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THE OLD RULE OF THUMB

There was a time when the criterion for enrolling children into school was for the hand to go across their head to touch their ear. It was deemed practical and the proper judgement for establishing a child old enough to get an education.  Many of our parents experienced this because there was no documentation regarding age/birth certificates, so the logic was to ascertain a child's age by specific abilities. Take, for instance, Diana in 1985. The education standard for getting into school was from the age of 5. Diana's mother had painted beautiful pictures of a school's appearance and said that only sensible people were considered worthy of being a part of it. All Diana wanted to do was put on the new socks and shoes her mother had purchased. Diana dreamt of reciting the greeting the night before, 'Good morning, teacher; we are happy to see you; God bless you.' And so, Diana was taken to school that morning for enrolment. 'Fine girl, raise your right hand over y...
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THE AGBO SELLER





THE AGBO SELLER

In the heart of Lagos market we find hustlers, buyers, fraudsters, beggars, alabarus (load carriers), you name them. Everyone is trying to solve a pressing need or want by hook or by crook and one of these is Olawunmi Jejeniwa the Agbo Seller (Herbal Medicine).


 “I learnt the agbo business from my late father when we were still in Ibadan; that was some 15 to 20 years ago. Being a family business, my father also learnt from his father and so the generational tree bears more fruits because already two, of my three children, are well informed about the healing business.

I survived a fire accident and I must mention that it was a terrible experience. I would have died if it wasn’t for my herbal knowledge. I knew what to apply on time and that is why you can hardly notice the burns. They are right here on my hands and even my chest (Giggles).

I do not know what or how my life would have turned out if I had not taken full interest in learning this trade. Some years ago, I went for further learning just to perfect it because my father’s and his fathers’ methods are quite mundane hence the need to bring in some modern techniques.

I am very happy today because I have people requesting my agbo from Europe and even Dubai. Soon I will travel to see some of them who have called me several time to come and visit them. If anyone had told me back in the day that agbo will take me places, I would have called them mad.

I want to advice agbo sellers like me to up their game. Learn new techniques and stop using old plastics. Your herbs cannot attract people if they look scary. Also, it is important for one to know what they really want out of life "on time." If you keep wasting time trying to find what or who you are, I’m not sure you will ever find out…”

She made me deaf to the noise of the market and blind to the crowd of people walking the streets. Even when a customer would come almost every there minutes to order for one agbo mixture or the other, she would continue telling her story:
“Iya alagbo I need one for jedi jedi (pile)”
“abeg give me one for malaria”
“E be like say typhoid wan kill my enemy abeg help me with something sharp sharp”
“my thing no gree work well wetin make I take so dis night go sweet well well?”
“my dandruff no gree go all these years abeg help me”
And the requests would go on and on and on with Olawunmi not hesitating to deliver solutions right away. She was the doctor in Lagos’ emergency room.
When she handed me her complimentary card, I knew she was the best agbo seller I had ever come across… If you are a Lagos shopper, don’t hesitiate to visit Olawunmi’s Agbo shop (9, Sanusi Olusi Street, Oke-Arin Lagos). She is even on Facebook!

A Shared experience
Don't Forget to Be Honest!

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