15 An Acquaintance

*Trigger warning: matured and disturbing content. (Reader's discretion is advised)

Ramses naturally began to spend more time with uncle Travis. Not really because of the ties he had with his mother but for him, it just felt right. Uncle Travis always had an answer to every question he asked. If he didn't he found it.

"My mother thinks it's a good idea that as I familiarise myself with my environment, you are my guide," he said to uncle Travis.

Uncle Travis frowned. It was either the had audacity or she just wanted to.... Aha! He knows her better than that. She is not one to toy with his emotions, especially when he is displeased. This case seemed unique anyway because Sheila ordinarily does not keep secrets from him.

Even if she wanted to, she didn't have the capacity. Except, except she has changed???

When, how and how come he didn't notice?

"Uncle Travis I sincerely apologize for the scenario at the eatry. My mother didn't know I was coming. She told me a lot about you in our previous discussions and promised to introduce us. ..", Rameses's said. Uncle Travis noticed he paused and was looking at him. He heaved heavily.

Why would she tell a person about him, and not tell him about her son? Weird and not too convincing. How could he tell if the gentleman was only trying to stand up for his mother and foster peace? He seemed a well-meaning individual but how could he tell.

Uncle Travis scanned him with his eyes from top to bottom, as if searching for guile.

Not sure what to make of it, uncle Travis simply smiled. Aunt Sheila maybe tried to make them bond, but she sure knew better. Ramses wished there was a way he could restore the warmth and affection between the two.

He wasn't sure how to go about it. There is a lot to learn. He knew. There is such a limited amount of time to learn it. Sheila might be seeking to call a truce. He could only play along and find out sooner than later. Uncle Travis decided after thinking critically.

"I am ever ready to help" uncle Travis offered with a smile."

"Thank you, sir"

"You are welcome. What would you like to learn about today?"

"The history of our people"

"We are Ekoi people. We are also referred to as Ejagham people from the Bantoid ethnic group.

"Bantoid?"

"Yes. It's inclusive of Bantu languages as well"

"Wow"

"We are occupants of the extreme south of Nigeria and the Southwestern region of Cameroon.

"We own the main Ekoid language as well as other Ekoid languages"

"Okay"

"We are from Ekparabong as I said earlier"

"Exp-ara-bong" Ramses laughed. "I used to call it Akparabong" Ogar laughed out even louder.

a"Precisely. Eka-ra-bong" uncle Travis replied. Ramses caught Ogar laughing hysterically. We were predominantly hunters and our women are farmers. Now that western education is available, a lot of us have explored it"

Ramses nodded his head.

"We also engage in the art of sculpture and poetry"

"Oh, I see why my mum is excellent at writing poetry"

"She sure is"

"True sir. You would know" the two men laughed. Ramses was happy to see uncle Travis smile at the mention of his mother's name. There is hope. He still had feelings for her. They were running deep, he could tell. There's hope. Things are looking up.

"There are these monoliths that are situated at strategic points at Alok, Ikom local government, where we are from. They are now a tourist attraction.

"Monoliths?"

"Yes. About three hundred of them. They are stones that had stylised faces and inscriptions on them. In those days when an important person dies or when we want to offer sacrifices, we go to those monoliths. "

Also, they are painted in bright colours when we have festivals"

"Wow. This is interesting. Who are those who carved them out?"

"Well, all I can say is that they are volcanic stone monoliths discovered many years ago."

"What do the inscription on the stones say?"

"Well, they have not been deciphered yet." There was silence Ramses was staring into space. Ogar wondered what was going through his mind. He smiled.

"You see, speaking of the sculpture we have our artworks scattered all over the world."

"I read that up some time ago on the internet. According to research, many of them are being displayed in museums in Cuba, Sao Paulo, Brasil and British museums in Britain."

"Sure, sure. You see our people were taken away as slaves to Cuba." Uncle Travis added.

Rameses frowned in confusion. Uncle Travis perceived he might not have understood him.

"Cuba was also involved in this genocide. Even after the slave trade had been abolished, Cuba continued to ship Africans to Cuban plantations", uncle Travis added.

Ramses nodded. His head was bowed down.

"Is Anything the matter?", uncle Travis inquired

"Well, I get emotional whenever I think of it. Sex slavery, forced marriages, forced mating among our people, selling of children from such unions, forcing our women to be wet nurses to their kids while their babies were not breastfed, forcing our brothers to fight themselves to death in a ring, forcing our while the slave masters watched for sports..." Ramses said, his voice cracking.

Ogar could feel some pain building in him as well.

"I am sorry I have to use the restroom" Ramses excused himself.

"It's okay. Go ahead" Uncle Travis said.

Ogar and uncle Travis exchanged glances. Ogar knew about the white slave trade and he knew about the Arabian slave trade as well between the 8th and 19th century this occurred and of course, the blacks were taken as slaves. A few days ago he watched the news about Saheed Aubree, a black boy shot while jogging, by a white neighbour and his son. He had no weapon on him but he was shot severally.

Two weeks back he overheard a lady on the radio being interviewed. She had been one of those who had gone to find greener pastures, in Lebanon but had been exposed to unfavourable working conditions, by her boss. She had starved and assaulted, harassed and hurt. She cried out for help and was lucky to have been rescheduled and brought home to her home country where she was receiving treatment.

Ogar heaved a burdened sigh as he rose to his feet.

"Uncle I need to get something I will be back" uncle Travis nodded as he disappeared in the same direction as Ramses had gone. Ogar arrived in the sitting room a few minutes later. Ramses joined them almost immediately. He sat where he had been sitting before he left.

He stared into space. Uncle Travis looked at him briefly and then he looked away. He looked in the direction of Ogar and saw him writing.

"I could not bear to think about it. You know I watched a few clips at the Calabar museum. I saw what seemed to have transpired"

"It's okay" uncle Travis responded. "Did you get to the spot where the slaves were taken to the ship? The point of no return?"

Ramses shook his head. "There was no time to visit" he replied.

"Oh," uncle Travis replied.

"I will be on my way. You have been of great assistance sir. Thank you so much"

"You are leaving?"

"Yes, Rameses, Rameses continued" It is almost time for dinner"

"It was great spending time here"

"You are welcome to come at any time"

"Thank you sir" Ramses gave uncle Travis a firm handshake.

"Ogar go and open the door" uncle Travis began.

No response.

"Ogar opens the door Ramses is leaving.

Still no response.

"Ogar, am I not talking to you?" Uncle Travis asked with a stern look on his face as he approached his nephew who sat there writing.

"Everyone I will be opening the doors and doing some all the chores... It's only cooking and laundry I don't do in this house" Ogar mumbled.

"What did you say?" Uncle Travis inquired

Ogar jumped up before his uncle could reach him and ran in the direction of the door.

Uncle Travis picked up the paper on the table. "What are you writing sef?"(what are you even writing)

His mouth remained agape as he read the poem:

BOUNTY

I am bounty.

Yes, I am.

This is not by choice.

I have been involved in a contract

I did not sign.

Yes.

I am bounty.

Over the ages,

The hunters

Have sought to hunt

For my kind.

I began to walk with caution

The moment I arrived on earth.

I accepted this

When I looked in the mirror

And saw my afro black hair

I sang this song

When I saw my ebony black skin.

I danced this dance

When I heard That held my forefathers, could tame a lion.

Were they not human enough?

I wonder sometimes

Did they have tails?

I search history books to find out.

Did they have fur?

I am bounty

As I look out for myself

I look out for the hunters too."