I think I need therapy. In fact, we all do especially if you're a Nigerian raised by Nigerian parents in Nigeria. Maybe in Africa and the world in general. Cause I don't understand how we come up with so many assumptions for little things that shouldn't make us flinch. Okay, tell me why these women are saying that a neighhours cat is an agent of the devil. A harmless creature. I know you believe that too. Or you did. Don't lie.
This took me back to a few years ago when I had gone to visit a relative in Benin. One fateful night, we had all retired to bed, when we heard shouts of "Blood of Jesus! I rebuke you! Holy ghost fire consume you!...";
I got up in fright. I guess we all did cause my cousin who slept in the opposite bed to mine had got up too and was looking aghast. We sat in that position not moving anywhere until my aunt came into our room and called us for a 'cast and bind' prayer session. Apparently, she had woken up to see a bird perched by her window and was certain, in her words that, '"it was a witch that was sent on a mission''. Frankly, I was scared too. I had heard too many stories about humans changing to different animals to wreck havoc on people and if you know about the Benin,Edo state stories, you'll understand better.
Back at the living room, we were told to take comfortable positions were we can kabash(pray) well. Out of the 8 kids in that house, 2 sat down, one knelt facing the couch, my aunt remained standing, the rest 5 laid down flat on the floor...yes, me inclusive.
I don't know how many praye points were raised, all I know is that at some points, when my aunt's voice rose in prayer, I'll jerk up and chant, "Father Lord, we thank..you, w..we....worship...xyzashhkkk. Shake my head a little and go back to wherever I had jerked off from.
Anyway, I woke up the next day in that same position, my aunt and her husband just sat at their chairs looking at us like we soiled ourselves. We got an earful. More scary stories about what our nonchalance could breed.
Now, the first thing that comes to mind when I see a cat is an old witch following me before my 21st century self accepts it's just a cat.
These past days, I've unconsciously been taking note of razy things we grew up believing. Maybe you've noticed them too.
Because, why is it that when it is raining, we expect power to go off because to us,it's abnormal to have light when it's raining. It's the same way we have power supply for a period of time but we beg them to take it just so you can have it at night. It just feels too weird.
We just believe in so many untrue things. I sometimes wonder if it was someone's observation which that shared an which in turn became a trend and somehow,, it stuck. It's more like a norm.
Or someone just wanted to catch some fun and came up with these and coincidentally another was a victim of such occurrence and they all swallowed the idea.
Because how do I explain that someone asked for directions, and I whispered 'blood of Jesus' before answering him. Who wants to turn to yam? remember when this yam saga was in Vogue. Answering even someone I know from afar was scary. It was even translated into a movie. Just imagine being turned into a yam, and when the yam ia being cut, blood gushes out. Worse even, it's a talking yam. Crazy times.
That's how someone who was walking in front of me dropped his money unknown to him. I couldn't pick it to give him. E fit be trap(it could have been a trap)....you do this too right?
There's just so many instances.. Do you remember the novel titled 'Adaobi and the....biscuit?' It was quite popular then. Scary stuff! I don't even know what the writer was thinking. Probably had watched too many home videos.
You know about a week ago, my aunt's kid's friend at school came with fries, bananas and other nice goodies. Baby boy said when he was offered some,he couldn't take. He was scared of being initiated and someone singing, "...give me my food" or "my banana...my banana..." at night like it happens in movies.
It's how how we attach evil to normal happenings that is most annoying. Just today, I got a call that has 666 as part of the digits. I pled the blood of Jesus jokingly, this aged woman was seated beside me in the bus asked what was up. When I told her, can you believe this woman actually told me that it's the antichrist. That once I pick the call and say hello, they'll initiate me into their secret cult group....Just how?
Me? Explain to her that it's just a number with nothing diabolic attached? Nahh! Can't be me. Who wants a lecture on how 'what an elder sees sitting down, a child who climbs the highest mountain wouldn't..." I just let her be. Nothing I do will change her belief.
But you know, Nigerian movies have messed our heads up and that's why when someone looks at my food too much, I say a rayer because he/she may be transferring witchcraft into the food. Maybe the worst should be how a poor person always ends up wealthy whether they work hard or not....because why is it that I am lazy and always saying that a crowned prince will ditch his mannerless betrothed princess for me a commoner? Don't look at me that way.
You see this next one, I still haven't gotten over it. It's still been said till today. How do you explain that if I swallow orange seed, a tree will grow on my head. The day I swallowed cherry seed, I know what I passed through. For every day that passed, I felt like the seed was germinating in my belly. I felt a huge lump in my throat. Nonsense stuff.
They're just took many of them. Even a s a young person, a guy especially, you cannot use your nice phones and PCs without being thought of as a yahoo(fraudster) boy. You've been guilty of this one at some point. We badly need to purge ourselves of these thoughts that's why I recommend therapy but all the therapists I have been encountering have anger issues plus they use oraimo cords for their sessions. So, which way? Cause, my can cannot can again.
Thanks for gracing this post.
Greetings!
