Advance copies of FEDDIE GIRL, the international adventure/thriller by Nona David goes on sale via bernardbooks.com starting October 19th 2009.
Book Title: FEDDIE GIRL: The Hilarious Adventures of an American Teen in a Nigeria Federal School Author: Nona David Publication Date: February 2010 Copyright: July 2009 Type: US Trade Paperback Page No: 400 Price: $19.99 (US); £14.05 (UK); $26.10 (CAN); €18.82 (EUR); $28.80 (AUS); N3298 (NGN) ISBN: 978-0-9824526-0-8 SAN: 858-2041 Status: Advance copies available for purchase Deals: Free Shipping and handling till Dec 31st 2009 when purchased from publisher.
If you still haven’t reserved your copy of FEDDIE GIRL the Nigerian-Federal/boarding-School novel by Nona David, now is the time to do so. You only have four days left!!!
Advance copy availability would be by reservation only.
Reservation deadline is on Oct 12 2009.
Sales of reserved copies commence on Oct 19 2009 via the publisher’s website at https://bernardbooks.com
Free shipping and handling to any location in the world offered till Dec 31 2009.
To reserve a copy please go to: https://bernardbooks.com/form.html
Read excerpts of this novel at: https://bernardbooks.com/subpage.html
Boarding school holds some bittersweet memories for most of us. Yet there were some students who just couldn’t bear the strain and bailed-out after their first term, or first year, or even after three years.
For those die-hards who endured the rigors and pains of boarding school life for six whole years, I defer to you! Trust me, it’s not an easy feat to achieve. Sometimes when the going gets tough, students resort to pouring their sorrows into songs. It sorta helps lighten the burden and ease the heart.
There are some songs that no matter where you are, they just remind you of boarding school.
Like this one that is mainly sung when students are running low on supplies:
My dear mother;
I am very sorry;
For writing this letter;
Please buy me sugar, and butter, and bournvita.
There is this one for when SS3 students are ready to graduate:
Everyday senior, senior; Everyday senior, senior;
Senior don’t forget us, your junior ones are crying;
Senior don’t forget us, your junior ones are weeping;
We don’t know what to do, We don’t know what to do;
It is a pity and very painful that our seniors are leaving us;
We don’t know what to do, we don’t know what to do.
Also, an old one, but I’m not sure which school is it’s source, but we sure did sing it a lot:
Booze garri, Booze garri;
In the house;
Add some sugar;
Add some milk;
Add some water;
Garri in the morning, afternoon and night;
Garri gives you energy, makes you feel all right;
Booze garri!
There is this other one that comes with several variations:
Give me a heartbeat: Mm-mm!
Give me a sneeze: At-choo!
Give me a cough: U-huh, u-huh!
All together: Mm-mm, at-choo, u-huh u-huh!
Give it to me one more time: At-choo, u-huh, mm-mm!
There must be many more, so if you remember any, please feel free to post it here. Thanks!
Let’s keep the torch burning high and bright, for there’s no other experience like that of boarding school life.
Lotta Luv,
Carlotta
Advance copies of FEDDIE GIRL the novel are coming this July. Copies will be available by reservation only. Go to Bernard Books Publishing to reserve your copy now!
Imagine the music and the feverish dance-steps! Most of you Lagosians, Nigerians, and lovers of Afro beats know what I’m talking about. Whatever you’re doing, wherever you are –whether at home, out in the city, or even totally out in a foreign country– whenever you hear the beat, you just feel like getting straight down and doing a jig or two. Lol!!!
My favorite is the song my Uncle always starts off his parties with, a song that created so much buzz in 2001/2002, I’ve been told:
“Pade mi ni sale…!!!!!”
“Aaaaahhhhh Under!!!!!!”
Yeah, that’s right. You totally know who I’m talking about. You’re already standing in that legendary dancing pose, shoulders back, hips down, butt stuck-out, and backbone set to undulate. You wait for the next cue:
“Le le le le le le le– le le le le– le le le le le le…”
The metallic sound of trumpets, then:
“Arege ji ah! Arege ji ah ah….”
“Aaaahhhh, Under!”
Then follows the well-known lyrics accompanied by staccato crazy beats with the Yoruba talking drums.
“Isale ele ele, konko konko…”
“E gbe jo oooo!!!”
“Kon Below! Konko Below!! Kon Below!!! Konko Below!!!!”
“UNDER!!!!!”
I never really figured out if the catch word is “Under” or “Thunder”, or both. But the song is quite addictive, I must admit. Can’t be totally captured with just words. This here, friends, will require a depicting video.
Just so we’re clear, I’m talking of the one and only, Lagbaja, the masked King of the new millennium Afro beats. See link to a you-tube video of his hit song:
Very captivating, huh? I thought so too when I first heard it, even though I couldn’t understand a word, except “Below”. Lol!!!
To tell the truth, I’d still like to find out what the lyrics mean some time.
Anyways, Lagos parties are something every teenager needs to experience at least once in his/her lifetime.
“What about High-school parties?” You ask, not sure what on earth I’m totally driving at.
Teenage American parties, you mean? Oh puhleease, give me a total break! There just isn’t any comparison!!! Those stolen-beer and pizza-driven excuses for a good time totally fade right into the background beside a Lagos street party.
Yeah! That’s right! It’s not just the colorful attire of the party-goers, the wide-reaching head-ties of the women, the rich agabadas worn by the men, the flashy jewelries, great high-life music, or delicious foods and refreshments supplied as ‘item seven.’ Lol!!!
To be frank with you, in comparison to what I now know as an ‘Owambe party’, which is the most common native party in Lagos; prom parties just feel so drab and boring with the punch and pizza–nothing really much to it. Ugh!!!
One thing I noticed about Lagos parties though, you don’t really need an exotic venue to pull-off the perfect entertaining scene. Most people just use their compounds and the free spaces behind their homes. However, if you’re one of those who live in a flat (apartment) or totally don’t have a wide compound, don’t sweat it. Just use your street!!!!
“No way!!!” You eyes almost pop out of their sockets. “You mean as in streets where cars commute and everything?” you ask, looking quite incredulous. “Seriously?”
Yep!!! Totally!!! Just wait till it’s about 6pm, then measure-out about a two-hundred feet of the street in front of your home– spanning to the left and right– and clamp-down some road-block signs at each end. Then scatter around several plastic chairs and tables and position a few bouncers at strategic points to warn and redirect traffic. Mount an intimidating sound system with heavy-duty speakers wired from the inside of your building with plenty of extensions.
Voila!!!
You totally got yourself a party venue. Lol!!!
“You must be kidding me?” You remark, totally blown outta your mind. “A street party, how cool is that?” You think for a coupla minutes, then ask, “What about the cops? Howddya deal with ‘em, huh?”
Cops? What cops? The same guys the party host already ‘sorted’ with a coupla thousand bucks (Naira)?
Naahhh, street parties don’t get bothered by no cops, irritated neighbors, or grandparents. The general rule of thumbs for such gatherings is very simple:
If you can’t beat ‘em; join ‘em!!!
Lol!!!
“Wow,” you say, totally blown away. “I so wanna spend my summer hols in Lagos.
Now, that’s what I’m talking about. Remember, the above also goes for coming-of-age parties, birthdays, school proms, naming ceremonies, bachelor parties, burial wake-keeping, golden-jubilees, after wedding parties, church functions, sports victory, etc, etc. You can basically celebrate anything in Lagos, even your first job, your first car, college graduations or your house opening. These parties bring the body and soul of the city together in perfect harmony. And you wanna know something cool?
Everyone is totally invited. In effect, a second home for street parties are:
M’ogbo, mo branch!
Indirect translation: I heard the music, I totally invited myself. And all my hommies.
“Yeah right!!!” You roll your eyes. “The more the merrier, huh?”
Yep!!! That’s exactly what I’m talking about! All ya party rats outta ‘ere, please join me:
E gbe jo o!!!
Lotta Luv,
Carlotta
**Stick around, definitely more to come. To reserve read excerpts and reserve copies of the actual FEDDIE GIRL novel by Nona David, visit Bernard Books Publishing
So why did I get on a plane heading to Lagos, Nigeria?
To be honest, I asked myself the same question everyday for the past year. I don’t know why I let my parents talk me into it, despite the forebodings at the back of mind. Guess I just wanted to be cool and show them no amount of punishment would totally faze me.
Oh boy, was I wrong!
First off, my mom came along for the ride but my dad refused to comply, even though the punishment was his idea in the first place.
You look at me in an odd way, as if to say, you dumb babe! “That probably raised a red flag, huh?”
It did, believe me, but I was too busy bitching about my cell phone privileges being taken away, to notice. Talk about the classic ‘penny wise, pound foolish’ syndrome.
There I was, sulking about my Blackberry, not even noticing my parents had something more sinister in mind. When I finally caught up to what was on board, it was too late!
“Jeez!” you yell, “what are you? Like the dumbest kid on the block?” You shake your head in disgust.
I cringe from you and and your snarky attitude and hide my irritation behind my words. I know you’re right, but say what you may, had you been in my shoes, even you wouldn’t have seen it coming.
You roll your eyes to high heavens and smirk, “Yeah, right!”
Seriously!!! Lagos, Nigeria isn’t exactly San Francisco, California.
So like, we stepped out of the Muritala Mohammed airport building and it suddenly hit me:
Mosquitoes are truly the most evil and vicious insects you’ll ever come across.
“No kidding!” you exclaim, running my pink hairbrush through your hair. “You think I oughta shave?” You peer at your reflection in the mirror, caressing your smooth jaw with long tapered fingers. You have no stubble–you’re only fourteen.
Well, yeah. I’m referring to the mosquitoes, not your non-existent facial hair. Like most pre-pubescent males, you’re already obsessed with growing a moustache.
Anyways, back to my story. In Lagos, the mosquitoes are as large as moths, noisy and unrelenting. They must have a unique way of discerning fresh blood, cos they descended on me and my mom in droves as soon as we stepped out in the open, forming a distorted halo over our heads and singing in our ears.
Their bites are sharp and stinging, the pain akin to none other than that of bees. They never let-up, no matter how hard you slap at them. Hiding under layers of clothing don’t help either cos they’ve figured out a way to feed on you through your pants.
The frustrating part is, you put up your hand to wave them away, they go ahead and bite your knuckles and the skin underneath your nails, the two places that are the most difficult to appease by scratching–assuming you can find the exact spot to scratch.
“I can imagine,” you say, not really getting it.
But I won’t blame ya cos, unless you’ve been to Lagos and have been attacked by a million of those bad boys at once, you’ll probably never get it. End of story!
Mosquitoes are just one of the many evils of Lagos. The traffic congestion, air and garbage pollution, lack of traffic laws, harassment by road-side vendors, and general lack of law and order will blow you away.
“How come?” you ask, finally letting go of your boyish chin. You pick up a scraggly sneaker and stuff your sock-less foot into it.
What I’m saying is, you don’t wanna make the mistake of taking Lagos, Nigeria for granted. It’s a city like no other. Lagosians fondly refer to it as Eko. As far as they are concerned, no other city in the world can totally offer what Lagos does.
And, after spending a whole year in Nigeria, I began to see it too.
The exciting night life, the sleepless natives, the exotic and mouth-watering foods, the language, the accent, the thankfulness of the people when blessings come their way, the frustrations of business owners when power goes out, the rowdy markets sporting anything you desire under the sun, the intimidating area boys, the church functions, the parties and ceremonies, the music, the pulse of the streets. It’s a whole lot to take in at first glance. But before long, the city gets to you and you get infected with the feverish enthusiasm.
You pause in the process of knotting the laces of your second sneaker. “You don’t say?” You stare at me with eyes wide as saucers.
On the contrary, I really do say. Just three weeks in the city and I totally found myself screaming with the rest of them:
Lagos for life!
Eko o ni baje!
Lotta Luv,
Carlotta
(Definitely more to come, so stay connected.)
For excerpts and information about the upcoming novel FEDDIE GIRL, visit http://bernardbooks.com
Advance copies of FEDDIE GIRL, the international adventure/thriller by Nona David goes on sale via bernardbooks.com starting October 19th 2009.
