After The War

Grandpa George always spoke of the wars he had experienced. Every time, he warned us against marrying Igbo people. He told us of how his wife, Chisom, abandoned him and their five year old son to run along with other Igbo women to the east. He also told us of how numerous people had seen her with another man and another child. “War is good”, he said, “it shows you the true colors of the people that claim to love you”.

Grandpa George had another story. He said in 2002, when the war began, his son Bayo who was married with children at the time always cried in his room. He was scared of the aftermath. Although Bayo denied the fact that he cried, he admitted that he was scared of what would happen after. “No matter how many lives are lost, how much blood is spilled or how many times we have to fight for the same course, war is unending and people will always have reasons to wage it.” This was Bayo’s response every time he was asked about war.

My neighbors are friendly people. Once there’s war or unrest in the town, everyone stands by each other. One time when the war was getting close to Eto baba axis, we harbored a Muslim family in our house for four days because there was a great threat on their lives. Other times, the men would take turns to stay on guard and when there’s any threat,they blow whistles to alert everyone.

Before the war, everyone is free, jumping from one risky street to another, the war brings restrictions and fear, but after the war, no matter how many lives have been lost, no matter how much blood is spilled and no matter how many times we have to fight for the same course, those who find themselves alive would bury their dead, clean the land and live on.

LARDO