ARE WE GOING FOR OTAMPA MEETING? LITTLE THING THAT MATTERS ON ST’ PIRAN’S CHURCH SCHOOL CULTURAL DAY, 2016

Report by Nnabugwu Ngozi

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.

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…