What’s something you used to believe as a kid that seems ridiculous now?
Actually, the fairy tales were the things our society normally used to keep us in check and obedient.
We have many of those when growing up.
You are told not to sit by the doorway. You were told that sitting on the mortar for making pounded yam will bring you bad luck. You were told that you should not fight your mates as it is only bad children that do that. The list goes on and on. And you believe every bit of it.
However, as an adult, you begin to think through these things and realise that just may be, it is a way for you community to keep everyone in line. You help children to see that if they are good, they will not have problems.
It makes sense to keep children from sitting in the doorway because adults could trip over them if they don’t know that the kid is there when they are passing. As such, you avoid accident for both the tiny child and the big adult.
You know that mortars are meant to prepare pounded yam. Such a delicacy that is the height of enjoyment because it is the king of meals in southern Nigeria would be messed up and become smelly if someone sits on it and fart on it. So, it makes sense to discourage people from sitting on it by telling them it brings bad luck when they sit on it. Anyway, these days, food processors also make wonderful and hot pounded yam. You should try it some time.
We all know that cultures are created by humans. However, I do not say you should not respect your culture’s demands. I am only saying that, at times, you may just be on to something that can be sensibly explained but made into a big deal to avoid some ordinary consequences.
Have a great day, people.
Leave a Reply