The joy of a village life.

If you can build a muscle, you can build a mindset.

Jay Shetty

A lot of people make out time to build muscles and less time to build a positive mind set which can help you make things right.

It's customary in most cultures that by the end of the year leading to the new year, people travel back to their respective home towns to be with their family members and to see old time friends whom we haven't seen in many years.

Today, clearing a community farm road.

But, people in this part of the world had over time develop a sort of negative mind set concerning travelling home and interacting with their kinsmen in the light that when dey give them opportunity to come closer , they could poison them or cast a spell on them which will either make their businesses to drop or have ill fortune in life.

How true is this?

Sharing a dry gin using same glass cup.

The truth is that we can't run away from our people they are blood and kin. When they kill you, who will be in the community one person? It's not true, it's a product of mentality and not a reality.

I'm a village a man.

Yearly and regular intervals I do travel to my home town and follow up the events and happenings of my people. And today is one of this special days where men both young and old come out to clear the farm roads it's much fun.
Let me take you through pictures taken randomly as we participate in the activities today.

The town crier with his ekwe.

When going for this community service, men from the ages of 15 years up must come or you pay a fine of one thousand five hundred naira, the fine is not the mean thing but the fun.

The elders and the community leaders' would gather to do a head count of those who took part in the event , this count is done according to the family names this would enable them know who was present or not.
There's no room for rich or poor. Every one is equal, is either you pay or come and partake in this once in a year activity.

As a village whose major occupation is farming and hunting, keeping the bush parts through is important to avoid the roads been covered by the thick bush.

We share things in common.

Living a communal life is interesting, marriages , funeral rites and cultural festivals are done together. There is no population here. No companies hence our air is safe and clean. People here live in peace. You can sleep living your doors open . At night, you will hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.
Most times there is no electricity but during festive seasons, our son's and daughters would ensure that electricity is available. Internet connections is also poor though depending on the network or you house location.

The major means of carrying farm produce is the bicycle and from the age 5 an Umuode son or daughter have learned how to ride the bicycle and from ages 8 and above such a child is able to carry loads on the bicycle from the farms to the house or market.

One good thing about this festive season is that parents who live in the cities use this period to bring their children home to learn the customs and traditions of the land.
Do you have similar culture or experience?

The climax of the community service is everyone goes home to meet a hot yam pepper soup. This is a way for mothers and wives to say welcome to their husbands and sons who had gone to clear the roads.

Thank you for reading my blog . Merry Christmas and a prosperous new year ahead.