The Mobile Subscriber is back
Let me start with an apology.
Yes, I know.
Afrika Tales has been quiet. Too quiet. The kind of quiet that makes people start asking questions like,
“Did the writer relocate?”
“Did the website expire?”
“Did she get a government job and forget us?”
Truth is… I disappeared.
Not small-small disappeared.
I disappeared the way that one African uncle disappears after promising to connect you to a job.
You know the one.
He calls you one day, very serious.
“My child, send me your CV. I know people.”
Your heart starts beating fast. Your future is shining. You even start imagining how you will greet him when you become successful.
You send the CV.
You even add certificates.
You even attach passport photo.
Then… silence.
Not even blue ticks.
That is the exact way I disappeared from Afrika Tales.
Or maybe my disappearance was more like that friend you lend money.
They come with a very emotional story.
“My friend, I just need 2k. I will send it back tomorrow morning.”
You give it. Because you have a good heart.
Tomorrow morning comes.
Tomorrow afternoon comes.
Next week comes.
Now when you meet, they greet you like nothing happened.
Even asking you,
“Uko aje?”
Meanwhile your 2k is still doing field work somewhere.
That is how I left this website.
Like someone who said,
“I will post next week.”
Then next week went to another week.
Then another week greeted another month.
Then life said,
“Sit down first.”
To be honest, disappearing is an African tradition.
We disappear from WhatsApp groups.
We disappear from family meetings.
We disappear from gym subscriptions.
We disappear from people we owe money.
We disappear from people who owe us money.
So really, me going missing from Afrika Tales was not betrayal.
It was culture.
But like every African story, the person always comes back.
That uncle eventually calls again after three years.
“That job we talked about… are you still interested?”
That friend who borrowed money suddenly texts,
“My phone was stolen.”
And me?
I am back here like nothing happened.
Dusting the chair.
Opening the notebook.
Looking at the blank page like we did not leave each other for months.
Afrika Tales is still here.
The stories are still here.
And this time…
Let’s not disappear again.
At least not until the next African emergency.
