He Couldn't Even Apologize

Brethren, this is the story.

I’m at home, watching Nat Geo Wild with family. The narrator alongside accompanying visuals, tell us of a Lion family. Two adult male lions, two adult female lions, one female teenage lion, five male teenage lions, and baby lions.

Teenage lions (for the sake of this story) Tunde, Ayo, Femi, Tobi, Fola and Ibukun. Ibukun being the eldest. Teenage lions still have some months to remain with their family before they leave to forge their own path. One thing very essential for their journey of independence still ahead, is the ability to hunt and feed.

One day, both adult male lions leave to patrol and protect their territory. Adult female lions also leave for the business of the day. Teenage boys decide to go hunting, to show that they are becoming of age. Elder sister shows them how it’s done.

After stalking some antelopes (I think) with no success, a stampede of buffaloes make their way towards the teenage lions. They look for the weak link and decide to attack. Their strength is in their unity, each playing a role for successful team work. The buffalo proves to be difficult; claws and teeth seem not to be enough to pull down the buffalo. The buffalo’s horn hits big sister and she backs down, and so do the rest, except Ayo, Femi and Fola. Following the buffalo who is trying to meet up with the herd, they stray away from their pride and cannot find their way back.

They are frightened and on edge, wandering into another territory can prove to be deadly for the three brothers. Surviving the first night on their own, they come to a place where they can see other lions. These lions are covered in battle scars, they have not had an easy life. There is one adult female and two teenage males. Besides drawing attention to themselves that can prove to be deadly, the three brothers can spot an adult male coming into this pride. They recognize him, he is their father. The same scar can be found at the exact same location as seen at the beginning of the documentary. He is greeted by the other two teenage boys who nuzzle him, and he nuzzles them back. A sign that they are his children.

Ayo, Femi and Fola remain hidden and quiet. When the other lions leave, they nuzzle themselves for reassurance. Seeing their father with another family weakened their confidence. One of them, let’s say Ayo, even vomits. The narrator says that this is possible in lions after an emotional upset.

Baba Lion has another family, unaware to his first family.

Can you guess what came to my mind? It might have also crossed your mind. Men are scum!!! This scumery knows no specie! *tears ina me eye. I didn’t blame Ayo for vomiting. Wish I could pat him on the back and tell him that it is okay, even in the human world, the males behave like that.

Back at home base, Tobi dies from the injuries he sustained trying to bring down the Buffalo with his brothers. Ibukun suffers a broken leg, and separates herself from the rest of the pride to heal. When the adults returned on the day of the hunting they find a mess. One lion is dead, one is injured, three are missing, and the baby lions have been neglected. Out of pain, one adult female rejects her cub, and so he goes to find solace with one adult male.

When the other adult male returns, he does so with his two sons from the other family and they join to eat. The adult females are not having this, he has returned with the wrong teenagers. As the situation gets dire, the adult male puts himself in-between to shield his sons. I hear my aunt’s voice “he couldn’t even apologize, na wa!” At this point I burst out laughing, I have tears in my eyes. The story is so familiar. Well, the ‘wrong’ teenage boys managed to leave unscathed.

Few months later, Ayo, Femi and Fola find their way home. They are recognized and welcomed amidst play and nuzzling.

Lion family live happily ever after (or so I hope).