Traditions - Do you think there are traditions that are harmful, evil, or toxic? Why do you think these traditions were created? Why do you think society continues to perpetuate these kinds of traditions? Do you think we could change them? How would we change these harmful traditions?
Hello #qccommunity family, trust your weekend is going well. I welcome you to the blog.
Christopher1710
Tradition can be defined as the way of life of people, which they are known for. It is a practice that is preserved and passed through generations. In my state of origin, we have many traditions; however, I am not privy to all of them. Among those traditions are:
First. New Yam Festival; this festival is celebrated to mark the beginning and end of the farming season. It happens once every year during the August meeting. The Igwe of our town, with his cabinet, champions the organisation and celebration of this festival. During this period, the youths and elders prepare cultural dances and masquerades to showcase glitz and glamour while prayers are offered as thanksgiving for the bountiful harvest and for fruitfulness for the new farming season.
Second. Uzu Awka Day; means blacksmith day, it is a day mapped out to celebrate the prowess of the blacksmiths in Awka. Their crafts and skills as blacksmiths are showcased with history in retrospect from the King and his cabinet as a major highlight of the day. Again, different classes of individuals attend the event to showcase talent and vigour in blacksmithing. There are a lot of cultural dances, masquerades, networking, and exchange of pleasantries.
Third, abstinence from killing Monkeys and green snakes; once you are a stranger to my hometown, you are advised to abstain from killing these two animals. They are seen as representatives of the ancestors and as guidance. They believe that once they are in your environment, they came for good news or to protect the individual from harm. They are sacred beings, and as such, killing them is regarded as an abomination. The offender faces ritual cleansing of the land, organising a burial for the animal, or even getting a sanction from the king.
Traditions are good because they help us know our culture, which is our identity. However, I am not comfortable with the third tradition I mentioned above.
There was a time we went for a traditional marriage and found a big python in our restroom. We wanted to kill it, but the elders around stopped us. They called some boys who came and used whistling to call the python from our restroom. It gently followed them to the bush while we were astonished. Later, they came back and told us that the python was protecting our house.
I see that tradition as toxic and should be changed because a stranger can just fall victim to such abstinence and get into trouble by killing the monkey or snake. The monkeys come around at will and make noise.
Vishu Joo
Society has been dancing to the tune of this tradition for a long time, and changing it wouldn’t be easy. Yet uneasy lies the head that wears the crown. If the villagers unanimously agree through a town hall meeting. Because there is power in the majority and unionism. The possibility of changing it would happen.
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