ỊSE

"Ichie, you sent for me ako." Chịụkwụemeka says as soon as he enters the car.

"You're late young Man!" Uncle Akaji barks at him. "That instrument on your wrists, is it for fancy?"

He glances at his wristwatch hastily. "No Ichie."

"Buckle up! Immediately, we're late!" He says to the Boy who immediately acts as he's told.

"How can you be CEO of Ụzọka if you can't perform a simple task of rising at first light?" He queries the Boy. Emeka strives to not meet his gaze. "When I was younger, I had an Uncle, he was kinda a kid during the events of the 1967 to 1970 Bịafra/Nigeria civil war which we all know was orchestrated by the outsiders who sought to destabilize the entire region to the point of no return and then make due with our resources at the time. It was evident because on February 24th 1966, Osagyefo, the Redeemer, Kwame Nwia Kofi Nkrumah was ousted when he was in Asia on a diplomatic visit and the western global spy organization headed by the Hopịtụkwa government was in Obiudo (Ghana) when it occured, coincidence, I don't know. Boom! On the 4th and 5th of January 1967, after a few years of tension in the country, general Chịụkwụemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Ikemba Nnewi na onwenya of Anị Ọchịchị ndị Owụwa chọ ipu apụ ogeanwụ (the then secessionist republic of Biafra) and general Yakubu Gowon of Akụkụojịị (Nigeria) are in Aburi, Obiudo, birthplace of Samia Yaba, the Osagyefo our Redeemer's daughter, to meet with the new Ghanian military head of state General Arthur Ankrah and an agreement was then reached which was later breached upon return to Dodan barracks in Eko (Lagos) nọ na Akụkụojịị on the advice of the foreign policy makers all of which evidently ignited the war on the 6th of July, 1967 which went all the way till January 13th 1970... We lost! For these reasons of course which are: We didn't have a united agenda. We had called it an Igbo State but we wanted other tribes to join us and we wanted their help too, so wrong from us and worse of all, we didn't center our Women, our Ladies. Because any cause whatsoever that doesn't center the divine feminine is always doomed to fail." Chịụkwụemeka yawns awkwardly, "Sorry Kid, am I boring you?"

"No Ichie. It's not that." He was lying. Uncle Akaji knew. "You had called me out so early today. I was wondering why?" The Boy asks calmly.

"Ah, good! You know, I know I talk alot and sometimes people are not so interested but that doesn't mean I should stop talking right...?" He stops glancing around a bit. "Sorry, what was I saying?"

"You were talking..."

"Exactly! So... Ok look, you're almost twenty, I'm sure, right?"

"Yes Ichie."

"Good! That means it's time I get you acquainted with your first office job, you know, so you can understand 9 to 5's and how they work. You need to be in the shoes of your future workers so you can tell them you did it and there'll actually be evidence, even though you didn't do it as much as they're going to, it's just so that there'll be evidence you care about them..."

"Even when I don't?"

"Especially when you don't my Boy!" He gives the Kid an up top.

The Boy reciprocates. "Wow, that'll be great Ichie."

"Now you're getting it Boy!" He nudges at the kid. "Dey play! 9 to 5 na your mate, you'll learn kid!" Uncle Akaji thinks to himself while throwing Chịụkwụemeka what he perceives as a proud smile coming from his Uncle.

* * *

"Nne, we're actually doing this!" Uju says excitedly to her sister as they're both seated at the back seat of their Itaoua Native, the electric vehicle which was gotten from the Ọbọdọ Nkewaọdịda Anịnne bụ Anịagwaọma (The Western Motherland region of Burkina Faso). They had a few more back at home.

"Nnya eh. School, at long last, Nnaa!" Chizoba says as she stretches out to grab a bottle of water from the fridge.

"Biko, nye kwụe m ekpe mmịrị o? (Abeg, get a bottle of water for me too, ok?)" Uju asks of her Sister who proceeds to pass her the one she's holding and grabs another one."

"I remember when people used to buy water," Chizoba remarks, Uju does a spit take upon hearing that. She waves an apology at the driver whom some water splashes on. It was mostly the passenger front seat which is seated directly at the back of that's affected. She makes to wipe it off.

"Don't worry Nne. The air conditioning is on max." The driver announces further cranking it higher.

"Onye kwụrụ ụdị iheanwụ?" Uju asks in shock, "Who said such things?"

"Open a book you say no, now you're asking me about something of common knowledge." Chizoba replies.

"But why would a normal person make something we can't live without a produce to be sold in the market? Soon you're gonna tell me people didn't grow their own food but worked to buy food a few other people grew? Or that you'll tell me they used to sell uweetiti (sanitary pads) mọ uweogo (or tampons) for profit and stuffs, basic stuff we can't live without." Uju says in disbelief.

"All these happened before and if you look closely, it's still in occurrence undercover though. It's called capitalism though like I said, it's being done secretly. Our Meritocratic Socialist and directly Democratic system of economy and way of Life which in asusu Igbo (Igbo language) is known as Nụrụsoro is still emerging, you know, slow and steady wins the race. Look, Capitalism is simply selling things of high importance and of 'we cannot live without' level of relevance for profit. Capitalism is selling or cheating your friend or family for profit. Capitalism is raising prices of stuffs for your friends, family, clan members, tribal members and ndị otu (comrades) for profit of one's self or for the profit of a few and not all alive. Capitalism is selling your country mate, your tribal mate, your clan's mate, all types of mate for profit. Capitalism is not caring about other people. Capitalism is caring only for one's self when you're in possession of some of the wealth of the nations or any form of the wealth of the nations or common people at all.

Capitalism is selling Food and Foodstuffs, Water and the means of purifying it and cleansing it, Uweetiti, Uweogo, clothes, houses, Afearu (Underwear), ọgwụ na ahịhịa nghazi Ọbarandụ (drugs and herbs for Menstruation), Ákwànnarị (Cloth for Cum/Condom), and the rest simply because one can. All of which is wrong even after the people are working night and day to create these stuffs.

These basic Life things which people cannot live without, emphasis on ụmụ ihe Nghazi Ọbarandụ (Menstruation products) and then Foodstuffs and Water but also other Lifeline and basic products which are still so, so, relevant are what I am talking about. Selling them is Capitalism, making the means of production and distribution free and accessible to all is being Mmadụ (A human being).

"One of the basic principles of Ekwensu, our Deity of War and trade." Uju adds.

"Gbam!" Chizoba adds.

"When a Lady is tasked with the production of basic Lady health products like Uweetiti (Sanitary pads), Uweogo (Tampons), Ụhịrịisi etiti ụkwụ (Menstrual Pillow), Ụhịrị ọkụ etiti ụkwụ (Heating Pad), Ichicha Atịagwa (Cocoa Biscuits/Chocolates) and other basic health products and health amenities, they should distribute it freely and not for profit to the Ladies available in their region and beyond. In this manner, we as Ladies will dismantle Capitalism and the Patriarchy at the same time, killing two birds with one big, beautiful, united stone because Capitalist Patriarchy ka ọbu Patriarchal Capitalism nke ọbụna, both of these in any form are equally hurting all available, Lady and Man alike especially the Ladies who are children."

I don't say this just for myself but also for my Daughters when I have them because to really dismantle the Patriarchy and his bestest friend Capitalism and their long distant cousins Colonialism, Imperialism, Expansionism and Corruption, it starts from something like this, Unity, Unity, Unity, Unity by the Ladies, from the Ladies, for the Ladies, Unity from all. Moving on, if a Lady comes into the healthcare facilities and institutions, and every other institutions and facilities that concern Women in anyway, she should research upon the researches of the previous and present researchers who may or may not be Men concerning the matters and affairs of Women and of the general public at large.

Of course we all know we've all been lied to about ourselves and our bodies and the names for our private organs in the English language. The Ladies who still use the English language should rename their body parts by themselves and not allow Men to continue naming Women's body parts, the diseases concerning these body parts and everything else about these essential body parts after themselves, the Men.

This is the reason why the conservatives amongst them want us the Ladies to remain in the kitchen, indoors working and slaving for them, in the name of being a Wife, a virtuous Woman, a Child of some God who is also a Man by the way. They have somehow convinced us Women that to be accepted by this God who is wow, wow, wow, how coincidental... A Man, Nwọke, that to be accepted by this God and his Son from thousands of years ago, we must bow down and submit to them who are Men, interesting! Interestingly suspicious! So they try to keep us being in their homes, bearing their names, serving them and knowing little to nothing about ourselves and our own bodies so that they can keep up the lies and continue milking us the Women of our labor but we Women now say no" Uju glances at the driver still talking and turns to Chizoba.

Chizoba is listening attentively even though occasionally on her phone.

"You Women are going to school now, you're both headed there to go learn and become something relevant in future for the benefit of the Ladies. To be something not just for ourselves..."

"But for each other, WE, OURSELVES, US, ANYỊ, that's Socialism, that's Nụrụsoroism, that's Socialism based on Merit. Nụrụsoro means a direct form of democracy based on meritocratic socialism." Chizoba says. "Exactly, we're going to school now to become something not for our late parents, they have done their parts in Life but yes maybe for Mom whom Dad didn't allow play her part effectively, for that he-goat... For Akaji, Nna anyị ọzọ's Wife, Oma Ndidi.

Nne anyị Ọzọ, Oma, who isn't opportuned even till today to do something useful because of her crazy ass Man, we go to school for them. We go to school for the Women in the war ravaged and war torn parts of the world who have not gotten the orientation of togetherness amongst the Girlies and Ladies. We go to school for the Ladies in the backwards part of the world, in the places whereby Women still serve Men, bow for Men and where they keep quiet simply because a Man who may or may not be an idiot is talking. Furthermore, we go to school so that maybe one day we may spread far and wide the one sacred Creed that says 'For they all shall bear in their hearts forever till the ends of time, SISTERS ARE BEFORE THE MISTERS, SISTERS ARE FOR THE WORLD.'

We go to school for we know a world where Women are united is a world full of peace, community and Love, no wars, no forcing anything, no fighting or fussing about land or resources, just steady protecting and guarding each other every now and then, from the little under ten years old child playing in the parks, the grasses or the sands alone in her underwear because she isn't supposed to give a care of the world at that age all the way up to the old person crossing the streets alone because they have lived it all and seen it all. Every Lady's eyes must and should be there, guarding, protecting, watching, strategizing yet enjoying her own Life because we Women multitask, not because we're forced to but because it's our very own innate, personal, private superpower from Mummie Nature herself which we can decide to use or not. And we learn and spread these kinda knowledge in school.

No one will want to attack, kidnap or rape that little child be they Girl or Boy because their mind go surely dey say our Ladies are everywhere watching, seeing, feeling, realizing and because the gender who gives birth to Life and knows the value of human Life, ndụ mmadụ are the ones in charge.

And no one will ever wanna speed over or hit an elderly person crossing the streets, why? Because by the oldies sides are two or three Ladies, though late for an appointment, late for work or late to Life but are still happy to help, not because of hope of a Blessing or a Malediction from anyone, anything or anywhere but because to a Woman, every soul matters, she obviously birthed them, and she will also birth more if she wants to, hence she knows the value.

She's doing it not because her Ancestors are watching or the Deities are watching and most definitely not because that kid matters more than the other or the kid came from them or that the particular kid is related to them in anyway or in more ways than one but because she's a good people, a Woman, because she has empathy and no one needs a reason to do good, no one needs a reason or a reward to be or for being a good person, no one needs a reason to be a Girl... A Woman... A Mother!"

"This Girl, Chizoba. Hm, how e dey be? At this your age, your mind is doing wonders o..." The driver, Kasarachi asks in amazement. "I'm glad y'all are paying attention. I was simply talking to pass time but I'm glad y'all took me seriously.

"Thank you Nne... What I am simply saying is that... And I bet you'll agree with me is that, to create a new reality, to create a better world, first and foremost, we Women must unite. From a Girl in the womb to a Woman in her grave right? Even the Effeminate Men who are truly feminine at heart, soul and spirit but probably cursed to be masculine in body and flesh are also welcomed to join in in this new and better world, that's as long as they don't sell us out to the other side."

"Because to create a better world, a world free from disease, sickness, hunger, poverty, untimely death, destruction, rot, abandonment, lack of abortion resources, prostitution, war, famine, imperialism and expansionism, colonialism and erasure of culture and nature, corruption and so on, only those who give birth to Life has the keys to open the doors of corrections and recreation, and that's us Ladies. Chizoba , I agree with you."

"Men have ruled the world for countless years." Chizoba continues.

"Gbam! Nothing to show for it but violence and stupidity. Something they hijacked from Women against the will of Mummy Nature. We simply let them be so that we the creators of Life can settle, relax and just continue creating Life that will thrive but those people with tails in front, after deciding to high jack the roles of leadership from us and create their own type world and shape it to be like their mindsets have fucked the world up."

Kasarachi hisses in disgust.

"Now look at the world, Patriarchy and Capitalism is the order of the day, look at the world, our Motherland is finally still healing but what of the Women in the rest of the world at large, they are still hurt and the lands have nobody to nurture her, what of them?" Chizoba asks.

"Exactly Chizoba."

"Which is why I'm stating, I am going to school, me and my idiot twin Sister here, my personal okpo."

"Love you too babe," Uju says over her phone, touching her wrists and continuing her business. The driver smiles proudly as she goes up the flyover. Chizoba can see her smile from the Mirror and she smiles back.

"Which is why the two of us are headed to school, not for ourselves but for the Ladies across the world, who are suffering, who are struggling, who choose to rather be high than healthy. Who would rather take one gram of Cana than a pack of Uweetiti mọ Uweogo. We go to school for the Ladies who believe their sole mission in Life is to serve a Man, to give birth only or is to simply get married. We're going to school so that we can be for them, to protect them, to wake them up from their slumber, from their stupidity, from the shackles of the Patriarchy and the greedy throats of Capitalism. Those Women who have been blinded by Religions and marginalized and subdued by worthless institutions which seems to undermine their greatness. We wanna be there for them to wake them up, to assist them to resist the Patriarchy, Capitalism anderasure of themselves.

We want to be there to attack and challenge all those Ladies who have access to the sources of production but yet make it hard for the common Woman, for the common Lady, their fellow Women to access. We want to put an end to the mentalities and ideologies and ideosyncracies and justifications of selling things of value and of 'we cannot live without' for profit because those Ladies are still trapped in the dirty bubble of the Patriarchy and Capitalism.

When Women come together there's no hoarding of wealth, there's community and distribution, there's Love and there's care. From the child in swaddling clothing to the Granny being carried by six Ladies to her grave and being buried, there is care. Compassion and Love is always in the air and atmosphere with the Women. Even the Men who drop their egos and submit to the wave and subtle gentility of divine Femininity to the Love and care of the divine feminine will be duly blessed by her power because by the time two Men submit without force, they two can also help each other and there will be no unhealthy competition and the world will begin to become a better place for all. Love, care and unity for all people." Chizoba says.

Uju drops her phone and looks at her Sister by herside and Kasarachi in her front and proceeds to pull at her hair. "Why's today's journey to school taking forever?" She murmurs. She turns to both of them, they don't seem to notice her, she sighs and continues on her phone. "What's there to lose, we're already late." She murmurs.

"There was this song by this partners in TikTok back in the days, the Soelle Girls is their TikTok name, Sophia and Noelle, they were a Lesbian couple on TikTok back in the days, Noelle, a dark skinned Girlie and her light skinned partner, Sophia. Noelle looks or rather is African American and Sophia, I'll put her as European or probably... Most likely American. So they had this song." Kasarachi begins to sing. "Y'all think Female friendships are romantic because Guys don't talk, they don't talk, they only game, some Girls are Gay but Guys don't talk... Express your emotions... Ask a question Jarred!"

"Pretty nice song, Kasarachi." Chizobam responds.

"Love the catchy tunes," Uju asks.

"Yeah, thanks, they're easily my most favorite couple." Kasarachi replies.

"Ok now look at someone like Uncle Akaji, Uncle Akaji is in an office not a farm..." Chizoba continues but is interrupted.

"But he has investments in over fifty eight acres of farmland in Congo Brazzaville alone," Uju replies.

"Don't forget the ones in Congo Kinshasa but at the end of the day, that's the capitalism we're all talking about and is it really ok?" Chizoba replies.

"To tell you the truth Girlies, when we were younger, many of us had these same ideas but circumstances, ihe nwanu, ihe nwanu, ihe nwanu. But luckily, here we are. I'm just glad you Girls that are saying these things are coming from well-to-do homes, because that alone should give you a much higher chance of success and controlling the wealth of the nations and the resources more than us that are not from well-to-do homes. Please don't forget to distribute evenly amongst the Masses I'll always beg you. Now what I just said may sound like Patriarchy and Capitalism, but you're not taking it to hoard them to yourselves or your ụmụ Ọtọsi (Cabals) but it is to distribute back to the nations.

You, the Women, the ones we all and the world can trust, not the Men, we can't trust Men, you are the ones tasked with this responsibility. Now, anyone can do these things which you have said, rich, poor, broken, crippled, depressed or dead, but you being from much better well to do homes can do this because na una get much more better chance of success than the rest of us..."

"Not better, easier." Uju says.

"Thank you my Love, easier, it starts with you people but also, it starts with and from us all. Look, in Life, we have one big major problem, WE WANT TO GO TO HEAVEN, WE WANT TO RUN TO HEAVEN BUT WE DON'T WANT TO FIX THIS WORLD IN WHICH WE ARE ALREADY LIVING IN IN THE FIRST PLACE, that's mental laziness..." Kasarachi says.

"The height of it is us tryna go to heaven instead of us to create the heaven for ourselves here on Earth before we die. Why wait to go to heaven when we die when we can distribute pieces of that heaven over here on this side, on Earth for ourselves. Ndị Mmadụ (Human beings), that's mental laziness, mental laziness. Trying to go to heaven instead actually creating a better heaven here on Earth, because as the world is, we're already in hell, hell on Earth, that's Capitalism, imperialism, colonialism, expansionism, that's hell on Earth, the Patriarchy, that's hell on Earth. Why pray when we can work and act? Why seek for something that will only occur when we die..." Chizoba asks.

"We're not even sure it's real..." Uju chips in.

"Even if..." Kasarachi makes to say.

"Even if it is, why wait for when we die to experience it, why not begin creating it for one another here on this plane, in this planet, on Earth, for each other, in reality?" Chizobam says.

"Mental laziness is thinking you can commit all types of evils on Earth, in reality, thinking you can believe all sorts of rubbish, convincing others to wait for miracles and saviors, convincing others to pray and wait instead of to act, unact, learn, unlearn and learn again. Mental laziness is trying to or at the end erasing other people's cultures and traditions and beliefs in the so-called names of your Deities. Calling their ways evil, backwards, archaic and barbaric and then proceeding to call yours holy and the only one true way.

Colonialism is Mental laziness. Mental laziness is making Life miserable, uncomfortable and frustrating for everyone else especially those around you or unfortunate to be under or around you and then when you're about to die you think you'll just pray, and you'll enter a better place... That particular thinking alone that you'll enter a better place after all you've done is the mental laziness I'm talking about. Like, thunder chalu ọkụ nọ ga elewa ụdị ndịanwụ ọnụ ebe ha nọ.

They, the people that believe such, they themselves, their various Deities and the various soothsayers of those their Deities in the name of religious leaders of any kind, they all minus none of them are mentally incapacitated and lazy to believe that they will enter any paradise in existence.

If there are Deities that actually do accept such people into their paradises and heavens and hells, if such Deities are real, then their brains must be on clutches and on wheelchairs for being a part of such nonsensical ideologies and allowing such people into their abodes." Kasarachi says.

"Ride on Mummie m o!" Uju cries out.

"Now," Kasarachi continues. "I've been hearing you speak, the plans which you have for us the Ladies is a beautiful one. It's a very, very, beautiful one, may your Chi, your Ancestors that want to be with you and for you and the spirits of the Lands that want to be with you and for you continue to guide you from planes to planes."

"Iseeeeeeeeeee." The twins both claim the prayer because it's a prayer of good and of their Chị (Spirit guides), their Ancestors and the Mother Universe.

"Now," She carries on. "What I will point out in your plan is that there're still Mothers who are ringing into their Daughters' brains currently as we speak right now that they should do and get married, that they need a Man to be fulfilled. That they need to give birth to truly be complete as a Lady. That a Man is a fulfilment of Life and destiny and that their time as a Woman, what nonsense did they call it again, biological clock, that their nonsense imaginary clock nwanu is running out so they should do and give birth, give birth to a child who will carry the Man's name and not her name, her the Woman who did the most work, her who actually birthed the Child, the Child will now carry the Man's name as how nụ?"

"That's horrible..." Uju says putting off her phone to listen more clearly.

"Yes, Some Mothers do that..." Kasarachi repeats.

"Horrible Mothers that is," Chizobam adds.

"Exactly my Love," Kasarachi says. "Now, there are Women who are Male centered..."

"What's that?" Uju asks, "What does that mean?"

"Male centeredness, a Lady who is Male centered believes that a Man is her sole mission, her ultimate soul mission and her biggest purpose in Life. A Woman who is Male centered believes her Life journey includes, To serve a Man. To take care of a Man. To baby a Man. To love a Man. To serve a Man. To cower for a Man. To bow to a Man. To respect a Man. To be beneath a Man. To understand a Man. To care for a Man. To shut up for a Man. To live for a Man. To die for a Man. To die for the Love of a Man. To live and die for the Love and attention of Men or a Man. To be for a Man. To submit to a Man. To appease a Man. To nurture a full grown Man. To be everything for a Man. To bear children for a Man instead of for herself..."

"What's the difference Kasarachi?"

"Uju, taking the name of a Man is serving and being for the Man. Taking the name of a Man as a Lady or his family name in general is the biggest and most stupid way of submitting to a Man. I think the only thing more foolish than that is bowing or kneeling to give him food or anything else, like why are you kneeling and bowing? Like nothing is more stupid than that. Taking his name, that one sọ is already so afeminating enough. Taking his name or his Father's name and his family name is already worshiping him not even respect, infact it has now turned to worship and to his family too, it's a pity!

Talk more of a Child, your own child, a Child you spent six, seven, eight to nine months or something more creating and extra two to three years nurturing. The thing fed off your body for months, denied you certain privileges for months, would've died without you, shared everything that's your own, depended on you dependently for Life and is only alive thanks to you and after all the pushing, twists, turns and what not... You would have almost died because imagine that big head coming outta that small... And other Life threatening complications that comes along with pregnancy... After all these things, from your very own portal of Life, Women who have given birth can testify and after all these pains and struggles, and there are Ladies who do it up to twenty times in their lifetime, one Woman went through this same pain forty-something times in her lifetime, now only for the child to come and carry the Man's name or worse come out looking like the Idiot or even at least one not looking at you, it's a pity!"

"Them looking like the Man,"Uju adds. "Na mummy Nature cause that one."

"Exactly o my baby. So you, Obianuju m, Ujunwa, Uju julu eju (Abundance which is full), you didn't come to serve a Man, a Deity who's a Man or anybody at all. You gave Life how then can you turn around to submit to the being whom you gave Life to? You're the one to give Life, they don't give birth, how then do you turn around and now, honor and serve what you gave Life to and what you continuously give Life force energy to? Everything a Man does, he does for a Woman, to get a Woman, to achieve a Woman's attention, how then do you as a Woman go back and serve them, they whom cannot live without you. Is it sex? Is it Children which they get to call their own? Is it ambition or relevance? They get all that from us Ladies, Women..." She says as she swerves to a turn.

"Finally." Uju exclaims then murmurs under her breath. "Chineke Nne m, una dey talk for Africa o!"

"Thank you for your patience and attention Ujunwa." Kasarachi says. Uju nods in response. She folds her hands and slides down a bit on the chair.

"Hm?" Kasarachi verifies.

"I said I've heard you o."

"Ụdo. Now, ask a Man to go have sex with his fellow Guy or allow his fellow Guy give him some sort of romance and stuff and you'll have a piece of brick to your head before you're done talking. Ask a Man to kiss his main nigga, his homeboy or any diddler walking on the streets for a billion Afrozx and you'll have your head shoved down an ụnọezi (a toilet) by the time you're done with such offer, why? Because they hate each other and their bodies. If a vast majority of Women were to decide to go celibate of Men and stay with each other because we actually like each other, ourselves and our bodies, I wonder what the vast majority of the Men would do? Anyways, we know the only thing that unites them is their oppression of Women, their upliftment of the Patriarchy and their expansion of Capitalism, one way or another all they ever do leads back to a desire to oppress Women." Kasarachi says.

"An average Lady," She continues. "Loves herself so much that she begins to see herself, her beauty in another Lady, her beauty, her physique and what not. We Ladies love ourselves so much that we can effortlessly become each other for a day. We see ourselves in each other whereas those oppressors don't even see themselves in themselves when they look at the mirror. They can't do without Women, at all, at all, at all!!! But we Women somehow turn right around and want to serve them, honor them and glorify them? As how nu? I see my fellow Ladies loving a Guy from thousands of years ago claiming that he would be for them if he was alive and he'll be for them when he comes back or whatever, I laugh, these Ladies, few do call themselves feminists, misandrists and philogynists but their source of soul nourishment is Masculine, their God is a Man and has masculine qualities and capabilities.

The source and linkages of their spiritual systems are filled, populated and created by Men and are masculine in nature and appearance and everything else but somehow, they claim to be for Women and for the Ladies? Such Ladies are jokes because they forget that when you decenter physically but fail to decenter them spiritually, emotionally and financially, you are still in square one, you only moved an inch." She says following it up with a laugh. "If you claim to want to liberate Women or Ladies and you still worship and glorify a Man and honor everything they do and that looks like them, then you've not even begun being for the Ladies, you're still in the bubble gum of internalized Misogyny, and the Patriarchy. In other words, una dey shout, decenter Men, decenter Men I say decenter Jesus, him sọ na masculine figure, him na Man, decenter him and him Daddy join, decenter all the Male deities of the universe join if una wan decenter Men true, true, all minus none because only when we decenter all these Men whom are in the spiritual, then can we truly begin to decenter Men in the physical.

Decenter their Mothers too and all the Women that have been around them since history, open the books and see because they are all Male centered and we are also on the route to decenter Male centered Women. We must decenter our minds from Men and extensively decolonize from everything else masculine. When we decenter the Men in the spiritual which is when we stop worshipping and serving Men Deities, the core of centering Men, then we immediately begin to decenter Men in the physical and we stop worshipping, glorifying and honoring them right here in reality. It's that simple.. It all begins in the mind, center and respect a Man Deity in the spiritual and you center and respect a Man in the physical. Center, love, honor, glorify and respect a Woman Deity in the spiritual and you'll soon be doing same to a Woman in the physical, in reality. It's so easy it's unbelievably too good to be true."

"What you said earlier is just like claiming to love Africa, our Motherland but going to wine and dine with the colonizers and the missionaries who once destroyed our lands and almost erased us. It's like going to live with them and celebrate them and their descendants after all they've done to us and our Ancestors." Chizobam says.

"Gbam! It's like having type two diabetes and swallowing an entire bottle of caffeinated soda no matter how small... Kasarachi, please Ma, we're late for school o. Why did you stop the car?"

"Right." She says, igniting the engine again and continuing on her way. She and Chizobam were so engrossed in their talk she just had to park the car, "So we Women must remember the Mantra, SISTERS ARE BEFORE THE MISTERS. SISTERS ARE FOR THE WORLD. A world run by the patriarchy is a danger to even Men, just look around you and across Anịnne, Africa. A world run by the Matriarchy is community, it is flourishing, there's communal wealth, happiness, joy, laughter, abundance, no war, no violence, no concept of poverty. There will be problems on the path to get there and even when we're there, yes alot of them but together we can fix it because we Women, we care alot. Women care, Women talk, Women act. Men talk, Men act and then care less. Think about this. Mmụa bụ (I who is) Kasarachi (Leave onto Destiny) Adimkaonyenne (I am like a Mother) nwa Iyom (child of our Lady) Ụwadịegwu (The world is wonderful!) nwa Nnedelu (A Mother wrote this) si (Who hails from) ogbe Mgbelekaeke dị na Ọnicha Ado N'ịdu (Mgbelekeke village of Ọnicha Ado N'ịdu) has said her own o, me, I am the one, I have said my own.

"Thank you Kasarachi, we have heard." Uju says.

"Like when I was younger." She continues.

"Una no dey tire?" Uju exclaims. She feels exasperated.

"Chizoba, we'll talk later ok?"

"Definitely." Chizoba replies, eyeing Uju in the process.

"Ọgini?" Uju asks. "Y'all have been talking for close to forty minutes.The distance between our house and the school is thirty-five according to the GPS. Look at us not half way there."

"Uju, we're sorry alright. Ngwa Chizoba dey on your phone so that I can focus." Kasarachi says.

"Udo." Chizoba pulls out her phone and begins to look for what to do on it while Kasarachi steps on the accelerator.

* * *

"Boy, see am for here o," Uncle Akaji says shuffling the Boy's hair, "Your office!"

"So what will I be doing Ichie?"

Uncle Akaji laughs. "You'll be my personal assistant, in that way you can be in touch with whatever things you need from me and I need from you, if you're diligent enough in that I may or may not..." He laughs again. "Yes I may or may not promote you to junior project manager. So just keep on working, we'll see how far you can go from here. It's your company after all, it's your inheritance, no one, absolutely no one is dragging it with you, so sit back, learn and enjoy what your parents built in sweat, that's why I am here to guide you. I'm like and I'll continue to be the Father you don't have anymore but still need ok?"

"Yes Ako. Ok, Ichie, I'll make you proud."

"Nope!..."

"Ok I'll make me proud!"

"Ok, close enough but no, you'll make both yourself and the Akụbueziokwụ, your Father, Onyebuchi proud."

"Ok Ako, I understand."

"Ngwa get to work, I'll see you in a long while."

"Ok Ichie, daalu rinne (thanks alot)." Uncle Akaji shoots him a thumbs up and leaves.

Emeka turns around on his swivel chair. He glances around, no refrigerator, no television, just a table, a standing fan, a laptop, a swivel chair, a bottle of water, a broken window with excellent rays of Anyanwụ, the Sun covering him.

"Anyanwụ Nne anyị, nọdụ m n'azụ, nọdụ m n'iru, nonyelu m na akuku. Daalu." He beckons upon the Mother Sun. He turns and notices a wall art by the famous Ejuwede H. H from the Ejuwede family, very popular family from the Western Motherland region of Owụwa. The art depicts a heavily pregnant Woman of twins as her womb was transparent carrying a basket of yams on her head. A baby Girl is strapped to her back and a bunch of plantains on both hands and her husband is right behind her waving at the crowd who were gathered cheering the man on with placards stating:

'World's best husband!'

'Man of the house!'

'Odogwu nwọke!'

'A real Man!'

'Only a real Man will leave the comfort of his living room to escort his Woman to the market and back!'

'A real and generous Man. A Woman's place is at home, submitting, serving and worshipping her husband, any Man that decides to give a Woman a helping hand is generous to the core and should be honored because it is a privilege to the Woman!!!'

'Look at a legend of the game, a true GOAT, fire for fire, he shoots, he scores!'

'Goated!'

'Women were made for Men, Women were created to serve Men and submit solely to our wishes.'

'The Man is honorable for even lifting a finger to help his Woman whom he paid for with his hard earned money.'

It had no tag or message so Emeka decided to interpret it as how Ladies carry the family from generation to generation, day in, day out, night after night but Men will still be applauded by society for the Ladies' efforts.

"So unfair though, highly disgusting, misogynistic and marginalizing, it's cringe, Nnaa eh! We must do something about it though." He says to himself. He shrugs and stretches on the chair, "Anyways, Ọlu! Work!"

* * *

As they step into school, everybody glances at them. Sure they got the welcoming looks, everyone obviously wanted to know who the new students were but Chizoba thought something was missing.

"I thought we would be given a hero's welcome?" She whispers to Uju as they both stand by the door, some eyes fixated on them, others minding their businesses.

"As how na Chi?" Uju exclaims.

"And why would you think so princess?" A voice spooks them from behind.

They both turn, startled! They behold a tall, dark skinned, equally dark haired Girl in front of them. "I'm Chidimma Tobenne Mgbogbendịda and I'm the student body president. And I'll be taking... Sorry, chauffeuring you royalties around the school, we have been awaiting your arrival, my Ladies, ndị Obi anyị." She says in the midst of giving them a mock curtsey. Behind them in the hallway they could hear a few snickerings. They turned to behold a few people jesting at them.

Chizoba is clearly offended but Obianuju is indifferent. They both follow her around as she chats on and on about the school's what's and what not's. It was obvious Uju adored her, or rather was just happy to be in school finally like her mates. Chizoba however seemed to resent her or was it the school she resented?

"And last but not the least, our class..." She turns to Chizoba. "Yes fine Girl, me and you are in one class, deal with it!" It was kinda obvious that Chizoba was displeased with the state of events, she wasn't so good at hiding her emotions and feelings, it was showing clearly on her face. She had learnt this one today, and so far, this Chidimma was capitalizing on that. "Class, these are our new friends, Obianuju Adamma Onyebuchi and the other one..."

"I'm Chizoba Ngozinnem Onyebuchi, nice to meet you all."

The class gave them a half hearted seated ovation and went about their normal businesses.

"Uju dear, please go have a seat at the front here." Chidimma says and walks out the class.

"She's the SBP, SP or whatever? Who even made her that? A drunk?" Chizoba calls out after Chidimma had left.

"Chill out Girl, she's probably on her not in her not so good vibes era, you know how it is, we're Women right?"

"Why's she tryna take it out on me then?"

"Chill out, just let her be, besides, I bet you she isn't. It's the first day of school, it's Eke, the first day of the four day week and you don't want one pretty Lady obviously very popular amongst the students and who's not on her not so cool vibes era to mess up your flow like... For the next three years. Remember, high school most of the time, yes, most of the time, makes or mars a person for Life, you confirm ọkwanya?"

Chizoba looks her Sister dead in the eyes a while then proceeds to say. "Thanks Sis, afụ m gị n'anya, ima nkeanwu ọkwanya? I love you."

"Ama m. I know. Afụkwu m gị n'anya bestie m ọma," Uju says giving her a hug.

"Fine girls, how about I come make that hug a threesome." They glance up to see a tall, dark, lanky Boy smiling generously at them. Chizoba rolls her eyes, Uju twists her hair as she gives the Boy a welcoming smile, nervously though. "Me ma wo akye, I'm Addae, from Sunyani county in the Bono province of the Motherland region of Ghana, I'm here on a student transfer program."

"And I'm gonna punch..."

"Sorry about that, ụtụtụ ọma o. She's in her not cool vibes era. I'm Obianuju Adamma Onyebuchi, I am Adamma's daughter. We're from Ogbeoza county (village) in Ọnicha Ado N'ịdu (Onitsha), Omambala province, in the Motherland region of Owụwa, I'm fourteen, I'm her elder twin sister but her leg came out before my body but my entire body came out first before her own, she came out months later. We just started... Ouch!" She exclaims as Chizoba kicks her ankle.

Chizoba smiles at Addae and proceeds to drag Uju outta the class, "Could you excuse us a moment?" Addae smiles in response.

"Nne, what happened? what's the Aburi?" Uju asks.

"Your self respect!"

"What?"

"Yeah, your self respect. Stop simping for a Guy, a Man, and at that, one you just met seconds ago."

"Nne chill out, we're just getting to know each other nu."

"He told you two stuffs, you're giving him your entire maternal history? Nne, jilikene akonauche na eme ụdịrị ihe o, be wise in your dealings o, you're dealing with a Man, Nwọke, Oko (Boy), Okorobịa (Masculine or Boy Teenager), masculine energy, you're trusting a Man, you're trusting masculine energy? After everything Kasarachi taught us? Obianuju jilinụ akonauche gị na eku ume (Use your wisdom to breathe or Your wisdom should be your personality) Ujunwa, Olugo na oge omume (It has gotten to the time of action, Ujunwa)."

"Baaaabes, chill out na! look, nothing's going to happen. Trust your Sister, I got this."

Chizoba stares her a while. "Uju, I don't trust you!" She exclaims. "You don't got nothing. You don't ever got nothing this Girl! You don't got this but anyways, most importantly, experience is the best teacher they say, she's gonna teach you well, I'm off, go enjoy yourself."

"Chizoba, baaaaby, My sweetheart, my sugar, chill out, nothing's going to happen ok? I promise! Ok see, pinky promise." Chizoba nods her head to her sister's perceived 'whinings'.

"You know pinky promises once entailed that if the promise is broken, the one who broke the promise would have their pinkies broken off." Chizoba blurts out.

"Ei! Not my babies!" Uju exclaims, hiding both pinkies in her palms. "Bịa way, Chizoba, Ibịakwa! Ibịakwa with this your history chọ chọ chọ! Dey well o, dey well!" Chizoba smiles as Uju walks away.

She takes a deep breath, "Nnaaaa! School! I wonder what you have in stall for us."

"Obianuju Adamma Onyebuchi and Chizobam Ngozinnem Onyebuchi, biko, kindly report to my office with the student body president Chidimma Tobechi Mgbogbendịda immediately. Daalu nụ!" A voice from the speakers call out.

"Let's go princess!" Chidimma says from behind her.

"Nne! You startled me. Iko be go eko? You don dey high?" Chizoba says.

"Chill, ah! I was just coming from patrolling the hallways and saw you standing like a mannequin looking lost. What's the Aburi?" Chidimma asks.

"Didn't you hear the principal's message?" Chizobam responds.

"Ok yes!" She peeps into the class. "Guys, History is coming o, settle down, it's a compulsory subject, no one leaves, arrange your selves o." Every one makes a move scrambling for their desks, "Obianuju, pull up na, Obi akwụkwọ (The Queen of education) dey call us o."

"Who's..." Uju asks.

"So history is compulsory?" Chizoba asks.

"Ah ah! Ana ajụ nkeanwu aju? It can't be questioned, one who fails to learn from history is definitely doomed to repeat history. History as a subject takes three periods of the day from Eke to Nkwọ every four weeks of the seven weeks of one month. As you well know, there are four weeks of four days each which are school according to the Ịgụarọ Nụrụsoro (Nụrụsoro Calender) in which each student must learn an African language, that takes two spans of the day, it's compulsory and then you get to practice what you wanna become in Life all right from grade school. it's essentially essential."

"That's very lovely," Uju says.

"Yup, exactly what our revolutionary voices fought for, now we don't need to be learning anything that will not benefit us in the future, all that's being learnt is for the benefit of us all, to affect and impact our African Motherland positively, forever!" She stares at Chizoba a while, "Wait, were you Girls homeschooled?"

"Yup! Me and my twin sister," Chizoba replies.

"Doing what?" Chidimma shrugs, "Una two no resemble twins sha, ok, unidentical twins. That's fine. Anyways, Dad says he would have loved to be homeschooled back in his days because school back then was shit, he doesn't like to call this type of school system just school, he calls it an education."

"Ọkwanya? When I read back about the Africa of the past, I just wanted nothing more than to puke, like get me a baff bag, like damn!" Chizoba says causing Chidimma to laugh, "Absolute shit!"

"Thank the Ancestors for the unification of Africa, the UMR," Chidimma says.

"I'm telling you! Nnea agwa gị!" Chizoba says.

"Hey Girls, I see y'all are getting along now." Uju says as she joins them again. She had stepped away a while to trash something.

They both stare at each other a while with sly smiles till Chidimma replies. "Well, we're getting there. I was just telling the Adaeze/Adaobi (Princess) here about how school works nowadays, how the education system here holds. History is the most important subject. She is in the top of the ranks in order of relevance because why not? African languages is next because we must communicate proudly in our culture, we in Owụwa, Kiswahili, and across Anịnne (Africa) we still use the general African language, Kiswahili. It is of utmost priority to learn Kiswahili so in a way. We're kinda learning two compulsory subjects Language and History and the exercise classes, aka maritime warfare lessons, guerrilla warfare lessons, just military trainings and stuffs you get? Also Compulsory to be honest. And the gym sessions, top notch priority, then we have fun time in between lessons and a few normal school stuffs but the best part of it all is that we mustn't indulge in all. Languages and History classes are compulsory right from kindergarten, unquestionable! Every one chooses courses and subjects according to one's personal taste right from grade school, simple right?"

"Fair enough! I second it." Chizoba says.

"I don't like History though but I know it's for our own good... it's fun at the end." Uju says.

"That's the spirit!"

"Ladies! I see y'all dilly dallying in the hall way, this is nottime for jokes. History lesson is the most important Life lesson you can learn and it mustn't be missed. With that, I wonder why y'all are not speeding to my office!" The microphone in the hallway blasts again as the camera by the wall rotates to their direction.

"Nnaaaa! Na by running ways o!" Chizoba says as they all take to their heels.

When they get over to the principal's office, Chidimma knocks.

"Enter please," A seemingly welcoming voice welcomes them in. They dust their leg on the footmat which read NNỌỌ (WELCOME). Chizoba doesn't approve though because she had once learnt that such footmats or signs reading welcome could also be welcoming bad energies too.

"Ụtụtụ ọma Obi akwụkwọ anyị." Chidimma greets with a sly curtsey.

She smirks, "Chiiiidiimmmaaaa, dey whine yourself," She blushes, "Anyways, how're the new students coping?"

"They're right here Nne (Ma or Mrs)." The girls pull themselves forward from behind Chidimma.

"Nne, ụtụtụ ọma." They say to a seated lady adjacent them.

"Ụmụazị (Children), how are you both doing?"

"We're fine Ma." They chorus.

"Ok." She turns to Chidimma. "Have you oriented them on how the education system works nowadays? I learnt they have never been to a real school before?"

"Yes Iyom m (My Lady), I have," She nods and turns to the girls.

"Ndị Iyom, Ladies, are you ok with it?"

"Ee Nne. It's all fun and games for me." Chizoba says.

"It's not!" She says banging her fists on the desk, "It's serious business for us in this Ewumewu (Institute or Institution) and it must be for you too because knowledge is power!"

"Yes Ọdua (Noble Lady). It's serious business for me I meant to say." Chizoba murmurs.

"Ọfuma! You?" She turns to Uju.

"Apart from History, every thing in the system is nice."

"Obianuju, one who fails to learn from history is absolutely doomed to repeat history , it's undebatable, Anịnne our Motherland as of the early 10s, 20s and 30s of the 21st century under the Gregorian calender was in shambles because we had forgotten our History, taking gifts from our enemies and we were constantly reminded that we should love our enemies as ourselves, a very big problem. Remember, anyone who tells you to love your enemy at all or in anyway at all is a bigger enemy than your present enemy. The UMR parliament across Africa many years ago enforced the teaching of the knowledge of our Histories as a top priority in all levels of education across the country of Africa so that we may never again forget where we're coming from, and so we and the next generations can equally continue to learn from our past, present and future mistakes ok? We don't forget the past, we don't wave off the past, we keep it in mind so as to continue and constantly keep learning from it and to me that's an A triple plus to them in the parliament."

"But Ọdua, shouldn't..."

"Nne, I feel you!" She turns to Obianuju. "Live your life Queen, no problems, we have learnt over the years that students have different brain capacities and interests and can't be tested or examined the same way on a particular platform or avenue and be expected to learn same lessons or neither do we expect same nor even slightly similar results from all students regardless of whatnot if nots. You're all different, we're all different and to me, that's perfectly ok. I'm different, that's ok, we're African, every African is an asset to the Motherland, every student is an asset to the education body, no one's a liability, don't worry. History is compulsory, an utmost priority, besides, it's only History and our African languages that are the compulsory teachings that are to be strictly adhered to, asides that, there are other various varieties of courses according to your tastes, capabilities and interests for you to engage in and choose from because that's what education is all about: LEARNING WHAT YOU LOVE BASED ON YOUR CAPABILITIES, CAPACITIES, INTERESTS AND TASTES, but on History and our African languages, you don't really have a choice on those ones, e get why, but we'll make sure that it's all fun and interesting enough for your interests ok?"

"Yes... yes Ọdua!" Obianuju reluctantly agrees.

"Ọfuma! Now run along, lessons are currently ongoing and you must not miss any of them. It's History after all, very, very, extremely important!"

"Daalu rinne Ọdua," They chorus, she hands them a thumbs up as Chidimma shuts her door behind them."

"Thank you my Chi, my personal Ancestors and the African Ancestors in general for fighting for a United Union of Motherland Republics, Usoro ụmụ Anịọha Anịnne nọ na usoro, UAA. A better African state free of colonial foolishness and..." She glances through the window, "Ewo! Anyanwụ apụta ife! (The Sun has brought forth her face/light!) Time for my daily dose of Sun light from my almighty, ever living, eternal Mother, the Sun," She arises and takes a deep breath, "I love my Africa! I love me the Motherland!"

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***