Accra, circle episode 2 – 3

Circle, Accra!!
Chapter two (Kiosk Estate)
Femi was beginning to see Ghana from a different perspective, she thought Nigeria and Benin were the only places where 419 existed, but what she just experienced since she arrived in Ghana is just so disheartening, and anytime it hit her mind, she just let the tears flow.
The lady who hosted Femi could feel her pains; she did her best to explain certain things to her, especially concerning her stay in Ghana.
Femi: You have not told me your name yet?
Lady: Oh sorry Femi….I’m Yvette, but everyone calls me Tequila
Femi: Whaat? Tequila, how did you come by that name jorrr?
Tequila: From SHS, was my nickname, but now it’s a brand here in Circle
Femi: See ooo, you carry brand sef, heyyyy…Tequila
Tequila: Look, whoever told you it’s easy to make it here in Ghana lied to you, I have been here for the past five years, and nothing, you just have to hustle and keep the change, Ghana is not easy girl.
Femi: I no get option na, I go find work do
Tequila: Are you listening to me at all? Here, if you don’t have a certificate from a higher institution, you wouldn’t find any decent job, unless you create one yourself, or you know someone, like a politician
Femi: The same story for Naija, so what work you dey do now now
Tequila: Work? When the city sleeps, we hawk
Femi: Weytin be that one too, we hawk?
Tequila: I know a lot of girls from your place, A lot of Girls from Warri, Lagos and Abuja, I’ll take you to them so that you talk to them
Femi: Okay
The two ladies went back to the streets of circle to get some new stuff for Femi, she had some money left on her, Tequila also convinced Femi to sell her smart phone to the phone dealers, she made a good price out of it and got herself a “Yam phone”, she told her she wouldn’t need a smart phone for now.
Tequila: Smartphones are for those who have enough money, you can get a new one when you settle, and selling it will help you manage your stuff.
Femi: Okay, I see
Tequila: And as you can see, where we stay now isn’t the best place, it’s a kiosk, and the owner will be mad if he gets to know we are two in there, so I’ll talk to him and see whether he will let us stay together.
Femi: What if he no gree?
Tequila: Oh, you can manage a kiosk hostel yourself, he will come around very soon to take his money, and we pay GHS5.00 everyday
Femi: The blue one abi?
Tequila: Yeah, the blue one
Femi: Okay, then I go get one, you see, your place too small
Tequila: Okay, nice idea, but you will pay GHS30.00 in advance for your own kiosk, you can manage that
Femi knew she had no other option than to adjust into the circle life, everyone for himself/herself, the street for us all.
The kiosk keeper soon arrived for his daily cash, he was good to give out a more spacious kiosk to Femi, but the problem is, it was not made of wood (container), so it will trap heat, but that is far better than the rest, he told them the rest leak when it rains, and furthermore, it was in the rainy season, so the place wouldn’t be too hot.
Man: Buy standing fan, gimme money make I get you some
Tequila: Don’t worry, she will get it later
Man: Okay ooo, thank you for bringing me a customer, you won’t pay rent for the next three days
Tequila: I hear, thank you landlord
Man: But you have to let your Naija friend come visit me ooo
Tequila: Not now, please
Femi: Weytin he dey talk?
Tequila: Don’t mind him, just flattering
“Look, everything here is illegal, you don’t have to give money out easily, not even to me, not someone you knew earlier, this place is a kiosk estate, we have fire outbreaks every now and then, we have drug dealers here, we have thieves, armed robbers, murderers, fake pastors, rapist and what have you all leaving here, there is no single decent person living in this ghetto, we can be evicted anytime from now, so you don’t have to own a lot of luxurious stuff…and don’t look into the faces of people too….just mind your business, don’t try to settle fights even if it involves death…This is a ghetto”…Tequila warned the new horn.
Femi: You say decent person no dey live for here, what be you? You be Angel Michael or Devil inn pikin?
Tequila: I’m a hustler, just wait, you will understand everything okay
Femi: Okay ooo Madam.
The two were on their way to get some food when they met this young guys running with full flight towards them, Tequila quickly held Femi’s hand and dashed off towards the direction the guys went.
Femi: Why you dey run?
Tequila: If you hear, ”scartey”, like they are shouting now, run!
Femi: Run to where?
Tequila: To where you will be safe
Femi: But what am I running from? adey mad?
Tequila: You know, the guys here are really stubborn, especially the drug peddlers, so they always attract the police here, and the police will arrest anyone they see here
Femi: This place be Warri….Warri oooo Warri!!!
Tequila: Hahahahaaa
Femi was now a little bright now, she just needs to adopt the life hacks she mastered in Nigeria in order to survive in Ghana, Tequila had also told her, and some of the criminals and 419 guys are mostly from Nigeria, so she really has to involve Nigerian instincts here.
“And hey, I forgot to tell you this, if you buy something here and they wrap it in an envelope, walk away don’t buy or accept it, and also don’t buy any phone in a phone case, you will go home and be greeted by the sight of key soap bar instead of a phone”…Tequila said laughing.
Chapter Three (Shuga)
The city was wrapping up, everyone was trying hærd to board a trotro to his/her home, and you could hear the trotro mate shouting “Achimota, Barrier, Pokuase, Amasaman”! Others also chanted “Labadi, Ts3 Addo, Teshie, Nungua” and etc.
The normal day market was slowly making way for the black market; the black market was a place where products were sold at unusual prices or illegal prices, and also a place to sell illegal stuff.
The black market also hosted businesses like pr-stitution, which is the most lucrative kind jobs at that time in circle at night, And the most dangerous activity, Human trafficking, especially children…You could be sold right in front of you. It’s also a place for people who have no homes, Circle becomes an abode for all people who have no shelter, so ,if you happen to pass there at night time, pay attention to the number of people, both adults and children, who sleep anywhere, here in Circle.
It was the fourth day since Femi arrived in Ghana, she tried looking for job around, but there was none available, she always ends up angry due to the comments she hears about her country Nigeria, and how the guys and ladies from Nigeria involve themselves in promiscuous activities when they come to Ghana.
Tequila was more of a bat, she works only in the night, and Femi was always curious and wanted to know the kind of Business she does, and furthermore, Tequila seem to get a lot of visitors at her kiosk room, mostly from the guys around, they come and go like something, Femi wanted to ask her why she seem to be popular amongst the guys than any other girl, but kept her peace.
Femi was preparing food today, she and Tequila had started sharing the same pot since she came in, but this was the first day she decided to cook.
Tequila: What are you preparing girl?
Femi: Jollof abi
Tequila: Jollof? Which kind of Jollof?
Femi: Ah, ah? Wey kind question be this, you sabi any Jollof before again? This be original Nigerian Jollof
Tequila: Your process of preparing it is soo different from Ghana’s
Femi: Abi Ghana, you nor dey copy well well, this na original process
Tequila: Process?
Femi: Yes, straight from Warri
Tequila: That was just by the way, today I’ll be taking you along with me to my workplace, I’ll introduce you to my Madam, she has jobs available, you will see whether you will be interested
Femi: Every day you dey talk about your job, wey kind job you dey do la? You dey sell human parts or you be cocaine dealer?
Tequila: Am a bartender at a night club, at Vienna City
Femi: Bartender, oh okay
Tequila: So get ready after you finish cooking, am going to take my bath
Femi: You for hurry up come chop better Nigerian Jollof.
Vienna City is one of the most popular joint In Accra, drinks, nightclubs and stuff, Tequila knew where she was sending Femi was not the best place, but the girl must make a choice.
Tequila herself was not only a Bartender, she only acts as a bartender sometimes, she’s a pr-stitute, she’s always in high demand, she gets huge cash from her customers for her services, but she works under the eagle eyes of her mistress, who takes ninety percent of everything she earns from pr-stitution, the day she fails to bring back enough cash, she’s going to be in really deep sh*t. She was desperate to introduce Femi to her Mistress because of the status she will enjoy when she brings in a new fella into the game, it will help her enjoy an increase percentage and she will be introduce to bigger clients, like the old fellas in the game.
Tequila needed Femi to follow some strict rules when they get to the place, as they walked towards the Pub, since it’s not too far from where they live, so no need to board a vehicle.
Femi: Ehrren, so you say you go show me rules for there
Tequila: Yeah, look, when we get there, don’t talk to anyone until I tell you too, don’t even shake or mention your name to anyone, even if you know him/her, and also, look tough and stubborn. When you go to the madam I’ll be introducing you to, be good to her, and don’t challenge her, if you accept the job fine, she will let you start the job immediately, but if you are not interested, I wouldn’t know how to help you get a job again, it’s not a good job for you at all…It’s not good for anyone.
Femi: Okay, so far as eno go kill person, but go give me better money, I go take am like that
Tequila: You sure?
Femi: Ah, na you think say I dey come joke for Ghana here, watch me
The two ladies reached the entrance of the pub, and Femi began to show her wild face, she had a bubble gum in her mouth which she chewed and made noises with, just like Tequila did, and the other girls who were dressed in this sed-ctive dresses. Femi heard some ladies over the canter speaking in the Nigerian accent, this was the first time she has seen someone she believed was from Nigerian, and she was desperate to go speak to them, but the look from Tequila reminded her of the rules she had told her to follow, as they walked through the bar, some Men kept pulling Femi and calling her sugarcoated names, others looked at her sed-ctively and some ladies too licked their l-ips whiles watching her with sharp eyes. Femi was now getting a clue of where she was, she could see pole dancers who were in such a way unclad, and this ladies too who offered lap dance to some guys at another corner of the bar where the bulb was lit red.
Tequila went into the inner rooms whiles Femi waited for her in a secret place, Tequila was going to see her Madam, and she had discussed the new girl with her already.
Madam: Is she V-rgin?
Tequila: I’m not sure; I didn’t want her to get a clue of where I was bringing her, so I didn’t really ask her that.
Madam: You did well, but you are soo silly not to ask her, you know, if you get me a V-rgin, I’ll make you a Prom Queen straight forward, you decide your percentage with that status…bring her in! It’s too late for you to go ask her that, I’ll take it from here.
Tequila: But Madam, I…
Madam: Don’t be silly girl, bring her in, I’ll increase your percentage for bringing in a new girl only, you will also enjoy the Big Girl Status, but not a Prom Queen..
Tequila: Madam…
Madam: Bring her in before I change my mind…
Tequila knew very well she was about introducing her new friend to a dangerous work, she knew very well the Madam, they called her Shuga, she has many links, she knew men and who needed the services of pr-stitutes and she makes a lot of money from that, she controls almost every pr-stitute in Circle.
Tequila: Hey, she’s in,side there, she’s waiting to see you
Femi: Na, you nor go come with me?
Tequila: Nope, just tell her you are not a V-rgin, no matter what happens, tell her you are not a V-rgin, trust me.
Femi: Weytin too be this one, I be V-rgin now
Tequila: Shhhhh, just go, don’t tell her you are a V-rgin, tell her you had a boyfriend back in Nigeria and you had s€× countless times…Now go
Femi soon knocked on the door of Shuga who asked her to come in with a sed-ctive voice; Femi’s heart missed a beat.
To be continued……