Hello Hivers,I want to absolutely say a massive thanks for your support, there's absolutely no me without you lovelies.
Today,I want to talk about our cultural diversity in Rivers State.
As a cinematographer,our job takes us to various nook and cranny of the world.
It exposes us to different kinds of people,meals, culture, different school of thought etc.
First of all, yesterday was a great day and experience for me,I was opportune to cover a cultural display of the Rivers people, thousands of people trooped out , onlookers and the likes.
I had this air of pride while covering the displays of different masquerades including the one I was specifically asked to turn off my camera for some superstitious reason.
Note,I had to respect that instruction because the crowd there was massive and they had some indigenes assigned to me in order to keep me safe while doing my job.
Below,you can see different masquerades, people and inscription on t-shirts.
NATIVE CHALK
As you know, there's no tradition or culture without the Native chalk,this Native chalk is mostly used for incantations by native doctors during consultation of the gods .
Sometimes, it is applied beneath the eyes when you are sent on a spiritual assignment,for you to see beyond the physical and see the spiritual .
Sometimes, it's used for cleansing an unclean person,thereby applying the dissolved native chalk all over the persons body.
Fast forward to my experience,I met alot of crowd that really overwhelmed me,why was I overwhelmed?
CHRISTIANITY
Christianity has played a huge role in our society over the years.
Our forefathers solely depended on traditions and it's capris.
Like you and I know or have heard how people who go against the tradition of the Land are either beheaded, buried alive or sent into the evil forest.
But when Christianity came into the land,alot of these things were abolished and most of the places we had shrines have been converted to churches,prayer spots,etc.
In as much as these behavior have been frown at,we still have a few traditionalists,dodged ones who have one way or the other inherited it or have a huge passion to uphold the culture and traditions of their land.
UNITY IN DIVERSITY
Talking about unity in diversity,just as football brings people of different color, race and tribe together for one course,that's how cultural festivals attract people all over the world to gather together as one to share thoughts,it brings about business, marriage,etc.
This brings about a very colourful event,where you get to see people from different race and different beliefs.
IMPROVE BUSINESS
As a cinematographer,I also noticed that businesses improved in the course of the festival.
The weather was perfect, scotching sun,dry wind, people needed to stay hydrated for the duration of the activity, people ran helter skelter because of the masquerade chasing people.
I noticed a particular masquerade called "NWATAM",this masquerade walks gallantly on rooftops.
There's this myth that a pregnant woman should not come across a certain masquerade,else she'll give birth to a Baby looking like a masquerade.
We have alot of myths surrounding various traditions and culture that makes it look special and attractive.
I covered the event to the point where the sunset and people retired to different joints and bars to chill with cold drinks and peppersoup.......Lol
Apparently, the event continued till late in the night and the next day,but on that day,I had the privilege of enjoying the next day without working,I had to ask alot of questions concerning "WHAT IF"?
Culture is deep, traditions exist,no matter how we look at it.
It might be watered down a bit,but it still stands and that date marked to be celebrated.