Sarah Ladipo Manyika

o serve younger British men who knew so little yet felt naturally entitled to power.

Uncle Kayode was a big man in Lagos, recently returned from abroad as a senior army officer. Maids cooked for him, and large fans hung from the ceilings, whirling at high speed to keep the house cool. Tayo had never seen anything like it before.

The tutors look more distinguished, but many are surprisingly ignorant about Africa.

The independence celebrations (three years of independence now!) were quite fantastic.

always remember that you are an Ajayi man. Don’t forget the Ajayi motto – In all things moderation, with exception of study.

Mr and Mrs Barker

ayo felt disappointed that they had to mingle outside rather than inside where it was warmer, but it seemed to Tayo that this was the British way. People spent all day talking about the weather, complaining about how cold, damp and miserable it was until the sun poked its head around the clouds and then everyone cheered up and started talking about lovely weather.

September 1963

One could begin with the dust, the heat and the purple bougainvillea. One might even begin with the smell of rotting mangos tossed by the side of the road where flies hummed and green-bellied lizards bobbed their orange heads while loitering in the sun. But why start there when Tayo walked in silence, oblivious to his surroundings. With a smile on his face he thought of the night before when he had dared to run a hand beneath the folds of Modupe’s wrapper. Miraculously, without him even asking, Modupe had loosened the cloth around her

They are duly impressed. In your next letter, you will please apprise me of the precise names of these gentlemen so that I can provide complete statistics to colleagues and Uncle Kayode.

Don’t forget the Ajayi motto – In all things moderation, with exception of study.