It’s a known phenomenon that in life the more we get old, the more it tends to be very difficult to control our minds till it reaches maturity. In fact, we know more than we used to know during our days of childhood. Eventually, we start displaying some funny acts like, distancing ourselves from females or illicit deeds which tarnish the prestige of the younger generation. In this light, the things we used to do when we were kids start becoming irrelevant, senseless and eccentric only then will we call them ‘childish’.
As a growing juvenile, I have been fortunate to spend my childhood in two different locations not bounded by language, racial extremism, culture, and religions. I spent my first five years in Lagos state (located in the Western region of Nigeria) and the remaining of my childhood days in Delta state (found in the Southern region of Nigeria). But the common denominator to my experience pertains to children. In both places, all children behaved alike and they were treated equally irrespective of parenthood, or not.
The most memorable moment of my childhood spans from building houses on sands, playing soccer with my fellow kids to feeling parental touch. Amongst this awesome experience was the narrative, I was told at moonlight.
Whether it is a myth or a truism, the tales still remain beyond the confines of my intellectual compass. Indeed, the story I heard of the animal kingdom captivated my attention to the most real and fascinated ‘picture of life’ because they all seem ideal and true.
When I became of age, I read a novel by George Overwell titled ‘THE ANIMAL FARM’. George made me confused after reading his books because he was of the opinion that pigs were the wisest of all animals. This contradicted what my teacher taught me at class 5- tortoise being the wisest of all. So, most of the times I am faced up with the challenge of choosing between pigs and tortoise. Tortoise has been my favorite of all the animals. His bravery supersedes all of the other animals and I once compared it with that of King Solomon; how naughty was I then? you can imagine. George Overwell at his age writing about the animal kingdom must have valued his childhood to put up such an intriguing and mind-blowing piece.
Many who were fortunate to meet their parents alive enjoyed the dividends of growing up. In my country home ‘Issele-uku’, parents who had forgotten some of these storylines do take their kid to an elderly person, who was exceptional and talented in many live respects. In the Igbo tradition (i.e. the Eastern and partly southern region in Nigeria) between twilight and the dawn of the next morning. Probably when the moon is shining very bright and colourful, it is mandatory though optional for “Egu onwa” meaning the moon play, to take place at the heart of the town. Usually, children do go out of their father’s hut to “Ilo” (meaning outside) for “Inu” (meaning stories). As I learnt from my dad, that “Egu onwa” is not only the story time for kids but also the time young boys who are of marriage age meets young girls of a marriageable age.
This tradition is no longer common nowadays among the Igbos due to foreign influences which the households of those who still feel that they own their children should partake in the old tradition. Nevertheless, it was similar in the west but not as it was among the Igbos. Childhood has gone, but I will never forget those lovely stories that retrospectively took place in my life.
Moreover, I never had the opportunity to know my mother well enough, she was a good storyteller shortly before her demise took her away from us. But I could tell that my childhood was never boring because my dad was there. He understood the value of folktales in a child’s life; thanks to his upbringing. My dad was a good story promoter as well to the extent that his stories were never repeated or exhausted unless you requested for a previous tales which he had told before.
Every evening when it is not raining, I and my siblings will sit around him under a big pear tree just outside our home, with each of us struggling who to sit by his side and have the father’s touch. It was indeed fun and that memory has been ’like an unshakable mountain’ in me that can never be moved, an unremovable remnant whose traces and imprints cannot be easily erased. All of his stories begin with ’story story!!!, once upon a time’; after which we will pray for a long evening of unending stories. One of my favourite had been the story strand tagged: ‘A FEAST IN HEAVEN’ featuring tortoise and the birds, and this is how it goes:
Story story!!, Story
Once upon a time! Time-time
Many years ago, in the land of a great kingdom, there existed a great king who ruled all over the land, his name was Lion. In the empire of the Lions, there came a time when the rain had gone away and a great famine came to the land; there was little or no food. Every animal in the kingdom was disturbed and some where dying of hunger and starvation. One day a letter came from heaven that God has organised a feast for all the animals and that the feast will be holding in heaven in the next market day. King lion called for a meeting of all animals and broke the good news to them. Tortoise was present in that meeting but the other animals would not allow him speak or make a contribution on how they will go to the feast in heaven.
After the meeting, tortoise got a plan but never told it to any of the animals. When the day of the feast came, tortoise went to meet with the birds who were preparing to go for the feast. He begged them to join them to the venue with the help of their wings and after much talks, the birds agreed to take tortoise along on the condition that any food given to them will be shared among every animal present in that feast.
While other animals were looking for a way to go for the feast, the tortoise was parking his bag for take-off.
With the help of the bird’s wings, tortoise was able to attend the feast. On getting to the venue; tortoise asked the birds to take a new name that it was important to differentiate amongst themselves. They did what tortoise had said and tortoise took the name ‘Everybody’ which was what they all agreed on.
When the food was severed the God’s servant who brought the food said it was for everybody so tortoise told the birds that it was for him since his name is everybody. That was how many more food came and tortoise claimed it all and left nothing but bones for the birds. All the birds were unhappy and they made a decision not to take tortoise back home. When time to return home came, tortoise was left behind without the help of any bird. Tortoise now asked the birds that when they reach earth they should tell his wife to lay down enough soft-landing materials so as he can land fine and all the birds agreed and left for home.
When the birds got home they told tortoise wife that tortoise had asked her to lay hard materials on the ground so he can land as a man and that she should call all the animals to watch him fall. Tortoise wife was happy, he called out all his children and ask them to bring all the hard materials their hands could get. They all did as they were told and many animals heard of what was going down in tortoise house; thanks to Tortoise best friend-Parrot. When tortoise saw from heaven that something that was laid. He immediately jumped up and on landing his shell broke to pieces. It was snail that helped him to mend his broken shells. This created marks on his shell.
In the end, tortoise learnt a big lesson never to cheat others again but be truthful and fair at all time.
Life is like a ladder the steps you used climbing to the top, are still the step you may use when coming down. If you treat a step badly on climbing to the top you may never have the privilege to use it when coming down and it may pose a fatal fall.
The human ecosystem is like the animal kingdom and our everyday life is a reflection of our actions. Many may feel that they possess this gift which makes them superior to other but at the end, we are all humans and everyone counts. Change is constant and life goes on, no matter how the society has treated us or made us, we should emulate good virtues and embrace love.
Life of a child is fun and awesome, so I did remember. Stories I learnt made me stronger in mind as a child and I will put in summary to anyone that children are one of the principal gifts to the society and as such there should be guided to attain great feat in life.
IMAGE SOURCE
All images used in this post was gotten from pixabay and to the best of my knowledge, it is free to use.
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