Getting "Initiated" As a Teenager

The first time I heard about the word initiation was in primary school. When we were talking about some Nigerian horror movie we weren’t supposed to watch. The ones that had “cultists” who pillaged and plundered students in Universities. Or the ones that involved a coven of witches that took pleasure in switching wombs and tying husbands to spiritual wives.

From these movies I learnt that initiation was a nightly activity that involved drinking of blood, sacrifice, and seemingly endless beating. So you can imagine my confusion when I discovered that this word was deep rooted in the vocabulary of my glorious secondary school. Like, Explain to me why something called “initiation night" exists in my school.

I’m not sure how it was done in other boarding schools but in some private schools I knew off, prefects were selected completely based on merit, mostly judged by intellectual abilities. In command, it was different. To become a prefect, your brain alone couldn’t save “la cram, la pour” no go work.

You needed to plan it— and it starts in your SS1 3rd term. By then, the SS3 prefects would be too busy with the tons of exams they have to write so acting prefects will be selected from SS2 committees… hold that thought.

For every prefect position, there was a “committee”. This committee is a group of people who take on the responsibilities of the prefect role they are vying for. They are like the brawn and pretty pawns of the perfect roles.

For example, “Food Prefect”. The food prefect and their assistants are responsible for managing food related activities in the school as it connects with students. They are responsible for organising the entire school students to get meals by ensuring there’s order. The kitchen makes sure food is prepared and food prefects make sure food is delivered to all.

Now the committee would often consist of about 20 -30 SS2 students who would be responsible for actually doing the organising. They would be the ones to make sure students are separated according to classes. They decide what class of students go to which dining hall. They make secure every table gets food. They also make sure each table has the right number of people. And yes, they flog you for not having cutleries. Sometimes, they serve you tea and bread and if they like you they will give you extra tea or bread….

Now, why would anyone take on this kind of extra responsibility?? It is because it comes with its perks. They get extra food (sometimes). They get to be more revered, they sometimes miss classes under the guise of “food committee”. They gain fame too, and they get to become prefects if they play their cards right. Also, which might seem unethical, becoming a prefect or being part of a prestigious committee like the food committee or labour force, puts you in a position of power, which makes you more desired as “school- father” or school-mother by parents.

A bonus reason for wanting to become prefect is that we were somehow convinced that becoming a prefect could make university admissions easier or make you more qualified for a job in the faraway future.

So how does “initiation night” come in, in all of this?

To become a member of any prefect committee, there were requirements you needed to fulfil. First, you need to enlist by the manner of buying a form or simply adding your name to a “list”. After that, you immediately begin activities in the dining hall (in the cast food committee). Next, you must survive “Initiation Night” and then, you “settle” the acting prefects. After that, you may then be well recognised as a food committee.

A better term that best describes initiation night was “grilling night”, because that's pretty much what it was– you were to be grilled like suya. It was a night where many forms of physical bullying were permitted and there seemed to be no limit to what could be done to you.

It would often begin after lunch on a saturday. You would be required to present yourself at a location. It would start slow. You would be asked to begin punishments like, laying down flat on the floor, or “press up”

. For guys they might be asked to “plant” or “hang”. You would be in this position for hours and whoever “gives up” becomes evicted. You would then move to punishments like “frog jumping", “pick-pin” and the dreadest of them all “ogogoro”. About 10 - 15 minutes before dinner preparation, you would be released to go and do your duties. You will be instructed to return after night prep. That’s where the real business goes down.. Phew

After night prep, you are to immediately present yourself at someone’s lawn. A specific number limit might be set. Say, if you are the 31st person to arrive, you are out. So, yeah, after night prep, every food committee member will race to their graves lol. That’s when the sticks come in. every previous food committee member; from the previous set, would start to mend you. They would arm themselves with sticks, belts, horsewhip, you name it. "Naso body go dey pepper them."

Then they start, you could have 3 people beating you at the same time, as . Then they ask you to roll on the floor and water will be poured on you as you roll.. On your wet skin, they will land those weapons on you– you would be asked to frog jump round the quadrangle, while getting flogged. Afterwards, another round of ogogoro will be served, Just to get you to give up. This would go on for hourssssss. By morning, only a few people will be left and those one would move into the next step.

This was what initiation night was.. “Getting grilled like suya”

Having mentioned the “benefits” attached to prefectship, was going through initiation night worth it?

There were many opinions as to why initiation night was necessary

• To reduce the number of people that wanted to become committees, cos often times too many people would sign up
• So only the toughest of the toughest would join the committees
• To eliminate the chaff

To me, they all sound stupid. After all this, you would still be asked to pay all sorts of ridiculous fees.

It is what it was… command of the early 2000s was definitely not for the weak at… it was already hard enough and trying to become a prefect created its own kind of experience.

Did you experience something similar? tell us in the comment section.

Glossary

• Hang: Attempt a handstand then place your legs against a wall, straighten your back till you are in a slanted position..
• Ogogoro: Go down to a “pick-pin” position, place both legs on the floor and start turning around on that spot. Your finger mustn't leave that spot.
• Pick-pin: AKA “stood down”.. Bend down to pick a pin with one finger, raise one leg behind you and remain in that position.
• Plant: go down in a “press up” position, now place the crown of your head on the floor, your hands crossed behind your back, remain that way.
• Press up: Go down in a Push up position, straighten your arms, now bring your arms close to your feet till you are in an inverted “V” position. Your knees must be straight at all times.