Report by Nnabugwu Ngozi
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| Chinazaekpere and Ihechiluru |
Chinazaekpere and Ihechiluru
are children of the same parents. They hail from Otampa, in Isuikwuato Local
Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria, but resident in Jos, the Plateau State
capital, with their parents.
Chinazaekpere is in the
Primary, while Ihechiluru is in the Nursery session. Both attend the St Piran’s
Church School, located at St’ Piran Avenue, GRA, Jos.
On Friday, June 17, 2016,
the school marked her 2016 Cultural day; which held at the school compound. The
cultural day, at the St Piran’s Church School, is a big event, which attracts
the low, middle and high class citizens. It is a day that teachers
and pupils of the St Piran’s Church School appear on cultural or native attires
to depict different ethnic nationalities in Nigeria and beyond.
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| Some of theTeachers of St Piran's Church School |
In most cases, the students
and pupils of the School, dress in ways that portray each child’s ethnic
identity and origin. However, the students, and pupils of St Piran’s Church
School, Jos are not under any form of compulsion to appear on the native attire
of their own ethnic group or limited by the school authority from adorning any other
native attire outside their own ethnic group. As a matter of fact, the school
encourages, the swapping of attire, in which case some of the students and
pupils from one ethnic nationality may decide to dress in the native attire of other
ethnic nationalities.
Early in the morning of
Friday, June 17, 2016, Chinazaekpere and Ihechiluru, as usual rose to prepare for
school, just like any other day. Any need for me to say, that the preparation
of the day was totally different?
The persistent reminders
by the two children on the need to be in school early, on that day (Friday,
June 17, 2016), even when it was obvious that there was no need for the
reminder, since they hardly go to school late, is an indication of the degree
of agility, excitement and fun which they both belief the day will offer them. The
look on their faces, told the story better. It was very obvious that the two children
were up for something they indeed have value for.
Apart from the already
mentioned, there were also last minute questions, and of course rehearsals and exchange
of views on the dance steps and the tones for different songs, that signified
their level of commitment and desire for a worthy and resounding outing on that
day.
Nobody in the house expected
the question that suddenly found its way out of the younger of the two children.
As soon as they were ready
to take off, to the school, the little one Ihechi, as she is fondly called by
the family, called the mother in a very solemn tone, but certainly loaded with
emotion and innocence, and asked the unexpected “Mommy are we going for Otampa
meeting”?
I already told you in the
early paragraph of this piece that Naza, as the older child is fondly called,
and Ihechi, the younger sister, hail from OTAMPA, one of the communities in
Isuikwuato LGA, of Abia state.
Readers of this story,
especially those from the Igbo race and many others, in particular the ones
that are familiar with the Igbos already have the idea or the linkage between Ihechi’s
question and the attire of the two maidens.
As for numerous others, who
may not easily decode the link between the question and the attire, forgive me
if I say: let the search continue…
4 comments:
Nicee☺️
Yes ooo. Otampa meeting on point! You both look gorgeous by the way and to think Naza, that was you in Primary school🤣😂🤣😂🤣
This is lovely. Xoxo.
Lovely 😘 pple
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