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A MIRROR OF HOPE

You forcefully open the double doors to your room to see your reflection in the large spotless mirror staring at you, as you try to avoid the Master. Your image kills the mustard seed of hope you have been trying to nurture – your eyes exhausted from too many tears. Your lips are chapped, and the glory of your skin is in the past - your beautiful skin as your mother would remark. You wonder if it’s because of its fairness or the hairless sight of it, or the chubby feeling when touched. And then you reckon the eyes of your mother are not yours. Your beauty lies in your freedom, you think to yourself. You affirm that you don’t belong here, not in this castle with grey walls, lofty ceilings, and heavy brown curtains. Not viewing ancient paintings of wars. Not on a bed for a crowd and certainly not wearing these expensive clothes too pure to smear. You recall the first day of your arrival at your new home. You were greeted by a servant who avoided your eyes as he bowed his head and sai...
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THE AGBO SELLER





THE AGBO SELLER

In the heart of Lagos market we find hustlers, buyers, fraudsters, beggars, alabarus (load carriers), you name them. Everyone is trying to solve a pressing need or want by hook or by crook and one of these is Olawunmi Jejeniwa the Agbo Seller (Herbal Medicine).


 “I learnt the agbo business from my late father when we were still in Ibadan; that was some 15 to 20 years ago. Being a family business, my father also learnt from his father and so the generational tree bears more fruits because already two, of my three children, are well informed about the healing business.

I survived a fire accident and I must mention that it was a terrible experience. I would have died if it wasn’t for my herbal knowledge. I knew what to apply on time and that is why you can hardly notice the burns. They are right here on my hands and even my chest (Giggles).

I do not know what or how my life would have turned out if I had not taken full interest in learning this trade. Some years ago, I went for further learning just to perfect it because my father’s and his fathers’ methods are quite mundane hence the need to bring in some modern techniques.

I am very happy today because I have people requesting my agbo from Europe and even Dubai. Soon I will travel to see some of them who have called me several time to come and visit them. If anyone had told me back in the day that agbo will take me places, I would have called them mad.

I want to advice agbo sellers like me to up their game. Learn new techniques and stop using old plastics. Your herbs cannot attract people if they look scary. Also, it is important for one to know what they really want out of life "on time." If you keep wasting time trying to find what or who you are, I’m not sure you will ever find out…”

She made me deaf to the noise of the market and blind to the crowd of people walking the streets. Even when a customer would come almost every there minutes to order for one agbo mixture or the other, she would continue telling her story:
“Iya alagbo I need one for jedi jedi (pile)”
“abeg give me one for malaria”
“E be like say typhoid wan kill my enemy abeg help me with something sharp sharp”
“my thing no gree work well wetin make I take so dis night go sweet well well?”
“my dandruff no gree go all these years abeg help me”
And the requests would go on and on and on with Olawunmi not hesitating to deliver solutions right away. She was the doctor in Lagos’ emergency room.
When she handed me her complimentary card, I knew she was the best agbo seller I had ever come across… If you are a Lagos shopper, don’t hesitiate to visit Olawunmi’s Agbo shop (9, Sanusi Olusi Street, Oke-Arin Lagos). She is even on Facebook!

A Shared experience
Don't Forget to Be Honest!

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