It's been a really long time since I was here, but it feels really good to be back. I've missed writing on this platform and also relating to other people's lives from the writing out of their thoughts. I hope coming back feels even better.
During my few months away, a number of things happened and I even experienced new things and most importantly new cultures. Maybe not first hand but I was able to get a glimpse of what certain cultures entails, like their dance, dressing, the colours that represent them, the foods they eat and a whole other things that I'd love to share. So during my period of not being present, I was in camp, the magaji Dan-yamusa permanent orientation camp, keffi.
I was there for three weeks and it was an experience of mixed feelings, sometimes I wanted to just get an exeat and get out while other times, mostly in the evenings I wanted to stay back and enjoy every bit of it. But one thing I still cannot relate to is me wishing the days could be extended, like why would I want to spend an extra day there??
Well there were lots of memorable activities which happened there and the one that caught my attention most was the carnival day, a day that was set aside to display various cultures in Nigeria and the beauty of it.
The most beautiful part of this display was that most people who represented some of these cultures weren't even from that ethnicity cause we all know how different tribes are mixed in camp, but everyone embodied it like it was theirs. My platoon represented the Tiv people of Nigeria and it was beautiful. Ranging from their attire of black and white stripes to their dance/body movements. I was amazed at how people dance and twist their bodies so effortlessly like they were boneless and I'm not just talking women ooo, even the men weren't left out of this dance moves. There was also the Ijaw people, those people made me realise that effortlessly shaking of the bum is not just a circular dance but it is tradition and must be embraced. The Hausa was another gracefully represented tribe. From the moment they came in with their king and his bride on horses which symbolised royalty (we know how the hausas don't play with royalty) down to the whole titled men (hakimi, sarkin pawa, the horsemen, etc) were duly represented. It was beautiful. The Yoruba people were also represented and little surprise they came first in the event. It was a beautiful cultural display to have withheld. The oba was gracefully ushered in with his bride, the bata dance troupe graced us with their beautiful steps then sanoo came in with his whole display, the fire display, rough movements, serious face and all. One would think he had practiced being a priest before. Other beautiful tribes were also represented like the fulani, igbo, Benue and Mada. And they were all beautiful. Truth is culture is beautiful and it really needs to be appreciated more often because it is indeed our identity.
