I was a bright student in high school. Of the best in my class. And I loved the arts(still do). I made sure to actively participate in extra-curricular activities. Times when I didn't want to, my teachers would talk me, even force me into being a part.
Since I had attended the primary school of my high school, it was common knowledge that I did well.
Debates were an absolute love for me. You know how you shake your head from left to right, swing your hands both ways like you're doing a cultural dance and especially the signature "I hope I was able to convince and not to confuse you that.... " thingy? Touche! I loved it.
One time, when i was in jss3, there was to be an inter-schools debate among secondary schools. While we already knew some of the nearby schools that'll be participating because we had beaten them at debates before, few others, we didn't.
The most exciting thing was that stv would be the one hosting us. Who didn't want to be shown on tv? We were about seven schools in all.
We soon started mock debate among ourselves. When the time came, we went for the first stage and won. Easy stuff - Our regular customers. Second phase, semi-final, we won. We want in for the finals.
And this was the Genesis of the problem.
The topic for the final was "entrepreneurship is better than white collar jobs."
Easy yeah?
We were the opposing team. Firs of, if you had seen the kids we were up against ehn, they looked calm and soft and most were on glasses. Typical ajebutter We on tbe other hand were trenches kids...over-ajekpako. We still no send.
So, to us, the debate was between the Rick kids and the trenches kids
We went first. I was the first speaker. I started with the regular opening drama. You now haw i mean. I went ahead to oppose the motion. Talking and talking. I'll look at my teachers and team members and see them giving me the "you got this" smile. When I was done, the first person from the porsche proposing team stepped forward.
My oh my! El oh el!!!!
The very minute that this girl opened her mouth to speak, I knew it was over. While I had been saying "en-trepreneurship" this girl just came up and was saying "un-trepreneurship."
I looked at the faces of the panel and I almost died. I looked at my team members and from their faces, I knew they were as puzzled as I was. I looked at our English/phonetic teacher and this woman had the nerve to look at us like we were the ones that taught ourselves the word. Disappointment was smeared acdoss her face.
The pako in me wanted to scream at her "Anty, no de look us like that. Why you no teach us the pronunciation well? (Anty, do not look at us that way. Why did you not teach us the correct pronunciation?) "
Where I was seated, my mind was boiling. When it was time for my supporting speaker to debate, guy-man was confused. His pronunciation was as unstable as Nigeria's nepa-light.
Until he finished, our confusion was confused. The ajepako in me was thinking of a way to tell my team members to join hands so we can deal with the ajebo kids. They no look strong like that
Las Las, when i was called upon to give the closing argument, I just spent my two minutes thanking God, the president of Nigerian and his amiable wife, state governors, local government officials, school board,..etc. The thanks reach everybody. Even you, I know the thanks reached you somehow. Don't blame me. If na you, wetin you for do?
Very nonsense debate. If I tell you the scores...hmm. Annoying enough, the only thing they said was 'entrepreneurship.'
After that day, me and debate no de see eye-to-eye. Because of small phonetics. I did not cry Sha. You see that word, till date, it gives me PTSD.
SMH!
I hope this made you laugh.
Thanks for stopping by.