I come from a tribe that honours culture and tradition, a tribe that values what we call our own, a tribe that beseech and commands respect, a tribe that beholds the beauty of language and attires, a tribe that goes beyond just been called a tribe, a Tribe Called YORUBA.
In Yoruba land we have our cultural activities which we refer to as Asha, Ise Ati ede (Culture, Tradition and language).
In my tribe, our culture doesn't condone disrespect from a younger one to an elderly person or disrespect between fellow elders, from a wife to the husband or from a child to the parent.
My Culture teaches how to greet and honour people in different ways in our language.
We have the Ekaaro (Good morning) Ekaasan (Good afternoon) Eku irole/Ekaale (Good evening and Odaaro (Good night) and as you can see, there's no part of the day that we don't have a greeting for just to ensure that we're able to greet at any time of the day we meet with anyone.
When someone dies we say Eku aseyinde(Greetings on looking after what the deceased left behind), when someone gives birth we say Eku ewu omo or Eku owo lomi(Greetings on escaping the danger with child delivery or constantly putting hands in water), when a king dies we say OBA waja, when you have a visitor we say Eku Amojuba (Greetings on setting eyes on the visitor, and when someone or your visitor just left your place, back to their homes we say Eku Ile de (Greetings on having your home back with out visitor) and many more greetings in special ways which in general we refer to as EWA EDE (Beauty of Language)
Another part I would like to talk about in my tribe and culture is the marriage part. In my culture, we believe that for every maiden a man comes to ask her hand in marriage, he must pay the bride price and the bride price items includes and are not limited to 42 Tubers of yams, alligator pepper, bitter cola, Kola nut, red oil, Groundnut Oil, fruits, she-goat, and some enveloped money which are tagged as; Iya gbo (Bride's mother accepts), Baba gbo (Bride's father accept), Iyawo Ile (the family wives), owo Ori (the price for the bride), Isiju Iyawo (unveiling the bride's face), the engagement rings and many others.
In my culture, many would return back the owo Ori (price for the bride) that they are not selling their daughter while some would keep it that it doesn't mean as it's a normal rite to do. After which the parents from both families (groom and the bride) bless the couple to have a happily married life together.
In this process, we have the Ekun Iyawo (Bride's weep) and this is where the Bride's mother enters into the veil of the bride, facing the daughter one on one, chanting (if she can) and praying fervently for her.
From no where, probably through deep thinking that they're both leaving one another that day and not being able to have the normal mother-daughter's fight at home anymore or waking up each morning to see one another, they both break into tears and start weeping but it's always counted as tears of joy.
After all the necessary things are done, both couples are traditionally blessed to live together as husband and wife. They're always seen dressed in stunning and gorgeous looking weaved clothes called Aso Ofi which is the cultural dress in Yoruba land fo every special occasions.
The last thing but not the least part I would want to talk about in this article is about the naming ceremony when a baby is born and is about to be christened or given names.
This is so much fun too as there will be provision of some items which will be used in praying for the baby for his/her journey in life.
These items and their meanings includes:
- Water: To pray for ease in the life of the baby as he/she grows
- Honey/Sugar: To pray for sweetness in the life of the baby against all sorrows or bitterness
-Alligator Pepper: To pray against poverty in the life of the baby
-Bitter Kola: To pray for long life for the baby as you would always see Kola nut every season or year - Kola nut: To pray against all evil in the way of the baby
- Salt: To pray for sweetness for the baby
And many more
All these and many more are the beauty that my culture beholds. Every action of ours beholds a great meaning and not just for acting sake.
I would choose my tribe every now and then because of its values and cultural activities that speaks honour, love and respect.
I'll be dropping my pen here on Culture prompt by SciFi Multiverse
Thanks for reading through 🤗
All pictures are MINE
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