Oyibo and excitement

As a white person (an Oyibo) I am quite an attraction for the people of Ilorin. The kids in the streets are still going crazy every time they see a white person. When I walk through the neighbourhood I constantly hear children shouting Oyibo! Oyibo! Sometimes you don’t even see them, but they see me! It feels like being the queen, you just wave to everyone.



My new haircut

Recently I had my hair cut at the neighbour’s house. This was the event of the year for all of them I think. Before she started there were five adults and about fifteen little girls, all touching my hair and saying that my hair is so soft and straight. Then the neighbour started cutting and all the little ones were just watching, holding the hair that was falling down. They were extremely excited, an Oyibo in our house!

This weekend I (finally) bought a bicycle. Might be very Dutch, but I love the idea of freedom the bike gives me. For the first time in my life I now own a kind of mountain bike. Something different from my ‘omafiets’ back in the Netherlands! But Ilorin is pretty hilly, so this bike seems to be fine. Even the gears are functioning.



There is water!

As an Oyibo I am an attraction. But an Oyibo on a bicycle, that’s even a bigger attraction! I am afraid the number of traffic accidents in Ilorin might rise in the next few weeks. So many motor bikers and drivers don’t pay attention to the road because they are looking (or better, staring) at me.  

For Nigerians, a biking Oyibo seems to be the most exciting thing ever. For me, different things are becoming exciting. For example; having power for a few hours after each other, or the possibility to take a real shower (don’t even think about a hot shower) instead of a bucket shower. You learn to value the small things overhere!