Adeysi’s Long Walk to Freedom

It has been another lean month for Adeysi Kalamo, even the way he keeps checking his phone for a notification says it all. His end-of-month stipend from the volunteer work he has signed up for barely sees him through the month but the work has been a lifesaver. He had graduated from his country's public university years ago, coming out as one of the best among his course mates but things had not been as rosy after school as he had hoped. It took him two years after university to land his first job, and just when he was beginning to find some relief he fell victim to a mass lay-off at the work place. The company had to resort to that because of the harsh economic situation in the country.

Mabel, his friend and current boss at the organisation where he has been volunteering for the past months, waves at him, but after a second wave, she realises that though he seems to be looking in her direction, his mind is far away somewhere else.

‘Man Adeysi I hope you are not planning to sell us’ was her first comment accompanied by a quick laugh. Mabel is originally from the United Kingdom but

settled in Kima after resigning from a well-paying corporate job in London.

With a follow-up laughter, Adeysi retorts -
‘Even if I sell who will buy?’
‘Oh, you think so eh?… anyway I think I know what's occupying that mind’

‘And what will that be?’
‘Let me guess, something starting with the letter D’

‘Oh you mean your dog then’ (he says jokingly)

‘Come on man, stop doing that you know exactly what I mean. We both know it’s got something to do with our new volunteer from New York’

‘Sorry to disappoint you but Daisy isn't that important’

Adeysi might be saying the truth about Daisy not being the source of his thinking at that particular time but he will be lying to suggest she isn't that important to him. He wanted to make her his from the first day he set his eyes on her. He has spent late nights in bed thinking about her - how happy it will make him to be loved by a woman like her. At their last encounter while coming back from a field assignment together he got carried away at a point and asked her if she would marry him. Her uncontrolled laughter at his sincere request made him feel a little embarrassed though he joined in the laughter as well like it meant nothing. He tried explaining to her it is perfectly normal in Kima tradition for a man to propose marriage to a woman when they are not in a relationship but this just seemed to keep her laughing. Daisy, though an African American who came to Kima with one objective of reconnecting with her African roots still finds it hard to observe some of the traditions without coming off as dismissive. Concerning Adeysi's proposal, she wasn't interested. She is an attractive lady who gets a lot of attention and is therefore spoilt with choice. So though she might see him as at least okay in looks, it will be hard for him to make her ideal choice for even a relationship talk more of marriage.

Adeysi tries to change the subject of his conversation with his boss Mabel, redirecting it to a book he had borrowed from her.

‘I was thinking about the book, Mandela's book, it has been on my mind for some time.’

‘I know what you mean it really awakens something within.’

‘Yes, you know I feel the power in those words "I have walked a long walk to freedom" It keeps ringing in my mind.’

Though he just intended to change the earlier conversation with this, it was indeed something on his mind lately, this had opened up another subject that had been occupying his thoughts even before seeing the book. Which is; African liberation. Freedom. What does freedom mean? Does it mean different things to different generations? He wondered why he and many others in his generation endured such a level of hardship when the African freedom fighters had paid a heavy price for this “freedom”. What did freedom mean to their generation and what did freedom mean to his generation? He could conclude that they had done their part, which was attaining political freedom and it was up to the current generations to also do their part- attain economic freedom. Why had this alluded his country and Africa as a whole for all this while? A continent struggling with poverty, high cost of living, high youth unemployment, systemic exploitation and varied forms of economic hardships. He imagined: ‘If only we could also play our part we would be free too. If only there was something that I had to do to play my part I would do it. I would walk that long walk too if that is what it will take to experience freedom.’

The current difficulties in Adeysi's life which is common to most of his generation - the struggles, broken hopes and dreams had led him to a state of depression at one point. Just when he was at a breaking point he got an email from a Not-for-profit he had applied to for a volunteer job weeks earlier. This is how he came to join Mabel's organisation. But now he is in his last month as a volunteer there and does not know what lies for him next in his country, a low-income southern African country called Kima. He recollects a TV panellist saying the other day “Much of Africa's woes are self-inflicted how can a continent endowed with such abundant youthful human resources and natural resources still be poor”, this panellist concluded that the continent's trade with outside nations which far exceeds its own nations had to be checked - looking outside instead of within for its development which is its fundamental flaw and this is how the continent creates more opportunities for other societies instead of its own and is why it remains where it is. It was the first he had heard some facts from this panel discussion and had began to wonder how much he had learned from his university. How reasonable was it for African countries to trade and cooperate more with nations abroad than their neighbours? This brought to mind a book he had read earlier from another African freedom fighter titled Africa Must Unite. He thought the formation of the African Union had fulfilled Kwame Nkrumah's vision but the more he analysed the new information he was being exposed to, the more he concluded the union was not fulfilling its purpose. African states were failing to cooperate effectively to create opportunities for their youth and their larger economy to be competitive. These small nations largely attempt to develop alone as single states and largely fail because they are too weak to make a difference in the world. Daisy's country, America is powerful in the world because of its various states that are united. It would not have been that prosperous if its states were not together.

A recent publication he had come across gave staggering figures about how drugs are wasting away some youth in the country. This brought back memories from his days of depression - What if he had resorted to drugs as well and had perished too? What would his whole life have amounted to, a mere statistic? He felt a strong desire to do something. To make his life count for something even if it is the only thing he does. The older generation is quick to write off his generation's genuine concerns dismissing them often as lazy when it is a known fact that the older generation had life far easier in their time when there were more opportunities. He concluded the root cause of the problem his generation was grappling with had something to do with African states not doing the needful and they were actually failing them. This is also evident in the international news reports that show African youth trying to cross the desert and the sea to get to Europe illegally, resulting in many deaths. He wondered whether their action was a form of protest. His mind reverted to another news report when he saw a mass burial site of dead migrants. He said to himself we cannot be a lost generation. That night on his bed he decided to do something, to speak up about the issues confronting his generation, but it dawned on him after he had no voice. They won't listen to you even if you hold a loudspeaker at the town market square. He remembered the last time a friend tried to organise a health walk but no one showed up.

‘I would make the walk even if I was the only one standing’ that was the last thought that drifted him to sleep.

‘So you want to embark on a protest walk to Freedom Square in the capital?’ Caleb his friend quipped in a tone that made him rethink his decision a bit.

Mabel's- ‘That's brilliant!’ Was probably the response that gave him the morale he needed.

‘Man, that would be something, do you mean it? But it'll take days’

‘Yes, I have thought it through and I think it has to be done’

Over the coming days, Mabel, a gifted organiser by nature would make the arrangements her priority, planning his itinerary and other things he would hardly have thought about himself. She even donated some organisational funds to support the trip, also lending one of the organisation's vehicles which a volunteer offered to drive along as assistance to facilitate the one-man project. In Mabel’s words "This is an honourable cause and we'll be honoured to support any way we can". He wasn't comfortable with receiving the financial support but it became clear to him he’ll need it for shelter at night on this mission. Mabel had also started spreading the news of his upcoming protest walk to her friends. The following day Adeysi drafted the petition of his one-man protest intended to be submitted to the foreign ministry office with the hope of being forwarded to the AU headquarters. The letter highlighted the struggles of the African youth and a call to action for enhanced cooperation amongst African states to lay the grounds for a better life for the African youth. The protest walk was also dedicated to the young Africans who had lost their lives attempting to reach Europe through dangerous routes. He planned to end his 100km walk at the capital's Freedom Square, a monument erected in honour of his country's political independence.

It is a night to the start of his protest walk and he cannot sleep. He begins to wonder if all this wasn't a big mistake on his part. He has never walked as far as 10km in his life, how then can he think of pulling this off? All these thoughts were compounded by a social media post from an acquaintance of Caleb - a wannabe blogger in the district making fun of his "ridiculous" protest walk and it had generated discouraging comments too from fellow youth who mocked his upcoming attempt.

What have I gotten myself into? After several attempts, he finally fell asleep and before he knew it, it was daytime. That morning he did not know how he mastered courage with the conviction to go on. It felt as if all the fears had gone with the night. He arrived at the office on time where he met a small group of well-wishers courtesy of Mabel. She had also surprised him by branding the pickup with bold stickers that read: Adeysi's Long Walk to Freedom. Jonas the designated driver for the walk was all set and busy making some calls. He was also surprised to hear Daisy had also volunteered to come along. Her adventurous nature had found it interesting to go along though not on foot as Adeysi, but in the comfort of the vehicle in discovering other settlements on the way and where they would be camping for the night.

Minutes become hours after setting off and before Adeysi knows he has completed the first day of the walk, he catches up with the pickup at the scheduled guest house where they are supposed to be spending the first night. Jonas after catching sight of him entering the compound can't help but burst out in uncontrollable laughter obviously he has been suppressing all this while. Adeysi tries to ask him what's the matter but the man's laughter is so infectious he can't help but join in the laughter too. Adeysi realising he has expended too much energy in the day to afford another exhausting exercise of the ribs lies down flat on the ground while at it. Daisy appears at the scene, mistakes it for him running out of air and calls out for help. Adeysi too tired to quickly dismiss the false alarm wasn’t quick enough either to dodge the bucket of water thrown on him by the guest house attendant in the attempt to resuscitate him.

Later that night at the guest house bar, Jonas would ask Adeysi what makes people like him do what they do. Daisy ceasing that moment would make a quick toast to Adeysi's Walk: ‘May the world never run out of people like Adeysi who do what they do’

The following morning Adeysi wakes up with some pain apparently from the previous day's walk. Feeling tired still after the long night's rest. He gets to the shower for a hot bath that seems to offer some relief and heads out for breakfast with his team. After, he prepares to set off on the next round.

‘We'll meet at the next scheduled point, and remember you don't have to do this if you start feeling unwell’

‘But I have to, you know’ (laughs)

Adeysi decided to start slow today, the other day he started too fast and got tired early so he plans to take it easy this time at his own pace - no pressure. Along the way, he notices the pain declining and before he knows it he is no more conscious of it. It is not as if it was entirely gone but he just learned to cope. His mind drifted to his life journey and its earlier promise, the things he had hoped to achieve but now seem elusive. He felt the burden of the disappointments now more than any physical strain he was feeling. He wiped his face after a bead of sweat had just dripped on the left eye, hoping it would not be mistaken for tears by any passer-by.

I am here now and this I’ll see through.

At a point, he begins to wonder whether he had subconsciously decided to embark on the protest walk as a means of punishing himself or proving something to himself or whether it was his way of protesting a system beyond his control that had deprived him of fulfilment in life so far. His mind begins to picture young Africans just like him who risk their lives to cross a dreadful desert so they can have a chance at a better life. He says to himself "If they can do that I can equally do this. This is for them, it is for all of us, they have to hear us".

It occurs to him he has almost arrived at the scheduled point. He is surprised to find out he has been walking for hours. As he draws nearer he sees a cluster of the inhabitants of that settlement close to the pickup, he keeps wondering if everything is alright with Daisy and Jonas. He was anxious to get there faster but could only go at his current pace. Not long after, he finds himself in that group and he is in the midst of a happy crowd of people. He is receiving a hero's welcome from the inhabitants of this settlement and some are singing alongside - there's so much joy and genuine love in the atmosphere. This had been arranged by Jonas who seems to have some connection with the place. This meant so much to Adeysi, it was more than anything he had ever experienced. He could not tell if they understood his action but their embrace and merriment were a great assurance and enough to sustain him for another day's journey. In that happy moment, his eyes met Daisy's while she was grooving to the rhythms of traditional African music. Amidst the drumming and dancing, he whispers to her ‘Remember this when you go back’

He decides he'll get up earlier the next day about 4 am in the morning to start at a time well ahead before the scorching bright African sun comes up. His team agrees with the arrangement. Daisy had repeated her earlier caution and he retorted teasingly 'Even if I don't feel like going on you know I cannot afford to end the fun now for you when you have just started getting into it’

‘Ha-ha and don’t you dare put it on me’

‘Oh, I can see you are having the time of your life.’

He was right that Daisy was really finding this adventure exciting. She had begun connecting more with the continent on this trip though her mind seemed to be on other things too. While lying down on her bed she shares some of the pictures of the eventful day on her social media account.

With a sigh of contentment for such a beautiful day, Adeysi goes to sleep. He gets up as planned and feels a renewed strength to keep going no matter what.

On this day he had covered more ground than the two previous days combined. At the close of the day when they met at their next stop for the night, they all agreed he was making progress and could arrive at the capital as scheduled at the current rate.

The next day, barely an hour on the road the team catches up with him on the road, which is unusual. Daisy getting down from the car informs him she has been contacted by a TV station in the country on their way to cover their story.

‘What! How did this happen?’
‘I posted the pictures the other day and Mabel shared the post with her boyfriend. He knows someone there.’

It became clear to the group that though he wanted to make a point with the walk he wasn't prepared for that kind of attention. He still remembers some negative commenters from the wannabe blogger's post. He doesn't want any more unnecessary attention that can be generated from TV coverage. He prefers finishing his walk in peace and getting back to his community with the sense of fulfilling a promise made to himself.

‘Do I really need to speak with them? This is not about me it is about the message’.

‘They need to talk with you to hear the message, you need this to be heard.

If you really care about the message that much you have to do this!’

Adeysi contemplates: ‘Was this mainly an internal exercise all along? Something personal? A hard therapy for his inner struggles?’ Thoughts speeding in his mind but there's no going back now. Not after coming this far.

On this unusual day, the team hangs around, consistently catching up with him on the way while awaiting the arrival of the TV coverage team. They catch up with him again and this time Daisy tells him they are close by. She then hands him the petition letter which was in the car all along.

‘You just have to read it and all this is done. You don't even have to go on if you choose, because the foreign ministry would have heard your message.’

He took the letter and kept on walking.
The reporters soon arrive in their van and it is arranged he will be interviewed while making the walk. The camera and the set-up attracted some attention from that vicinity, some young ones were following them closely behind to satisfy their curiosity in turn making the walk too. Since basic schools were on vacation their number kept increasing as other children joined their friends along the way. After the interview, the reporter amused by the sight of the children who were tagging behind all along during the interview decided to engage them a little to spice up the report. Out of excitement of being recorded one kid probably eager to show off his reading skills started shouting the inscription on the pickup. The others joined him too in his venture as they chanted "Adeysi long walk to freedom" repeatedly as if in a classroom.

Adeysi and his team meet up at their scheduled spot at the close of the day recollecting the day's event. Their news report came on the evening news as expected. It was filed in the entertainment segment but they all agreed the report came out well. Despite all that earlier reaction concerning the coverage they could not help but feel a sense of fulfilment watching the report.

That evening Adeysi noticed Daisy was quite reserved, unlike her usual self but she insisted she was fine. The next day he gets up on time and starts his walk. After walking for some time he begins to feel fatigued than usual. He knows the past days stress was finally piling up but he keeps on walking, putting one foot ahead of the other. In that remarkable moment, he was gradually becoming what the reporter had said in her report- an embodiment of the hopes and struggles of the country's youth.

Hours later, the pickup pulls up by his side. Daisy can see he is tired but keeps going on with a grace that is admirable. She is moved by this perseverance and also by the nobleness of this one-man mission devoid of vain showmanship. She realizes she never really knew him all along, the real him - his pain, inner strength and unbreakable will to succeed. In that short moment, she knew him better than many others she had even known for long.

‘Hey, I wanted to tell you yesterday I have thought about it. And yes, I will marry you’.

As he watches the pickup take the lead to the next stop, he begins to wonder if he had heard her right. Gradually it begins to sink in and emotions begin to swell up from the inside in sync with the gravity of what he has just heard her say. All the love he had suppressed came rushing back with a force, giving him a strange energy to keep walking head-on.

He finally arrives at their next stop for the night and is met with excitement. An enthusiastic Daisy hugs him and breaks the news that the international press had carried his story and everyone was talking about his one-man mission, people around the world.

He could not believe what he was seeing. He had just watched another report by a global news outlet, and the climax of the news report was a rebroadcast of those young ones chanting their infectious slogan: ‘Adeysi long walk to freedom!’

This bears likeness with many other instances when things unplanned rather end up becoming focal point. He knew then he owed those children a debt of gratitude for amplifying his cause.

At their next spot, the hotel manager upon making them out hosted them for free for the night with dinner and breakfast on the house. He told them what the walk meant to him personally, to him it was more of an intellectual exercise.

On the road, Adeysi will now be consistently approached by people and some motorists honking upon seeing him. Others waved at him and cheered him on. he became used to the show of support and warmth from people he had never seen before, reminding him of the genuine love from that settlement at the early phase of the journey. On the road, it felt as if everybody wanted him to succeed and reach the finish line. The walk was no longer his alone, it was now for the people.

He was now getting close to the capital and it was obvious if he keeps the current pace in two days time he should reach and then finally make it to the Freedom Square. With this goal in sight it was easier to keep on despite any pain that comes with such a challenging physical activity.

When he finally arrived at the capital the attention from onlookers increased and it was becoming a distraction, but the Freedom Square was just close by so it wasn’t much of a bother anymore. Unknown to him Mabel’s boyfriend had organised a welcome party in coordination with the team, and was waiting at the Freedom Square. It was a sight to behold.

It was now time to move to the Foreign Affairs Ministry to submit the petition. They had heard rumours earlier of some government officials speaking out against the walk. Claiming if it was a protest then he was breaking the law by doing it without a permit from the state. He was not sure how the letter would be received, it just dawned on him he had not thought this part through. This wasn't one of those job application letters he could simply drop at the secretary's desk. They were on their way there regardless, it was decided he should go with the vehicle now since the walk was meant to end at the Freedom Square. Besides that, the crowd was swelling up and they did not want to approach the Ministry that way because it might give the wrong signal. They were already aware of the tension brewing from the government side and didn't want to ignite it. Just when the vehicle exits the entrance of the Freedom Square they are stopped by a police officer. They are then informed they are to go with the police escort to another venue. They will no longer be going to the foreign ministry as intended but to the presidential palace where they'll be hosted by the president himself.

They are met at the entrance by two high-ranking presidential staffers, one smiling excitedly and the other more reserved. Unknown to Adeysi, these two had been at the centre of a discussion with the president when he made known his intention of hosting him:

‘Your Excellency, that will be a mistake. If you do that you'll be making him a hero’

‘What else do you think he is? Do you watch the news?’ was another man’s comment.

It would have been surprising for Adeysi to know the presidential staffer with the loud smile was the one who made the first comment against having him hosted. The other presidential staffer would later point at a fact to his colleague in private:

‘How long has it been since the president got international coverage?’ This honest observation made the man understand the real motive behind the president's decision since it was obvious the international press will most likely cover that because of their keen interest in that story.

The president received them as if they were high-profile foreign dignitaries and also wearing that familiar smile for the cameras. He started off jokingly saying he would have hugged Adeysi if he wasn't sweating that much.

‘Young man you have made Kima proud and your president proud! Our nation needs such strong young men. Young people these days have become so lazy. I was hoping some would join him on his walk but none did, not even one! I was considering joining him on his last lap if there weren't other pressing issues to attend to here. My age should not deceive any of you here, I'm still as strong as an ox…’

And so Mr. President went on and on with his address which failed to highlight the actual reason for the walk. But it’s fair to say in his concluding remarks, he mentioned a phone call from the AU chairperson inviting Adeysi to deliver an address at the next African Union session in Ethiopia, calling him a champion of his generation.

On the road back home, Adeysi begins to ponder if this could actually lead to some developments in the AU that will foster progress or if nothing will come out of all this in the end - something just for show? As if Daisy could read his thoughts right then, she tells him ‘You cannot control what happens tomorrow but what matters is that you took a stand today.’

The End.
Please Note: This is a work of fiction, a product of the author’s imagination any resemblance to actual events is purely coincidental.

Dedication: For my brother Alfred Doe Agbleze.