I was born into a polygamous home of 4 kids. Polygamy is a common practice among many families in Africa especially as far back as the "40s through" 90s. This common practice was praised since at those times the predominant work of many was farming. Families with plenty children especially males use this as an advantage to clear, and cultivate verst lands in just few hours or days. This made a lot of sense.
However, at the year ("90s) that I was born this common practice began to get obsolete and this was due to the change in how things will be done from hence.. Industries had began to take over farming. Education had already found its way to our shores. We were colonized and got independence in the "60s. Even then, we were still not ready to move with the current wind of change. There has to be a way of balancing the normal way of doing things (including farming) with the new methods being introduced to us by the whites.
The change came with it too greater responsibilities. School fees had to be paid. Money for clothes, shoes and the likes has to be kept and since there is now a move from farming to securing a white collar job then having plenty children and many wives became even a problem. How do you send 10 to 30 kids to school? How much is it required to clothe them? and many more questions began to sink into the subconciousness of our fathers. Men were forced to deliberately consider marrying one or at the most 4 wives and have the number of kids they could care for.
My family was below the average type. So i wasn't privileged to enjoy frivolous lifestyle as a few in our time. I attended a public school which was supposedly meant to be FREE. However, we paid NGN50 as Parent Teachers Association (PTA) fees. I wore sack bags to school. This was the popular school bags among my peers. Most of us who were fortunate wore bad sandals to school while the rest had to make do with their bare foot. We struggled through all the way from Kindagateen to Secondary school. When we failed we got punished.
The mixture of the things life brings most times will not always be pleasant. The picture painted above is a common story of most Africans like myself yet many have found a way to pull through and thrive! Some have even gone as far as creating programs that help save the present generation from ever experiencing the things we saw.
Its a known story of bad governance and no workable systems across many Africa states. Yet there are many still making history.
The future will not accept reasons for failure. We must put in our best and make it secure for our children and the generations yet unborn.
Thank God for technology. The Africa child is brought closer to the happenings around the world. Cease the opportunity and leave your mark on the sands.
But what if you're not an African? What if you're fortunate to come from a country where everything works? What if you find yourself lost even in a country most praised by many?
What's your number one excuse for accepting defeat?
What's that genuine and nicely prepared defence you have for not living your best?
Some how you didn't get a chance to choose some things at birth. You never got a chance to choose the family to be born into nor a place to be born into.
There is no mistake anywhere. You're in your rightful place. Shine there!
