I have been selling palm wine over 50years

        

Mama Attack counting her money

    She  wore  her  white apron with the logo of  Kegites  on it.  By  her side were rubber kegs of palm wine   and rubber  cups.  While her  customers were  singing different types of  Kegites' songs and waiting  for her to bring more of  their much loved product, palm wine.  Mama too was singing along to the admiration of all.   She loves Kegites.

 While the Kegites were singing '' Bayi la nse, bayi la nse , bayi la nse nipade Omo elemu''

b

                             Mama talking to Journalist

     As soon as her daughter in-law came down from the taxi and dropped  a rubber keg of palm wine, all the Kegites  burst into another  song and   went into frenzy as  the slang of  You are carried rent the air. This  is  Kegites' Club at  the Rufus Giwa  Polytechnic , Owo, the palm wine seller is  Madam Comfort Adegbegi ( aka Mama Attack) who has been selling palm wine for over 50years.

                                  MY STORY
    Mama Adegbegi  said she was born in 1937,  she said    '' I started my palm wine  business  in the family house of  Aruwaji at Igboroko Street, Owo during the  reign of the late Olowo of Owo , Oba Olateru -Olagbegi II, her own words  .I have been selling palm wine  before the  deposition of the late Sir Olateru Olagbegi II, and that is over 50 years ago''.
 The woman who could boast of her business  and the monarchs that reigned said  ''In fact I have witnessed over four monarchs in Owo, Oba (Sir) Olateru- Olagbegi II, Oba Kolapo Ogunoye, Oba (Sir) Olateru Olagbegi II ( returned ) , and now the present Oba (Dr.)Folagbade Olateru Olagbegi III. That means I  have seen  about four  reigning kings'', she boasted.

    AS  THE CHAIRMAN OF PALM WINE SELLERS
      According to Adegbegi  she once protested against the high  tax levied on them, she said  "When we  (palm- wine sellers) started selling palm wine in Owo, the government was collecting 10 shillings  (equivalent to 100naira) as license but when I protested it was canceled and we no longer pay''.
   Mama Adegbegi said  she is the chairman of  Palm wine sellers Association  , pointing to her  certificate , she said  ''I am the chairman of Palm wine sellers , that is my picture there , we used calabash ( ugba) to sell before but  now  we are  using  rubber cups''
 The Septuagenarian said she used to go to Emùré to purchase her own product , and she has good customers she buys from. She boasts of selling 10 rubber kegs everyday.




                MY CUSTOMERS
   According to Mama    when she started selling the product she was  popular and  known by all and sundry while she also sold to the  high and the mighty in Owo , she said '' I had good, enlightened and high caliber of  educated customers like one Baba Wale and Dr.Fatokun (a Medical Doctor). These men  would send  their money and bottles to be filled  with  palm wine . These people were very important personalities in Owo.  While among  those selling palm wine for me then  were   Gado, Sunday and many others I cannot remember their names.

                               KEGITES

 I  DON' T MIX MY PALM WINE

     While some sellers  are accused of  diluting or mixing chemical or drugs like Indian hemp to their product to make it strong and increase the quantity but Mama Attack  said she had never  mixed her own palm wine,she said " I don't  mix  Igbo, (Indian hemp)  or chemical  with my palm wine  at all, and I will never do such a thing", she swore to high heavens
   




The  octogenarian said the business is a good business and prays to leave it behind  for her children to continue . She added that ''from this  business I  have  build a  house, sponsored my children in the university and I give glory to God. I live  in my  own house I built from  the proceeds  of  this palm wine''

         PALM WINE IS GOOD
Mama argued that palm wine is good, '' Palm wine is good and better than  all these chemicals called beer , infact  doctors advise that we should be taking palm wine which is yeast and good for our eyes''.
  Throughout the interview the Kegites  were dancing , singing and beating their leather drums  under a bamboo shade mapped out for the Kegites.They give respect to mama , and said she is a member of Kegites too.
Mama corroborated this and said ''I am their mother, I can sing too. I  am also a Kegite, holy water is good for me''.

Asked whether she would do any job again, she screamed '' Ah, what type of job? I can't do any job again, I love it , this is what I  have been doing for over 50years''. Mama who sells everyday said the only time she did not sell  palm wine was when she lost one of her children some years ago.
    As she said this, the Kegites  started beating their leather drums,singing different songs as  holy spirit took over due to the holy water they had taken, some started gyrating and  jumping up . In fact  ladies  among them were more active . They were all filled with Holy spirit  from their ''Holy water''.