You see Nigerian vendors ehn, we need to call a town hall meeting for them. A proper sit-down not fight, just intense lecture on the importance of social grace.
That’s how I went to the market o, peacefully minding my business, I plugged just one ear make those boys no use me shine, casually strolling and searching for that Ankara vendor that my mum always patronizes for her women’s group. Naso, one aunty from nowhere waka come drag my hand and started hailing me like say I be her long-lost pikin.
She even said “Fine girl! Come buy na! Na correct material I dey sell!”
Staring in disbelief, “as how nau ma??” Na so una dey do for here ni!!!
I smiled, and politely declined, but this aunty no wan gree for me, she still dey hail me.
Oya na, I’ve sha noted her store for when next I’ll come to the market to get that voile lace for Juliet’s wedding coming up next month, I even told her “Next time, ma but I’ll collect your contact card”, before I knew it, boom! Drama started.
Omo, aunty con dey para for me o, shame tie me wrapper that day, because people con dey look us like say I be thief wey dem catch for market. I started wondering if I offended this woman in her dreams. Likeeeee.
How did we just go from sweet talking to personal beef in 0.5 seconds?
Can’t I just say “no thank you” without being emotionally attacked?
No be every “no” be targeted rejection, abeg rest.
Sometimes, person no just wan buy wetin you dey sell. It’s not that deep madam.
It’s even worse when they size you up after. You’ll now hear “Wetin she even wear sef? Ordinary thrift she dey carry like designer.”
Ah! Just because I didn’t buy your material? I don suffer
I thought the drama ended there, but I didn’t know more was waiting for me ahead. After my shopping, I spotted those women selling shea butter (ori), and as per natural hair babe wey I be, I went to meet her to enquire about the prices and these prices were so high, my antenna was protesting. I respectfully left her stall but this aunty started shouting and saying “if you know say you no fit afford my market, why you con dey price am.” Omo, I sha walked away, na me get my money, you fit shout but you no fit force me buy your market.
Las las, you and I both know, these vendors are chasing away customers with their bad behavior, and it’s not cute. Let us say no in peace, without fear of getting dragged by someone’s mummy in public.
