By
Obododimma Oha
Once upon a time when Chukwu the creator was still reachable and could be visited by any mortal, Mbe the tortoise visited Him with the intention of discussing some issues about life in the community.
Chukwu offered Mbe a seat and some stones in a platter as kolanut of welcome! The creator wanted to test Mbe, to know what this creation would do or say. Mbe regarded the stones for a while, then said to himself: "The game has started! Well, we have to play it."
So, taking this as a challenge to wit, Mbe went outside and formed a pad for his head. Then, turning to Chukwu, he requested: "Please, help me to lift this Earth . I want to carry it on my head." Chukwu pretended to be surprised and queried: "How can you carry the Earth on which you are standing? Is it a luggage?" Mbe also fired back: "How can you break stones in place of kolanut? Is a stone a kolanut?"
Chukwu was delighted. He asked Mbe for a handshake and said: " Shake hands with me. You can think, honestly. Nothing do you!"
It could be such an interesting thing to challenge the Maker for a wrestling competition. He is the Maker quite alright but He needs to be entertained.
One can satirise or criticise a creation by the almighty. He would just be excited or amused, I think. He is not as mean, ancient, and unforgiving as we are made to believe. He likes talking and playing jokes with us. A father that likes talking with his children is a good father. Our Igbo ancestors would want us to think of a good father when thinking about God.
It is good that Chukwu likes checking His inventions to know or confirm their maximum functionality. He checked the maximum functionality of Mbe, precisely his thinking ability. If He had wanted a brainless robot, he could not have installed a brain in Mbe.
To have a brain and not put it into use is to fail the creator.
Another significant issue is visit. Mbe visited the creator. The creator can be visited, whether near or far, whether seen or unseen. This means also that the visit could be in various forms. We cannot just be restricted to the physical in visiting Chukwu.
And when we visit, what is at stake is welcome. Every visitor deserves a welcome, provided the visitor has come well.
We cannot say that we have come well when we come commanding Chukwu as if He is our domestic servant and cannot refuse or say no. Commanding is a coercive illocutionary act and therefore offensive.
Welcome signified by the breaking of stones is a special welcome. But the host is up to something. Maybe the host wants to interrogate the item used for welcome. Maybe.
But Mbe knew the semantic game very well. Now he wanted to carry the Earth on which he was standing. The following presuppositions can be drawn from his request:
(1) the earth could be understood as a luggage;
(2) It is big and the person who wants to carry it needs some help;
(3) Chukwu who created the big luggage should know it better.
Indeed, the Earth with its numerous problems is really an awkward luggage. Please, Chukwu, help us to lift this luggage. Atlas is suffering greatly.
As we can see, Chukwu was the first to take the philosophical path. Mbe just had to follow him. Following Chukwu is learning from Him. He needs to help us in carrying the Earth.
Imagine carrying around that enormous luggage! Humans even make it more and more awkward and ask Chukwu to clean it. In this case, Chukwu the creator is even being controlled by His creation. That's an abomination!
Chukwu, bring the stones. Let us have them in place of kolanuts.
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