Snow has taken over; it’s white and cold across Europe. Strangely, when it fell many were taken by surprise.
“Why February?”“There was no white Christmas. December and January were snowless!”“Two months late, mate.” A Londoner quipped in typical Cockney drawl.

During its vicious beginning last weekend over 80 people were reported dead in Russia and Ukraine. Some drivers had to sleep in their cars in the UK due to at least 16 centimetres snow that made certain roads impassable.
The Big Freeze.

While London is lucky to have had 10 celsius below zero, in Eastern Europe it averaged minus 21.  I was about to pay some groceries at the supermarket when I noticed the cashier had long flowing, dreadlocks.
I read his identity badge.

Abayomi.

These days anything is possible in the Diaspora. Blacks assume African names; dreadlocks are no longer a Rastafarian religious trademark.  Seeing a copper with dreadlocks in London or any other major city in the UK is no big deal. Around 2000, the police force changed its dress code to allow more recruits from black minorities.

So dreadlocks do not mean taking illegal substances. I remember when I used to wear long dreads 25 years ago; you were mostly viewed as a nutter, bangi smoker, drug user or Haile Selassie follower.

You could be anywhere -street, club, someone’s party- then strange characters sneak quietly and whisper, sheepishly:

“Can you sell us some weed?”

Fact is some of the most famous dreadlock artists do not touch alcohol or cigarettes let alone Marijuana. Best example is Mutabaruka, the Jamaican poet who walks everywhere barefoot, including snow.
So I ask the cashier:

“Is that a West African name?”
“Yes, Nigeria.”
“What does it signify?”

 “Yoruba.  It means one who brings happiness.”

Abayomi has a bright smile and large white teeth. He looks familiar.
“You might be a Maasai!” I say paying for my shopping.

 Being called a Maasai is an honorary compliment for blacks in the Diaspora. Fifty or 60 years ago some would have preferred being called Elvis Presley or famous Hollywood actresses - Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor (God bless their souls); not bush warrior Maasais and Nubians.

Sarcasm aside the snow is viciously falling so exercising is the logical solution. I am heading for the gym. As I enter the establishment I notice the supermarket cashier trying desperately to park his car.
“It’s terrible,” he says cheerlessly.

“At least it gets less cold when it snows.”
“Yes, but driving is total misery,” he replies.

Inside the gym everyone is busy pumping iron, running on treadmills, pulling that, pushing this. Absorbed. Majority of us sweat and pant and later in the sauna the feeling is like being in Zanzibar, Dar es Salaam and Mombasa. As I do the last stretching and sit ups (Abs) or abdominals, Abayomi joins me.
“Feel better?” I inquire.

“Sure, sure bruv. The best medicine for such awful weather is exercise.”

We pack and walk out. His car is already engulfed in snow. Abayomi whistles exasperatingly taking out winter tools. As he scrapes the ice off the windows he groans:

“This machine is costing more than my dad and his cows back home, combined.”
 Is his father a livestock farmer?

“Yes he is. And I tell you my dad is happier in that place we call poor Africa than I am here. This tin takes me everywhere but it costs a fortune. I am still trying to finish the purchasing debt.”

A brand new car and beautiful.
“Oh yes it is fantastic. I need to pay insurance every month. Being young the rate is higher than if I was over 50. We are supposed to be careless drivers. (He chuckles). They just raised fees for residential parking permits, where I live. Then MOT (the annual legal requirement for vehicle inspection in Europe to ensure road safety); petrol prices have recently soared due to the rioting in the Middle East.”

I nod. Everything he is saying is common knowledge to any motorist.

Abayomi:  “We live on credit cards. The last 12 months have been tough.”

But he has a well paid job; many do not find any employment these days. He is lucky.

“That’s true but I have bought many gadgets in the past three years: Plasma TV, IKEA furniture, Christmas, birthday and Easter presents for my nieces and nephews. I have to send money home regularly. All they think is I am in Europe therefore, loaded.  I am the only one who is not married; my girlfriend is still studying.  If I die tomorrow I will be at least 40,000 pounds in debt.”

He laughs. The snow is still descending. We say our farewells.
Abayomi, by the way, is a fictitious name.

Mr Macha is a writer and musician based in London. Blog:   www.freddymacha.blogspot.com

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