What Igbos are and Yorubas aren't.

...Omonoba...
Our people say:
Yoruba: Òtítọ́ ní ńtú ẹrù ìkà palẹ̀.
Eng: It is truth that unpacks the load of the wicked for all to see. - Yoruba proverb
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Happy belated to two very special bloggers - Myne Whitman and Neefemi. I pray for the best for you; may God bless you always.
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After I had grown up in pure love and peace, I moved to an environment that was very different because of the unnecessary animosity left, right and center. So, when I saw this video, I was hurt. (Thank you, SSD for sharing). It is not the first of such and will not be the last. Sha, I posted it on Facebook and then mentioned that I would blog about it so here we go:

I am still trying to make out whether I am just totally blind towards the need for animosity based solely on tribe - in that case thank God for blindness - or I have just learned well what my mother taught me. I am partly of the Bini kingdom and partly of the Yoruba kingdom (and kindly squeeze in River State somewhere there, since I grew up in that state which I love) and so I have witnessed first hand silly people saying silly things about my heritage. You know, many people have made up in their minds that I am 'diluted' in some way and when I think about these people, I think about pure, undiluted ignorance. And it hurts me that our generation is still very much battling with tribal identities; 'you are Yoruba and therefore filthy, you are Igbo and therefore money-hungry and stingy, you are Hausa and therefore wife-hungry,' etc. Maybe much more subtly than in ages past, but I'm not here to argue whether we are still facing these issues because that's a finished math equation.

Then, I saw this video, three days ago and I was speechless for a while. I wish the interviewer had asked them the following question: 'what do you not like about your own tribe?'. It would not have made their responses any less annoying but I would have liked to hear them. I hardly understand the point of the video. I would like to made a rough guess that those three people are of course supposed to represent their individual tribes and another rough guess that majority of their perceptions are from Nollywood movies, talk-talk and / or what society has helped to teach them. I think this because I heard the same stale stereotypes repeatedly and I was at least hoping to hear something different whether negative or postitive. If you have had friends from a different tribe, that should be enough to dispel shallow conclusions. And it sucks big time because all that I have ever been taught is to love a person for who they are and not flat out judge them before getting to know them just because they are from a certain tribe. I do not even slightly hope to change the whole world because I know not everyone is thinking along the same lines as me but I do hope to let people know that it hurts me. It hurts me when I am called 'diluted' indirectly and otherwise and this has made me much stronger than I would have ever been. If I may, let me write to those who care to read that there is a tendency to think one's tribe is the best. (Forgive me I just laughed at this one. Story for another day) But if you were asked the question. 'what do you dislike about your tribe?', would you have something to say? If yes, would you simply dote on what you feel is expected of you; what the stereotype is?

Think about it.

My friends and I make jokes all the time but ejo, let us separate comedy from reality. In case you get the chance to do such an interview, please be sure that your topic/issue is relevant to the targeted audience. I have slightly broken this wall in order to share because it's terribly ignorant; this video and many prevailing perceptions.

Sadly, if we took a camera around, many responses will be like those in the video.

I rest my case in peace.

Inshallah. Amen!

...Omonoba...
Our people say:
Yoruba: Ọ̀kùn-ún mọ̀nà tẹ́lẹ̀ kójú ẹ̀ tó fọ́.
English: The millipede knew the way before it went blind.- Yoruba proverb.
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-> To that reader who has tons of her brothers'/ boyfriend's/husband's/friends' shirts in her closet or those who straight up buy men's clothing in stores. My brothers are tired of me! :)

"I close the doors and open the south window. Maybe, just maybe another soul will hear the crisp joy in my song of praise and thanksgiving and the flawless fluidity in my chords." Sing with me:

Hallelujah, Inshallah, Amen!

{Hallelujah, if God wills, let it be!}

 Interesting facts:

1. My guitar is fourteen years old. My father bought it when we lived in the Netherlands and he gave me what has become one of my most cherished material possessions.

2. The shirt in the picture (and half of my shirts) belongs to my older brother. 

3. I still wear a wrist-watch. If you do, holla!

4. I have no more than twenty five pieces of clothing at any given time in my closet. I find myself always trying to get rid of unnecessary things. It's impossible to tell; thank you, creativity.

Have a blessed rest-of-the-week and don't forget to count your blessings and give thanks! 

NakedSha!

MIDNIGHT VISIT by NakedSha

...Omonoba...
Our people say:
Yoruba: Ìrẹ́jẹ ò sí nínúu fọ́tò; bí o bá ṣe jókòó ni o ó bàá ara-à rẹ.
Eng: There is no cheating in photography; it is just as you sit that you will find your image. - Yoruba Proverb.
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I like this proverb. Let's think how the ancestors were thinking before Photoshop and co. 
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Before today;s main business, I'd like to share an interest with you. I like to send (and receive) postcards and letters (obviously). So, if you would, let me know and I'd be glad to receive a POSTCARD from you!!! YEY! And then, I'd send you a POSTCARD too of beautiful Boulder, Colorado. This applies to whoever and wherever in the world. In the past months, I have sent out a couple of postcards to some bloggers. So, be part of this.

So, my readers asked particularly for the full versions of the poetry excerpts that I posted last time here. I have posted MIDNIGHT VISIT by NAKEDSHA. Don't forget to leave your comments. :)

Midnight Visit.

Would you peep at my window

tonight? Four panes sit ajar.

I teach you constantly,

the techniques of this thing;

our love. Let’s call it that.

Listen with care, pay attention.

Last time you stumbled into

Butler’s window. He awoke.

Take the verandah tonight,

wear dark trousers and tunic.

Gracious! If Baker should

notice you, I would not

acknowledge you.

I left your bicycle beneath

the stairwell. If Nursemaid

sees you, say the cycle

is your mission. Never take

the back garden. Mother

will hear you creep,

she sleeps as a bird.

And Mother’s done this before,

when Pa was a boy.

She would scold life out of me;

perhaps, Baker will help roast me.

Blessings,

NakedSha.

I die amidst this silence.

...Omonoba...
Our people say:
Yoruba: Arúgbó ṣoge rí; àkísà-á lògbà rí.
English: The old person was once a dandy; the rag was once in fashion.- Yoruba proverb.
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The sweethearts of this land called blog(s)ville:

I'm dying in silence here because I would really like to share my new poems with you. However, I am turning a lot of them in for critique and co. and I may not have published them prior to that. So be patient with me. I have decided to share the cropped parts of a poem that I did not include in the final draft though so here's to breaking the poetry silence. You may get the point.

From the poem, Blindboy by NakedSha.

Blind boy, you do not see

Ambitiousness

To look like the rainbow.

Lengthy brows, glowing lids,

Dripping lips, painted hair.

Two stilts for careful walking

The hues of these stilts:

Bronze, turquoise, Umber

Crimson, Ube, tomato, green

Causing awe along the way.

An excerpt from the poem, Midnight Visit by NakedSha

I left your bicycle beneath

the stairwell. If Nursemaid

sees you, tell her the cycle 

is your mission. 

Never take the back garden.

Mother will hear you creep,

she sleeps as a bird.

And mother's done this before

when pa was a boy.

She would scold death out of me,

perhaps Baker will roast it.

Oh time, along with your favorite accessory...

...Omonoba...
Our people say:
Yoruba:Ohun tí ajá rí tó fi ńgbó ò tó èyí tí àgùntàn-án fi ńṣèran wò.
English: That which a dog sees and barks at is nothing compared to what the sheep contemplates in silence. - Yoruba proverb.
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Incense is burning

Tea is warming

Letters are piling

...yet, nothing has changed.

Oh time, along with your favorite accessory - distance, please have mercy on me. Lend me but an inch closer   and let the piling letters be fewer.

Amen.