By Birgitta Abimbola Heikka
My childhood memories are filled with images of him
The man who scared and delighted every child on the streets of Lagos
Dressed from head to toe in colorful, heavy brocade
He'd stomp his feet
Making the bangles on his ankles rattle.
A comical and scary figure he was
The Masquerade who made us giddy with laughter
He dances round and round in the middle of the street
Then runs towards us as we form a circle around him
Squealing with rapture, we take to our heels like frightened little hens.
To taunt him mercilessly was our greatest delight
As he turns and struts away,
We creep out from our hiding places singing:
"Egun gun iyo yo, iyo yo, iyo yo"
He pauses in his steps, then turns around and chases after us
We take to our heels once more
And so, the game starts again. And again.
Bio: Birgitta Abimbola Heikka was born to a Swedish father and a Nigerian mother in Lagos, Nigeria. Living in Nigeria as a bi-racial child gave her a unique experience. She moved to the United States in the late 1980s and has two lovely daughters. Her favorite pastime is reading.
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