Hey people!
I remember being a child and performing in cultural dances. I used to love doing the Calabar dances where we would tie our chest and waist in wrappers and put cowry beads on our ankles and shake our scrawny bodies. I know I am not the only one that remembers those right? Or, how about acting in little plays that were Naija-specific? haha, oh the memories - Tales by moonlight on television, going to my mother's village, Abonema, to watch the masquerade, Eyo festivals in Lagos....
I kind of feel that my kids are being cheated of such experiences and so, I know I need to get my act together. I mean, my kids favorite Nigerian dish is jollof rice. They have never had yam pottage, edi kaikong or tuwo de nunu. Kai! They will eat eba, and TE loves drinking garri with ice cubes whenever her daddy is soaking some serious garri, but Naija food is just not as popular with the kids as pasta or pizza. Well, fried yam is always a hit, sha, I can't lie.
However, I need some help, people. Abeg, what recommendations do you guys have? For instance, are there any traditional stories you would recommend I start telling the kids? Or songs or activities? What did you enjoy doing as a child that you feel is/was uniquely Nigerian? I want to ensure that my kids know as much about their Nigerian heritage as possible and because I know that won't happen by mistake, I have got to get on it aggressively. I mean, these kids have gone to Dominica and never Naija just because it is easier to go to where Husband is from than it it to hike back to Naija.
Please share your thoughts on this. I would really appreciate your help.
Thanks so much!!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment