Growing up in the early 2000’s in Abuja Nigeria was fun I must say, although there was no internet and there were literally just about 3-5 channels on television (although there was cable but that was for the rich rich). So we had no choice but to keep busy and have fun in the way we could, we had to make actual real life friends unlike kids of these days. We lived in an area where literary everyone knew each other because we either went to the same school (Madonna nursery and primary school), or attended the same church (Family Worship Centre) and we definitely shopped at the same complex.
There were kids in almost every home, so making friends was not hard at all. I remember playing “ten ten” ( which btw I was a badass at), “suwe” ( Lol I don’t know how it is spelt, proof I was shitty at the game), and hide and seek. While playing hide and seek I remember hiding in the flowers of people who lived blocks away from us. Nigeria was a lot safer and beautiful then, there were no fences or gates just well decorated flowers to show where your property starts and ends. I remember all the houses had the same structure.
My sisters and I were invited to parties virtually every weekend lol. At one of the parties style plus performed, I was a fan so it was a surreal moment for me. I told everyone at school that Monday “I saw style plus!!!”, at least anyone that cared to listen to my tale. My sisters and I loved parties, we never cared about the food or drinks or cake it was all about the “party packs” for us, (whispers) sometimes we didn’t even know who the celebrant was 🤫, everyone thought we were cute. Don’t get me started on the Christmas parties that was sponsored by big organizations, name them we were there!. It seemed like a huge accomplishment then to seat on the laps of all those hedious and terrifying Santa (Father Christmas) and get lots of gifts.
I am grateful for being a kid in those times, it gave me social skills although I dropped it along the way of growing up at least I once had it, it gave me the opportunity to believe in ridiculous things. We had cable for a short time, I loved “power puff girls” I actually believed that the mixture or sugar, spice, everything nice (my toys) and the accidental addition of chemical x which I substituted with my aunt’s nail polish would make me my own power puff girls.
But the highlight of my childhood was being neighbors and best friends with my cousins, I looked forward to hanging out with them. We did everything together as kids, we didn’t go to the same school (that was sad for me) but we got to hang out throughout the weekend (my happiest memories), we attended the same church so it was easier. We ain’t that close anymore but I am grateful they were part of my childhood and I miss them so much.
My intention was to tell y’all a particular story from my childhood but so many memories were swimming and my brain got clogged, so I couldn’t pick one story. If I remember “the one” story, I’ll make it another post. From all the memories one thing was constant; which was having no worries in life, living life as best as my little self could. Before I sign out I would love to know the most ridiculous things you believed as a child besides the conventional ones like; if you swallow a fruit seed it would grow on your head ( I believed that shit till I was about 13 or 14), dig deep I would be sipping wine in my comments.
Xoxo Coco
Leave A Comment