(You’ll Learn Something Profound Reading This. That’s Guaranteed! Read It Before You Dive Into The Working Week)
I had the privilege of attending, and finishing the prestigious SMP (find out the meaning) program of the LBS (one ‘small’ school in Lagos). Graduation was last Saturday, July 4th. When I told my wife that I would be wearing my white agbada (parachute-like, flowing outer robe, embroided with the Nigerian map/colors) to the graduation ceremony, she looked at me as if I had said something atrocious or sacrilegious. ‘Oyinbo po, abi?! Na my papa, and company, send me go school. Na me and Patrick Obahiagbon waka come – a la “Political higi haga!” Chai! We don see/hear plenty things for Naija.’
She asked me if I was serious and I said, “Yes.” She retorted, “You can’t wear that o!” GOD gave me patience that day. I took the time to explain, and show her the conversations on our SMP platform, how colleagues had sought for clarification on dress code, and the class coordinator (staff of the school) had assured us corporate English or Native was okay for the occasion.
Despite my patient and endearing explanation, all she could see was her husband in suit at the graduation. Well, when such ‘sales pitch’ fails, I put my foot down, “It’s my graduation, and that’s what I’m wearing. Final!” She didn’t like it, but, she’s lived with me long enough (23 years plus) to know when to back down.
Marriage is a very interesting institution, and you’ll keep learning new things in it till you die – if you’re willing to learn o! You know, I still find it amusing, sometimes, when my wife considers me, or some of my actions ‘strange,’ despite the fact that I warned her while in courtship. I had told her, “You don’t have to marry me, BECAUSE I DON’T THINK THE WAY MOST MEN THINK. I could come to church on our wedding day wearing jeans and t-shirt. Is it me you want to marry or suit?!”
‘Na she marry me after I don tell her all that o, she go come dey talk say I dey strange. O ti ri nkankan!’ I go still wear that agbada go White House and 10, Downing Street, and I go take you along, my sweet peperempe.’
Fast forward to the graduation. When we arrived LBS, right from the parking lot, I became a star. When I stepped out of the vehicle, a man, still sitting in his own car, looked at me and said, “I like your outfit. I see the colours of Nigeria on you. It is nationalistic.” Getting into the auditorium, heads were turning in my direction.
The colleague who sat beside me said, “Have you seen our class president? The two of you are uniquely dressed.” 344 of us, from 5 different programs, graduated on Saturday, but 2 of us stood out: moi, and my class president, who came in full IGBO regalia – ishiagu, cap and wrapper. We were the people others wanted to take pictures with. Even Leke Alder, a patron of the school; and the Deputy VC, who gave me my scroll, looked at me with the eye of admiration as I stepped onto and off the platform.
My ‘sweet peperempe orente’ is yet to tell me, but, I’m sure she walked away from that ceremony extremely proud of her husband, especially when a colleague told her, “Your husband is a ge – – -s!” All GLORY to GOD in the Highest. Hallelujah
My name is Dele Aina, I don’t do convention – however popular or well accepted it is; I do CONVICTION, even when everyone else is going the other way. 344 graduands, and only 2 dared to DRESS DIFFERENTLY, and they STOOD OUT.
The other fellow that would have been in our league had a black agbada on, and, that easily blended in with the dark black and blue suits that filled the auditorium.
‘Who suit HEPP sef?!’ Has any African’s life been made sweeter by wearing suits? It’s not even conducive under our weather. Why do you make yourself a sweating, suffering slave of colonialism in your STATE OF INDEPENDENCE?! The tie you’re wearing/knotting on those suits is probably tying down your destiny and making your life knotty.
Be proud of who you are and where you’re from. In the world today, “FORMAL CORPORATE” includes both English and Native, as long as the Native is complete with cap. I love my Nigerian/African roots, and will ALWAYS be proud to DRESS like one wherever I go on this planet, and even in heaven. GOD, in His Wisdom, made us Africans. Let’s be proud of our ROOTS, CULTURE and GODLY TRADITIONS.
We have remained largely underdeveloped and fickle-minded because we keep trying to be what we are not, and keep striving to imitate a people completely different from us.’Ah! O ga o!’ Who shall deliver my people from this ‘kolo-mentality’ o?!
As for me, IF IT DOES NOT RUN CONTRARY TO THE WORD OF GOD, NOR VIOLATES THE LAWS OF THE LAND OR INSTITUTION, I WILL ALWAYS DO IT ACCORDING TO MY CONVICTION, AND NEVER TO YOUR EXPECTATIONS, OR ANYBODY’S. LIFE IS MUCH MORE TOO IMPORTANT TO LIVE IT ON THE OPINIONS OR EXPECTATIONS OF OTHERS. THAT IS HOW PERCEPTIONS, NATIONS AND PEOPLES, ARE TRANSFORMED AND BETTERED.
Selah!
DA