Avwebo:     I beg, no call me Amebo again. I no be Amebo. I don tire' for people dey spoil my name.

Titi:     Sho! Which kind madness be this now? I come your house, you say make I no call your name. We quarrel?

Avwebo:  No be you, Titi. You be my friend. Na this Lagos people where dey spoil my name.

Titi:    Amebo, you well so? Which kind talk be this? Lagos people dey spoil your name? You no be Amebo again?

Avwebo:     My father no give me bad name, Amebo. Urhobo people no dey call anybody Amebo. I don tire' for Lagos where dey spoil name. I don tire' for Lagos.

Titi:      Wonder no go end for this world! How many years we don be friend? No be Amebo I dey call you?

Avwebo:    Eh, because you be Lagos them. I go go home where they go call my correct name. I don tire' for Lagos. I don tire'.

Titi:    Heh, my good friend, no cry! Something serious happen. Dey tell me. Whatin happen?

Avwebo:    The suffer suffer for Lagos don reach. I wan' go home. They go call me my sweet name. Avwebo. I beg, God, make my people still like me. I go try my best.

Titi    So, na Avebo be your name?

Avwebo:    No. Na Avwebo. Una too lazy for una mouth. No come spoil my name again. Avebo.  Sho! Ogbarogba.

Titi:    I dey go family meeting. Next Sunday, you go tell me about this your Urhobo name. For me, I go just call you, My Friend, Ore mi.

Avwebo:    Go well, Titi. Next Sunday, when you come back, I go tell you whatin Urhobo people dey call Avwebo. Sweet sweet name. Go well.
 

Peter P. Ekeh
Buffalo, New York
USA
12 December 1999