Before you start
checking your dictionary let me start by explaining that tsaraba is not
an English word. It simply means a present or a gift brought by a person from a
journey. In Hausa culture as with many
other cultures, the family looks forward to the tsaraba the head of the
family or any adult will bring after a journey. It strengthens relationship
among the family; it teaches the younger ones the value of generosity, it also
provides an opportunity to have a taste of the valuables produced by other
cultures.
As usual, and as a 'self-appointed' journalist, I have to prepare tsaraba for my readers
starting with this account of my journey. My trip this time is closer home. I
am on my way to Dakar, the capital of Senegal in West Africa. I have heard so
much about this country, but this is the first time I have the opportunity to
set my foot in this beautiful African nation with lots of history behind it.
During a lecture in
2000 by the renowned African scholar, Professor Ali Mazrui, at the Bayero
University, Kano, he categorized African countries into two, the coup-prone,
and coup-proof countries. The former referring to countries that are regularly
prone to military coups and the latter referring to the countries that neither
experience military coup and are unlikely to experience one as far historical
evidence is concerned. One country he mentioned among the coup-proof countries
is Senegal, one of the few African countries to survive military intervention
in politics.
My first glimpse of the
country during this journey started at Dubai international airport. As I sat in
the lounge waiting for the passengers to be called, two tall passengers dressed
in Tazarce (the long traditional dress which became popular during Abacha’s
reign), sat next to me. “Comment Ca Va”, one of the gentlemen said in
French, “Ca Va”, I replied, the gentleman continued, unknown to him that is
where my French ends, even at home that is where I struggle when my daughter
asks for my help in her French assignments.
Don’t you speak
English? I asked, of course I do, the gentleman replied. This is where I admire
fellow brothers from French Speaking Africa, a reasonable percentage of them
are bilingual, combing French and English, and some of them with the addition
of Arabic. And in this age, especially if you want to work for international
organisations, speaking multiple languages is an asset that will always work in
your favour.This is also where Anglo-speaking
Africa struggles, because many think that it suffices to speak English alone.
It is a ten to eleven
hours journey from Dubai to Dakar with a short stop-over in Guinea Conakry. So
you sleep, you wake up, you read, you eat, and still the journey is ongoing. As
the plane began to descend you get the feeling that Africa is still a natural
environment.
I must admit that I am
really proud to be African, in fact a West African, and above all a Nigerian.
If you travel around with a green passport you will understand what I mean.
Since Senegal is a fellow ECOWAS country, I do not need a visa. What a relief.
So it is my turn to watch my colleagues going through the grilling of
immigration officers, while we enjoy the luxury of smoothly passing through
queue.
As we came out of the
airport and our travel agents received us with a warm African smile, they
directed us to the vehicle that will convey us to the hotel. Here comes the big
surprise. It is a kiyakiya, but certainly not like the one that uses a
screw driver as a gear-handle. This one is in a better shape.
The following day as I
came to the hotel lobby on my way to the small office our team will be using to
facilitate the event that brought us to Dakar, another surprise, one of my
wife’s friends who works for the United Nations had just finished a meeting and
was on her way to the airport. Assalamu Alaikum, I said, Wa alaikumsussalam,
“Ina wuni” (Good evening)…
“Great to see you, I
have just collected my clothes from a very good tailor here in Dakar, in fact here
is her number, you should ask her to make some for your wife”, she said,
immediately after the greeting, I nodded
in agreement, after all courtesy demands that I bring tsaraba on my return.
To be continued
22:10
25.03.1434
26.01.2014
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