeka, "Brother, how about me na, I also want that pink vanilla ice cream I have been asking for," Emeka gives her a good long look.

"Ọkwa you know road to kitchen? And don't you have your own pers... No nsogbụ, I'll see what I can do," He drops Uju and turns towards the exit, "Mummy m, nneabịa o?, I'll be right back ok?"

"No nsogbụ," She replies and follows Chizoba back into their room exiting the corridors.

Their room is pink orientated, Chizoba's idea, Uju usually just went with the flow in every idea. Their beds are right next to each other in the spacious room and there is space between the two beds that both rest on the walls length and width. The room houses two reading tables, two chairs and two lampshades, the ultra pink colored one is easily Chizoba's own. The doll house by the side no longer interested them because now they had their phones so it was pretty much bye bye to reality from nowadays. It seems every inch that they both got everything they wanted, they have everything they could ever need but why wouldn't there? They were the daughters of their great Ancestor Onyechi who had left vast amounts of wealth in stocks and investments and a seemingly unquenchable legacy even if he was just a music mogul as the world was indoctrinated to believe.

Obianuju and Chizoba didn't get to meet their Father neither did they get to meet their Mother, she upon hearing the news of her husband's passing while lodging in Chobe, in the Motherland region of Gbọswana immediately went into impromptu labor at seven months, she gave birth to baby Uju but baby Chizoba didn't wanna come out as they were twins. It was complicated and the midwives after much efforts and fuss eventually decided to let matters be for the Ancestors, when the baby was good and ready, she would make a hassle and be released but weeks turned to months and in those times, Uncle Akaji flew Emeka to Chobe to be with his Mom, he was the family lawyer who was officially in charge of the Uzoka family estate in cash and kind. The entire stuff would be designated to Emeka when he hits twenty years of age but till then should Onyebuchi's next of kin Adamma Nnediutọ nwa Ifunanya of Ogbeoza village in Ọnicha Ado N'ịdu, his wife not being alive, Akaji got to be in charge till the Boy became a Man .

Emeka was with his Mother for complete eleven months as she held unto the pregnancy while being lodged in the hospital for easy check-up by the medical personnels, the doctors' idea. Eventually, on what was the last day of the year, on the twenty eighth day of the thirteenth month, which is on the ninety first week of the year, the month of Onwamoremi, Chizoba decided that it was time to come out and at the point of her birth, Adamma decided she wanted to go be with the love of her Life in their next spiritual experience, adventure. Emeka fainted upon learning of his Mother's death, and when hours later he woke up, he just cried his eyes out, to him Life couldn't be any more unfair.

An average height, bow legged, fair and chubby nurse who went by the name Kamo Nkosazana came to comfort him when the rest of the crew decided to give him some space to think. She always had a happy face that one could easily notice that even when pissed up, it wouldn't be long before she got smiling and happy again, "So your name is Chịụkwụemeka Onyebuchi Uzoka? Interesting, I'm guessing you're the son of the late music mogul, sorry for your loss though and your Mom's time being cut short, but I'm not sorry for saying you're one hell of a loser for sulking up and crying like a banshee. Look, if your Sisters were older and more capable of independence I wouldn't be sitting down talking to a deadbeat loser like you, I've gotta be honest," She murmurs to herself, "Gosh, Men are so emotional!"

"Men are not..."

"Anger is an emotion! Know it and know peace! You guys always rush into situations in anger, one of the strongest emotions known to Wetu (Man). Somehow society has decided anger's not an emotion but crying is. It's justifiable to get mad but it's improper to cry, they'll say, they forget most of the the world's major crises started as a result of Men taking rash decisions in fits of anger, a strong emotion! Society ignores that and shames the Ladies for crying their hearts out whereas Crying is strength because it takes a strong person not to bottle up feelings but a weak person is the one who flares up in a fit of annoyance and a even weaker person is a person who bottles up Anger through silence. Talking it out is the safest and easiest way of letting go of all things but y'all Men don't wanna learn. Keeping the pain and hurt and not talking about it is dumb, weak and stupid and absolutely lazy. Boys, learn! Sorry for calling you emotional at a time like this but you Guys really are... Like... most importantly, like I was saying, I have no choice but to try encourage a dumbass like you who doesn't understand how to be strong for others, well I don't blame you, for one who doesn't know what an emotion is, you might not really be all that of a smart person... Look! it's either you or an adoption home for those beautiful angels and you had better pick yourself. Those girls need no one else but you right now, especially that first kid in the incubator, both are in incubators but one's chances are slimmer than a needle and the other, she is on a safer side on the scale of eighty nine percent cos she came out at the right time but those girls still need you my bro," She stands up still facing him, "Young Man, get your ageing butt outta this bed and go be a great big brother that those kids will be proud of in the nearest or furthest future," He stared at her a while wondering how old she was, "You think you have it tough?" She asks as if reading his mind, "Try being a single Mom of two twin boys and four girls..."

"But the economy is good..."

"Ask the useless Man, Bobo why he left. I wonder why the UMR didn't make this anti-abandonment laws earlier, I rather have him dead than leave me with those kids," He blinks thrice to ensure he can hear her. Whoa, that was harsh, "Anyways, yes it is but my presence is what really matters you know, money isn't really everything, money can't buy happiness, money can't buy everything..." He smiles, finally he has gotten a chance to repeat one of the greatest lines of his Father.

"But poverty can't buy anything!" He replies so calmly yet convincingly, he realizes he has hit the Woman hard when she states.

"I'll be on my way now, I believe you have siblings to go take care of. Make sure to be a great Father figure and influence to them like your Father has clearly been on you," She concludes as she exits the ward murmuring, "Watoto wa siku hizi! Kids of nowadays eh, using his late Dad's words on me..."

He thinks a while and realizes that's she was so right and had made valid and solid points there. He wipes his tears dry and clear and calls out for the nurse and another enters, "Please can I get a doctor?" When the doctor arrives, he requests permission to go check up on his sisters.

"Ok Boy, lemme just make sure you are good to go and please, don't over think or stress up when you get home ok?" He nods. As she brings the stethoscope to his heart region, checking his temperature and all, she concludes he was finally ok and good to go and be totally stress free at home. She instructs that the nurse on duty should release him. "Nia, mwachilie!" She turns to Chiukwuemeka, "Uko sawa na hakika unafaa kwenda... But before that, do you know of any adult I could put in charge of you?"

"My uncle Akaji Onyeọbọdọ, the family lawyer, he flies in often," He proceeds to call out the phone number as she registers it in her phone, "The western Motherland region?" Emeka nods in agreement, "Thank the Ancestors for a borderless Africa where one makes seamless across country calls for free," She says to the nurse beside her, "Ọkwa ya aunty? E no dey like that when I was small o, even this visa free movement across countries, train rides and voyages, Nnaa we don dey try o."

"Thank the Ancestors o," She sends her appreciation to her late ancestors as the nurse beside her waves to the skies and then turns to Emeka who was equally waving appreciations, "So Boy, please do be careful and do not forget what I told you right now ok?"

"Ok, Daalu Nne (Thank you, Ma)," He replies. She shoots him a smile and leaves for her next duty. The nurse soon releases him from the drip and follows her boss. After getting his face rinsed in the bathroom, he goes over to be by his siblings in the incubator room.

Unfortunately for all involved, as they were growing up Emeka took an instant liking for Obianuju who was a carbon copy of their Father. He didn't find much interest in Chizoba who coincidentally looked like their Grandmother Nweke and most times he often ignored her, only focusing all his energy on Uju and in turn making her to neglect Chizoba at certain points in time leading the Girl to develop feelings of resentment for the perceived ill treatment by her elder Brother and to make matters worst for them, they were both being home schooled, uncle Akaji's idea of security.

"Gurrrrrrrrl, I'm tired of being at home, who even invented home schooling? Home schooling, kedụ udị ife bụ nkea?" Chizoba complains to Uju as they sit on the bed.

"I don't know Sis but I really don't mind it." She says as she grabs another piece of apple and banana which she had one of the helps cut into tiny slices for them. She was always going to share her stuff with Chizoba, they were basically best of friends.

"What do you mean you don't know?" She queries her easy going Sister, "So you're glad we don't get to go to real school and socialize like our mates?" If looks could kill, Uju would be long dead by now.

"Chi, calm down girl. I feel your pain. Really, I do,"

"You don't."

"Babe, I do. But you need to understand that if we try to fight it, we may end up losing."

Chizoba suddenly loses it, "In the words of one of the revolutionary voices on the twenty eighth day of Nomzamo Zanyinwe, the eighth month in the year two hundred and twenty six (ninth day of October, in the year two thousand and twenty seven), and I quote, '...that is the reason our Africa, our Motherland is still the way it is today after three hundred plus years, We see now they're still jamming their big, fat, western cocks down our asses as they've been up to for the past few hundred years but we just wanna go with the flow, we wanna take it easy with them, well, guess what? We've been taking it easy for a long while now, it's time to rise up, give the West and their puppet leaders in our nations violent middle fingers and swiftly take back our lands! We can no longer remain stagnant receiving indoctrinations that cause us to love our enemies as we love ourselves where as such enemies are still hurting us time and time again, cutting our bodies limb by limb. Any one teaching you to love your enemy is your enemy..."

"Ok, your point?" Uju asks halfheartedly over her mobile phone.

"Wait you don't get the point?" Chi asks.

"Clearly! I never actually get your point I just agree for my peace of mind and even if I did get your point, I don't think it correlates with the matter on ground." After a brief moment of silence, she glances over her phone at Chizoba who stands with her arms folded and a frown that said 'Girl, you're not funny!' Chizoba was basically already immune to what she would always refer to as Uju's stupidity.

"Look I don't have time for your stupidity right now..." Chizoba says.

"Ngwa, I'm sorry but I don't even know anyone of your revolutionary voices..."

"You don't know even just one of our revolutionary voices?" Uju stares at Chizoba a while, "What?" Chizoba exclaims again.

Uju smiles shaking her head, "Who knew pretty and classy girls were smart?"

"Awwwwwn! Asa m." She goes over to meet Uju in an embrace till she realizes... "Wait a minute!" Uju begins to laugh in her defense. "So are you saying I'm a Karen? That I've got nothing upstairs?"

"Chill out Sis, no be ihe mmụ meanu, ah!"

"You're probably obviously likening me to the girls in those outdated foreign movies uncle Akaji used to watch back in the days." Chizoba continues.

"I mean I'm not wrong! You're not so great in the school related studies that the lesson teacher comes along to teach." Uju says.

"Way! That's because I've got my interests in other things of which school isn't a priority, are you saying a Girl can't be classy, fashionable and still be knowledgeable? Wake up from your dirty indoctrination and unlearn to learn... This was from a TikTok trend in the gen Z span, our parents' them time but most importantly what I mean is that we should not just keep quiet at anything but we should question everything especially that which doesn't seem right to us and when we don't understand, we still ask some more so if paradventure we realize we're being cheated, we unite and challenge the status quo and that's how to get our rights back."

"Ok, I hear you Sis, I hear you loud and clear. So how about talking to Nna anyị ọzọ (our Uncle) Akaji and Nwanne anyị Nwọke (our Brother) Emeka?" Chizoba stares at her a while. "What? What did I say wrong?" Uju asks as she drops down on Chizoba's bed.

"Finally! That's what I'm talking about! It actually took you this long to pick up what I've been dropping, to eat up what I've been serving."

"Cos you were too busy talking history. I was having a lot of history getting jammed down my brain for me to think straight." Uju says as she's sitter her legs crossed.

"Those who fail to learn from history will become a dark part of history or worse, they are doomed to repeat history. History is Her story too. It's every Woman's story. It's everyone's culture, it's everyone's story. She's important because we get to look back to her and continuously see the different ways we got it wrong in the past so that we can constantly continue to find different, innovative and creative ways to fix our fuck ups..." Uju yawns so openly right in the middle of her sentence, much to her dislike. "I'm sorry was I boring you?" Chizoba asks.

"Chi baby, I love you Girl but I don't like history, maybe I like her story but not his story, you get the point. I only pay attention cos you're my Sister and bestie and I love you." And as she rises she plants a kiss on her Sister's cheeks."See, lets go find Nwanne anyị Nwọke ok?" Chizoba with a frown shakes her head and follows suit.

"This is the reason Africa was in shambles till the early thirties of the twenty first century according to the Gregorian calender..."

"Girl, go get a life!" Uju calls out to her.

"I'm still busy using yours..."

Barrister Onyeọbọdọ is standing by the window side of his massive office at the five hundred and thirty second floor of Ụnọịwụnta Onyeọbọdọ na Ekene (Onyeọbọdọ and Ekene's Law firm), at Milton Obote industrial layout, Onyebuchi, Omambala province, Owụwa (Biafra).

The office is a vast and wide space. The decor is a state of the art, with two air conditioners. A fifty four inch television is broadcasting the morning News on the UMR news channel called Obị Asịlị Anịnne (The Motherland News Room). An extra long couch is at the other side overlooking the television, coupled with the aura which envelopes the room noticeable as one gets closer to the office door from the outsides, it wasn't a mistake to refer to the office as his home away from home. He goes to take a seat on his swivel chair right behind his enormous desk made from the finest woods of the great ụmụ osisi Ojị (Iroko trees) of Igbo land and it's so smooth if one were to ever walk on it and a glass of water was toppled over, they would slip and fall into a better situation but the table is yet so strong and mighty.

In front of him is seated Chịụkwụemeka. He had invited him over so they could talk privately.

"So Mekus! Mekuuuuus ventures!" He hails the young man.

"Ndewo Ichie, ụtụtụ ọma Nna anyị." Emeka says beaming with smiles.

"Yes, good morning Ọga anyị Mekus. Mekus Mekus. Mekuuuuuus Ventures. Nnememeka nwa Onyebuchi." He says and as Emeka blushes, he laughs, "Yes, so Nwọke m, Emeka, Emeke ma ọbulu ndị Asaba Ochie, Ahabam." He laughs heartily, "Ehen! Oh yes! I sent for you because seeing you'll soon be twenty years of age if my math is mathing correctly, you should start getting fully involved, up to date, with the affairs of Uzoka, ọlu Nna gị bịdọrọ, your Father's investments." He lowers his voice. "Before you start making the Ladies lose eight to nine months of their cycles," He adds with a wink further brandishing a smirk to go along.

Emeka doesn't find it funny in the bit or was he just confused? But whichever it was, he just tries to force a smile. Successful, he focuses his attention on the topic of the family business, the interest of the day, the matter at hand, it had always been his dream and now it was finally time, "Ee Ako (Yes Sir). Ichie daalu rinne! Thank you so much Ako (Sir)." He replies excitedly.

"Ok chill out Boy, don't get all zesty just yet... So! Today we're gonna go see some of what your Father had his noses into ok?" Emeka nods in agreement and Uncle Akaji bends over to a nearby desk housing three drawers and pulls out a stack of A inọ (A4) papers from one of them. "What are you going to study in Sịkụụ (the University)?" He asks the young Man.

"I studied Business administration Ako," He replies, Uncle Akaji smiles.

"Oh! You've even graduated sọ? Wow! It's a mad ting. Good to know, that's very good to know, by the way, now that you're no longer worried about dilly dallying into the entertainment industry..." Chịụkwụemeka stares at him, he reads the Boy's expression a bit and continues, "Look, I'm a gen Z, a Zoomer, the only generation that the older ones said couldn't do nothing. The evil generation they called us. Spoilt and nonchalant set of children they said. Anything bad in the world, gen Z. Anything immoral, gen Z. Even older gen Z's was hating on younger gen Z's but at the end of the day, we the Gen Z together showed them the older ones that they themselves didn't even do anything to begin with. Now look at us, we are the reason why we have a better world. From the gen Z's of Achalanịụgwụ (Nepal), to Hopịtụkwa (The United States), from Ileawonoke (Haiti) to Nshịperịya (Albania), from Pambefummị (Britain) to Mfụrọnji (France), from Ọwụwaetiti (The Middle East) to Anịáalaọcha (Argentina), from Nzọngụọ (China) to Nlụtụrụwịta (Tasmania) and as the ụmụ Gen Z Anịnne (African Gen Z's) led the way, we changed the world. We created a new reality, better than they the old ones could ever do. You know, your Father who's now one of your Ancestors was a Gen Z, your Mom another great Ancestor now was actually Gen A, a Gen Alpha." He looks at Emeka who seems confused, he arises again coming out of the table arena to a free space where he proceeds to stretch and then continues.

"You must be wondering why am talking about Gen Z's and A's," Chịụkwụemeka nods in agreement, "My point is that till the next millennium and beyond, Gen Z will easily remain the single coolest generation in history if I must say so myself, the absolute best, even though historians and historians in-training will probably get a first and second degree migraine just trying to understand what went on particularly after arọ Pụkụabụọ na ogu (2020), arọ ndị otu (the 20s) but also what went on na arọ ndị ịlị na ịsaa, ịlị na ịsatọ nya na ịlị na itolu (in the '17, '18 and '19 seasons) if you know what I mean... most importantly, my point is if there's anyone who understands how cool and trendy the entertainment industry was, is supposed to be and still is, it would be me and your Father, probably your Mom too. Obviously your Mom too, she's a Lady, she's a leader, she's trendy... Either ways, it's all good."

"Do not forget your Father had an album or two before he called it quits then going on to be president and CEO of Egwu na eti eti groups in which my Ndị Ụmụ Ịba (The Children of the Ancestral home) records and co are under so he knew and understood music, he knew trendy. I myself also had a very popular TikTok account back in the days and your Mom, Adamma, she's still the most followed TikToker of her generation till date in Africa, TikTok's gone so no one can break her record. Anyways, so we knew trendy, we knew trends, we made trends, and we killed trends. Purple Speedy, Berby Picxy, ten times nominee and nine times Nwikes award winner. Then there's Shalom aka Shally your spiritual bestie, Michicko's left coochie lip, ah ah, dem plenty, na we dey run things that year... Now we use Gaddafi, Africa's very own social media, mọ social networking platform abi application much like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and Whatsapp combined being ran from Okporo Ama Gaddafi (Gaddafi Avenue) in Ọtọsi Njikọba ọlu Lumumba (Lumumba conglomerate arena) nọ na ụmụ Anịnaụnọ Nkrumah (Nkrumah group of estates) in the south East wing of our African capital country Sankara in the Middle of our UMR (Africa)."

"A Lication!" He interrupts him.

"Sorry, what?"

"Ichie, a lication, Lee, cay, shion, we call it a lication, our generation, you Guys called it an app back then, we call it..." Uncle Akaji stops pacing around slowly and grabs a sit on the desk, it slides him a few times but he finally gets a grip of it. Emeka was too intrigued to laugh mostly cos Uncle Akaji gave him the stares.

"Ehe! So you should understand that never will I be against music. Hm! Music? Music that I listen to before I call my powers back to me at the end of the day and then go to sleep and the first thing I rush to play after paying homage to my Ancestors by sprinkling African dry gin on their altars and on the bare sandy ground on bare feet in honor of Anị, our supreme Earth Mother, Mother nature, the Mother Africa whom all things come from and go back to, you know, first thing in the morning, thanking them for a great day ahead and for a great night before, I further thank the spirit in the trees, the spirits of the animals of the land and the spirits of the birds of the air, my big Mama, Anyanwụ, the Sun Deity, the Sun Mother, the great bright light of the Mother Universe, then Idemmịlị, the protector of the waters, Ọma, the Mother of the Waters and of the Universe, our Queen Mother, Nne na enye na edebe ndụ (Mother that gives and still preserves Life) and then all my spirit guides... ok the spirit guides are the Ancestors too..."

"Ichie, I know how to pay homage to all the elements of Life which are simply elements of the supreme being herself, the supreme creator, they are embodiments and personifications of femininity and the divine feminine energy because Women are the givers of life.

 A Woman is Chineke, fate and destiny, She also is the supreme giver of life, she is Chịụkwụ okike abịa ama. She is Nneụwa because as we all well know in Africa, the supreme creator is not sitted on a chair in the skies above the clouds watching us with his white skin and white beards and grey hair, No. She, yes She is present in everything She created for us to enjoy and be a part of. She is, and so we honor her through honoring everything She birthed, including loving, caring and nurturing for and our fellow human beings as well as our very selves because we are all equally her creations, all minus none, black or white, Queer or straight, disabled or abled, Lady or Male. And we honor her best by honoring and worshiping her most delicate and revered creation, the ultimate givers of Life, the supreme creators, Ladies, Women, ụmụ Nwaanyị, Awon Obinrin ma ọ bụrụ ndi Yoruba. They, Women are the embodiments of the creator herself which is why they do the main work, giving birth and Men only simply fertilizes the seed of Life, the egg.

We're all her creations, but some don't believe in supreme creators, our Mothers and that's perfectly fine because we all must not follow the same route. They rather believe in a round table depiction of Deities, our Mothers in the Universe and yes I think that's way better but let's see how it goes."

"Ok, As I was saying..." Uncle Akaji makes to continue.

"So for we paying homage to the Ancestors, we must never relent and we must never stop, because they are also her creations, the Mothers, the Ladies, her embodiment, the Fathers, the Men, they are the helpmates which is why they are built like the workers, the actual laborers and the Ladies are built like royalty, Queen Bees, Queens. Ladies, the decision makers, the ideal planners, the master strategists, the walking computers with the smaller yet more efficient brains. The givers of Life and the preservers. The ones who bleed but do not die. The ones who push out Life but do not break. The ones who burn but never dissipate and then there's Men, we take orders splendidly, we are Men, simply Men, just Men. Women are the Leaders not the Led, they are first simply without trying to be and are the heads without even moving. They live rent free in the heads and hearts of all and sundry, Men, animals and even each other, they are that powerful. Simply by being themselves, they live rent free in our heads. The presence of one alone occupies more space than that of a billion Men combined and they're not even trying to occupy space, they may shrink but they are still felt. They are the ones that make Men or break Men simply with their presence or absence respectively. Women, Ladies are the world, the world is Women. the universe is Women. Womanity indeed. They are the reason Men wake up in the morning to go to work, they are the reason we as Men wanna be successful cos we wanna impress them and we wanna find favor in their eyes. They are... I'm speechless, we're actually nothing without Women, no one is. I know these things Ako."

Uncle looks at him a while and smirks. He glances outside the window and back at him and smirks again. "So Uncle, our various individual and communal Lady and Men Ancestors deserve our honor and respect now more than ever because before they left to the astral planes from where they now watch over us through our minds because everything is in the mind. Yes before they take another form for another spiritual experience, adventure or mission they set the stage on which we now act by birthing us or helping birth us all respectively, they cleared the path on which we now tread and have made way for us to act and do better than them occasionally through their help and guidance, so Ichie Akaji, I understand all these things, can we..."

Uncle Akaji smiles and replies, "First of all, try naming one thing Women have created."

"Thirty point two billion people, present world population, amongst other inanimate creations being used today in the form of technology or the internet." He replies with his back on one of the two swivel chairs right in front of Uncle Akaji.

Uncle Akaji who had his fingers locked into each other on the table looking at him sat back and pulling at his Afro, looking defeated replies, "For your age you're actually very intelligent and wise, I'm not gonna lie. What you've just said is annoying to me as I am a Guy because Men have egos that are basically I won't say useless."

"I would. Very useless something."

"But I'm not gonna lie my Boy, you're the most correct person there ever is, keep it up young warlock. So, like I was saying, music is basically Life, but I just want you to understand the importance of keeping up, continuing the legacy of your Father's businesses, when you get in touch finally with the dealings of the businesses, I'll be keeping a close eye on you obviously, then when I say 'hey, the Man's good to go' 'the Boy's ready' I would've understood by then that you've kept a strong grip on the dealings at hand because that's all that matters right now then you can finally go on to be one of the greatest entertainers your generation has ever seen. Your Father is one of the few Men who actually has a legacy, let's sustain it aight?"

"But Ichie..."

"No buts Nwa m. Look, it's never too late to be the greatest, Ndị be anyị na ekwụkali na 'oge onye jị nwe teeta, oge anwụ na onwe ya bụ ụtụtụ onye anwu' (Our people often say that 'whatever time one awakens, that very time is their morning'). If that's really what tickles your fancy, music, you love it with your body, heart and your soul then even if you get on with it at say forty five years old, so long as it's in you and you in it, there's no problem but business, Okporo Ama Gaddafi? OAG, (Gaddafi Avenue? G-A?) No! It doesn't, the Avenue doesn't give one avenues for laziness, it thankfully isn't patient with no one so the dedicated ones and yes, the deserving ones can then quickly grasp any opportunity they can find. Yes, successful people seek and grasp any opportunities they can find but failures seek for the right opportunity, there isn't such a thing as the right opportunity, there are only numerous opportunities and they are for the grasping to any who's dedicated enough to reach out for it and take it.

And as for that stupid act of waiting for tomorrow, tomorrow is never going to come, today is now, tomorrow is today, today is the tomorrow of yesterday and waiting for what's already here is late. Gee av, Gaddafi Avenue, she is time and time is her, Business, Money, they are her cousins, Time is their Grandma alright? They wait for no one. They got no time for who ain't got their time, be smart!" He stares at Chịụkwụemeka a while who now rises and walks over and around just to sink into the couch, "Nope! This singular attitude coupled with your 'I now understand it all' attitude can make you lose a contract, an opportunity, a chance that can be Life changing and positively Life altering.

Foremost, even if you know it now, just know you can never know it all, always seek to learn more, it's common knowledge, be like the learned and the literati who read every book on the shelf and go out to go find some more.

Don't be like them people back in the days who read just one book and then go on to believe they know it all because the one book said it was the book of life, the book of knowledge and understanding, the book of knowledge of good and evil, that all who read the book will have all knowledge chọ, chọ chọ, chọ chọ. They believe they hold the secrets of the Universe simply because they read the book.

"Wait, people actually thought they'd go to some place above when they died? Didn't they understand Mother Earth and reincarnation?"

Uncle Akaji laughs long and hard, "As in eh, they didn't understand the astral planes, spirituality and all the good things we do today, back then in what was known as the age of Aquarius, we majorly the Gen Z's and a few older generations who were wise and woke began debunking the so called "sacred" myths and lies of the book clubs... Look, personally even with this reincarnation stuff, the truth is that no one actually knows what happens when we die, no one knew what or who we were before our Mothers gave birth to us, neither do we know what or who we'll be or what will happen to us after we die so, why the hassle of claiming superior knowledge about Life? But they taught you guys about the book clubs in school right?"

"Ee Ichie, in the history classes, I think the topic was history lies or some shii. We were also taught about the horrors of the Transgen..."

"Trans Atlantic slave trade boy! T-A-S-T. Nhazi ntọdo, ngote, ịzụ na ile Mmadụ, N-I-M. Keep in check. Besides let the drag Queens and Kings breathe, don't suffocate them, we have that responsibility!"

"Yes, yes, yes, this is true, and we were taught how the book clubs and their favorite so called book of Life and the other series inspired by the so called book of Life nwanu were heavily used by our very own people in collaboration with the invaders the missionaries, together with the colonial Masters to spiritually and mentally keep our people colonized, impoverished and hating on each other, while they stole, pillaged and raped their way into our lands and our resources till the age of awakening came about, I think they had about two sections of them bookclubs..."

"Good! Good to know you know your history. So it all boils down to what I was dropping, even giving people the 'I know it all' attitude can literally make you lose a contract, that's pride, and no one likes a proud cock, an egomaniac like us... Forget! Never forget you can always go back to things you thought you knew before and will always see deeper truths like literally. Next, In a meeting with anyone, no matter how uncomfortable you are, just endure till you've gotten what you're looking for then you fucking ditch the sight, the joint, don't show your host or the hosted that you're uncomfortable or you may lose the deal. And the most important point of all, we must never use our emotions in business, Ekwensu's number one rule of trade. Also we must endeavor to build strong, solid relationships for future purposes, that is why we're in a capitalist society. Ekwensu has nothing to do with capitalism by the way, he hates it. We all know that."

"You don't want a situation where your client is going, 'Lemme just catch this deal first and get out of here, this person has a very terrible attitude, tufiakwa! I can't stand him! If I just catch this deal I won't even be caught dead next to this Okpo ever again. Such an entitled, ungrateful and rude person...' Of course the person won't say it in your front but their body language will always give them out and you may then say to yourself, 'Well, what's that to me? I got the deal, I got the contract, I got my cheddar, ego m bụ godụ nke dị m mkpa, my money is my first priority...' Yes you did get your money, your ego, but let word get out after your business deal..." Akaji gives a long and sarcastic laugh which he cuts short abruptly as if on a controller, "Ọga abu ego ikpeazụ ịga akpata na ndụ ahịa gị (It'll be the last money you'll ever make in the life of your business)." He chuckles. "You don't know..." He chuckles again. "It will be the last cheque or contract you'll ever sign or receive in your business life, I mean it and it will all be thanks to your pride, Ego is bad most times."

Emeka rises up quickly as if getting an adrenaline rush, a grasp of inspiration. "Anụgo m ịhe ina ekwụ, Ichie! (I have heard what you're saying, Chief!)"

"Good! Now get up! Let's get a move on." Uncle Akaji says as he moves to his drawer, gets his office keys and his Okpu mmee, after arranging his Isịagụ and trousers, he grabs his Mkpọ and opening the door signals Emeka to move first.

"Nna anyị, where are we headed?"

"Good question my Boy. Didn't I inform you earlier that we'll be going to go check up on some of your Father's businesses and get you involved, acquainted with it?"

Emeka seems to brighten up a bit, "It's true, ọkwa eziokwu, yes Ichie, let's go." Uncle Akaji smiles shaking his head slightly as he pats the boy on his shoulder and notions him in front of him to cross the door.

"Chịụkwụemeka nwa Onyebuchi Uzoka! Nwa Adamma mụtara ndu." Emeka blushes and Uncle Akaji chuckles while clicking the door shut thrice. On sighting them, a Man approaches and Uncle tosses his office keys at him before he even arrives, "Nọni, I'll be back in a few hours, take care."

"Ọdimma Nna anyị (Alright Sir)," The Man responds and with the key approaches the office.

"That's Onye enyemaka m karaaka (my Able personal Assistant, P.A.) or as you may like, Onye enyemaka m (my Manager) Chịukwunonyelum nwa be ndị be Ọgadimma nwa Ọsọahịa na ime Obosi, ndị Obosi na ime Omambala province," He informs Emeka who turns around to catch a last minute glimpse of the man. "Maybe one day you'll have yours... No, obviously, you must surely have yours, two, three, four, five as you may like, you are the heir of Uzoka," Uncle Akaji turned it down to a whisper, Chịụkwụemeka knew why.

Outside, a brand new looking IVM OTR: Off The Road approaches them. The door opens up by itself and Uncle Akaji allowing the Boy in first, enters finally and they get on the road.

They sit in silence at the back of the car. Chịụkwụemeka always had deja vu's anytime he sat in the back of a car. Uncle Akaji looked over his phone at him, notices and sighs.

"Nnaa, stop doing like this na eh? Look, that incident is at least ten years old as of last weekend and the security right now is top notch across all Africa states. No one's ever going to do anyone else harm ok? Especially to us... You! People are being useful and industrious with their various communal businesses and no one is fed up with Life under this New UMR programs, so don't sweat it. No one is idle, we're all gainfully employed and busy one way or the other." Emeka glances at him and flashes a frown."Ok look," He continues, "Take a look at these Gaddaflips..." Uncle Akaji shows him a video on Gaddaflip where a Man approaches a young Boy and goes.

'Excuse me young blood, young soul, yes thank you,' The Man is shaking and doesn't look himself, skinned down, underfed and nauseating to look at, he continues, 'Could I get just two scrolls please?' The Boy hands his phone to him and as he scrolls, he commends the Boy so much and hands it back to him, 'Yes, thank you young blood, may your Ancestors continue to be with you brother, yes!' Chiukwuemeka couldn't help but explode into laughter with Uncle Akaji who had actually laughed earlier but found himself exploding with laughter all again. The video was titled 'Phone addicts in 2070' by the account Funny Nerds Jokes.

"Nnaa! This thing fit occur o." Chịụkwụemeka blurts out.

"Ole kwa! Tufiakwa!," Uncle Akaji adds. He turns to his side and realizes that they are already at the first location and notions Chịụkwụemeka to arrange.

The car comes to a halt and the door automatically opens up for them. Uncle Akaji steps out on one side and Chiukwuemeka the other, soon he joins his Uncle right in front of the building, "Emeka!"

"Nna anyị Akaji!"

"Good! Probably one of his most famous activities, we all knew he was very interested in sharing the horrors of the Trans Atlantic slave trade T-A-S-T, Nhazi ntọdo, ngote, ịzụ, na ile Mmadụ, N-I-M. So he invested a lot of his time and resources into Nneụwaniile (Mother of the entire world), Alkebulan, that's Alkebulan, Nnemmadụncha (The Mother of all peoplekind).

"The famous Trans Atlantic slave trade museum."

"Ọnya nụ. Yes, the famous museum in our very own Umuahia."

"First of all, I wonder why he had to come all the way to Umuahia to build it, we're from Ọnicha Ado na ịdu and..." Uncle Akaji gave him... The look! "Ohhhhh! You're from Umuahia..."

"There's already one in the western province of Anịọha Anịnne Obiudo (The Motherland region of Ghana) and besides you shouldn't even be envious of anything. Never forget that we are all one in this country of the UMR, The Union of Motherland Republics, Usoro ụmụ Anịọha Anịnne, UAA, the Motherland, Anịnne, the Union, Usoro. We're united, anyị nọ na Usoro, so we should act as so.

"This your singular act no matter how unimportant and irrelevant you may deem it is actually the reason Africa was so easily colonized in the first place. Lack of unity. They came and beheld a beautiful robe, a robe of bright colors which if worn by a maiden, she would break the spirit of the strongest warrior but instead of them to come learn how to make an equally beautiful and enticing robe, they said no. They sought to destroy the robe and steal the instruments for the creation of the robe so only them can make the robes and sell back to the tailors at higher rates and they succeeded. First by looking for a tiny rift in the robe, a small inch where the threads were just hanging lose and they capitalized on that. With their fingers they widened the rift just enough to cause more damage and just a little not to be noticed, every day by day they nibbed on it till the whole robe was damaged and they went on to steal the instruments kọ nọ equipments for weaving and you know the rest."

"Yeah, the weavers were asleep, soon their kids began to wake them up to show them the evil dealings of their guests whom they had welcomed and hosted but the weavers were too trusting and had even enjoyed the dumb goofiness of the sight seers, the culture of the sightseers many of whom contradicted their own cultures and with time they became customers of their own businesses and markets, buyers of their own goods and commodities and at higher rates at that, they, once abundant ones became servants to peasant cave dwelling sight seers."

"So that's why we must mend even the slightest rift, a little disunity is a mighty flaw. We must stay together and appreciate one another for our various individual and regional achievements and not be envious of each other. We're Africa, the greatest. The first and the last. Second to none!" Chịụkwụemeka nods with understanding. "Good, it's that simple. Stay grounded. Please don't make me ever have to repeat this or explain all these again. We had better learn for a better tomorrow."

"Yes Ichie, Ako daalu (Thank you Sir), daalu maka akonauche gị (Thanks for your wisdom), amamihe gị (your knowledge), thanks for your wisdom."

"Good!"

"I came here once with the pals sọ and I promised myself I wouldn't any more, the evils of the TAST, we must never forget. Yes. We must only forgive and most importantly wisen up. We must forgive but never forget, we must be cautious of them and we must never give any amongst us a reason to love any foreigners more than they love us their own people for only then can we truly be wise."

"That's my Boy, good to know you're keeping up with your history." Uncle Akaji exclaims pulling the boy closer to himself by the shoulder.

"It's my favorite subject and pass time, even as I'm going into business and music, I can't just let it go."

"You shouldn't, no one should ever let it go. It should be a part and parcel of one no matter what line of occupation they decide to just senge menge into, one should always know their history because as our Mothers wisely said 'Onye sị na ọme njị akụkọihemereme nwe mụta ihe, ga eme kwa ụdịrị ụmụ ajọ iheanwụ ọna achoro ịmuta.' meaning 'One who fails to learn from history is doomed to repeat the evils which are of the same manner as those which they failed to learn from.' In other words, 'One who fails to learn from history, is definitely doomed to repeat history.' So it is very important and interesting if you get the grip of it.

Now since you've been in and around the vicinity, and with..." He glances at his wristwatch, "Look, time is not on our side, I want to show you the most important of all his businesses, the rest you can find out later and best, by yourself after we sign the paperworks but this next one is top notch and highly confidential. Thank the Ancestors I waited till you're twenty and not eighteen to show you this because..." He notions as they get into the car.

"The law states that one gets to begin to do things like drinking, which is not okay, I personally only make use of African dry gin to appease my Ancestors, the spirits, the various Gods of the land and my Chi, while I only indulge in moderate Palm wine from time to time and pure..."

"Isn't Palm wine fruit juice?" Uncle Akaji stops and thinks about it a while and smiles.

"Fermented fruit juice is what I'll say it is but it's cool. Alright, a state of the art pure fruit juice with no sugar pressed personally by my chefs in my kitchen is what I prefer so you should know what you're doing, next is driving, yes, it says drinking, driving and a rest of the other stuffs could only begin to be legal at age eighteen but in Africa we believe you fully become an adult mentally at twenty-five years old where you begin thinking of Life's most relevant choices as your scale of preferences dictates.

I personally believe driving and drinking and other irrelevances should begin at seventeen but certain life choices of personal choice like Marriage if the person ever wants to, Marriage is never by force for anyone whatsoever. It's optional for everyone, not compulsory. The institute of Marriage should only begin being thought of at age twenty four or twenty five as it is in the UMR Constitution and Ọmenala (Culture) because by then a person is ready mentally to begin considering such heavy choices critically, sensibly and without duress from any party whatsoever plus both people to be married must have been catching steady funds for themselves at that age and not having to depend solely on any diddler other than their personal selves, not one of them but themselves, as in me, myself and I... so I know you must be matured enough by now but age and time are simply just numbers if I must say so myself because all knowledge and actions come from and only begin to manifest from up here..." He points at his temple. "But forget. Still value the numbers, numbers don't lie, besides, I've been watching you of course and I know you're good and ready for phase one. Let me just chip this in since we're talking of the law here, be more cautious of the things that are legal than they that are illegal, emphasis on this particular one, be more cautious of the things that are legal than they that are illegal. All these legal age this and that, be cautious of them all that are legal, e get why. Ọdị mkpa!" Chịụkwụemeka nods with a little smile and turns his gaze to the road. He knew Uncle Akaji talked a lot but he was extra chatty today so he girded himself and just learnt.

"Knowledge is power!" He murmurs to himself.

"Hm?"

"Nothing Ako"

Between Chizoba and Uncle Akaji he couldn't tell who talked more but he sure did know he was learning from both, knowledge he didn't know if he would ever make use of.

"Oh, I remember back in the days we used to say, when this..." Uncle Akaji points to his temple. "Temple opens, those temples will close. Looking at now, all those temples have closed and people's temples, their minds have opened. Africa is no longer in recovery or survival mode but she's now in 'flex mode', in creative mode, in preservative mode. We thank the Ancestors for the Woke community in TikTok back in the days, and on ebooks of various kinds. They called them conspiracy theorists, wacky people, nut jobs, jobless! But your Father liked to call them the Woke community, the enlightened ones, Ndị jị akonauche nke ndị Nne na ndị Nna nwe nweta akụnaụba (Those who made use of wisdoms of the Ancestors to gain wealth and fortune), he called them ndị nwe Nghọta (those who have enlightenment or the enlightened ones). Look around, BORDERLESS Africa is the reality and it's gonna stay this way. No visas. One passport. One Identity card. One currency backed by each regions' resources. One Army, the Mother's squad. One law enforcement agency. One mighty foreign embassy for the African continent in every nation."

"Only years ago people thought it would never happen but our African Ancestors, Ọbị Aminatu of Zazzau, Mammy Yoko of Sierra Leone, Ọbị Nzinga of Angola, Ọbị Moremi Ajasoro of Ile Ife and Offa, Ọbị Amanirenas of Kush, the Osagyefo Mwalimu (PhD Doctor) Kwame Nwia Kofi Nkrumah of Ghana, captain Isidore Sankara of Burkina Faso, captain Ibrahim Traore of Burkina Faso, Nna anyị bụ Tasumbu Lumumba Tawosa aka Dr. Patrice Emery Lumumba of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Colonel Muammar Muhammed Abu Minyal al-Gaddafi of Libya, Colonel Gamal Abdel Nasser of Kemet (Egypt), the Mau Mau warriors of the 50s and 60s Kenya, Onyeisi anyị Rolihlahla Madiba Mandela of South Africa, the Mwalimu, Otieno Loch Lumumba, Dr. P.L.O. Lumumba of Africa and the able African youths who died across the continent now a country for the African cause, Echiche ọma anyị na echelu ọbọdọ ala Anịnne anyị (The African dream) and all the rest faithfully departed revolutionary voices of old who told us "Look! For the few that now recognize us, honor us, remember us and show us to others, they whom for their sake, we are still being remembered and not forgotten we will shine our light on the country of Africa because of them. We will show Africa and our children, the Africans that those foreign Ancestors whom they honored and probably still do, Jesus, the other Guy and the Abrahamic and non-Abrahamic nuns, monks, martyrs, saints, main characters, side characters and all those other foreign entities, deities and beings and indeed all other non-African Spiritualities and Religions who may claim to be African and claim to be for the Africans but do nothing for the true African blooded people and for Africa as a whole are not worth their time, prayers or efforts.

We will show them that the actual Ancestors of their oppressors whom they honor will only ever fight for their own descendants who are the foreigners and the oppressors of them, our children, the African people, who still honor them as they are under the influence of colonization and imperialism, mentally, spiritually, physically and emotionally but no more! So we their Ancestors will secure, fight and protect them who are our very own descendants who remember us and care about us and even they who don't as a result of their ignorance and colonized state of Mind because that's what Mothers and Fathers, mostly Mothers, in short, true parents in general do."

"Now we have all causes to thank the Ancestors, our African Ancestors for their goodness and mercies upon us and the continent, now a country..." Emeka says. Uncle Akaji turns and realizing that they're almost at the destination, he adjusts his Okpu mmee.

Chịụkwụemeka realizes that he has a cause to thank his Ancestors too because as they pull into the popular Anyị Ncha pharmaceuticals Inc, Uncle Akaji stops talking.

"Adamma Nne m daalu, Onyechi Nna m daalu, to my Ancestors who are for me or want to know me that I'm not aware of, asị m unu ncha daalu rinne," He says inwardly. He glances at his phone, ninety eight percent, he hadn't any need to use it as Uncle Akaji was talking and he knew it was rude and improper to be on another business especially a phone when someone was addressing you, especially an elder, an Ichie for that matter, "Nze na Ọzọ (The Sacred and titled Men) is no joke o," He says with a chuckle.

"Hm?"

"Nothing o Ichie, onwerọ!"

"Ok then, follow me in," Uncle Akaji notions and moves ahead as Chịụkwụemeka follows closely behind, it was just a pharmacy, a huge pharmaceutical but with his knowledge of the nervous systems and the hairs on his head and on his body alerting him of something suspicious ahead by standing, he knew then that there was going to be more to this adventure than meets the eye.

As they stepped in, Uncle Akaji salutes at the reception the receptionist. The Lady notions at one of the Men to follow suit and he after unfiddling the stick from the mop does immediately.

Chịụkwụemeka wonders why the Man brought a mop stick along. Beyond the area where activities were bustling, they moved past a room protected with what he's guessing is sound proof glass because they were talking but he was hearing nothing. He realizes drugs are manufactured inside.

Moving on along the rather long corridor, they soon stop at a door, alone and out of sight, Chịụkwụemeka turns and realizes he can't see the manufacturing hub no more.

The Man slides a card through the door handle and the door opens up revealing a room with stacks and stacks of boxes wrapped up in brown paper and transparent cellotape. Chịụkwụemeka immediately notices a corner of the room housing Men with straightjackets on each, they are shaking and slimmed out like as if they hadn't had a bite of Nni, food since forever. They make to approach the Man with the mop stick but he begins to wipe them like animals to get them to move back and stay in place.

"Heal! Heal! Heal!" The Man screams and the Men, nineteen in number as Emeka counts bounces back, cowering to a corner in fear like a bunch of chickens in a coop.

"This, Emeka Nna m is your Father's most profitable business..." And as he stretches out his hand, the Man hands him a pen knife and he slashes the box and white powder begins to drizzle out, it had a peculiar odour which when he inhaled, he begins to cough hysterically and the smell gets the restrained Men giddy and they begin to approach like chickens to a container of feed, "...White!" He exclaims.

Chịụkwụemeka covers his mouth with his palm in surprise and goes over to have a taste but Uncle Akaji knocks him hard on his head, "Ewo!" Chịụkwụemeka exclaims.

"Don't be very stupid and intellectually naive! Don't you see what it has lowered these Men to? Please, don't ever indulge in such."

Chịụkwụemeka nods but his curiosity was peak, "Ichie, what's going on here?"

"Oh don't feel sorry for them, these Men, my former employees, twenty of them decided to steal from me, funny enough not money like normal people do, I could've forgiven them, I could've! But no, they wanted these babies right here instead," He says tapping on one of the boxes causing some more to drizzle out and the enslaved to clamor some more. The Man laughs as he wipes them mercilessly with the mop stick, He and Uncle Akaji laughs hysterically as Emeka simply stands aside, pitiful, confused and everything but normal.

"So as punishment when we caught them, instead of ending them for their incompetence fully understanding that their three years salary can't even go half the price of one of these boxes," He lowers his voice, "The price to pay for being involved in illegal dealings, you get cheated but you don't get to complain," He glances at the man who has his attention on the restrained and continues, "So I gave them a befitting punishment, since they want to be one with the substances, why not keep them one with the substances?" They both laugh again and he joins in feigning just enough to be believable. He glances at the restrained, all shaky and trembly then he turns and asks, "You said they were twenty?"

"Yes, one died and I think they ate her body." Chịụkwụemeka wanted to vomit, did he just say HER? Did he just just explain that they ATE...?" He cooled down and grabbing hold of his uncle's body he said, "Ichie, can we be going? Ka anyị naba nụ." He glances at his watch and adds. "It's five fifty two pm, night begins by six and we don't wanna be driving around at night."

"You're right my Boy, but I must not forget why I brought you here in the first place, look, this is a very profitable and illegal business being run by me under Ụzọka... As in by your Father and so... But you must know what it does to people, you, eventually, will join this line of business, you must know you're a dealer not a taker, there's a reason the dealers live in luxurious heavens and the takers dwell on the streets. As for them, I'll let them free in about a few weeks and they can then head on to a rehab funded by their individual families who has gone all over on the News and where not but have lost all hope of ever finding them, they'll find them but it'll be too late, it's actually never too late, it all comes from in here, the ability to stop, the strong will, the will power, all from the temple up here but they, the families and the rehabs don't even know this but lucky are the few who do of whom you're now among, so be very careful okay?"

Confused, disgusted, aghast yet studious, he replied, "Yes Ichie, Yes Ako (Sir)."

"Good! No one knows that Ụzọka led by me has invested in all the rehabs in Africa so when these people or any other incompetent one decides to go to rehab spending billions of Afrozx without being healed because healing of an addiction comes from the mind and not from drugs or talking in the name of therapy, so the whole money comes back to me, To Ụzọka led by me. I now get people to get them former patients back to the habit which I sponsor and the cycle continued and we're filthy rich," Uncle Akaji says with a ravenous laughter which Emeka struggles to innerstand whether he should indulge in. "Now...!" He gets a packer from the side of the boxes and scooping a heap full of the white stuff he throws it at the enslaved and like animals they clamor, headbutting each other just for a taste of the wild stuff. Chịụkwụemeka couldn't help but be disgusted.

"I need a baff bag." He says to himself.

Uncle Akaji turns and notions him to have a look and he nods at him. "Now to make sure this one is zombified..." He whispers to him. "Here Kolo, have these." He calls out to the man and tosses him two small bags of the stuff. "This is thrice your salary, you should be pumped I'm in a good mood."

The huge light skinned Guy falls on his knees and begins to worship Uncle Akaji, "Senior, you've made my day!" He hisses a bit in correction, "Infact my Life, see, ah!" He dips the tip of his index finger in his tongue and points to the skies, "Senior I no fit ask you anything again, you don run am for me, more grace, more love, more winnings..."

"Okay get up, good Boy." Uncle Akaji says rubbing his bald head and notions him up. He points at him and adds, "Stay good, you don't want to be like them o, you know you're all I have."

"Yes Senior, I'm good Senior..." The Guy says thinking he's being spoken to.

"Shut up your mouth!" The Guy goes silent immediately and Uncle Akaji continues. "Clean up this place, make sure they have no taste of these till I come again and lock up, get the Guys to bath them and endeavor they feed them at the right time ok? And clean up after them please, they smell a mess."

"Yes Senior!" The Guy salutes acting like a mind controlled zombie and Uncle Akaji shoves him aside with disregard and makes for the door with Chịụkwụemeka.

"So long they can't think with their minds, they are not fit to be treated as people. We have three parts, the body, the soul and the mind just like the ankh, the body is just a vehicle and the enlightened change vehicles as they like because they know they can, the soul is very important, the soul and the mind are like these," He signifies by crossing his middle finger over his index at Emeka. "Together, they manifest but the mind is the projector of our reality, without your mind your soul is truly dead, your mind projects reality to your soul, your body is just the vehicle, you can kill the body, it will rejuvenate but much later, you can't kill the soul through the body, you can only kill it through the mind, that's what we're doing to them that are taking these stuffs we call hard drugs, because there's really no ordinary means to control yourself once you start, it takes an enlightened fellow to innerstand the power of the mind and navigate it to self control but not for this people, they have lost touch with confidence, reality and what not from the very first day they took the first sniff of the powder, or puffed the first sip of the wrap. Because believe it or not, smoking something in is not the way to take something into your body, it's not safe and it's not smart, it's not feminine and it's definitely not masculine, it's moist importantly not asexual just incase, so I advice you don't, infact I warn that you don't involve yourself with such nonsensities at all. Alcohol is the mirror of the mind but when not controlled and taken too much, it is disastrous. And that's how we make money off these peasants, these nonentities, by killing their minds, so you have to know. Let's go please, I'm disgusted." He says to the boy.

The ride home was oddly quiet, from Onyebuchi to Onitsha no suppose far but to Emeka, abeg... Uncle Akaji was just on his phone occasionally giving Chịụkwụemeka side glances, the Guy was in another realm.

"Emeka, you're home!" Uncle Akaji calls out after a few hours notifying Emeka of their arrival at the Ịba Obị (Family home), a three hours drive felt like a few minutes, he was just thinking about the day. "Emeka wait, chelu! Chelugodụ!" Uncle calls out as he opens the car door.

"Yes Ako (Sir)."

"Don't give today much thought ok? Sleep over it, just understand that today was just the unveiling process, you're the heir, it's your property, no one's dragging it from you, you need to know what's yours before you can access it right?" Chịụkwụemeka nods. "Ok I see you're not in the mood for my talk any more, I'll call you tomorrow ok? Let's talk, if I don't call you, call me, kpọ m! Kaba arụ!, Make sure."

"Yes Ichie," Uncle Akaji pats him on the shoulder and releases him. As the car door shuts, he smirks and gives a thought a bit and then turns to the driver.

"Oluyemi, may we dey tuwaama na, ka anyị tinye be arụ, let's get a move on."

"Oya na alaye mi," The driver replies and speeds off.

Getting into the waiting room, he is confronted by Uju and Chizoba. His eyes go from Chizoba to Uju and back again, they only confronted him in this manner when he was either in trouble with them or they needed something.

"Am I in trouble?" He says with a smile as if to mask off all his tiredness.

"No but you'll be if you don't meet our demands Brother." Chizoba says and his smile widens.

"It's like you don't know your mate again abi?" He queries feigning annoyance.

"Hmmm, between you and us, we all know who's gonna bow in a few minutes," Uju says authoritatively.

Chiukwuemeka laughs heartily, "Ngwa nu, what did your cute, lovable older brother do this fine evening?"

"Hmmm, dey feel yourself."

"Aswear, no mind am, oge ọbụna, everytime!" Uju replies with a chuckle.

"Actually, nothing, but we want you to do something," Chizoba says and he raises his eye brow at the manner and authority of her request, naturally he would make a fuss but he had had a tedious day.

"Brother Emeka, we want to go to a normal school like every one else, we're tired of home school," Uju says. He stares at them like he had seen a ghost and they stare back at him like Ladies who had caught their men cheating.

"Well," He says clearly his throat, "Olugo oge ya nu, it's about damn time! I actually thought you liked the homeschool that's why I never fussed or inquired about it from you guys but if that's what you want Uju m then so be it but we've gotta discuss this with Uncle Akaji o first."

"First of all brother, ọ mmụ na Uju bịa kwa ihea, it's me and her that came to pass the message and two, we mustn't always involve an outsider in our family businesses na, it's not fair o, I don't like it and I don't think it is wise."

"Well, let me first of all add that as you're a Girl and this opinion coming from you personally, I now know the idea gotta be wise and as a woman at that in general, you're not capable of generating ideas and the outsider you're talking about is the family's legal practitioner and the one in charge of the family business till I officially turn twenty in like... the Ancestors know when. So show some respect to the Man and he's a Man sef for that matter!" He stares at his wristwatch and turns to them again, "Ladies, good night abeg, I'll be seeing you at the breakfast table tomorrow..." And with that, he left them and went upstairs muttering something incomprehensible, "...Appendages... keeping..."

The Girls both stare at him till he was out of sight, and shaking their heads with Chizoba shrugging in confusion, they make to equally retire to their rooms.

"And he has no problem with the fact that somebody that is not even part of the family has one hundred percent access to all the family wealth, what the fuck is wrong with that nonentity of a brother of ours?"

"Nne, biko hapụ godụ ya o? Just leave him alone please, he probably had a long day at work and the tiredness is getting to his brains..."

"Ujunwa, you're always supporting him..."

"What do you want me to say? His words and behavior equally stung me too." Uju calls out.

"Just allow me rant to my heart's content because something's very wrong with my Brother..."

"What do you now want us to do na? Eh my Sister?" Uju asks.

"Stand up to them both, this is how we start a revolution, we bound together, stand up against the useless folks at the top and bring them the fuck down!"

"Chizoba be calming down okay? Just give him a rest, it's probably rest he needs," Chizoba hisses and continues.

"Obianuju?"

"Chizobam!"

"Obianuju?"

"Chim zoba m!"

"Ujunwa?"

"Chiii m!"

"Ok!" Chizoba says nodding.

"Ehen! Now let's go and browse about the best high schools in Awka or Onyebuchi okay?"

Chizoba raises her eye brow and Uju smiles, "Baaaaabe, leave the Okpo alone first, Sisters are before the Misters."

Chizoba smiles, "Always! As it always has been since the beginning of time!" As they move up the stairs, Uju spanks Chizoba and makes a run for it, she, now activated begins to chase Uju and their happy laughter is soon echoing across the house from their joint.

*******

He sees himself running through the Sahara, he sees what looks like quicksand and goes to have a look, all of a sudden he is pushed into it by something and on the realization begins to cry out for help as he is sinking slowly and surely. Three Ladies come along in a bid to help him, he reaches out to them but a Man whose face is unseen shoves the Ladies off and grabs a hold of his hand, the Man lifts him out and walks with him, the three Ladies are trying to get him to stay with them, but he shoves them off with help from the veiled Man and when he can no longer see the Ladies, the Man begins to point at large sky scrappers, beauties of Africa beyond the Sahara and what not and as he is mesmerized, he feels a sharp pain in his sides as if he is stabbed, he is, he turns to behold the figure but darkness immediately envelopes the scene. He awakens on a Savannah still feeling the jab and the first face he sees is his father Onyebuchi wanking his index finger at him, he reads his Dad's lips, 'Be careful!'

*******

Immediately, he wakes up! The air conditioner is on but he is sweating profusely, luckily he doesn't feel the pain from the dream. He wonders what sort of dream he has, a nightmare perhaps? He remembers suddenly a quote he saw on the internet which read, 'Only fools take dreams seriously, dreams are shaky, weird, creepy and incomprehensible. Why would a normal person in their right senses take them literally? He nods his head in agreement, "Ọkwanya?" He hisses, "Why I dey reason this nkanka dream mmụ dream after a long and tedious day of work?" He grabs his phone and opens up Gaddaflip, "Abeg, may my brain calm down ọịsọ!"

The first video he beholds goes as such: Did you know that dreams are our Ancestors way of communicating with us? In ancient Africa... He hisses and swipes up.

"What a colossal waste of time, who makes these?" He chuckles with a hiss.