Chapter 2: When History Dey Bite

When Seyi Akanji come backstage, e look like say e dey think plenty things.

E no even see as everywhere dey bubble. The camera lights just dey shine for him face, but e just dey waka like person wey dey find him slippers after NEPA take light. I watch am small, notice as e dey avoid my eye, dey scratch him head like person wey borrow brain.

That babe wey just rush hug am—I sabi who she be.

Na Rukayat Yusuf, the streamer wey dey trend now. Her Ankara scarf dey shine for her head, and as she dey play, you go hear her laugh pass mic like market woman wey just win awoof. Her gameplay dey always on point, dey shine for crowd, all the chat dey spam 24/7.

People dey hail am for social media like say na she be Tobi Amusan for e-sports. Her followers dey hail am with all those playful emojis, even small pikin for Oshodi sabi her name now. You go see her clips for every Naija meme page.

Last week after training, Seyi Akanji dey watch her stream as e dey chop suya for dinner.

"Wetin you dey watch?" I ask am.

Seyi Akanji just smile small. "One streamer. She sabi play well."

I just nod anyhow.

For the screen, one babe with rabbit-ear headband and school uniform just dey look her controls, focus dey her face. Sometimes, she go just drop one or two street slangs, e make her look real.

Na the kind babe wey sabi mix pop culture with local ginger, dey drop "Omo!" or "Gbese!" every now and then. You go feel say you dey watch your own sister dey win game for Cybercafe.

Even Seyi Akanji no fit hide him smile.

As I see am like that, I just look my food wey don cold, hiss small.

He hear me, sigh, drop him phone, begin chop serious.

E still get small care for me—at least, e still try.

But now, for all the wahala for backstage, e dey act like say nothing dey happen. E dey press phone, but e thumb just dey shake small.

The WhatsApp group dey roll again:

[Which kind forming the side chick dey do? She think say Seyi Akanji go still dey pamper am as before?]

[Abeg, the guy don be champion jungler for league. E fit play anywhere—why e go still dey your small Dream Force club? E funny o.]

The WhatsApp gist just dey hot like Agege bread. If person no wise, dem go use mouth wound you. I just drop my own phone for bag, no wan join their wahala.