The African Man Time

If lateness was a person some years back it would have been me in capital letters, this was one bad trait I possessed and my father back then did not fail to question whom I inherited such trait from in my family Lol and would also advise me against it, in his words “I pray you don’t miss a golden opportunity because of this lifestyle” and I kept assuring him that I would change.

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Ever heard of African man time? African man time basically means coming way after the stipulated time and I always go with this African man time. The crazy thing is how I would always put my superpowers to work to beat time and still end up going late, imagine having an appointment stipulated for 11:00 but not being ready by 10:30 and still expecting your superpowers to beat traffic and all the hurdles on your way to your destination to arrive at 11:00? That was the kind of life I lived until I met my waterloo.

Last exams are what people always look forward to and over here it is such a big event especially when it’s your last exam in college. It is termed “signing out day”, this tradition is upheld with so much vigor and excitement. Part of this tradition is getting all dolled up and appearing in a white T-shirt so your friends and colleagues can sign their various signatures or nicknames on your shirt and years later you can look back at the shirt and remember everyone who signed on it that day.

It was the day of my final exams, I got dressed that day and went straight to my friend’s house, she was a makeup artist, so she did my makeup, a fellow coursemate's own and hers as well, while she was at it, time was running so fast, so fast that before we knew it, it was 9:00 am already.

“Mimi, are we going to make it on time to the exam hall?” I asked my friend.

“Don’t worry I am almost done with Ruth’s face and doing my makeup wouldn’t take up to 20 minutes”. She replied confidently.

I did the maths immediately and I remained calm because I knew we would arrive just in time for the exams.
I went outside and took some pictures and made some videos while I waited for them to be done with their makeup, so we could make our way to school.
20 minutes later I entered the room and saw she was still on Ruth’s makeup and I was shocked and confused.

“Ahhh I thought you guys were done with the makeup already?, “ I asked confused.

“Almost, Ruth said she didn’t like the lip liner I used on her lips so I had to change it,” Mimi said absentmindedly.

“Ohh I see” That was the only thing that could come out of my mouth, I just had to stay calm so I didn’t annoy any of them. I immediately checked my wristwatch a few minutes later for the time, it was 9:27 am and Mimi just started her own makeup, I started panicking because the time was running so fast and I did my calculations again and I knew for a fact that we were going to go late for our exams. After waiting for a little while I asked Mimi politely.

“Are you almost done?”

“Yes, 30 more minutes”

“Ah, 30 minutes?!” I exclaimed.

At this point, the time was 9:40 already and that was when I knew I was doomed, my father’s words kept ringing in my ears and I just couldn’t leave them both to go write my exams because that would seem unfair and wrong. My heart started racing, I was sweating, and makeup do not strive with sweat, nothing else mattered except sitting for my last exams.

Mimi finished her makeup and everyone was ready at 10:10 am and the exam was slated for 10:00 am. I silently prayed to God to just let me escape the dreadful event and I would never run late again or stick with the African man time. Luckily for us, Mimi’s neighbor decided to drop us off at school but oh boy the traffic on the road was mad and this was caused by a reckless driver who ran into a bus. I just knew that we were doomed and time was not even on our side, I started regretting why I did the makeup and I wore a long face till I got to the exam hall.

When we entered our department building the time was 10:55 already, we ran like our lives depended on it, we were so lucky that we didn’t even trip because the force with which we used to embark on that race was so strong.

We entered the exam hall and we were graced with serious faces and exam papers shared to every student present in the hall. Luckily for us, the exam started a bit late due to the lecturer being held up by traffic on his way to school. We immediately begged the lecturer and he forgave us and allowed us to sit for the exam provided we occupied the front seats and sitting in front meant handing in your paper before everyone else but it wasn't a problem as long as we still sat for the exams. Remembering this event still gives me the chills to date.

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