Typically , my life’s routine revolves around school , parties and palmwine. Allow me to elaborate; 𝗜 𝗮𝗺 𝗮 𝗱𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗙𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆, 𝗔𝗸𝘂𝗿𝗲, 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗮𝘀 𝗜𝗹𝘆𝗮 𝗢𝘆𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗸𝘂𝗻. Alongside my studies, I have ventured into the PALMWINE industry as an entrepreneur. The unifying thread among these facets of my life is my active involvement in hosting parties. Since 2013, I have consistently organized vibrant parties and events, a practice that has significantly influenced my perception of social connections and associations. This inclination towards event management motivated my decision to join the Kegite’s club, an association that resonates with my passion for social occasions. My engagement with the PALMWINE business, though a story for another occasion, I attribute to fate and the divine grace of Olodumare. Following my transformation into a karid entity, I was so excited to tinker every karid soul I met. My introduction would promptly include my identity as EmuTomiwa OguroLeke, a moniker that became instinctual.
During a vacation, my friends in Lagos sought to organise a party and sought a vendor for palmwine. Seizing the opportunity while at home during the break, I stepped up to manage the palmwine service. What began as a strategy to alleviate boredom evolved into a lucrative enterprise and a lifestyle. The pivotal turning point occurred in 2023, altering the trajectory of events… As scheduled, the event ended 3am. My friends kept urging us to head home since the location was only 20/25mins away from where we lived. At about 4am we left and headed for our neighbourhood. However, our journey was abruptly halted by the police as we approached our neighborhood. Now if you know anything about the Nigerian police, a young boy driving a car with his friends in the back seat all dressed like a bunch of Davido’s ,coming from a show definitely meant one thing and one thing alone, “YAHOO BOYS”. It didn’t matter that the car was my mum’s and that the chains were definitely not original or that our iPhones were all gotten through legitimate means. The police stuck to one decision and that was we were all internet fraudsters coming from a night of partying and spending millions on drinks and women.
Regret surged within me for complying with my friends’ suggestion to leave the venue early. The reality of facing my mother’s disappointment or my father’s reaction weighed heavily. Knowing of the police’s propensity to implicate innocent individuals, I became overwhelmed with anxiety. I was submerged by a lot of thoughts however, I kept a stoic poker face. The police asked where we were coming from and I replied from a party. We were asked to all come down for a search which we had no choice but to comply to. No one was found with drugs or any incriminating evidence. However, the unimaginable transpired: marijuana was discovered concealed beneath the car’s carpet.
I immediately went brain dead as I could not fathom how it got there in the first place. As I tried to mutter a few words of denial I was surprised with a brain damaging slap and immediately handcuffed and taken to the police car along with my friends. I knew right there that my parents would definitely kill me if the police don’t.
An inquiry regarding the contents of my trunk prompted me to respond, “palmwine kegs, sir.” The mention of palmwine kegs triggered a heartening transformation in the officer who had discovered the contraband in the car earlier. He glanced at me and quarried if I am a kegite member. Now I was completely not sure if a yes would save me or would mean that I was a cultist to them. I however said yes with a very shaky voice and tears in my eyes.
The officer’s demeanor softened, and he released me from my restraints, uttering the words that became my salvation: “Daysis to you, my brother. Walk minus stumble This is SF….”
A surge of emotion overcame me as he tinkered and embraced me whilst expressing his desire for some palmwine. I shouted at the top of my voice “you can have the entire keg sir”. He laughed and brought out a plastic bottle which I filled till it started to overflow. He collected it while saying prayers for me. I was literally shocked and still trying to understand what had just happened. How I went from handcuffs to vibrating with a police officer in pure undiluted Kegistic language was beyond me. My companions and I were subsequently released, and we departed with expressions of gratitude. Silence enveloped the journey home, and as each individual disembarked, farewells were exchanged. Arriving in my compound, I grappled with the reality of the experience.
Life as a kegite has been nothing but fun, from gyrating with like minds to getting favours from lecturers who enjoy what we do to also explaining what Kegite’s club is about to my fellow students who think it’s a cult. I would not have it any other way. It is evident Olodumare surely destined my path this way. I mean, how else do I explain that my grand father was a palmwine tapper before his death ? Or that I was named “BABATOMIWA” which translates to Father accompanied me back. Truly I can say, I was karid even before I became Karid and till LSF Jesus comes I shall continue to remain Karid.
I know you’re wondering how marijuana got into my car, well if you guessed right, the police planted it there because they felt they could extort us.
Like I always sign out to my friends and fellow comrades; Ab pourer by profession and portfolio out!
Essay written by BabaTomiwa Olufolahan Adeleke
