OUR FALLEN CUSTOM AND TRADITION
In our country Nigeria, we have three known ethnic groups, namely; Igbo, Hausa and Yoruba among others. Both Yoruba and Hausa have their languages, custom and tradition as they are very conscious of their language, custom and traditions. But think of the Igbo’s you will notice that things have fallen apart that even to the expense of Igbo language, custom and tradition have all of a sudden overtaking by the advent of the western styles. Most of Igbo indigenes hardly express themselves in Igbo language and even in our formal educational sector, Igbo language have seems to have been eroded by the privately owned schools around us, for example when you come across your fellow Igbo brother in a different state, even though he must have believed you to be his fellow Igbo brother, he/she will hardly communicate with you in the Igbo language and the reason for behaving so is purely ignorance. On the custom part of Igbo culture; Igbo people hardly express their cultural attire boldly and even Igbo children of our present age hardly identify with our Igbo cultural attire because our fathers and mothers have all denied us of our entitled language, custom and tradition that even in our Igbo families, fathers and mothers hardly communicate in Igbo with their children but if you have been with Hausa nor a Yoruba family you will notice that they have never been unconscious with both their languages, customs and traditions but the Igbo’s have all neglected their languages, customs and traditions and these have given our next generation children no hope in disguise .
Moreover let me relate our government of the day in these menace; that most of our Igbo states have all allowed English language to be the order of their daily communication and even most of the employed school teachers in our states are even deficient to this syndrome. In Anambra state as example, our able Governor Willie Mmaduaburochukwu Obiano have contributed immensely with relentless effort to stabilize Igbo language, custom and traditions that he have even go on extent to officially made it mandatory that all the schools in the state (Anambra) shall all individuall y officiate with our officially known; state anthem, state pledge, cultural wear and be privileged to teach and allow our students to speak Igbo as their official language only on Wednesdays. But yet nothing have changed, as we know this our present generation seems to have failed our forefathers legacy but we still have great chances to amend it to our next generation to come because if our language, custom and tradition is to remain the same even to our next generation to come, that means that in the next generation to come both Igbo language, custom and tradition will then become a history to our upcoming generation.
Meanwhile, on the tradition aspect of Igbo side we strongly believe that even our traditions have been highly neglected, that even our traditional mode of sharing of cola nuts, drinking of palm wine, roasting of yam, night plays by our children, folk tales, Igbo songs/chants, Igbo books and character as part of our said traditions, have all overthrown by sudden science and technologies, ie, children of these days hardly play hide and seek game, our known indoor games like (Ncho or judo games)and our wrestling games only because they have all witnessed the sudden impact of information and communication technology, such as use of facebook, whatsapp, 2go and other related social medias.
Still on the tradition theory, our traditional rulers have been marginalized with Hausa and Yoruba monarchs. for example; All the emirs in Hausa land and all the Oba’s in Yoruba land, all possess federal recognition in our country Nigeria but not all our Igbo kings and traditional rulers except Igwe Achebe of Onitsha possess such federal recognition.
Finally proper sensitization from our governors, senators, house of reps and state house of assembly is highly needed for the absolute redemption of our Igbo language, custom and Tradition to our upcoming generation and with this I will then rest my case but before that; my personal trophy goes to our amiable governor Willie Obiano for his relentless efforts to the sustenance of our Igbo culture, custom, language and tradition.
Coming to you from giant comrade; Patrick Pathdon…….@pathdonofficials
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