Adekanmi Olumide’s Archive of Scars

 

By Olumide Akinwumi-Oke

The story is about the plight of women. Unknown to Gracia, she would find love at the yearly village dance, the Bongan Carnival.  The atmosphere was electric, and she was carried away by the fanfare, but was closely monitored by the eyes of a man who was desperate to woo her. From the moment Jerry sighted her, he followed her closely with his eyes.

Olumide Adekanmi’s ‘Archive of Scars’ is a story that depicts the unpreparedness of young ladies in their choice of a marriage partner. Jerry was a clerk at a university in the city. He was not exactly a gentleman who attracted Gracia; he soon revealed his identity as a man of no vision. Gracia was already trapped in his web. The lifestyle he offered her was a sharp contrast to what he had promised to give her in the city. His promise of a good life was just bait.

She soon discovered she was married to a man who would not provide adequately for his home. Her husband had no zeal to improve educationally and was too short-sighted to take advantage of the perks the academic environment within which he worked offered

Rather than save money from his meagre salary for the welfare of his family, he was enslaved by his desire for drinking and a habit of gambling as a way of finding peace in the midst of chaos.  Gracia was bothered by the friends her husband kept, people who lacked serious ambition and only helped him sink deeper into vices daily.

Adekanmi captures the travails of the young wife who was faced with giving her young family a meaningful life, and she needed to devise alternative sources of funding for the family’s growing demands.

She ventured into confectionery as a means to argue the home keeping allowance she was given by her husband. Jerry was envious of his wife’s business success and was stealing her money to sponsor his gambling habit.

Gracia soon discovers she has been living with a thief who constantly steals her money, leaving her devastated that she has been living with a man she cannot trust. It was more painful that her second daughter, Tonia, connived with her father to steal her money, which broke Garcia’s heart. Jerry’s envy had matured to a palpable hatred, leading to constant rancour at home as the couple grew suspicious of each other.

It became increasingly apparent that Gracia could not change the grown man she had married. Her father’s warning, “people hardly change”, echoed in her mind as Jerry’s behaviour remained consistent. He was not ready to confront his present financial troubles, and the future was too far for him to imagine.

Gracia, with unwavering determination, took on the responsibility of making the home work. Despite Jerry’s neglect, she was resolute in ensuring her four daughters’ welfare. She understood that her marriage to Jerry was a sinking ship, but she was determined to steer it to safety, inspiring others with her unwavering resolve.

Gracia, with courage as her compass, decided to move on in her life without Jerry. Her business was thriving, and she could sustain an independent lifestyle without the burden of Jerry’s troubles. She left their home with only three daughters, the ones who remained loyal to her, leaving behind Tonia, her father’s favourite, a decision that empowered her to live life on her own terms.

Gracia’s deep desire to study law, ignited by a neighbour, Collins Sanders, soon found expression when she got admission for her first law degree. However, her absence on the home front while on her course had unintended consequences. Her first daughter, Joyce, became vulnerable and eventually pregnant with a street boy in her neighbourhood.

Gracia’s resilience and hard work eventually paid off. She rose to become a District Judge in a male-dominated environment, a testament to her dedication and perseverance in climbing to the zenith of her career. Her story is a beacon of inspiration for women facing similar challenges, inspiring them to persevere in the face of adversity.

Her story seeks to encourage women that possibilities are endless and every potential within a woman can be actualised. She was bold to confront her status quo, even though at a cost, ultimately living a life she desired

Adekanmi gave an impressive account of the complex nature of human relationships in his book, ‘Archive of Scars’. It is a story of inspiration, encouraging women that limitations only exist within one’s mind and that every obstacle is surmountable, only if they are willing to pay a price for true freedom.