Found Treasure

“I went on an adventure once and was privileged to meet an old woman on that journey. This woman shaped my life and my perspective on living”

Grandmama speak softly but slow as she tells us a tale of her youth. My three siblings and I gathered at her feet and listened intently. Adesewa, the youngest sibling, had her head on her lap and Grandmama lovingly traced the paths of her cornrows as she gazed far away.

December visits were my favorite time in the village. The people were friendlier, and the festive atmosphere is charged and children, in general, are allowed to run free. Grandmama is among the few older generations who loves telling stories under the canopy of the bright moon and harmonizing crickets. But tonight’s different, Grandmama is telling a story about her youthful self, and it is hard to associate her with being energetic and adventurous.

A sharp pain in my ribs jolted me out of my head and my guilty twin cradled her elbow in pain.

“Taye is never patient with beginnings. Too smart for that.” mocked Adesanya, our only brother and the middle child.

“I didn’t ask you to be slow, did I?”

I retorted back and a squabbling ensued and took a bit of Grandma’s breath to get us settled back and into the story.

“Two of my cousins in university were visiting for the holiday and talked about the road trip they had planned out with friends. They had heard about the oldest woman in a particular village who is the last surviving family of an infamous man rumored to have been a pirate and had hidden gold treasure.”

“Grandma, what is a pirate?” Adesewa lifted her head to ask and before Grandma would say anything, Kehinde proudly chipped in.

“Not what, but who? Pirates are sea travelers who loots and steal valuables from cargo vessels on the sea”

“I did not know Africans had pirates too. I have read about them in foreign countries.” added Adesanya

“Well, I am sure there are pirates as of today and it is safe to assume that where there is sea, there’s always piracy. This man worked on sea during the slave trade and colonial trade period and people thought he pirated with some men. I never formed my opinion on that.”

Grandmama is always like that. She would never form an opinion about anything she has no facts on and sometimes, my mother said she was not a good gossip. My mother loves a good old gossip and whenever she is in the village, she always wants deet on other people. Grandma never fails to disappoint in that area. She is a queen of minding her business and attributes her healthy life to that.

Grandmama continue the story and I could not help but imagine myself in her place as she sneaked off on her first adventure.

I sat down in the bus, early that fateful morning and I felt chill rundown my spine. I pull my shawl closer and sink my seat to avoid being spotted. I kept looking at the piece of paper in my hand and prayed that I took the correct piece off my cousin’s journal. I have never traveled alone, and I am not about to get lost doing it.

The rest of the journey was bumpy and slow after the bus pulled out of my village bus park. I tried to picture my parents' angry faces after reading the note I left on the dining table before sneaking. Death was the only thought in mind.

Grandmama had a cough fit and I rushed inside to bring her some water. We sat still and said a couple of sorry in between. Grandmama cleared her throat to continue her narration. As I looked into the twinkle in her eyes, I realized she is also living the story all over again.

The bus halted at a remarkably busy park and lot of people were moving around and haggling loudly. The driver alighted to open the bus and help some of the passengers offload their luggage. I moved to the closest person to me and asked if we were in Owo town. He said no, this is Akure, and I should take a bus from here that is going to my destination. I looked at the piece of paper and if I am lucky, I could meet my cousins just in time at Owo. I quickly moved through the crowd to get to the next bus heading to my destination. A lot of conductors kept trying to drag me towards their buses and I had to spent precious seconds getting away from their grasps. I finally found a bus heading to Owo, and I was the last passenger to get on. Luck is on my side. I quickly settled in, paid my fare, and bought some snacks.

The ride from Akure to Owo was smooth and fast. But here comes the problem. There is no other information on the piece of paper aside the location of a town where I am standing right now, and I cannot see anyone looking like my cousins. What if they changed their minds, or came earlier? What if I get myself kidnapped? I do not even know the name of the woman I came looking for. In my state of panic, I collided with someone and fell hard on my butt. I mumbled sorry and dusted my jeans as I got up. The young man kept asking if I was fine and I kept nodding and trying to get away, only to collide into someone else again. I lost it and burst into full blown cry. The people in that area were confused, concerned, and started asking if I was okay or lost.

“Lola?! What are you doing here and what is going on?”

“Why are you crying? Where’s auntie?”

“Femi and Dapo!!!” I screech as I rush towards and practically fell into their arms.

“I ca... came looking for yo...ou guys and the old wo...womannn.” I said in between hiccups and sniffs.

One of their friends extended a tissue paper and I gingerly accepted it to wipe my face and blow out my nose. They are waiting for more explanation as my cousins stood with hands on their hips.

“I heard Dapo talking about this trip and I wanted to also meet the woman and go on the treasure hunt you kept whispering about. I took your paper where you wrote the location and here, I am” I said as confidently as I could muster.

“So, uncle and auntie let you come alone all the way from Ogbomosho?” Femo asked, not buying into my fake bravado.

“Yes, they figured I am old enough to make this short trip if I am schooling in Ibadan soon. I am a big girl now.” Said with my chest puffed out.

The group was silent for a while and laughter bubbled out among them and two of them had the decency to look away. My cousins mocked me relentlessly and others laughed and made jokes about first-year students. I wholeheartedly accepted being the butt of their jokes if it meant not being lost in unfamiliar territory. Cabs were hailed to commute us to the woman’s family house and Femi told me they were passing the night in the town and leaving the next morning. I assured them my parents would be okay with that if I returned home safely. I made a note to make Penance next Sunday.

Our cab driver filled us up about visits they get from people who also sought the same thing as us. He believes the woman is too old to even remember her own name lately to help us with anything. I felt disappointment creeping in my being, but I shoved it down. I have come a long way to be discouraged.

We alighted at the compound and my cousins, and their friends resumed their good-natured roasts as we waited for someone to attend to us. A young girl came around, greeted us politely and offered us seats. I realized the compound is deserted and abandoned but it still had gallantry to it that speaks of riches and old glory.

We waited a bit longer before an older man approached us and we rose to greet him promptly and introduced ourselves and told our intent of visit.

“E kaabo. My name is Olugbenga and Iya Agba is my great-great-grandmother. Her birth name is Abimbola but over the years, she is commonly known as Iya Agba in the community. I am sure you are unaware, but she has been sick lately and I am afraid she might not entertain you people today. I will show you around and we have guest rooms where you can pass the night.” Mr Gbenga filled us in.

We accepted his hospitality and moved with him as we tour the house and its many rooms. He delighted us with stories he had been told about his family and the hidden treasure as well. He believed if there is any, only Iya Agba knows its location. He told us there was a bonfire night in the compound and the town orator was telling stories about the town’s history and achievements. We agreed to show up, but we wanted to explore the town square and the market before night falls. He bid us a see you soon and went back inside.

We walked in silence to the town square, only breaking it to ask for directions from passersby. The disappointment rolling off every one’s shoulders. Loud music and drum beating could be heard few feet ahead of us and few children ran past us excitedly. We quicken our pace too and almost broke into a run to see what the excitement is all about.

The village young men were putting on show of their dancing skills and the crowd are cheering, and the maidens are coyly laughing amongst themselves. The change in the atmosphere brought smiles to our face and we almost forgot about the treasure hunt.

Well, almost.

“Can’t we sneak around the house and see the woman ourselves?” the light-skinned of the group suddenly asked

“And risk killing the woman before her time” another one said with laughter in his voice.

“Ode! I meant we go to her if she cannot come to us. I did not say anything about drastic measures”

“Let us just enjoy the rest of the evening and go back to the house. Who knows what we might learn at the bonfire.” Femi reasoned

We enjoyed the rest of the evening in the town square and eating street foods. We stopped at the village river to dip our feet in the cool evening water and just serenade ourselves with the environment.

On getting back to the house, young men were already spreading mats and arranging chairs in a semi- circular form and a pit is being raised as well. I separated from the group to introduce myself to a group of girls I saw chatting. They gladly accepted me and showed me to a room with bathroom. I generously washed away the day’s disappointment and filth. I changed and traced my steps back. The corridors are too many and I found myself in large room with pictures and an exceptionally large table in the middle. Some hardly visible anymore and some were recent paintings. The family must be proud of their ancestry to have such a large room dedicated to it.

“I see you found the picture room”

I jolted back and smiled guiltily at Mr Gbenga.

“I was trying to get outside from the room I was given and I ended up here. I was not snooping if that is what you think”

Mr Gbenga chuckled and beckoned me to move closer to the table. He traced each chair as he moved round it. I must have made a face because he shook his head and laughed aloud this time.

“Young children of nowadays, this is the table where great men used to sit and talk about the future and their adventures. The treasure you look for was discussed here and only this table and chairs know where the treasure came from.”

“And Iya Agba” I whispered as I stood mesmerized by the room. If only structure could tell stories.

“Iya Agba might know but she has always said her dad never told her anything about the treasure.”

“Do you believe that?”

“I believe what I see and what I see is men who built their lives and took advantage of opportunities their peers were scared of.”

I nodded to that as we exited the room to the outside world. People were already trooping in, and the quiet house is brought to life, and I could really see how it must have been when the rich Patriarch was alive.

I took a place beside my group and listened to the orator singing the oriki of the family and you should see the pride beaming on the faces of the children who were not privileged to see this wonderful time but are still a part of it. As the gathering were enraptured by the oratory prowess and palm wine flowing in their veins, I retreated to the house. I came for one purpose only and I will not give it up easily.

I knew her wing will be the most secluded place in the house, and I opened several rooms before I found hers. Though, it was slightly opened, I knocked twice before entering.

Iya Agba was sitting at the edge of her bed and looked like she was about to stand up. I rushed to help her and took a step back once she found her balance. I quickly greeted her and tried to introduce myself, but she waved her hands dismissively.

“I know why you are here, and I do not want to talk about it. I am going for a walk.”

Her fluent use of English took me by surprise, and I could not hold myself back.

“Mama, you speak English?”

“My father dined with white men for years and you think I won’t learn anything?”

She sounded offended and I politely apologized and decided to hold my tongue for the rest of the encounter. She walked slowly through a dark corridor, and I am in awe at how she does not even miss a step while I have stumbled over my feet several times with my youthful eyes.

“I ran through these corridors before the house was even completed.”

That answers my unspoken concern. We continued the rest of the walk in silence, and I looked out for her once we were outside. She had obviously taken a route outside the house without passing by the bonfire. Impressive for someone who could not remember her name.

She stopped and studied me for a while before continuing her path. I silently followed her till we reached a palm tree which had a bench underneath it. Iya Agba sat down and patted the space beside her. I took my seat, and she rested her back on the tree. I studied her face in that moment, and she looked much better than when I saw her in the room. She must have been in the room for a while, I thought.

“You are one tenacious lady, aren’t you? But you know to treat a tired old lady.”

She shoved my shoulder playfully and I cannot help but feel the strength behind it.

“How old are you, Mama?”

“Asking a woman her age, here I thought you were wise.” She scoffed

“I am…”

Iya Agba cut me off and told me to signal for me to listen. I listened but I could not hear anything but the crickets and the toads and other creeping insects.

“I don’t hear anything aside the usual sounds that we both know”

“My dad and I used to sit here, and we would listen to the night winds dancing melodiously with the branches. Then he would tell me stories about his sea voyages. Stories, no one has heard but me.”

“Tell me one or two” I said eagerly

“Of course, you want to hear about the treasure” Iya Agba said sadly

“No Mama, I want to hear about those adventures your father had. The ones you treasure dearly.”

So, that’s how Iya Agba and I spent the rest of the night. Her stories were out of the world. She painted the colonial era in another light for me and I realized truly there is two sides to every story and the era that was so badly written in history highly favored her lineage.

I learnt so much from her and I was glad I took that leap of courage to see her. I got more treasure than gold. I saw her off to her room and went off to mine. I dreamt of men commandeering some ships that doomed others and some men that brought it down.

We woke up to mourning in the house. Everyone was solemn in the town. We paid condolences to Mr Gbenga and the rest of the family and took our leave. Iya Agba had lived a long life, and we had ours to get back to. I got home and faced the consequences of my actions, but nothing could dampen on the spirit I was in. I rode on that high for most days of my life. It is the courage to always act.

“I am sharing this story with you because I want to give you that courage too. I know it is different from experiencing what I experienced but I want you to allow yourself such experiences.”

Grandmama ended the story on that note, and we took turns to appreciate her for the story. Mother was already beckoning on us to get to bed, and Grandmama shooed us away.

“Wait Grandma, did Iya Agba ever mention the treasure that night?” Adesewa asked

“No, remember Grandma didn’t want to hear that stale talk” Kehinde recalled

“I didn’t ask you nau, let Grandma speak for herself”

“Honestly, I think it was just a rumor because people couldn’t understand where all the wealth came from.” reasoned Adesanya

Grandmama chuckled softly as her grandchildren continued to squabble among themselves. Instinctively, she raised her hand to the gold necklace on her neck.

“Children, whatever is hidden is a secret and whatever is found is a treasure. Let us all have a good night; remember you are leaving tomorrow.”

©️PeeCee