can't take the zoo out of the man

LEADERSHIP JUNCTURE

This morning I walked down to the local store and on my way back held a conversation with 3 Igbo young men all in their 20s. Igbos are the people who fought for a separate State called Biafra back in the late 60s. This civil war claimed the lives of over 3 million people, and in an attempt to move forward, Nigerians don’t really speak of it, except for some radical Biafrans who propagate independence on the Biafran radio.

2 of the guys started their own businesses (repairing gas cooker and a laundry service). I walk past them on a daily basis and at times no work, partly due to no electricity. They come early in the morning, sit and gist all day, and when night falls, they disperse to their various homes. When there’s money, they buy fuel and run the generator to operate their business. One didn’t attend school because of funds and as far as I know, there is no free education for higher education here. All 3 men ardently argued for the separation of state once again as the solution of better standard of living. This deliberation was intriguing and filled with both passion and despondency. One said Igbos needed to get out of this zoo (Nigeria) where animals are not well fed to make their own country and be free. I fired back saying that the same people who’d lead Biafra are the ones leading these Igbos states now, and unless they govern justly here and now, no silver bullet would do the trick, not even an independence of State. We went round and round trying to figure out a solution. One posited that we need young people in government, but after a while we agreed that even the youth would follow the same protocol as their fathers- one of siphoning money. The exact phrase was, ‘if you’re offered sugar, you’d take it because it’s sweet, it’s sweet well well’, meaning once you enter the system as is, you’re doomed to be contaminated because the temptations are stronger than your holy convictions.

There’s a saying that no good men last long in politics. Perhaps this is true of every country out there. They resign, are kicked out or worst- they change. This morning we bemoaned our fate until we realized that once you infiltrate the system with a critical mass of selfless people, the inevitable happens- the polluters are inversely affected by selfless people, subsequently causing change in the system. I’m not alone in my sentiment. African literature giant, Chinua Achebe wrote a book in the early 80s called, ‘The Trouble with Nigeria’. His conclusion is one many others share- the problem: leadership. The solution: bountiful selfless leaders.

I fully acknowledge that leaders aren't the only problem in this land. Even the 5 yr old is taught to cheat and lie to get what they want; to hustle. Get what you want 'anyhow'. We need people with a different orientation leading the government, leading a movement, ones who put national interest before practicing nepotism and stomach infrastructure, ones who come down from their self-aggrandized pedestals to engage with the everyday people in this country, they who get disturbed when they see and hear of abject poverty, ones who aren’t myopic in their mentalities nor insular in their ideologies. Is it really this simple? Trust me, I don’t confuse simplicity for feasibility and possibility, but can this really be all it’d take to change the trajectory of this nation and the surrounding ones to be a more burgeoning continent?

In my next post, I will do a part two of God & Church. I received some feedback which indicated to me that my American readers didn't quite understand what I was trying to say about 'religiosity' here. Relationship w God is very different from relationship with religion. Stay tuned.

God & Church

‘The louder your amen, the bigger your testimony.’ These are famous words spoken in church often, to which the congregation shouts aloud, ‘AMEN’! I’ve observed that when blessings for money and material possessions are released, the AMENs are loudest. Why is this? Probably many reasons, one of which is poverty. Tonight a dear friend said that people go to church because it's an environment where they hear positive stories, happy things happening which keeps them hopeful. People of all backgrounds and social class attend church here in Nigeria, whether it be protestant, catholic, anglican or others. Infact if you don’t go to church at the very least on Sundays, society degrades you. A gentleman co-worker sat me down to talk about a personal matter: to set me up with his brother. (Note- not my first, second or third experience with this). Before we discussed this issue, he shared with me about how God was the only dependable person in his life, aging back to his childhood. The sincerity in his voice affirmed the reality I see here- God’s hand in one’s life is axiomatic because when all amenities of life, the basic needs go unmet, ‘God dey’, meaning God is still there seeing you through and providing for you. This is one fundamental reason God is worshiped vivaciously here- because many times He has been people’s only hope. One stark contrast with the U.S. is how ‘God’ is in everything, from names of children to pharmaceutical stores to hair salons to cordial greetings. When you see a familiar face on the road, you ask, ‘how is the family?’ to which they respond, ‘we thank God’, a way to say they are well and we're thankful. If you enter a vehicle and make it to your destination, far or near, that's another reason to thank God. When you’re boarding a bus to travel, before the vehicle pulls out of the motor park, there’s a ‘pastor’ who comes inside, prays for your safety and the trip, and collects an offering. This practice is inevitable. Digression: I personally attribute the road prayer to the recklessness of drivers on these pot-holed full roads. Only here have I experienced someone driving against traffic, and when you block them because you're in the right of way, they get out of their cars and castigate you for blocking traffic. Naija life- it's real stuff. I, too, thank God.

Asaba, the capital of Delta State, my state of origin, reminds me of Waco, TX in that there are practically churches at every corner. On one street alone, you’re likely to find 3 churches, some of which are obscure that it’s only with magnifying eyes do you see them. Then again there are loud speakers outside so when you’re home, at your Aunty’s, or at the office, you hear people praising God or Kabeshing... word for ‘firing prayers’. Nigerians are prayer warriors. I’m convinced that if they could have super powers, it’d be to totally annihilate Satan and all his demons who make life hellish. With jokes aside, this is one characteristic I admire in our people and strive to obtain- the persevering spirit, endurance in being before God and communing with Him. Before I came back I knew I was stepping into a deeply religious world, really to the point where if you worship Him in a perfunctory manner, you will certainly be rebuked. If you’re praising him at church, you betta give him your best- in your dancing, financial offering, waving of hands and shouting 'Amen'. I must also say that the Nigerian churches I’ve experienced so far are greatly disciplined, from which the American church can learn.

On our way to church on a wedn evening. My cousin is one of the best dancers I've seen

I want to narrow in a bit on my church here by sharing the message of the ministry, Salvation Gospel Mission (SGM) Int'n. I've found great life and a paradigm shift in the message and care to pass it along, not only for my Christian readers, but for everyone to hear and digest accordingly.

Message- If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). When we were buried and raised with Christ, we became a new creation. This new creation, having the incorruptible seed of God inside (1 John 3:9), has Christ's DNA, so a transfer from earthly origin to spiritual took place, therefore innate problems from natural family are obsolete. That is to say if your parents were alcoholics, their genetics no longer determine your course. You are now part of the household of God, a member of the Trinity because you're one with Christ. There are certain traits you possess because you're of new birth and are unstoppable (mark 16:17-18). Christians have the life of Christ running inside them, yet are ignorant of what this means. If only we knew what we had, life would be altered. How do you practice these truths? It's simply a consciousness, being aware of who you are.

This message encapsulates a reality that can be provocative and offensive, however I felt compelled to write it because I believe it has power to revolutionize how people think of life with God. There is obviously so much more I can say on that, but will leave it there.

there they are- the real 'women'

On a lighter note, apparently to be considered a ‘woman’, one must have married and birthed children, or at least taken care of children. I discovered this reality when they passed a brochure to all the ‘women’ in church, and the usher deliberately skipped over me. Hahaha. Around here I’m considered a youth. NO problem! This youth lady here can and will probably forever remain youthful. Alleluia:)

I’ve promised some booty shaking videos, so below are some traditional attires and dances from the Women’s Week at church last month. I think I wore a grin the whole time while capturing these moments. These women were strutting with panache, I mean for realzz. This may explain me more, for those who've seen me break it down on the dance floor, although these women far surpass my abilities, especially in traditional dances.

Really enjoy reading your responses to these posts. keep 'em coming.

Enjoy!

Ladies in gold- Igbo tribe 

Blue- Of the Anioma tribe

Orange- Irobo people

Beaded attire- Edo