Question Library

Rocks in Jos appear stacked in dramatic postures. "You could see a rock carrying three other rocks on its head. You could find a small rock confidently backing another, big enough to give birth to it". (Page 7)

“Clatter” mimics the sound made when the microphone hits the floor. This line can be found on page 6 of the novel.

The story strikes a balance between a reflective sadness, stemming from Bepo's emotional turmoil, and warm character insights. Bepo grapples with the decision of whether to leave his students for a trip to the UK. His visit to the Badagry Heritage Slave Museum becomes a pivotal moment as it prompts him to reflect on the idea of "new slavery." This reflection leads him to the realisation that he is not ready to become one of these modern slaves; instead, he chooses to remain at Stardom School to nurture his students. Throughout the narrative, a melancholic atmosphere persists. It begins with Bepo's emotional breakdown during the assembly and continues as he contemplates various migration stories, particularly those of individuals who were unsuccessful in their migration attempts. Insights from these different people encourage him to be more reflective and to think critically about this important relocation decision.

Bepo succumbed to family pressure; his wife and daughters had already moved to the UK, and his hesitation was straining their relationship. This can be found on page 10 of the novel.

The founder, Chief Aje, hired Bepo personally after a one-on-one discussion, unlike many others who faced the school's interview panels. This can be found on page 56 of the novel.

Mr Egi Meko is the founder of Beesway Group of School, the school that Mr Bepo worked in before he came to Stardom. He was the one who laughed off Bepo's correction of the phrase "Group of School" and refused to change the school's name. This can be found on page 34 of the novel.

Bepo recalled the story as an example of culture shock for Nigerian teachers abroad. This can be found on page 13 of the novel where Bepo notes that he recalls reading the story of a Nigerian teacher who got settled the first day he walked into a class in a UK school and one of the students asked: "Are you an idiot?". Bepo, however, believes this is an isolated incident, if at all it is true, and should not deter him from relocating abroad to reunite with his family.

The swift emergency response and compassionate care, including birthday gifts from doctors, touched her deeply. This can be found on page 17 of the novel.

He worked first in freight loading, then in a correctional centre. This is one of the cautionary tales of migration that Bepo heard. It shows the constant grind in America by these immigrants. This can be found on page 18 of the novel.

The phrase "clean dishes," when used figuratively in the context of washing corpses, could be interpreted as a euphemism. Euphemisms are a type of figurative language where a mild or indirect term is used to replace something that might be considered harsh, blunt or unpleasant. In this case, "clean dishes" softens or disguises the grim reality of washing corpses, making it sound more mundane or routine.

Sola and her husband settled in Manchester due to lower rent and cost of living. They could not afford the monthly rent of up to 1,500 or 1,000 pounds in London, so they had to stay in Manchester, where they rented a two-bedroom apartment for 650 pounds monthly.

Seri, his wife, was already working as a nurse in the UK. This can be found on page 11 of the novel.

These words can be found on page 5 of the novel where they were used to describe Bepo's emotional state at the beginning of the text. Tears are personified as if they are racing or competing with each other.

This is used to describe how Mr Bepo tried to shield his teary face from the view of the students and staff. It compares his posture to that of someone begging or praying using “like”. This is the use of simile. The words can be found on page 5 of the novel.

The Yoruba proverb Oja Oyingbo ko mo' p'enikan o wa' ("The Oyingbo market never finds out a certain person did not even turn up") means that the market is "ever bustling" or always busy. The proverb can be found on page 60 of the novel. When Mr Bepo was said to have gone there to purchase some food items that his wife instructed him to bring along with him.