Nicky

"Honour Your Traditions and Stay Connected to Your Roots" — Fada Oluoma

You proudly belong to every society in your church, yet you avoid attending your village meetings. When asked why, you quickly label them as “unbelievers.” But have you ever considered that the favour you're tirelessly chasing from one church group to another, others have already received through active participation in their village associations?

As a true Christian, you are not called to abandon your roots. You are called to shine your light, even in your community. Not all traditional practices are fe**sh or ungodly. There are cultural traditions that are purely social and meant to promote unity and identity. Take part in your age-grade meetings, join in the new yam festivals (Iri Ji), Iwa Akwa and enjoy masquerade festivals, which are often just a form of cultural entertainment.

Some people will say that masquerades are tied to charms and spiritual powers. That’s mostly false. In fact, 99% of masquerades carry no fe**sh power, those stories were created to instill fear, especially among women and children. Don't let ignorance blind you.

Even Jesus Christ actively participated in Jewish cultural traditions. He never asked us to abandon our own. So, stop listening to overzealous pastors who misinterpret the Bible and turn your mind against your heritage.

Also, stop replacing palm wine with wine, malt, or juice during traditional marriages. There's absolutely nothing wrong with using palm wine as tradition demands. Uphold it with pride.

When you're in a traditional setting, say “Ise” instead of “Amen”, both mean the same thing. “Ise” is Igbo, “Amen” is English.

Finally, never give kola nut to a priest for blessings when an elder is present. In Igbo culture, elders hold spiritual authority in such gatherings.

One of the reasons our society is losing moral discipline, even among our leaders, is because we've abandoned the traditions that once instilled respect, accountability, and communal fear of consequences.

Return to your roots. Know your culture. Live your faith without abandoning your identity.

— Fada Oluoma

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