1987
Aunty Folake had to relocate to Ibadan from Lagos when she got pregnant, her first very pregnancy after her wedding few months earlier.

It was obvious her mother advised her to briefly relocate to Ibadan to stay with her so she could be able to take good care of her till she delivers her first baby.
Months passed and Aunty Folake gave birth to a very handsome boy. It was a joyous moment for her family.
Her husband was called upon, he came on the day that followed, he was very happy to carry his first child.
The husband went back to Lagos on the day that followed only to come back on the eve of the naming ceremony in preparation for the christening of the child.
It was a Saturday – a C&S church was directly adjacent our house at that time in Idikan, the child’s christening took place in the church.

The boy was named ‘KOREDE’ and during the christening service, Mama-n-sọọsi, as we normally called the old woman that owned the C&S church, read a warning to the parents of the newly born child – she said the child was DADA (Dreadlock-haired) and that on NO condition must blade touch the boy’s head.
After the service, there was a lot for people to eat and drink that day – it was a huge and lavished naming ceremony as Lagos people came-in with full force to grace the occasion.
In the morning that followed, Aunty Folake needed to pack her belongings and went back to Lagos with her husband.
That was the last time we heard of her in almost four years.
1991
After about four years, Aunty Folake came to visit her mum during a long summer holiday in Ibadan, she came with her first son, Korede, who was already fully grown-up at that time.
Korede was very agile and full of love and life, he was very playful as he had quickly mingled with other little children in the neighbourhood.

In the evening, Aunty Folake took her son, Korede, to Mama-n-sọọsi in order to greet her.
It took her a little moment to introduce Korede to Mama-n-sọọsi who sat on armchair at one corner inside the church in her full priestly regalia.
Korede prostrated to greet Mama-n-sọọsi while she hugged and embraced him warmly.
Mama-n-sọọsi suddenly jerked as if she remembered something.
She asked: didn’t we warn you not to cut this boy’s hair during his naming ceremony?
Aunty Folake quickly dispelled the argument by saying her husband had shaved off Korede’s hair immediately they returned to Lagos a-week after the naming ceremony four years ago.

Mama-ń-sọọsi response was obviously cold.
She said: ó dáa kòburú o (It’s okay no problem).
That was the last night the young Korede spent alive in the land of the living.
He died in his sleep mysteriously before dawn and was buried at the foot of the long wall at the back of the house after informing his father in Lagos.
How he died, no one can explain till today.
Photo credit: everydayfeminism.com
