I will relate my thoughts about Oyinem. Oyinem attended All Saints University College of Medicine in St. Vincent. The first time I met Oyinem, the Canadian, but for me was and will always be the Nigerian-Canadian, I began talking about the foods of Nigeria. You see, when I was doing research in the Black Building of 168 Street in Manhattan, we, me and my lab colleague, frequented the African Restaurant and the African Market of the Bronx. Then, also before the days of Uber, when the Yellow Cabs dominated the streets of Manhattan, the African taxi drivers had their Buka, a Nigerian food stall, in Harlem. This Buka was between Harlem Hospital and the then North General Hospital. The dishes were tasty. The soups were home-made steaming. Among the foods I came to favor Moi Moi, Egusi, Eba, Amalah, Jollof, to name a few. These are the foods we enjoyed at my favorite Buka or Oyinem might know it as Mamma Puts. Take note of the Mamma, for my mother, in the reference to the Buka. When I first mentioned these foods to Oyinem his reaction was what I expected from a Nigerian that knows his culture.
And I won’t say much about my recent discovery of Afrobeats and, more specifically, Yoruba rap. My Buka rounds were before the appearance of Afrobeats. Now I enjoy listening to Wizkid, Burna Boy and Davido. You must have seen the video Calm Down by Rema and Selena. If you haven’t then you cannot be Nigerian. Oh, by the way, Nigeria was once voted in the New York Times as the happiest people in the World, no problems. Of course this designation also applies to Oyinem.
Let’s go back to when I first mentioned the Nigerian foods to Oyinem. I then felt at home with Oyinem and said to myself: let’s leave this like this, I need him to learn surgery. But looking at his evaluations of his rotations I often wonder that maybe I make him feel too comfortable. You see Surgery is a tough career. I had reason to worry even more when his seniors referred to him as the youngest junior ever in our residency. So when I saw him return from his first rotation to Huntington, he made a friendly gesture but then retreated as though uncertain about whether I was friend or foe. He still behaves that way. At that time I intentionally made no rapprochement. Satisfyingly I saw him over the years develop into an effective, efficient administrative chief. Attendings love him because he always caters residents for all areas: the floor, OR and most noteworthy, the clinics. Kudos to Oyinem. He can also put together a monthly schedule better than anyone else, or so he thinks, not realizing that often he is not seen working shoulder-to-shoulder alongside juniors, especially on Fridays, Holidays and weekends. So he became entitled to a little despise by some, dare I say, maybe moreso from the other gender?
Now I will relate to you a few words about a future venture of Oyinem. It involves something referred to as “Money Spray” in Nigeria. Oyinem won’t tell you about this because he might still be searching for the one. Now the most appropriate one for him, as per his advisors, is most likely a Nigerian. The conflict I see though is when we advise him to ensure that she also be American, that in the least she has triple, dual, if not single American nationality. We say triple because we hope we can encompass these possibilities: Nigerian, Canadian and/or American, American being the only absolute essential.
As an aside, with my present Homeland Security and Government practices, this is even more important. But there seems to be a major good fortune here: that Canada is likely to become part of the American Empire. And Oyinem is cheering for annexation. I tell you Canada is welcome because it will add to the liberals in our Government. The additional Canadian states and additional Canadian liberal congressmen and women are expected to save American Democracy. Medicare in the recent bill passed through the House and now coming up to be considered by the Senate will be morphed more like the health care for all in Canada. Additionally, medicines will become dirt cheap. Oyinem has nothing more to worry about because Canada is American.
I guess a problem still remains because Oyinem considers himself major and minor tribe in Nigeria. Ask Oyinem if he can speak Yoruba, not Pidgin, Yoruba. I would expect him to be fluent in mom’s dialect, though. But I digress. Let me move on to this expected event in the near future. I expect that rooms on entire floors of Hotels near the village will be reserved for rental. I am not surprised if this is already planned. You see, planning has to be way in advance because family and friends come from all over the diaspora. They make arrangements months and years in advance. Then the preparations are humongous. A whole village will be in attendance. For the event we will see many heads roll. The number of livestock that will be slaughtered for the wedding celebration are counted as heads. The costumes are customized. I will ask for my Ankara, that is the dress for a guest. Well, I know that Oyinem and his better half will choose the fabric, the pattern and the color. Let’s see if he goes traditional all white or if I am just hallucinating and he goes all Western. He can do that I am told because he has recourse to the wherewithal. In this context and with resources, I mention the expected dowry. I think Oyinem will be prepared to include the BMW in the dowry. You see Oyinem must provide this dowry before the wedding. The bride’s family has to see this dowry before the wedding. Oh boy, knowing Oyinem, I hope this does not argue for Oyinem to go all American and plan a toned down American wedding. But he could recoup much in the Money Spray. You see, I am already storing my dollar bills. During the celebrations, during the dancing, the bills will be pasted on the forehead of Oyinem, the groom. In any event I hope to have assisted in decision making and resolution of the outstanding social issue, no matter him being major or minor tribe. I say: “Oyinem, go for it”. She will be American, regardless. Many thanks to my President.
SurgicalInSite 