The Visit to Ikot Ekpene is in 24 hours but Opoku needed to get a few gifts for his “in-laws.”
Vicky advised him that it was best they booked their return flights ahead of the trip as aircrafts are often fully booked on public holidays. The flights were then booked ahead and they settled in for room ordered breakfast.
“Sweet heart,” he said to Vicky, “what do you think mum and dad would like ? Not sure how it works here but in Ghana, when a young man visits his in-laws, he must go with some gifts.”
“Oh, Ok, it’s about the same thing here. We will visit Balogun and Oke Arin Markets to see what we can pick up. Whatever we buy, should fit into hand luggages since we are going by air.”
“Not sure that should be a problem. We can pay for excess luggages can’t we ? Let’s even get to the market.”
“Sweet heart…” Opoku said
“Yes darling…”
“Awww, nice. Really glad to know I’m your darling. Would you have a special name for me ? Please ?” Opoku begged like a little boy begging mum for some candy.
“But you’re my darling, my sweetheart, my honey bunch, my heart throb, my honey suckle, my sugar, my lion king, my all in all. I have difficulty sticking to one. But, I kind of like ‘honey bunch,’ it kind of captures it all,” Vicky answered.
“Would you then reserve it for me ? I want to come running anytime I hear it, please my darling. The sound of your voice gets me ‘crazy’ and to think you have this special name for me, I’ll do anything for it,” said Opoku
“Not a problem my one and only honey bunch, Vicky giggled.”
She then advised Opoku that Lagos markets are very often, over crowded and noisy. He must not get frightened as they are in no way like Ghanaian markets, not even the very busy Makola market in Accra. She reassured him that it should not bother him because they would be together.
Opoku told her that he has hardly been to any of Ghana’s local markets but that he was game for the adventure in Lagos as he already heard so much about Balogun market himself. One of his old school mates did a research at Oxford on how to bring digital banking to the local market women in West Africa. Balogun, Idumota and Oshodi markets featured largely in that research.
Shopping spree:
Before heading to Balogun market, Vicky took Opoku to Admiralty Way in Lekki and Awolowo Road, Ikoyi to get some shoes and perfumes for her parents. She told him they would need to book an Uber for Ikot Ekpene in advance so they could shop for wines before getting to her parents’ house .
According to her, wines were inevitable in this kind of home visit. Besides, Mummy may have suspected the purpose of my visit and informed close family members.
She asked that they change to dark coloured clothes to avoid returning home dirty. They both then headed for Balogun market.
Opoku’s driver dropped them beside the UBA head office and Vicky gave him N1,000 for parking and told him to ensure his phone was handy. She then advised Opoku to hold on tightly to his wallet and cellphone as pick pockets abound just like Makola in Accra.
Vicky had visited Makola on some of her official trips to Ghana and knows it could not be compared to Nigeria’s Balogun Market.
As soon as they alighted from the vehicle, the shear crowd first frightened Opoku and that worried Vicky a bit. He made a conscious effort not to grab her arm out of fright but rather asked her where everybody was going to and why the bus drivers and conductors were screaming and hooting.
She explained that some of the drivers hooted for the fun of it, others used it to hail passengers. Some others make so much noise to alert pedestrians to clear out of the way. Some of the noise makers were indeed hawkers, calling for buyers of their wares.
While Opoku was still trying to get used to the chaos, a young man walked up to invite him to ‘Mandilas.’ Vicky rebuked the boy in the harshest of manners to Opoku’s utter surprise. She then explained that it was the only way to get the boy off their backs.
She apologised that it was a Saturday, month-end and the muslim festival was tomorrow so people were shopping essentially for those reasons.
Opoku felt amused, somewhat harassed and uncomfortable at the same time. Vicky made sure they did not go too far into the real crowded part of the market.
She got a market load carrier (Alabaru) to follow them. They bought the kinds of wrapper materials that mummy would like. For good measure, she bought Ankara materials for at least 6 more women.
Next, they bought some other fabrics that daddy could wear with mummy the typical Ibibio way. She then bought lace blouse materials, head ties and clutch bags for mummy and a few dresses for mummy’s little maid.
Luckily, most of the traders received payments in dollars as Opoku insisted on paying for every single item by himself.
Meeting Vicky’s family at Ikot Ekpene:
Sunday, the next morning, they headed to the airport with Ambassador Odamtten and arrived Ikot Ekene by 9:45 am. The Uber was already at the airport so they drove to the city shopping mall and bought wines and other drinks.
On arrival at home, mummy and daddy were home with one of her uncles. Mummy was over the moon with Vicky’s companion. Vicky muttered to her in Efik language that she must take it easy with the excitement.
Daddy offered them seats and then Vicky introduced the Ghana High Commissioner. Daddy shook the Ambassador’s hand very warmly and thanked him for honouring him with his presence.
He then asked everyone to take a seat and asked who Vicky’s 2nd companion was.
Vicky introduced Opoku as her boyfriend and asked daddy to permit her to call him her fiancé. She then explained that they were in a serious relationship and may be getting married.
Daddy: “Young man, where are you from and what do you do ?”
Opoku stood up to answer and daddy told him to please sit down. “I come from Ghana sir, from the Kyebi region precisely. I am a real estate practitioner and a financial consultant.”
Daddy: I know a little bit about Ghana, my father traded there when we were children. But, hold on, did Vicky say your name is Addo ?
Opoku: “Yes sir.”
Daddy: “Are you by chance related to the President of Ghana ?”
Opoku: “That is my dad, sir.”
Daddy: “And your mum is…”
Opoku: “Rebecca, sir”
Daddy: “The politician, Rebecca’s father was a politician, right ? I know him, I met him many years ago, when I was in active service and had to accompany my Governor to a conference in Addis Ababa. How very little the world is !”
“So tell me, what are your intensions towards my daughter and for how long have you know each other ?”
Opoku: “I love Vicky so very much sir and would like to marry her. We met a while back and get along really well, she is everything I want in a wife.”
Daddy: “You should have told me in advance, the purpose of your visit because in my place, a daughter does not belong to her father alone. The response to your request does not lie solely with me. Nonetheless, most people are home today since it is a weekend.”
“I cannot give you any response without my kinsmen so give us some minutes to invite those within the neighbourhood.”
Daddy then asked his cousin, Uwanna to go fetch some other elders, at least 4 of them or as many as he could get to. While Uwanna was away, he chatted heartily with Kwadwo Odamtten and Opoku while mummy did her magic in the kitchen.
Mummy is never taken by surprise when it comes to entertaining guests with her typical Efik cculinary prowess.
Happy with the proceedings so far, Vicky went to the Uber to get the luggages they came with.
They had bought the choicest of wines, a few cartons of beer, some soft drinks and a massive cake.
Daddy was obviously impressed with his August visitors. For him, it was a done deal but he must not sound so eager.
Vicky, however, told daddy that they must return to Lagos with the last flight. She pleaded with him to make the meeting with the elders as brief as possible.
Glad about how her father, the high Commissioner and her honey bunch were getting along, Vicky made for the kitchen to speak with mummy. She met and greeted her aunties in-law who had come to help with the cooking.
Mummy had already gone far with enough cooking for at least 15 people. Vicky also reminded her about her flight back to Lagos later in the day.
She sent Iboro, mummy’s little maid to go roll in the boxes they brought and she brought out the things she bought for her parents, showed her mother the ones to be shared among her aunties and uncles and handed Iboro’s clothes to her.
The maid was over the moon with joy and jumped up to hug her and thank her profusely.
Mummy thanked Vicky and went off as usual with her long prayers. At the end, she complained she already had so many clothes that all the children keep buying and she has not even gotten to wear 1/4 even if she changed twice a day.
She promised Vicky that the entire kinsmen will surely get a piece of the massive cake since neither she nor daddy indulges in sugar.
Vicky’s uncles soon arrived and drinks were served while daddy told them the reason for his invitation.
Everyone was in agreement naturally that the young people should proceed with their wishes. Not after seeing the pile of drinks as if the actual wedding was in full swing.
Daddy told Kwadwo Odamtten and Opoku that there were a few other marriage rites but some could be waived because of the distance between Ghana and Nigeria.
However, it is customary that Opoku takes a visit to Ikot Ekpene at least one more time, and very importantly with his father and kinsmen before the full and final traditional marriage rites.
Vicky’s oldest uncle cleared his throat to speak and her dad took a seat out of respect. He told the gathering that the traditional marriage was taken more seriously than any church wedding. A few requirements are however, expected of the groom’s family. These will be sent to them through uncle Uwanna and daddy.
Ambassador Odamtten responded that none of the recommendations will be a problem at all. He told them excitedly that none of the things they said was alien to Ghanaian customs and tradition and so they should trust his nephew’s family to meet all expectations.
While the deliberations were going on, Vicky sat on a low kitchen bench at the kitchen door. She had absolutely no say in all this by tradition, neither does her mother. Her mother stood at alert listening intently in case anything is needed of her. The invited aunties were doing a good job of dishing all the cooking into the most elegant coolers as well as setting the plates to serve the meals.
Seeing that deliberations were rounding up perfectly well, they began pulling out the coolers and serving plates.
Already, the men had helped themselves to the drinks, praising the quality of each content. All the assorted wines that they only saw in newspapers and television were at their disposal today and they made the best of them all.
Everybody got served assorted food. Aunties in-law had curiously come with take-away coolers and indeed there was surplus to go home with.
While tooth picks and endless rounds of drinks were passing round, Vicky’s father pleaded with them to invite Vicky and her future husband in for family blessings.
They both knelt down in the middle and Uncle Aniedi, a Redeemed Pastor led the prayers to endless choruses of “Amen” and “Alleluiya.”
Prayers over, Vicky’s mum walked over to whisper to daddy that the young people must get to the airport to catch their flight. A journey is normally not announced openly to avoid evil spirits causing mishaps midway.
She signalled to her daughter and her fiancé to join her in her bedroom where she poured out her heart in prayers for them. After the prayers, she asked Vicky to tell the High Commissioner to join them outside. Vicky’s dad and Uncle Uwanna joined them to wish them a safe flight back.
For Vicky, one thing is sure, this visit to Ikot Ekpene, her home town was a great sign that God has a hand in this relationship
None of the guests asked about them after that as they were all engrossed in helping themselves with endless servings of meals and drinks.
At least 2 of the men ended up drunk and were led home by their wives.
Each guest went home with not less than 3 bottles of wine and whisky. The women took home coolers of food, soft drinks and wrappers. Nobody even noticed that the couple had disappeared. The merriment stole the show.
Related stories:
Chapter 3: Opoku Returns to See Vicky