The Tents & the Refugees: The Refugees

The Tents and the Refugees stems from the civil war in Sierra Leon which began on 23th March, 1991 and left 50,000 dead among whom Joyce' parents. Before their death in the hands of the violent rebels at the estate in which they are living, the parents have escaped Joyce through the backyard knowing that if they are to escape at the time same, the family will be killed by the rebels. Therefore, the parents devise to distract the rebels from their daughter's escape and decide to stay put in their duplex where the rebel gain in entrance and kill both parents. They were both medical lecturers at one of the Sierra Leonean universities. Fortunately, Joyce is saved by the government forces.

Now Joyce and other Sierra Leonean refugees are on the plane to Nigeria where they will be camped awaiting the end of the war before they can go back to their dear country. At this camp in Lagos, Badagry, she falls in love with Emmanuel, a Nigerian corps. This is where the Nigerian government has decided to accommodate the Sierra Leonean refugees until the war comes to an end in their country.

In spite of the rules of the camp, Emmanuel is able to take Joyce out of the camp to his home for marriage on ending his service. He is very much loved and admired by the military men and the refugees because of his pleasant behaviour. For his outstanding behaviour during his service at the refugee camp, the uniform men have to bend the rules for him.
He meets the opposition at home he anticipates for bringing home a lady that is not a Nigerian and a refugee for that matter! He is able to appease the anger of his family and then marries Joyce but deep down the hearts, the family is not happy, only agrees to the marriage to satisfy the wish of their only son.

Joyce comes from a rich home unlike Emmanuel who comes from a home whose parents are not well off. Joyce has now been relieved of the traumas of the war that leads to the death of her dear parents having found love in Emmanuel and therefore does not want to go back home even though the war comes to an end. A reason she justifies because her parents fail to associate her with relatives of their family and therefore she does not know any one of them.

Fortunately, Emmanuel settles with her in marriage. He is not much effort that he gets a job after a month of his service in an oil company with an equipped apartment. Joyce has a son, christened John and a girl, Becky for Emmanuel. They are living happily until the unexpected occurred.

Unfortunately, one day as Emmanuel is going to work in his car he has a road accident and dies before he is taken to hospital. The death of her husband is a great opportunity for Joyce's parents-in-law to take on her. She suffers in the hands of the family and the possessions her death husband leave behind are taken away from her without element of pity, especially for the children.

Her Cherished son, John dies in assassination attempt carry out by his fianc?e's family. He tries to marry their daughter, Antonia for the love they have for each other but their family wants their daughter to marry from a rich home just like the family Antonia comes from (both families: business barons) . Joyce now fights a battle between her husband's family and her son's fianc?e's family. The battle that leaves her in pain forever!

What type of future can you envisage for the main characters, Joyce and Antonia, John's fianc?e?

Author: Abuzar Mochi

Publisher: Independently Published

Publication Date: Oct 23, 2022

Number of Pages: 582 pages

Binding: Paperback or Softback

ISBN-10: NA

ISBN-13: 9798359626538