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A Safe Indiscretion Sefi Atta She is heady from the Cointreau, but more so from the thought of having a safe indiscretion. She calls Wale when she gets back to the Hilton in Abuja. He doesn‘t answer his phone and she doesn‘t leave a message after his recorded greeting, which ends with him saying, ―Shalom.‖ She is walking into the bathroom when her cell phone rings and she runs out. She sees Wale‘s number and takes a breath before she answers. ―Hello?‖ He sounds angry. ―Did you just call my number?‖ ―It‘s Adeola Bello.‖ ―Hey! You‘re in town?‖ ―Yes.‖ ―I thought someone was flashing me again.‖ ―Flashing?‖ ―You‘ve haven‘t heard of flashing? When you call, hang up and wait for a call back?‖ She smiles. ―Not used that way.‖ ―So how are you, Adeola Bello?‖ ―Very well. I was hoping we could meet for a drink.‖ ―When?‖ She wrinkles her nose. Why is her heart beating faster? Saraba | Issue 13 | Africa 30
―Tonight?‖ He laughs. ―Where?‖ ―I‘m at the Hilton. What‘s so funny?‖ ―I didn‘t expect to hear from you.‖ ―Why not?‖ ―I didn‘t ask for your number. It might have seemed…‖ ―It didn‘t seem anything.‖ ―Good. I didn‘t want my staff to think I was, you know.‖ ―You were fine. You weren‘t flirting.‖ ―Who says?‖ ―So, I‘ll see you later?‖ ―What time?‖ ―Eight?‖ ―Eight, then.‖ She struts around her room, then she pats her cheek. She mustn‘t look desperate. She has dinner at the hotel restaurant and returns to her room to take a bath and change. She sprays perfume on her wrist, smacks her lipstick in place. Her earring needs securing. She smoothes her eyebrows. The front desk calls to say he has arrived and she goes downstairs again, this time pretending to take an interest in the décor in the lobby, which is reminiscent of a dictator‘s palace, with its crystal chandeliers, faux Louis Quatorze chairs and white marble floors. The light reflecting on the marble blinds her and she worries about slipping. There are a few expatriates and many Nigerians walking around in that lethargic manner that is typical of loiterers in hotels. Wale is by the front desk. He has made an effort, his shirt and trousers are pressed. He looks naturally trim. He stands with his back to the lift, which might be deliberate, and she is tempted to pinch his bottom and throw him off balance, but she taps his shoulder instead. ―Have you grown?‖ he asks, looking her up and down. ―My heels,‖ she says. He smiles as if she is a statue he can‘t quite take seriously. ―Shalom?‖ she says. ―Pele, then,‖ he says. ―Pele, if you prefer.‖ ―Not really.‖ Pele doubles up as an apology. Pele might also mean he feels sorry for her. In the lounge she orders a Cointreau. She has never had Cointreau before. It is strong and tastes of oranges. He has a neat brandy. She doesn‘t just like his eyes; she likes his way of looking at her as if she is a solo act. She is also aware of the stares she gets from the security guards who size her up as she tells him about her day at WIN. ―What pains me is that I now have to go back and admit to these people that Nigerians are fraudulent.‖ ―She‘s just hustling like everyone else. She and the other woman, who might be trying to sabotage her.‖ ―You think?‖ ―Of course. Even microfinance is a hustle now. The people who are meant to get it don‘t. It‘s all about competition here.‖ Saraba | Issue 13 | Africa 31
Page 1 and 2: aFRica 13
Page 3 and 4: Contents 4/ Editor‘s Note 110/ Co
Page 5 and 6: I invented a simple vision Of the m
Page 7 and 8: dishing out Chinese food and smelli
Page 9 and 10: ‗I will kill you first, Andrew, I
Page 11 and 12: inspired tales that made the blood
Page 13 and 14: Something Else Not Violence Keguro
Page 15 and 16: esponsibility, hygiene, health, pat
Page 17 and 18: Darkest things always invade you he
Page 19 and 20: The prize was delivered with all it
Page 21 and 22: Jairus Mulela, 23, BBQ Chef: ―Fri
Page 23 and 24: Phillip ‗Fubu‘ Otieno, 27, Door
Page 25 and 26: They are not apathetic; they are op
Page 27 and 28: my parents‘ generation are not th
Page 29: SA: Again, my choice felt right. I
Page 33 and 34: ―What?‖ she asks. ―You‘re u
Page 35 and 36: ALL VILLAGERS Your father is dead,
Page 37 and 38: BOY Take heed, those who delay me!
Page 39 and 40: Nyamiri Okwuje Israel Chukwuemeka T
Page 41 and 42: They know who the Vice Principal sp
Page 43 and 44: What’s in a Name? Dike Chukwumeri
Page 45 and 46: You know, I think one of the reason
Page 47 and 48: Daily Life in Algeria Jeroen Evers
Page 49 and 50: Saraba | Issue 13 | Africa 49
Page 51 and 52: We gather particles of soil, the on
Page 53 and 54: We throw the efukuzi at a safe dist
Page 55 and 56: A Beautiful Mind Lara Daniels I was
Page 57 and 58: Gabon Space Elevator Némo Tral Tra
Page 59 and 60: At the boundary between sea, land a
Page 61 and 62: You know him because the fruit of h
Page 63 and 64: That market is the recovery of the
Page 65 and 66: Nigeria, as the third generation. T
Page 67 and 68: say about the extensive registers o
Page 69 and 70: underlying anthropology of the earl
Page 71 and 72: the world market labels now, far fr
Page 73 and 74: (253). His memoir speaks the langua
Page 75 and 76: altered image, bring together the r
Page 77 and 78: otten with drink…I thought I‘d
Page 79 and 80: Journey through Southern and Easter
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Saraba | Issue 13 | Africa 81 Stone
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Saraba | Issue 13 | Africa 83 Illal
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Saraba | Issue 13 | Africa 85 Kampa
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she had to sell tickets to other tr
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that made you feel guilty. The very
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You giggle before you answer. You r
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conferences, when we were charged t
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- Hajiya, --- No one lends a helpin
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I am curious about her - where she
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Saraba | Issue 13 | Africa 99
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Saraba | Issue 13 | Africa 101
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―Yes, with your gracious permissi
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of sad nuances flitting about her m
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Maryam did not want Faruk to leave
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Our plane descends upon Johannesbur
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front of many dignitaries including
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stories and poems have been publish
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Big congratulations to our contribu
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