By
Obododimma Oha
The late Igbo highlife musician, Oliver de Coque, sang about "Alabaaghara", derived from the expression, "A laba, a ghara" (Left behind when going home). He was referring specifically to dispensables like flowers, which can be acquired easily and displayed. Oliver de Coque, therefore prayed that we cease to be tenants and be able to build our own houses so as to minimize occurrences of "Alabaaghara " in our lives.
But those dispensables are not only what could be re-acquired that de Coque sang about. They even include houses and our bodies, contrary to the song. Even the musician died (sadly), leaving his body behind! Cars, houses, beautiful bodies, money, titles, names, etc are left behind when we die. Perishable things perish here and the freed spirit matches on.
The common idea about "Alabaaghara" is that it metaphorically refers to very useless property, even though we know that some very poor people can still use those things. In fact, what is called "tokunbo" in Nigeria is sometimes abandoned or discarded property of other people. So, "Alabaaghara" still has a life, a future. It may be left behind for some people!
But the idea of thinking about one's body as "Alabaaghara" to be discarded one day appears weird and shocks us. In fact, we don't want to think about it or talk about it.
Finally finally (as Nigerians say), you are alone with Chineke the Creator.
Where is George Washington? Where is Nnamdi Azikiwe? Where is Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu? Where is Chinua Achebe? Haven't they left human beings? The world is now our problem and our headache to cure. These noblemen have even forgotten that they were once here. They may have got to better places. They may have been recycled! Our countries and world and galaxy are ours to worry about now.
It appears we just concluded with our bodies. That seems to be the ultimate. But what of our countries and even our galaxy?
I am just stating the obvious if I state that my country, the most populous (and even the most popular!) in Africa is "Alabaaghara"!
So, Oliver de Coque still had the conventional meaning of "Alabaaghara" in mind. But the extension that we are providing is very necessary. It shows that we were only given an introduction, just as this extension can provide other trajectories and directions to the discourse. That is to say that the conclusion is not yet in sight.
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