Mirage of Afro-Feminism

By Ishaya Albert

Mirage of Afro-feminism explores a very important and recurrent theme in human societiesthe need to accord women and children their rightful places in society. In exploring the subject, the author lays a subtle but convincing development and precision of plots, with the characters of Mrs. Lawal, Dr. Hafsat, Edna Shay, Corporal Talachi, Dr. Asunki, and Katherine as key players, with a cloud of other characters.

The whole plot is relayed through an exciting and captivating style of narrative in the unique tone of the author, which, in turn, makes every scenario enjoyable, replayable, and exciting with every sense of accuracy and exactness, without any space for makeup or aborted suspense. The plot depicted through the character of Mrs. Lawal expresses the needs for selfless service, sacrifice, love, and care as values for positive social change.

Dr. Hafsat: Through her, the work vividly shows the plight of women in society with an emphasis on the lack of respect for women as a major constraint to effective emancipation. Also, in her character, the off-track trends in womens rightssolidarity, activism, and feminism, alongside their overbearing and counterproductive tendencies against genuine womens liberation and empowermentare highlighted.

Edna Shay: Through her, the plot hints at the difference between the developed and developing worlds, which is attitude, characterized by respect for oneself and others on the one hand and lack of respect for humanity on the other hand.

Talachi: Through him, the plot gives a picture of to what extent a kind fellow can go to support the human cause and to help others live a better life, especially under the burden of undoing ones mistakes against humanity, and to have a free conscience by personal conviction.

Dr. Asunki: In this character, a seeker of better ways to live and an accomplished personality who is chiefly concerned with seeing people, especially women, get accomplished to the fullest of their potentials, is depicted.

Katherine: In her character, a dormant deputy is seen, who, on coming to the stage, turns into a game changer in a dwindling and obscured womens forum. Her mien, experience, and temperament are the forces that propel Dr. Hafsat to take a resolute step to solve the puzzle that mitigates her efforts in womens rights and feminist pursuits.

Mirage of Afro-feminism is a work that speaks against global indifference and irresoluteness in the plight of women and children alongside some other people globally, especially people trapped in conflict zones across the globe, in a loud and clear tone. The book also breaks the socioreligious silence about the status quo of women.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Jun 26, 2015
• ISBN: 9781504943871

Book preview

MIRAGE OF

AFRO-FEMINISM

Ishaya Albert

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AuthorHouse™ UK

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403 USA

www.authorhouse.co.uk

Phone: [phone]

©

2015 Ishaya Albert. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 06/24/2015

ISBN: 978-1-5049-4386-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5049-4385-7 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5049-4387-1 (e)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgement

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Chapter Thirty

Chapter Thirty-One

DEDICATION

To UN Women, and all who supports, advocates, promotes or agitates for Women’s human rights in various places on earth.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

My profound gratitude to Mrs Alexandra Nathan, Mrs Helen P. Mathias, Mrs Rahab Asama, Mr Kraha Zachariah, Mr Ladawus Ishaya, Mr Dauda Zachariah for the encouragement they gave me towards the writing of this book. I am also grateful to Dr Saidu U. Jen, Prof Kevin N. Nwogu, Dr Abdalla Yakub and Mrs Findimila Ishaya for the time they sacrificed and the material support they offered for the success of this book. I shall forever be grateful.

Chapter One

Mr Kofi saw that Kudaisi, the little girl he had come with, had freed herself to play with the other little girl they met in the house. Being safety conscious, he surveyed all the corners of the room, making sure the girls were not in any danger playing around the sitting room. To strengthen his confidence, there was a power outage at the moment. He rose and walked on tiptoe to the door and moved outside. At the time, Simto, who had ushered him into the house, was already busy doing the day’s chores around the kitchen.

Outside the house, Kofi stood in the compound, contemplating whether to take his leave or not. Presently, Mrs Lawal, Simto’s mother and the matron of the hospice, returned and met Kofi standing in front of the house. She noticed Kofi’s puzzled look and quickly asked, How may I help you, young man?

Kofi shook his head and then nodded in inaudible response to her question.

Meanwhile, Simto walked back into the sitting room but could not find the visitor there. But she saw the little girl he came with busy playing with Norah. She went outside and, on opening the gate, saw the visitor standing with her mum. Kofi then turned and walked back into the compound. Simto, who came down to meet her mother, followed in.

He thought this place was a day care. That is the reason he is here, Simto told her.

Mrs Lawal walked into the classroom, where the pupil-inmates were sitting. Their teacher, Uncle Musa, was at the blackboard. She nodded in approval of the calmness and concentration of the inmates and then shut the door gently and went to the ward where Tobi, who suffered from a mental ailment, was fast asleep. She stood, meditating. Recently, she had been asking herself a lot of questions on her original purpose for this establishment. She knew that the orphanage was not what she had actually had in mind to do in the first place. But before she could go far in her thought, she remembered that there was a visitor waiting for her. Just as she was about to turn to go, Norah drew her attention to the sitting room.

Simto rushed and picked up Norah from the floor, hugging her closely to herself, and stepped out of the house. This was to prevent Norah’s cry from waking up other sleeping babies.

Kudaisi, already scared by the commotion, left the bone of contention between her and Norah – a toy – and ran into her father’s arms, crying too.

Simto continued to pet Norah and finally got her under control. At this point, Mrs Lawal received her from Simto as she took the seat next to Kofi.

Good morning, sir, started Mrs Lawal. I learnt you assumed this place was a day care.

Yes, Ma, Kofi replied.

Actually, it is not a day care. It’s a hospice – more of an orphanage – and we run and manage it. I am the proprietress and matron, Mrs Lawal further explained.

Madam, how much do you charge for a child? Kofi asked.

No! We don’t charge anything. I said it’s more of an orphanage. Who pays for children in an orphanage? Of course it’s free. We only ensure that they are truly orphans or destitute before we take them.

Without hesitation, Kofi told the matron of his intention to get Kudaisi admitted into the place, were it a day care, as he presumed. The matron nodded. She hesitated for a few seconds before speaking again. Where are you from?

Obalende, Kofi replied. But I’m a Ghanaian, he added.

And your name?

Kofi, he replied.

I am Mrs Tokunbo Lawal. What is her age? she ventured further.

Two years, Kofi replied.

What of the girl’s mother?

She is fine, said Kofi.

I mean, where is she at the moment?

She travelled.

Is everything okay with her? queried the matron.

I am the girl’s uncle. The mother’s journey was not quite on smooth ground, Kofi lied.

Now that you know that this place is not a day care, what is your next line of action? the matron wanted to know.

I don’t know, Ma, he replied.

Why don’t you know? the matron prodded. After all, from Obalende to this place, isn’t there a day care centre? How many nursery schools with day care can one count before reaching here? the matron asked pointedly.

Madam, I told you, I am only but an uncle to the girl. I just want to help her situation.

What situation? the matron asked.

But Kofi hesitated.

Anyway, if you fail to know what to do next by tomorrow, you may come back here tomorrow morning, said the matron. She went into the kitchen, brought a cookie for Kudaisi, and bade them goodbye.

While relaxing after Kofi’s visit, the matron thanked her star. As she thought, it was obvious to her she had just thwarted a child abandonment. And, of course, she knew that it would have become an added burden to her already overburdened life. Such heartless tricks and deeds were responsible for the constriction of her first dream of owning a standard and, of course, popular hospice in the city. This was actually what she had had in mind when she returned home from overseas.

She had always had this passion for the poor. She loved the destitute and the despised. She had already adopted three children even before she set her dream of this hospice to work. But heartless deeds of people and child abuse caused her to be running an orphanage in the real sense, instead of the hospice she so desired.

It was break time for the inmates. The class teacher, Musa, went to see the matron.

Good afternoon, Ma, he greeted.

Good afternoon, Musa. How has it been? the matron replied.

Madam, Maria was so quiet today. That’s so unusual. Is she sick? Or was she scolded by anyone before I started with them today? Musa asked.

Well, I don’t know, but I will find out. I have not noticed any change in her, said the matron.

At exactly 1.45 p.m., the usual time for lunch in the orphanage, Beatrice, Sa’eed, Raphael, and Ayo had not returned from school. They attend Behemoth International School, some kilometres away from home. The matron tried hard to contact Musibau, the bus driver who regularly took and brought them back from school. His phone number wasn’t going through. The matron, therefore, urged Simto to get the rest their lunch while she went after the four who had not yet returned from school. She left in a panic, wondering what might have happened that they had not returned.

The other inmates at home were set for their lunch, already spread on the table. But strangely, Mummy was absent, and so were the four inmates: Beatrice, Sa’eed, Raphael, and Ayo. That afternoon, the little inmates, therefore, missed the regular meal prayer that was always recited at the dining table by any of the four. Mealtime was dull for all of them even though Simto tried to ensure that they all were satisfied and they avoided waste, no matter how they felt as a result of the absence of the four inmates.

They were still at the table when the matron returned with the four missing inmates. She allowed them to join the others at the table for lunch. Simto hurriedly served them and quietly withdrew to meet her mistress in the sitting room.

Any problem, Ma? she asked.

No, except that Musibau could not go for them. I wonder what must have gone wrong with him and the car, she replied while still trying to contact him on the phone, though without success.

Go and watch them, she urged Simto.

Soon afterwards, the inmates had their siesta. The matron, still disturbed by the disappearance of the driver, phoned and related to her husband the failure by the driver to convey the children home from school. She entreated him to try other means to get him or find out his condition since her efforts to reach him on his phone had not been successful.

Chapter Two

The next day, the whereabouts of the driver were still not known. The matron urged Simto to take the four to school by commercial transport. Mr Lawal had left early for work. He usually left early in order to avoid lateness caused by heavy traffic congestion.

The pupils were set for school. Don’t forget that the follow-up at the clinic with Tobi is this morning, the matron reminded Simto. Be watchful, and take care! Till you come back! the matron added as she finally bade the five goodbye.

After a while, a hesitant knock at the gate was heard. The matron went to see who it was. On opening the gate, Nafiu, the conductor of the orphanage bus, came in.

Nafiu! shouted the matron. What has happened? What is the problem?

Good morning, Ma. I am late! Have they gone? Oh, God! Have they gone? was all that Nafiu could say.

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