This is the story of Fide, a houseboy in a Nigerian family in 1984. Coming from a rural village, Fide was unfamiliar with modern conveniences, but joined the family in daily activities, from watching films to listening to coup announcements, which highlighted the harsh realities of Nigerian political life. After 12 years, Fide chose to join the army rather than continue his studies and was killed by a landmine in 1997.
“Our own Fide,” my mother said, and those words will never leave me, because even as grief enveloped me I realized how lovely they were. Our own Fide. He was our own.”