Season of Crimson Blossoms (30 page)

In the long, windy night it took to write this book, I have garnered an almost endless stream of support from amazing friends and loved ones.

I am grateful to my publishers, both at Parresia and Cassava Republic, for their incredible faith and commitment. Azafi Omoluabi-Ogosi, Richard Ali, Bibi Bakare-Yusuf and Emma Shercliff. Thank you for believing in this work and for making it the best it could be. May the butterfly endure and soar. May the splayed leaf remain evergreen.

To the wonderful and elegant Ellah Allfrey, thank you for rekindling faith and sustaining it. And for the diligence and assurances.

To Ranka Primorac, for the push. The amazing Zoe Wicomb, thank you for your incredible magnanimity. I can't thank you enough.

For insisting on grappling with the unwieldy beast that was the very first draft of this book, I am grateful to Nicola Baloch.
Danke.
And for always enduring any of my first drafts and somehow finding the kindest and most encouraging things to say, I say thank you to Uche Peter Umez. A writer could never wish for a better friend.
Daalu.

For standing by me through my arid patch, I am indebted to my late uncle, Ibrahim Gambo (IBB), may your long night be illuminated by divine incandescence. Rest on,
Nengba
. The teacher who became a friend and remains a mentor, Ahmed Garba, for prodding me on,
jazakallahu khaira
. And to Yoila Jatau and his wonderful, wonderful family, for the support, the friendship and the warmth. I shall never forget.
Nagode sosai.

My bosses, colleagues and friends at Media Trust, thanks for the support and encouragement, especially my most understanding boss Theophilus Abbah. You are a good man. And The Distinguished, Abdulkareem Baba Aminu, for the nods, prods, headshakes and
tsokana. Nagode kwarai.

And to the fellows who know a little of my secrets: Rufai, Abdul, Salma, Yahya, Naja. I love you guys to bits. And remember I know ALL your secrets.

And to the Special Ones: Maryam, Faris and Suhaila for the happy troubles. All this for you. Love you lots.

My parents, the ageing ones who will never age in my eyes, in my mind, may the walk be a long and enjoyable one. May the evening sun be fair and kind to you. Thanks mom and dad, for a storied life.

Soprattutto EEP. Grazie di tutto. Sei la migliore.

Thank you all.