Kaiama: The Little Rainforest That Houses 2000 Nigerian Graduates
In many ways, Kaiama is distinctly nuanced from other parts of riverine Nigeria. A little town in the suburban Bayelsa, it houses the NYSC camp of the state.
Kaiama in Bayelsa State. Screenshot from Google Maps
The town, which sits in the heart of a rainforest, is different from other south-southern riverine Ijaw towns. Kaiama, unlike Brass, Bakana, Abisa and other Ijaw adjustments, is not a white sand island. The floor is swampy and trees cover the entire town (except, of course, the road to the camp itself which is interlocked). One can easily mistake it for an uninhibited forest with her skyscraping palm trees and broad leaves on her plantain trees.
According to a few locals, Kaiama has never gone a month without a downpour of rain, even in the dry seasons.
“Kaiama has not had any real dry season in my five years here,” says an ex-corps member who has become a full-time local teacher in the community.
“The people are warm and hospitable.
“They are always quick to give out fresh fish and plantain to visitors.”
Their traditional ruler, who is in his twentieth year as the leader of the community, was warm as he taught the current NYSC members (who just left camp) a few of their traditions. The locals are mostly petty traders and fishermen.
