Book Title: Memoirs of a ‘Lazy Korfa’
Author: Tunmise Usikalu
Publisher: Sophos Books
Year of Publication: 2020
Number of Pages: 98
Category: Memoir
Some people say the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) one-year compulsory programme is a waste of time and resources while some others see it as an opportunity to experience the cultural diversity of Nigeria. Fear of discomfort, distance and insurgency has kept many youths scared and anxious about this scheme. Seeing this pattern in herself, Tunmise Usikalu took on a challenge to travel to a place she would not have travelled to on her own and documented all her happy times, discomforts and all the things that scared her during the 3-week orientation camp in Memoirs of a ‘Lazy Korfa’.
The title, Memoirs of a ‘Lazy Korfa’, pretty much sums it up and the book is a diary of sorts. The author lives up to her promise to show her readers the ups and downs of her stay in camp.
With a funny tone, Tunmise Usikalu shares situations such as being woken up at 4am by the sound of a bugle, the Man O’ War exercises, the early morning drills at the camp, the strict soldiers, unhygienic living conditions, being packed tightly in a room with a lot of women, the cold baths, tasteless food, graduates from all over the country, painful hours spent queuing for camp registration, endless lectures, mammy market, ever present photographers, the petty traders, culture of the people and even the concern of insecurity in that region. The book is fast-paced, with its language being direct.
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As the book progresses, you observe the author’s increasing discomfort, sense of anxiety and confusion that results from being cut off from her familiar environment. As her anxiety grows, Usikalu takes this as a challenge to experience camp, the people and processes. Along the way, she
stops being a spectator and gets involved in camp activities and acts drama, partakes in cultural dance and made new friends.
When corps members start acting tired or do not do the drills correctly, the soldiers call them Otondo. Usikalu uses a lot of slangs in this book and there’s a page at the end of the book with a glossary, giving definitions of the NYSC jargons found inside the book.
Usikalu will be the first to tell you that falling in love within three weeks in camp was impossible. Her reason for saying so is because she thinks some corps member just want to meet immediate needs. Also, she makes some worthwhile observations: “There is this camp couple that caught my attention and I went sniffing for information. It happens that though they go everywhere together and are all over each other, the lady is supposed to be married in less than six months.” These startled her and made her realise that camp was a character test for a faithful boyfriend or girlfriend.
Tunmise Usikalu offers her hilarious take on the Miss NYSC beauty contest and the mixed reactions she had to the contestants. Just imagine Usikalu gisting with you. It’s really funny, but might sound unbelievable to the reader.
At the end of the book, Usikalu revisits how she met some awesome people along the way and she reveals that NYSC was insightful – a great way to learn new things. One however finished this book with a feeling the author failed to identify more benefits than some vague memories of the orientation camp.
After reading the book, you might be sent thinking: Is it better for the programme to be preserved or scrapped?
Memoirs of a Lazy Korfa is definitely a book that’s fun to read and a survival guide for intending corps members, and a good read for ex-corps members to reminisce on the good—or bad—old days in NYSC orientation camp.
About the reviewer
Titilade Oyemade is a business executive in a leading organisation and holds a degree in Russian Language. She’s the convener of the Hangoutwithtee Ladies Event and the publisher of Hangoutwithtee magazine. She spends her weekends attending women conferences, events and book readings. She loves to have fun and to help other women have the same in their lives. Email: [email protected] Social: @tiipree
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