Pulse logo
Pulse Region

Timi's suicide

In our culture, families of the deceased were basically ostracized and we were raised to believe that “there is no forgiveness” for this act .

Chinua Achebe’s “things fall apart “ was one of the literature books in secondary school, from the late 70’s.

Okonkwo.

The way the author weaved the story, it wouldn’t take long before you get sucked into the “Umofia Clan’. I doubt that anyone can read that book without falling in love with the personality of Okonkwo ; one couldn’t call him “Mr Nice guy “ , but most of us saw portions and various degrees of our fathers in him .Yes we could relate.

Towards the end of the Novel, we get to the part where Okonkwo committedsuicide, and as was the tradition had to be buried in the “evil forest “.

Suicide is not an option?

In those days suicide was not an option. I think it is safe to say that way back then , it was regarded a “western culture”, it just wasn’t an act to be involved with , in our culture, families of the deceased were basically ostracized and we were raised to believe that “there is no forgiveness” for this act. Whether this had an effect on the number of suicidal attempts is highly debatable.

It is difficult to say much about the rise of suicide cases for two main reasons; firstly we don’t have adequate data to give us an idea about suicide rates in the past. Secondly our culture will prevent most people from reporting suicide cases therefore the data, if available lacks credibility. Without doubt the age of technology that we find ourselves in, enables the quick dissemination of information; this was not available a few decades ago, and might be responsible for the increase in awareness of such incidences. This view as I mentioned earlier is subject to debate.

Read : 'Snake in the Monkey shadow': I cry for my country, my beloved.

Timilehin's Story.

Timileyin was what you would call an average person. Neither tall nor short, fat nor thin, not dark but one won’t call him fair either. He wasn’t even the average Yorùbá guy. His father is from Oyo state and his mum, Kanuri, from the far North of Nigeria. It sounds like a person living between the pages of a storybook but Timi was from a stable home,yes,his parents loved each other. You see,they had been through a lot because of tribal and religious differences. I believe those issues only made their resolve stronger. Timi was the only child and his mum a “house wife”, for reasons best known to her.

Academically Timi was ..well…above average. He was studious and did all he could to keep his grades up. As is the family custom, he shared the news of his admission into a prestigious university in the country, at the family breakfast table. He was excited about it, he knew that he had worked hard, but he wasn’t really expecting this at all!

Mrs Hadiza Akande , his mum,said that they were all happy about it. They both went shopping that day, because dad had generously made funds available for his “undergraduate” son. They got back home just in time for her to prepare dinner. They all sat together for dinner, as is the custom ..( breakfast and dinner time is family time at the Akandes’)

Read: Addicted Part i

The next day, Timi’s parents sat at breakfast, waiting for him. He didn’t show up, so Hadiza went up to his room. After several knocks and no response, she proceeded to open the door, which was locked, of course. Hadiza panicked and kept banging at the door.

Segun,on hearing Hadiza’s scream, ran up as well and was able to force open the door.

Timi was lying down seemingly lifeless on the floor. There was a note stuck on the dressing table mirror.

Hadiza stared at her son, at her husband who was making calls, at the note on the mirror, and then there was blackness.

Read: Addicted Part ii.

Written by Auntybspeaks.com gud to talk

Bo Adesoye is a Pharmacist turned Children’s Counselor and Educationist. She writes blogs on “issues of concern “ and runs the Auntyb Facebook page and a website auntybspeaks.com

Subscribe to receive daily news updates.

Next Article