Apeke, the daughter of a popular food seller in Ibadan, Nigeria has always seen Shoprite as the greatest place she can ever be.
“Things at Shoprite will be very expensive. No wonder those who go there usually have big cars,” she says to her older sister, Tiwa.
“Anybody can actually buy something at Shoprite. You can even go there without buying anything but there’s no doubt that their goods can be expensive,” Tiwa responds.
“Now, you’re talking. You just said what I want to hear. Is it me who’s mum is just an ordinary roadside food seller that will buy something at Shoprite? It’s not possible but I’m hoping for that big day,” even though Tiwa has also never been to Shoprite, she sees it as a normal place where everyone can go but to Apeke, it’s only privileged people who buy things at Shoprite.
Apeke, the most intelligent girl in her class but also the one who’s less privileged amongst all her classmates and gets freak by every little thing.
“Isn’t this Shoprite nylon,” she asked her seat mate, Sewa in class.
“Yes, it is. My dad took me to Shoptite during the weekend so I can get a few things and also have fun,” those words were normal but I wonder how they broke Apeke’s heart that she went as far as going into the restroom to cry. Having a mall crawl was so special to the local girl.
While others are having a great weekend at different malls, Apeke stays by the roadside to help her mum sell food.
Immediately it was closing hour at school, the low self esteem Apeke had for herself made her go home without saying goodbye to her friends because she felt they all were better than her.
“Has something bad happened? Why is the street looking so crowded?,” in one second, she thought her mum might have gotten into a fight with someone and right there, she took off her shoes and ran towards her mum’s kiosk.
Surprisingly, Apeke meets Qdot, a popular Nigerian artiste at the front of her mum’s kiosk, singing for his fans and making them happy.
“I was born in this hood and on this street and that’s why I like to come here once in a year to show some love to my people,” Qdot says. As little as Apeke is, she can pass in between two people without them noticing because she’s so little, slim and petite.
Suddenly, she stands at the front of Qdot. Her mum was surprised to see her daughter stand at the front of such popular artiste.
“You’re my best artiste and I’ve always wanted to meet you. I have a song I composed for you,” she says.
“Really? Can someone make a video of this my little fan who wants to entertain me?” Qdot asked and all of a sudden, everyone brought out their phones to make a video of Apeke, the popular food seller’s daughter.
Qdot my guy, you can be my ride or die, and grace will never pass us by until the day that we die…
Apeke was only done with four out of the twelve lines which she had planned to sing when Qdot himself carried her up as a champion. Apeke’s mum was so happy and proud of her. It was a graceful moment for she and her mum because they were surely going to get something from Qdot.
“You sang so well. What would you like me to do for you?” Qdot asked while he raises her up on his shoulder to show her to the entire street as his champion.
“I want you to help my mum boost her business and I want you to take me to Shoprite,” maybe Qdot already knew something like this was going to happen. He immediately pulled out ten notes of hundred dollars and handed them to Apeke’s mother.
That’s the highest money she has ever gotten from someone in her entire life. She immediately knelt down for Qdot to show her appreciation.
At last, Apeke and her sister, Tiwa had the chance to go to Shoprite for a spending spree which all the bills will be paid by the artiste.
“Apeke, you brought Shoprite’s nylon to school today. Have you finally visited your dream mall?” there were no long talks from Apeke when Sewa asked her about the nylon. All she did was nod her head and all her friends in class congratulated her on her mother’s business expansion and her visit to Shoprite.
As a child, I once thought that shoprite was everything, but funny enough, online marketing has overshadowed the whole shopping thing.
The part where Apeke had to go to school with the shoprite nylon got me😂
😅😅😅😅😅
I thought ShopRite was a big deal then too