Unusual Residents

The semi-urban community of Moore in Ile Ife holds a special place in history

for its vibrant cultural traditions. At the heart of this community stands the

Palace of the most esteemed traditional title, drawing attention. Throughout

the year, from January to December, Moore comes alive with numerous

cultural festivals, some spanning up to three days each. These celebrations

bring people together near the Palace, where rhythmic drums accompany

dancers, offering visitors a blend of cultural engagement and the challenge of

traversing the rugged, unpaved roads.

One of these paths leads to the residence of Baale Ife - tuntun. In the

far corner of the compound stands a bungalow where Opeyemi, a

tenant, has resided for the past eleven months. Known as Ope among

his fellow Corps members, he came to Ile Ife last year as part of the

Batch B Youth Corps. Initially, the ongoing festivities were

overwhelming—the sound of native guns and the joyful shouts of

celebrants made the first three months quite challenging. However,

he can now catch up on news and watch television, while the vibrant

life outside continues. His neighbor Beke has a similar experience,

having grown accustomed to the perpetual sounds of celebration

Beke, a native fowl, has chosen the compound as her dwelling place. Throughout

Ope's residence, Beke has never strayed beyond the walls. She peacefully explores

the premises, sometimes resting in the kitchen at the rear where Ope prepares food

and stores his farm produce. Beke is not a bother; she remains calm when Ope is

around and does not rush for food scraps. She only eats at the spot where Ope leaves

leftovers for her. Beke has an unusual companion – a lizard with a half tail that stays

close to the walls. When Beke looks for food, the lizard scurries across the interlocking

floor, expecting to share a bite. Ope often notices the lizard first, perched on the wall,

before seeing Beke calmly pecking at the ground. Despite their dissimilarities, Beke

and the lizard have formed a mutual understanding. The lizard often acts as a

watchman, alerting them of activities around the Palace. Although Beke cannot see

beyond the compound, she senses when the drummers are eating or when the Oba is

making offerings – moments that the lizard detects with its head raised, listening to

the sounds of rituals. During these times, a shared apprehension unites these unlikely

companions as they wait, longing for the safe return of their caring guardian, Opey.

Recently, Ope had been returning home late, busy packing his things from his school

locker as the Federal Government's mandatory national youth service program

concluded for Batch B Corps members. That evening, as he quietly opened the gate,

being mindful of not disrupting the usual peace of the compound, he glanced up to

see the lizard in its usual spot. However, when he looked down, anticipating Beke's

customary greeting, she was nowhere to be seen. For the past few days, Beke had

been less visible, spending more time inside the kitchen and only briefly coming out

to grab a few bites before retreating again. Ope had been too focused on school and

the closing program to notice the change in her behavior.

Today, as he arranged his bags, he promised himself that he would finally go

into the kitchen with his phone’s flashlight to check on her.Just as he was

about to enter, a cockroach flew out from one of his bags and landed on the

floor between the kitchen door and the wall where the half-tailed lizard

perched. In a split second, the lizard leaped, its mouth open, and snapped up

the cockroach. But before it could retreat, Beke flew out of the kitchen with a

terrifying screech, like a mother hen defending her chicks. She pounced on

the lizard, pecking its forehead repeatedly, smashing its skull. Then, as if to

confirm its death, she tossed the lizard’s body, checked it, and with a final

squeak, lifted it, turned it head down, and swallowed it whole. Without a

glance at Ope, who stood frozen in shock, Beke ran back into the kitchen.

Standing in the doorway, Ope was frozen with shock, trying to process the recent

events. His thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of a motorcycle—the Okada rider

he had called to assist with his luggage to the motor park. Quietly passing the kitchen,

too afraid to peek inside or imagine Beke's condition, he swiftly gathered his bags and

rushed out to meet the Okada rider. 'You won't believe what I've just witnessed,

' Ope

said”, his voice trembling as he described the scene. They cautiously approached the

kitchen together, but Ope hesitated at the entrance. Using his phone's light, Femi,

The Okada rider quickly grasped the situation. The floor was strewn with skeletons and

rodent remains—Beke had created a nest in one corner, nurturing her eggs.

As they loaded the luggage onto the motorcycle, Ope noticed a red rooster flying across the lower part of the fence into the compound. 'That must be the father of Beke’s chicks,' he muttered, still in disbelief. As they rode away, he couldn’t help but wonder, what kind of neighbors are we talking about?"