By
Obododimma
Oha
The Igbo sage
stole my heart when he said: “Ihe a na-agba na ntị anaghị agba ya n’anya” (“What
is used in cleaning the ear is not used in cleaning the eyes). And a wise
compatriot added: “A gbaa ya n’anya, ọ kpọọ” (“If it is used in cleaning the
eyes, the latter would be ruptured”). Is that the only counsel that specifies
that the abnormal cannot become normal, the unacceptable becoming acceptable? Listen for more: “A kpa akpa, a rahụ n’ute;
a kpaghị akpa, ọ bụrụ n’ala” (“With a discussion, couples sleep together on a
mat; without that, they can sleep on the bare floor”). You have heard it; “ị
mara asụ sụa n’ikwe; ị maghị asụ, sụa n’ala” (“If you know how to pound, pound
inside the mortar; if you don’t know how to pound, pound on the bare floor”).
Are the words of our people no longer drizzles that cause the yam tendrils on
the farm to extend their hands?
Wisdom is
distributed in individuals in various portions. The eyes can see the ripe corn
and a person would know that it is ripe inside. If the person doubts that it is
ripe and wants to de-robe the corn in order to verify, that person should get
ready to endure being called a thief. That is one reason we insist that what is
used in cleaning the ears is not used in cleaning the eyes. For the society
hears that one is a thief, but will never bother to ask whether the fellow has
stopped stealing. It is better not to get wet than to start making a fire
afterwards to dry oneself.
That should
be another reason not to deploy what is used in cleaning the ear in cleaning
the eyes. Oke soro ngwere maa mmiri....(“If the mouse joins the lizard in
dancing in the rain....”). Oh, let us complete it: if the body of the lizard
gets dry later, would the body of the mouse get dry? That is why we keep
telling the mouse that the ways of the lizard are not the ways of the mouse.
The mouse should be a mouse and not try to be another creature. Even the shrew
knows that it cannot be mistaken for a house mouse. That time it went to the
house of the dibịa to collect charms and decide to carry it around, did it not
ask to know if the charms would later migrate to its belly and it would stink badly? And
the stench cannot be washed off by any rain!
Now that some people are looking for a fight desperately, they should know that that fellow that is
racing after the spirit of war, does not know that the spirit dispenses nothing
but death. And those moving backwards in death should wait to meet
backwardness. It is yet to arrive. But it is surely visiting with excess
luggage. The hosts should make a room ready.
That time they wer busy beating the drum for death, they think thought it was a theatrical show,
mere entertainment? They should wait for the exceedingly ugly dancer to appear. A fellow that truly
knows the drumbeats would emerge and dance and expect gifts from spectators.
And spectators are the gifts. Is it you? Who would be selected? That is why you
should know that what is used normally in cleaning the ears is not used in
cleaning the eyes. Unless you want the host to go blind.
Look at that
domestic fowl scattering the faeces with its legs! Don’t see it and look the
other way! Do you know whether you would
later be the one to eat those legs in a pepper soup in a canteen meant for “big”
people? Legs are waiting for you. Indeed, the sage was right: A hụ ekwughị mere
okenye, ma e kwue anụghị mere nwata (Noticing what is objectionable and keeping
quiet is the undoing of an elderly one, and not hearkening to wise counsel is
the undoing of the young”). So, elders, live as true elders! An elder cannot be
in the homestead and the she-goat would remain on the leash and give birth!
Unless that elder is a disgrace to grey hair!
So, don’t be
an elder around and wait to see these young ones use what is meant in cleaning
the ear in cleaning the eyes. Even if they have fallen from the skies and do
not know our reality. Even if they cannot tell the difference between the ears and the eyes again!
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