Second Class Citizen Flashcards

Adah's Home and Education

• Akinwunmi Street is where Adah lived with her family in Lagos.
• Ladi-Lak Preparatory was the school attended by boys, emphasizing a focus on education.
• The Igbos prioritized education, recognizing it as a means to escape poverty and disease, ensuring their children received schooling.

School Characteristics

• Students at Ladi-Lak wore navy blue pinafores as their uniform.
• Ladi-Lak was expensive because it did not teach African languages, such as Yoruba, and the proprietress had studied in the UK.

Local Infrastructure

• Methodist High School was located around the corner from Adah's house.
• The police station near Sabi Market was where Ma was taken when charged with child neglect.

Neighborhood Details

• Mr. Cole, Adah's neighbor, was a young, handsome Sierra Leonean man known for his quiet demeanor and friendly smile towards Adah.

Family Dynamics

• Ma's punishment involved being forced to eat a big bowl of garri with water.
• Ma referred to prison as "Pilizon," showing informal language use within the family.
• Adah's pet names included Nne Nna (Father's mother), Adah Nna, and Adah Eze (Princess), reflecting familial affection.

Cultural and Familial Background

• Adah was named Nne Nna because her grandmother promised to return as her daughter after her death when Pa was five.
• Pa and Ma were married at Christ Church in Lagos.
• The meaning of the phrase "Ezidiji ji de ogoli ome oba" is "When a good man holds a woman she becomes a queen."

Women's Attire and Traditions

• Ma and other women wore blouses and lapas with a dark velvety background decorated with pale blue feather designs when welcoming the new lawyer, showcasing cultural attire.

Occupation and Personal Transition

• Pa worked as a railway man.
• Adah's last name before marriage was Ofili.
• After Pa's death, Adah moved in with Ma's brother.
• Latifu was the boy who defended Adah from being punished by the headmaster.

Family Relations

• Francis had seven sisters, including Cecilia and Angelina.

Employment and Finances

• Adah worked as a librarian at the American consulate library on Campbell Street.
• She earned 60 pounds from her job.
• Adah's bride price was set at 500 pounds.

Travel

• Francis traveled from Ikeja Airport, indicating the location of significant life events.