Glossary of Nigerian words
Kilode- A Yoruba word meaning 'what is it?'
2014-CHRISTMAS EVE
“Kemi! Kemiii! Keemii!” Kemi’s father calls loudly from his rather small room. His chubby tall physique weighs down the medium sized bed, the bed takes almost all the space in the room. Bright sunrays seep through the grey curtains and light the room; reflections of the louvers are very visible on the carpeted floor. Why couldn’t his daughter hear him when there was just one room in the house and her bedroom, the sitting room? After a few seconds she runs into his room, she is wearing a blue and white chequered pyjama trouser and black tank top . “Kemi? Kilode? Are you getting deaf? One would think we lived in a mansion and I was calling you from upstairs” he says jokingly in his striking Yoruba accent, Kemi chuckles making her dimples very pronounced on her light skinned beautiful face, “Daddyyy, I’m sorry, I was just rounding up my prayers and besides...” she says beaming, she sits next to the middle-aged man who she is a splitting image of. She holds his right hand, an infectious hope tears up her bright brown eyes looking into that of her father’s, “one day, we would live in a mansion, more beautiful than my madam’s own!” she continues. Her father smiles and stares at his ambitious daughter, she rests her head on his shoulder “We will have many mansions all over Lagos, and many many more worldwide!” Kemi continues, smiling, she seems to be basking in a brief reverie. She looks back at her father; he is still smiling. “Kemi! Our God lives” he says full of expectation. “Meanwhile my daughter, I know the Kalu’s gave you today off, but that woman, she is more than a blessing” he continues, shaking his head, his daughter looks keenly at him and nods “ I want you to go and assist her today, to tidy things up because Christmas is tomorrow!” He says and smirks afterwards. “That woman is an angel in disguise, because of her, we have Christmas chicken and rice, your mother went as far as inviting people to our small house” he says laughing, Kemi joins in “Yes, she is! God sent her, I will go to her, I think I should be leaving as soon as possible so I can come back in time to assist mummy when she returns”, She says sounding undoubtedly excited, her father notices this but does not question her “go and get ready to leave then” her father says “Okay daddy…bye” Kemi says excitedly as she gets up to leave the room.
Kemi indeed was happy to be in Mrs Kalu’s company, the woman just amazed her. Mrs. Kalu is the kind of woman she would want to be and even more. She is beautiful, calm, nice and simple, sometimes Kemi felt that she was the woman Proverbs 31 in the bible; a woman who is hardworking, wealthy and a cheerful giver. Still, a part of the story was lost in Mrs Kalu’s life, unlike the proverbs 31 woman Mrs Kalu’s husband did not seem a tad bit proud of her and Kemi often wondered why.
Thank you so much for reading. What are your thoughts? Please comment, share, comment and subscribe. Have a blessed week ahead
Connect with me on instagram and twitter: @_zulayka
xoxo!
Kilode- A Yoruba word meaning 'what is it?'
2014-CHRISTMAS EVE
“Kemi! Kemiii! Keemii!” Kemi’s father calls loudly from his rather small room. His chubby tall physique weighs down the medium sized bed, the bed takes almost all the space in the room. Bright sunrays seep through the grey curtains and light the room; reflections of the louvers are very visible on the carpeted floor. Why couldn’t his daughter hear him when there was just one room in the house and her bedroom, the sitting room? After a few seconds she runs into his room, she is wearing a blue and white chequered pyjama trouser and black tank top . “Kemi? Kilode? Are you getting deaf? One would think we lived in a mansion and I was calling you from upstairs” he says jokingly in his striking Yoruba accent, Kemi chuckles making her dimples very pronounced on her light skinned beautiful face, “Daddyyy, I’m sorry, I was just rounding up my prayers and besides...” she says beaming, she sits next to the middle-aged man who she is a splitting image of. She holds his right hand, an infectious hope tears up her bright brown eyes looking into that of her father’s, “one day, we would live in a mansion, more beautiful than my madam’s own!” she continues. Her father smiles and stares at his ambitious daughter, she rests her head on his shoulder “We will have many mansions all over Lagos, and many many more worldwide!” Kemi continues, smiling, she seems to be basking in a brief reverie. She looks back at her father; he is still smiling. “Kemi! Our God lives” he says full of expectation. “Meanwhile my daughter, I know the Kalu’s gave you today off, but that woman, she is more than a blessing” he continues, shaking his head, his daughter looks keenly at him and nods “ I want you to go and assist her today, to tidy things up because Christmas is tomorrow!” He says and smirks afterwards. “That woman is an angel in disguise, because of her, we have Christmas chicken and rice, your mother went as far as inviting people to our small house” he says laughing, Kemi joins in “Yes, she is! God sent her, I will go to her, I think I should be leaving as soon as possible so I can come back in time to assist mummy when she returns”, She says sounding undoubtedly excited, her father notices this but does not question her “go and get ready to leave then” her father says “Okay daddy…bye” Kemi says excitedly as she gets up to leave the room.
Kemi indeed was happy to be in Mrs Kalu’s company, the woman just amazed her. Mrs. Kalu is the kind of woman she would want to be and even more. She is beautiful, calm, nice and simple, sometimes Kemi felt that she was the woman Proverbs 31 in the bible; a woman who is hardworking, wealthy and a cheerful giver. Still, a part of the story was lost in Mrs Kalu’s life, unlike the proverbs 31 woman Mrs Kalu’s husband did not seem a tad bit proud of her and Kemi often wondered why.
Thank you so much for reading. What are your thoughts? Please comment, share, comment and subscribe. Have a blessed week ahead
Connect with me on instagram and twitter: @_zulayka
xoxo!