REMINISCING OUR PARADISE TIMES ON EARTH: ENUGU-EZIKE IN OUR VIEW
2 min read
By Fada Angelo Unegbu/Barr. L.U. Eze
WE ONCE LIVED IN A PARADISE
Once upon a time, this pot was found in the kitchen of every Igbo family whether rich or poor. The kitchen was usually accessible to everyone including visitors and neighbours. The pot usually had a cup placed on top of it. Anyone who was thirsty simply scooped water, drank, and placed the cup back. Was the cup washed before or after drinking? For where. It was only washed in the morning and never again until the next day.
The Indomie generation will not believe this. That was possible because there was no Nollywood that gave people the impression that society, especially the villages, were occupied by evil men and women looking for whom to poison. It was a time when churchgoers were not told from the pulpit that their predicaments were caused by their family members, neighbors, and friends.
I am talking about a time when it was unheard of for native doctors to brag about possessing the powers to make one rich. The time I am talking about was a time when uncles were known to be the best friends of their nieces and nephews. During the holidays, children were moving from one uncle and aunt to another. It was always joyful to see an uncle or an aunt.
Today, there is hardly any die-by-fire prayer without mentioning wicked uncles.
I am talking about a time when children played together and when it was difficult or even impossible to distinguish the children of the rich from that of the poor when they are playing.
Yes, houses were built without fences because no one was afraid of being maimed by the other. I decided to post this to remind us that there was a time when we lived in paradise.
There was indeed a time when we lived in Paradise; at that time, parents used to recite folk tales to their children after night meals or super. At that time also children used to organise “egwu onwa” (moonlight dance) and “ndegbe” (children’s) masquerades used to perform at night under bright moon (notably at Enugu Ezike).
We used to travel at night within and outside our villages and towns without any let or hindrance. Then, parental control commands authority and respect. At that time, it used to be mandatory to work for our parents in their farms on Saturday’s and very early in the morning before going to school. That time also, children used to make their handiworks and assignments given them by their teachers rather than contracting them out to be done by a third party.
Now, the above pot is only good for the National Mesum because it appears to be an endangered specie ( laugh).
