TAKE ME BACK IN TIME

They say the past is in the tomb, Tomorrow is in the womb, and All that matter is today. But I say NO! let us go back.

Take me back in time;

To the times when maidens were valued.

Take me back to the times when motherhood reigned.

To the times when the community trained the child and not just the parents.

Take me back to the times when love thy neighbor meant something.

To the times when ethnicity was mainly by dressing, and family wasn’t only by blood but neighborliness.

To the times
of the phrase “my child is your child.”

To the times when a single mother in the compound would feed the other children whose parents weren’t around.

Take me back to the times when we could eat and share meals with a clean heart.

Take me back to the times when rules meant something.

I dare say, take me back to the time when religion wasn’t with doctrines.

Take me back to the times when neighbors would harvest and share farm produce to all in their vicinity first, before taking it out for sale.

How I miss the sound of laughter clapping so loud like thunder as families ate together.

Take me back to the time when we all ate from on plate, only when we were complete.

Take me back to the times when children gathered and played hide and seek, without the fear of being kidnapped.

Take me back to the times roasted yam and oil was served and we gathered to eat as one, even though we were from different homes, tribes, culture and religion.

Take me back to the times when the rivers were pure and undefiled, and different tribes would showcase their food and dressing.

Take me back to the time when children could follow one another to their places of worship; Muslim children would go to Sunday school with other Christians because of friendship, the Christian children would do same and both parties’ parent would laugh over it.

Take me back to the time when the Hausas were known for their delicacy (Fura De Nono), Yorubas were known for theirs too (Eforiro and iyan) or (Ewedu ati Amala).

Take me back to the times when Igbos were known for love for this:( Isi-ewu, Nkwobi, Palm-wine…), back to the time when Deltans were known for Banga and starch with lots of dried fish…

Take me back to the good old days when culture reigned supreme and war was never the last resort.

I remember, back then when history was new, and blackberry, was generally known as a fruit.

Children would finish their chores on time, to gather at the seat of wisdom, anxiously waiting to drink from elders, who told tales by the moonlight.

Cunny tortoise was always a present character, mostly as the villain, other times, trickster.

Back then, we gathered from different homes, colors, heights, age and sex, all after one thing, stories that taught morals.

No one bothered about religion, ethnicity or political parties, instead culture was the champion and ultimate goal.

Then, culture was the future or should I say, “It was the way, truth and life.”

Oh! I remember, family wasn’t only by blood and Friendship was another way, it was all for one and one for all.  We could vouch for one another.

Back then, the good always died old and the wicked died young.

Competition was healthy and it created a bond, fostered unity and promoted peace.

From intra-village to inter-ethnic groups, our Culture kept us stronger as a team.

Today, what I see is different, to start with, the good die young.

Blackberry is now a phone (smiles), tales by moonlight is almost gone

Competition is now a do or die affair, and supremacy is the ultimate goal.

Now it’s all man for himself.

Culture is now termed “old-school” by the youth, children are poisoned by parents with either Ethnocentrism or Stereotype.

Neighbors now see one another as enemies, suspects and terrorists. It’s sad but true.

The Hausa man is seen as a terrorist.

Fulani herdsmen have stopped being shepherds of cattle (Some, they say, now take lives).

Igbos are seen as tricksters and cunny.

Yorubas are seen as deceptive (just to mention a few).

All as a result of stereotyping.

Trust is now an issue amongst and within different tribes

Today, hate speech is almost replacing advice.

The list is endless….

So, the question is this…

What happened to being our brother’s keeper?

What happened to welcoming visitors even when we don’t know them?

What happened to solidarity forever?

What happened to brotherhood?

The list is endless.

I begin to wonder if all my wishes are possible at all. Because today, due to ignorance, greed, quest for power and domination, we now have Monsters. As a result of which mothers have lost sons and daughters and they have also lost mothers and fathers, to the cold hands of death. All because of cultural differences, power tussle and other demons.

So, call me crazy, daydreamer or stupid for wishing for those days to return. I know it won’t be easy but Lao Tsu once said: “the journey of a thousand miles, begins with a single step.”

I will keep working and praying for my country and keep promoting our culture with the aim of bridging the gap between cultures. Someday I know it will happen and we will be united despite our ethnicity, religion or political party.

Alone, I can do so little. But together, we can do so much. We can gradually bring back unity, peace security.

All from saying no to ethnocentrism, Stereotyping and saying, YES! to embracing our cultures, where we were taught values, morals and oneness.

We can start by supporting L’ACUDE, because in the times when unity doesn’t make sense, L’ACUDE creates a platform that makes it possible.

My name is Abati Emmanuel Junior and I Rep L’acude.

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