Ako-Aya: A Cameroorian Pioneer in Daring Journalism and Social Commentary

20. Ako-Aya’s Last Few Months on Earth

229 Chapter Twenty Ako-Aya’s Last Few Months on Earth A lthough this great journalist must have had nightmares of his death in 1975 and 1977, he still was not discouraged writing on. Indeed, his job was not in any way jeopardised. Unfortunately, we could not read much of his works in 1979, that being the year when he died. As early as January of this same unforgettable year, 1979, he came out with a series of articles which he called FOOLISH DREAMS; were they really nightmarish dreams of his bad health, thus his decision to write of his death; or they were merely dreams of how he would have wished Victoria in particular and Cameroon in general to look like. These are the few articles he wrote during his last few months: “WEDNESDAY JANUARY 3, 1979: MY FOOLISH DREAMS AGAIN” “Believe me a New Year is here now, the nights have become a time of torment and torture for me. , These days I even fear as night conies. You will see me walking to the pubs first to wear-off most ., of the night but as it is even dangerous to walk at night because you may be mistaken for an armed robber and you can easily spend the night sleeping on a soft cement floor with your hands for a pillow; “So take the other night for instance, I was torn between going out for a drink or being caught up when I decided to stay home and read. The first book that came my way was one on Adolf Hitler, straight-away the dreams came on. Hitler became our big man and my tribe became the Jews. “We were bound hand and foot and my lovely daughter and I were to be thrown into the gas chambers at once. 230 Ako-Aya: A Cameroonian Pioneer in Daring Journalism and Social Commentary As soon as they got hold of us I shouted, sweat pouring all over my body. My partner has since threatened me with a divorce suit for generally shouting and disturbing her at night during sleep and for cruelty because of this. “So this is it you know what happens to me when I pub walk and then when I sleep and dream. Divorce awaits me, as if most women are not generally disturbed at night by men-folk. Some by snoring so loud, others by other means. The night I was reading Dr. Fonlon’s exposition on Universities. Straight-away dreams took on again. I saw a University centre in Buea - good building, professors with seven doctorate degrees each and smart looking under graduates carrying very many books under their armpits. ‘In the dream, I .saw an under-graduate and a friend of mine was the head of an agitation group that thought Buea was not a good site for the university. My friend comes from one of the divisions whose names start with an- ‘M’ and he thought his division was more appropriate to site the varsity. In this assistance, I disagreed with my friend. The disagreement led to a quarrel and then to a fight. We fought and fought, I was bleeding all over then he jumped on my neck, I gasped for a breath but I never said ‘I beg.’ Then my friend turned into a magician and ordered the university, its buildings. Professors and all the students to transport itself to this ‘M’ Division, “I also became a magician and then ordered it back to Buea. I suddenly woke up. The one I had last night appears so real that up till now I fear to narrate it. But I must continue to narrate my dreams and I will bring you this one next time. 231 Chapter Twenty: Ako-Aya’s Last Few Months on Earth “MY NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS “At midnight on 1st January 1979, I suddenly found myself one year older and nearer the grave than last year. In spite of this people say we should be happy over the New Year - who am I to say No, especially as I have had to rest for three days. “But believe me, Christmas dong chop New Year. The festivities I saw during Xmas are all gone and the New Year has started with the wrong foot - it looks gloomy. Next week we are going to be called upon to pay school fees, buy uniforms and books. Do...