SONGS ABOUT SURULERE

“I think you should leave Surulere.” She replied.

“Will you miss me?” I asked (as a joke of course — to lighten the mood and nothing else).

Jenue

“No.”

Her face fell and I realised quickly that she didn’t understand that I didn’t mean ‘no’ as in ‘no, I won’t miss you.’ I meant no as in ‘no. I constantly miss you. When you’re away from me all the laws of physics that already make no sense make even less sense. Distance isn’t relative. You could be anywhere in the world and if it wasn’t next to me, on this roof… I’d miss you.’ But she didn’t ask to hear that and things always sounded better in my head than I can put into words anyway. Still, I corrected myself.

“It’s just Ajah.” I said and her face lifted slightly.

“Exactly. Who writes songs about Ajah?” She sneered.

I laughed. I had to. Itara is a menace and a half.

“Is it by song?”

“Yes o. There has to be something in a place for someone to want to write about it.”

If I had to write about Surulere I’d probably come up blank. Not only because I’m not much of a words person but also because, generally, there isn’t much to tell. Everyday pretty much looks the same.

1. Wake up at ungodly hours- my dad handles…