If you know me, you would know I don’t eat much, but when it comes to ofada, there’s no messing with me. I have two weaknesses in this life: Garri ijebu and ofada. Surefire ways to my heart. Grandma and mummy know that. That is why they embarked on a historical partnership to bring baby girl these goodies from the other side of the Atlantic.
It was some two weeks back when mummy told me that my aunt was coming to the abroad, so I should send my list. Yes, exactly. It was like hearing I had just won $50k in the lottery. So I made my list. Actually, more like I copied and pasted my list immediately she asked. I always keep my list updated and handy for such events as this. Sha, I sent my list.
I was so excited, I was practically skipping around the house. The plan was I’d travel to NYC with my aunt to meet my other aunt who was bringing the bags filled with so much love and affection. Next thing, phone went off, bzzz bzzz…mummy. “Hello love, how are you?” “I’m fine Toyin, just calling to give you your bill. #25k.” “Ah, juz lai dat? (just like that) No “don’t worry, mummy will take care of it”, no love for a young baby girl?” “Sorry, you’ve gone past that stage, you’re ready to be borning your own pikin (giving birth to your own kids). So no more free food.”
My heart was breaking, she wasn’t even going to let me send the money to her, she was just going to tax the gift daddy was sending me. Such # government (harsh government). 😢
Consolation was that mummy said her and grandma had jointly made the ofada sauce…at this point, I remember the end of that poem we learnt in school…
“And each to each sing
Songs of love.”
-Life in Our Village by Matei Markwei
…this was such an emotional moment for me. I not only get ofada, but I get ofada cooked with all the love in this world :’) what have I done to deserve such favor from the gods? Sha, I reason the thing…for garri and ofada, come and take my birthright sef (lol, jk). Iz no problem mama, too much money sef, just take whatever you need. 😎😎
Aunty took off from Naija. Countdown began. This one pass Ball Drop excitement sef. I started making plans for the trip. Planning to get my hair done, picking the outfit that I’d wear to go and pick up my babies 😍😍 Someone cannot go and fumble and look like a hobo where ofada tinz are consined (ofada related activities are concerned). Some few days to trip, mummy called me at 7pm here, which is 1 am Nigerian time. She was asking me question, I was answering. Mostly about awon olori ike (plastci headed) GTBank that want someone to come and have ‘att attack’ (heart attack) because of bvn sometin. Shaa..next thing mummy now started to vex, that she was already going to sleep and I’m keeping her awake, iz one h’a h’em in Nigeria for gosssake (it’s one am in Nigeria for God’s sake). Ahn ahn, eskiss ma, beht izz you that call me now (Ahn ahn, excuse me ma, but you were the one who called me). :s
Sha, I vex and off phone. Then I sent I love you message after, so that shoe will not fly from Nigeria and hit me. As if this was not enough emotional trauma, my Aunty had to call me to say ofada bag af lost (had gotten lost) somewhere during the baggage transfer, and they af sheck (had checked) America, London and Lagos, and iz not dia (it’s not there). Ah! Awon aye that don’t want somebody to jaiye with ofada! (Ah, the evil world people that don’t want someone to enjoy life with ofada) I begin to hope, but hope die when aunty say 5 days, they are sasshing (searching) for bag, bag not found. Ah…awon aye! (Ah, the evil world people!)
Three days weeping, crying, dazed, and confused. Ah, it hit me hard. I almost sank into depression. Real stuff. The ofada sauce was frozen alright, then wrapped, the put in freezer bags, but after almost a week in whatever storage they put the suitcase in…such bleak prospects 😭😭😭😭 Then, there was also the problem of “let customs not find the bags of formerly frozen ofada gone bad, and now trash every other thing in the bag”. Owo ma ti jona ni yen. (Money has entered fire is that) Ah! Issolova. (It’s all over) This is how it ends. This is how the ofada tale ends. No joke oh, I cried…it was a very painful sometin. Even husband couldn’t console me, and you know ozband (husband) is easy consolation sometin for me (can easily console me *wink wink*). But not this time. This time, izz me and my God, and this my ofada that go and enter one chance*. I don even know where to start prayer from, what am I even praying for? Ah ofada! Ofada! Why you do me like this? 😢
Today, I sha wake up around 6, usual time alarm goes off. I check my phone as usual, cos it’ll be midday in Nigeria already, mummy would’ve blown up my phone. I see something. Issalie (it’s a lie), my eye is playing tricks. Tricks I say! Ayee. Please, don’t play with my emotions. My heart is still wheacck (weak) and fragile. Please, please. Could it be? Is it true? Oh Lord Jesus!!!! It’s a miracle!!!
Handle is small tin abeg. This is a miracle that calls for wrapper, gele**, and the slaughter of goat. Testimony time!
“Ever since I moved to the Northeast, I’ve prayed against every spirit of winter. But today, I bless the name of the Lord who has made it possible for us to have winter, and I will love this winter with all my heart. Ah! And I say to you dear brethren that the Lord who made it possible for this winter to preserve my ofada even for as long as it was lost for, will surely preserve you and your loved ones this festive period.”
Seasons greetings from yours truly!
–♥
“Ofada makes the world go round…”
*- a vehicle that leads you nowhere, but to doom, destruction, and death
**- a Yoruba traditional head tie
As for the meaning of ofada, it is not something I can define or explain to you; it is an experience…a feeling…one which you must strive to know for yourself…
Chocolate Flavoured Girl 