Some socio-economic tips

1. If circumstances do not allow you to help people , just make sure you don't harm them. Jesus Christ did not blame the 5 wise virgins for not rendering self-harming help to the foolish virgins (Matthew 25: 1-12).

2. There is a limit to human help (2 Kings 6:26-27 ; Psalm 49:7-9) . Even the biological parents of an only child will not be able to help him rear up his 4 children, 16 grandchildren, 64 great-grandchildren, etc. 

3. Don't distract people from facing their own battles. Neither try to profiteer from other people's problems. Don't dump your children's upkeep on someone who is childless or has lost a child. They will see you as the architect of their problems. Nowadays, most childless women battle fibroids, etc and can't afford to shoulder the upkeep of other people's children as well. 

4. Don't have more children than you can handle alone (in case of divorce or widowhood , and even to enjoy your marriage ) . Even God directly created only 2 people (and left the remaining production to us, via reproduction). Having many children even increases a woman's risk of developing placenta previa, cervical cancer, etc. There is a medium in all things. 

5. Extensive farming (along with attending public schools) can help large families to survive. Labour is a factor of production. That's how our forefathers survived in the olden days. 

6. Yorùbá people say :(a)"Òrìṣà jẹ́ n pé méjì obìnrin kò dénú"( Deep down, no woman wants her husband to have another wife) ; (b) "Ẹní bímọ fún'ni kúrò l'álè ẹni" (the mother of your child is more than a side chick or mistress). Therefore, don't let any woman see (or know) you as her rival, or your child as her stepchild. That's how not to be a home-breaker.

7. No cheating husband can commit maternity fraud against a woman. A woman can always tell her own child apart from a stepchild. That is nature's compensation for the labour pains. Remember this biological advantage when tempted to cheat back or fight other women over a man.

May God bless all our well-wishers and make the plans of the wicked against us backfire on them. Amen.

"Abẹ́ Ààbò" by Akínwùmí Ìṣọ̀lá

The play discusses how false prophets prey on gullible people. 

SCENE 1 : John and Maria are both devoted Christians. At the beginning of this scene, Maria rebukes Janet for singing worldly songs. John can be extreme at times. He blames Sunday's teachers for teaching them about Jesus' conversion of water to wine (John 2: 1-11), instead of the dangers of drunkenness (Proverbs 20:1). Jimoh is John's younger half-brother who has converted to Islam from their common Christian background. He lives with them and often twists John's words in jest, but John can't eject him from their father's house. He also smokes and drinks.

SCENE 2: Jeremiah (a prophet) and Solomon (his deputy) come to John's house to rent 2 rooms. They have bought a neighbouring plot of land to build their church and claim that God led them specifically to John's house. Jimoh objects to their tenancy. "In this 4-room house, you and your wife use 1 room, your children use the second, the third is the store and guest room, while I use the 4th room. When I get married, my wife will use the guest room. We are each entitled to 2 rooms. Don't cheat me". Nevertheless, John lets out the guest room and the prophet move in the next day. 

SCENE 3: A month later, John complains about Maria's watery soup. She reminds him that he hasn't increased the housekeeping money despite offering free meals to the prophet and his entourage. They also pay no rent. John says she should continue the free feeding and that he will put up with any inconvenience because of God. 

SCENE 4: Jeremiah complains to Michael (a more experienced false prophet) about inadequate offerings, an unfriendly neighbour,etc. Michael decides to take him to a herbalist the next day. Jeremiah's wife (Abigail) is in Ilesa and he wants to pretend to be single and make Janet his second wife. One of Jeremiah's church members has bribed him to select his (the member's) choice on the list of suitors his daughter will bring. The daughter is unhappy and Jeremiah consoles her that prayer may reverse the situation. He hopes to lure her to his bed. 

SCENE 5: While the prophets are with the herbalist, Jimoh watches them from the window and overhears their conversation. Jimoh enters the herbalist's house after their exit. They both discuss the hypocrisy of some prophets . Jeremiah and Michael have obtained crowd-pulling, self-defence, drop-dead and womanising charms.   

SCENE 6: Oluwole (Janet's fiance) tells Jimoh about her reduced interest in him. Jimoh reveals she is now very close to the prophet. They plot to catch him red-handed and report him to John. They see Janet and Jeremiah coming from church and decide to hide in Jimoh's room. Jeremiah plays with Janet's hair before trying to drag her by force into his room. At this point, Jimoh and Oluwole come out and beat Jeremiah. When John arrives, Jeremiah denies the seduction attempt and Janet supports him. Jimoh calls Jeremiah a "prophet with charms", in an aside.

SCENE 7: Michael visits Jeremiah and promises to get him a charm that will make people forget his misdeeds. Jeremiah says Maria has come to him to solve her secondary infertility problem and he has invited her for a 3-day spiritual retreat (Abẹ́ ààbò) in the church's uncompleted building. Jimoh overhears this before he and Oluwole enter the house. They sing mocking songs in Jeremiah's hearing . For example, they use the tune of "Christian, seek not yet repose" to sing "Wòlíì, jọ̀ọ́ lọ ọ fẹ́'bìnrin. Máṣe gb'aya aláya. Bí o kò bá ṣọ́ra rẹ, wà á j'ọrẹ́" (Prophet, go and get married. Don't snatch another man's wife. If you don't caution yourself, we will beat you). They also call him Prophet "Toromáyà" (cling to breast). 　

SCENE 8: After a church service , Jeremiah tells 3 women "under spiritual retreat" to wait behind. Maria is to be prayed for that same night, Abigail the next night and Rachel the last night of the 3-day prayer session. While praying for Maria, he uncovers and plays with her hair and later caresses her shoulders and her back. Jimoh and Oluwole watch them from a window behind them. John later joins them in their watch. As she rebuffs Jeremiah's advances, he points out that John may be the infertile one and that she should try him (Jeremiah) for a change. Maria refuses, especially since she already has 2 children. When he tries to undress her by force, the men come out of hiding and start beating him. When he takes out his drop-dead charm (ońdè), they run back. He manages to take the offering basket before running away. At last, John's eyes are opened to the realities of life. 

¤

DID YOU NOTICE THESE THINGS ABOUT JESUS' BIRTH?

 

1. The genealogies of Jesus Christ in Matthew 1:1-16 & Luke 3: 23-38 diverged from David to Jesus Christ. One passed through Solomon (Mt 1:6) and the other through Nathan (Luke 3:31). Both Solomon & Nathan were David's sons by Bathsheba (1 Chronicles 3:5). Joseph (Jesus' stepfather) has 2 "fathers", Jacob & Heli (mentioned at Matthew 1:16 & Luke 3:23 respectively). The "fathers" have different ancestors all the way to David, & therefore can't be the same person. One of them must be Joseph's FATHER-in-law (or Mary's father).

2. Both Mary & Joseph were from the tribe of Judah. Though they were based in Nazareth, both had to travel to Bethlehem to "register in their own city" (Luke 1: 26,27 & 3: 1-5). Jesus had to be both biologically (through Mary) & socially (or patrilinearly, through Joseph) from Judah (Micah 5:2).

3. There were 2 towns named Bethlehem in Israel then. One was in the tribe of Judah (Ruth 1:1) in Judea (Matthew 2:1), while the other was in the tribe of Zebulun (Joshua 19:10-16) in Galilee (Matthew 4:15). That's why Micah 5:2 was specific. 

4. On the 40th day of his birth, Jesus' parents offered a "poor man's offering" of 2 turtledoves (Leviticus 12: 6-8; Luke 2 : 21-24). This is well before the astrologers came with their costly gifts.  

5. Jesus was almost 2 years old when the astrologers came from the East. Shortly after they left, Jesus' parents had to flee to Egypt with him. Note that his just-6-months-older cousin , John the Baptizer, (who was also in Judea) (Luke 1: 36-40) escaped the massacre of "boys aged 2 years & under" (Matthew 2:16) without having to relocate. There must have been official birth (& death) registration records to guide the soldiers against the desperate mothers' understandable lies. 

6. The star did not lead the astrologers to Jesus in Bethlehem directly, but first took them to murderous Herod (who would have killed Jesus, but for God's intervention) in Jerusalem. Note that the angels and the shepherds did not tell Herod about Jesus earlier. Satan must have used the star to endanger Jesus. 

7. There are 2 other persons named Jesus in the Bible apart from Jesus Christ (Luke 3:29 ; Colossians 4:11). Therefore, it is not a sin to name your son Jesus (as long as you don't call him MESSIAH or CHRIST). 

8. Mary was not sinless ; she did purification after childbirth like any other Jewish woman (Leviticus 12: 6-8; Luke 2 : 21-24 ; Romans 3:23). It was the Holy Spirit that shielded Jesus from contamination in the womb (Luke 1:35). 

9. Zechariah's doubting of Angel Gabriel's message (despite the precedent of Abraham and Sarah) led to his being made dumb for some time. Mary's doubt was understandable because no virgin had ever given birth without sex before. Hence, the angel patiently explained things to her. 

10. Mary wasn't a virgin for life. After giving birth to Jesus, she had 4 sons & at least 2 daughters for Joseph (Matthew 1:25 & 13: 53-56).

Mamser songs for children

1. STAND UP FOR NIGERIA. 

(a) I will love Nigeria always always (2x) . 

I'll never give or take a bribe. 

Working hard to give my best, I'll make Nigeria great.

 

(b) For the love of money is the root of all evil (2x), 

But honesty and purity will bring Nigeria honour

and her people shall be great. 

(c) If you love Nigeria, stand up, stand up (2x). 

Through loyalty and discipline, 

We'll set Nigeria on the rock of righteousness today, today. 

................

2. LITTLE ONES 

I am a little one. 

Special and dear I am , you know I am. 

Though I am little now,

 I want the world to know how I feel.          

Oh the little ones are the only hope for tomorrow.

 What you make of us you have made the world of tomorrow. 

Show the little ones what is right to do and the way to go. 

Give us a chance. 

Take care of little ones. 

(*Sing the whole song twice and then "oh the little ones..." afterwards).

................

3. I PLEDGE TO MY COUNTRY.

I pledge to my country, Nigeria, 

To be faithful, loyal and honest, 

To serve her with all my strength. 

I pledge to defend her unity 

And uphold her honour and glory.

 So help me, o God.

CALL & RESPONSE (2x): I will work.

I will work for her honour and unity, 

for this is my pledge to Nigeria. 

So help me, o God. 

....................

4. I MUST BEGIN.  

No one but I myself. 

I must begin to do the good things I expect. 

No one but I myself. 

I must begin to show the good example.

I can say to someone that I meet,

 "You first my brother. 

How do you do? 

How can I help you? 

Lean on me".

No one but I myself. 

I must begin to do the good things I expect. 

No one but I myself. 

I must begin to show the good example.

................

5. DRUG IS A DEVIL

Drug is a devil. 

It only destroys. 

It takes away your sense, then makes you mad and useless. 

Drug turns your head, 

keeps you lonely and scared. Never touch a drug; don't go near.

Don't take a drug ; 

don't give a drug. 

Drug is a devil. 

Drug is a killer. 

We're the nation's youth. Now we know the truth. Never touch a drug; 

don't go near!

................

 6. LET'S BUILD A NATION 

(a) Talking, complaining,

 Accusing and blaming. 

They never solve any problem. 

They only worsen the problem. 

Change your attitude now. 

If they are stealing,

destroying and cheating, You do not have to join them.

You'll do well to expose them. 

Change your attitude now.

CHORUS (2X) : Let's build a nation,

Not tear it down. 

We've got the vision.

We can make Nigeria shine. 

(b) We should be loving 

And caring and serving

Our dear and only country,

Playing our role in history.

Change your attitude now.

We must prepare

For our children the future.

They will be glad and bless us.

The God of Heaven will help us.

Change your attitude now.

(CHORUS, 4 TIMES)

Change your attitude now (3X).

................

7. LAND OF BEAUTY, NIGERIA.

(a) Land of beauty, Nigeria.

Land of plenty, Nigeria.

Sunshine and rain,

Highland and plain.

Pride of Africa, Nigeria.

(b) God has bless'd you , Nigeria.

And we love you, Nigeria.

Wisdom and wealth,

Knowledge and strength,

A mighty nation, Nigeria.

CALL : Land of beauty

RESPONSE: Nigeria.

CALL : Land of plenty

RESPONSE: Nigeria.

CALL : Love your brother.

RESPONSE: Nigeria.

CALL : Love your sister.

RESPONSE: Nigeria.

CALL : We want peace in 

RESPONSE: Nigeria.

CALL : Unity in  

RESPONSE: Nigeria.

CALL : There's enough in

RESPONSE: Nigeria.

CALL : For a happy

RESPONSE: Nigeria.

CALL : Land of beauty

RESPONSE: Nigeria.

CALL : Land of plenty

RESPONSE: Nigeria.

CALL : Love your brother.

RESPONSE: Nigeria.

CALL : Love your sister.

RESPONSE: Nigeria.

CALL : We want peace in 

RESPONSE: Nigeria.

CALL : Unity in  

RESPONSE: Nigeria.

CALL : There's enough in

RESPONSE: Nigeria.

CALL : For a happy

RESPONSE: Nigeria.

Sunshine and rain,

Highland and plain.

Pride of Africa, Nigeria.

................

8. HURRAY NIGERIA!

It's time to honour Nigeria.

Hoist the flag of glory.

Sing a song of triumph.

Sound the drums of victory.

Shout! Hurray (2X).

Hurray Nigeria! 

INTERLUDE: The land is good,

The people great.

This we can show.

The nations know o o o.

It's time to honour Nigeria.

Hoist the flag of glory.

Sing a song of triumph.

Sound the drums of victory.

Shout! Hurray (2X).

Hurray Nigeria! 

Hur-ray Ni-ge-ria!

..................................

(All songs by Ori Okoroh. Tunes transcribed by Okechukwu Ndubuisi and Emmanuel Tettey. Printed by Integrated Press Ltd)

"Place called Estherville" by Erskine Caldwell.

The novel discusses racial discrimination against black people and mixed-race people ,such as mulattos ( ½ black , ½ white), quadroons ( ¼ black , ¾ white) and octoroons ( ⅛ black , ⅞ white). It is set in the place called Estherville in Iowa, the United States.  

CHAPTER 1 : Ganus and Kathyanne Bazemore (aged 18 and 17 respectively) have moved to the town from the country after their mother's death to live with their maternal grandmother, Aunt Hazel Teasley. They have never seen their white father. Their mother is black so they are mulattos (or "high yellows"). Ganus works as a houseboy to Charley and Stella Singfield, a white couple with a 16-year-old daughter named Stephena. While Ganus knows his place as a coloured boy, Stephena admires him and chases him. One Sunday morning, she deliberately oversleeps till her parents have gone to church and comes to Ganus in the kitchen around 11 am. She invites him to sleep with her but he refuses. Then she bites him and releases him only when he puts his arms around her.

 CHAPTER 2 : George Swayne (a white man) is a grocery store clerk when he meets and marries Norma (a rich white woman whose money helps him to become a bank's vice-president). She is , however, very bossy at home. While she is away to her sister's place in Savannah, he relaxes at home and sees Kathyanne ( Norma's maid and Ganus' sister) resume for the day's work. Norma is against having children and this annoys George. He sleeps with Kathyanne after reminding her that white men (including her own dad) sleep with coloured girls but won't allow a coloured man to go near a white girl. Kathyanne decides to resign her job before Norma returns.

  

 CHAPTER 3: Kathyanne and Ganus live with Aunt Hazel and go to work daily for their white employers. One day, 4 white boys (Pete Tilghman, Hank Newgood, Vern Huff and Robbie Gunsby) attack Ganus on his way home at night in a dark alley. Robbie (aged 10 or 11) is the youngest of them and pleads with the other boys to stop hurting Ganus. They are angry that Stephena refuses to date any of them and tell Ganus to quit his job at her house. A nice white man, Paul Benoit, passes by and his presence stops the assault after Ganus has sustained a knife cut on his shoulder. 

CHAPTER 4 : Kathyanne has left the Swaynes 

and now works with Madgie Pugh (who has not paid her for the past 5 weeks). Madgie gives her old clothes instead of money, so she leaves the job. Norma Swayne was a nice boss; it was her husband's behaviour that made Kathyanne quit.

CHAPTER 5 : Ganus buys a bicycle from Mr Claude Hutto [with a loan from Dr English] to deliver groceries for Mr Harry Daitch. Ganus is to pay Dr English 5 dollars per week for 6 months. 

CHAPTER 6 : Five white boys lie in wait for Kathyanne around Benoit's drug store at night. They include Jimmy Pugh (the son of Carter and Madgie Pugh)

and Jake Chester (her current employer's son). They make her strip naked. A night patrolman, Will Hanford, orders the boys away before they can rape her. He later asks for sex and threatens to get her  

jailed the next day when she refuses.

CHAPTER 7 : Mr Daitch sends Ganus to deliver groceries to Mrs Vernice Weathersbee, a lonely divorcee in her late 20's. After hurrying back to his boss to escape her advances, he is sent back to her (as she has placed another order on the phone). She persuades him to drink with her until he loses all inhibitions and loses track of time. 

CHAPTER 8 : Roy Blount's acquaintances (Ernie and Joe) tell him to get a pretty girl for them after Roy's employer (Charley Singfield, Stephena's father) has told him to please them in every way. Using his having paid her 25-dollar fine to get her off Mr Hanford's jail trap weeks ago, Roy pressurises Kathyanne into "entertaining" his friends. She is pushed into the car and taken to a hotel. 

  

CHAPTER 9 : Mrs Kitty Kettles is a white woman of about 23. She is always scantily dressed. After she elopes with Levi Kettles, he has 

refused to marry her and is almost always away from home on business. She is therefore very lonely. Ganus has lost his grocery store job (after returning late from Mrs Weathersbee) and now sells ice blocks on a cart. Dr English has withdrawn the bicycle after hearing of Ganus' loss of the grocery job.The weather is very cold, so Kitty persuades him to get warm with her kitchen stove. Kitty gives him food to eat and lets him sleep in the kitchen overnight. Levi comes home at 5 am the next day, throws him out with violence

and fights Kitty. 

CHAPTER 10: Henry Beck [a black boy] is showing interest in Kathanne and accuses her of discriminating against her own race, after hearing of her association with white men. Aunt Hazel's landlady (Mrs Effie Verdery) sends Mr Clyde Picquet to collect the 5-month 75-dollar rent or evict Aunt Hazel. Mr Clyde pities Kathyanne and decides to help them from his own pocket. He signs the rent receipt for her without her paying and offers to come back at night for sex. She refuses and      

later tears up the receipt in front of Henry to convince him of her innocence.

CHAPTER 11: Since people don't buy ice blocks in winter, Ganus now sets rabbit traps about. He helps the farmers get rid of rabbits and makes money in the process. He makes 25 cents from selling each of the 2-5 cottontails he catches every night. He takes one rabbit home everyday for Kathyanne to cook, and makes 10-20 cents from selling the fur skin. He avoids the farm rented by Burgess Tarver [a known racist] but Burgess' 15-year-old flirtatious wife, Mozelle, calls out to him. He walks quickly away after greeting her briefly but he is stopped by a sudden stomach pain. She also flirts with Reeves Houck [another tenant farmer , who works with her husband], who dodges her too. Mozelle runs to Reeves and Burgess and lies that a nigger raped her and is hiding in a nearby bush. They suspect she is lying about the rape but comb the bush for the hiding nigger. Despite Ganus' explanations and

Reeves' call for restraint, Burgess axes Ganus to death.

CHAPTER 12: Dr Horatio Plowden (a kind old white doctor) is invited with a $100 bill in an envelope to go to Kathyanne's place. When he gets there, Kathyanne has just given birth to a baby girl with the help of 2 Negro midwives (Nettie Dunn and her daughter). Henry is around but can't be the father, since the baby is a quadroon (even whiter than Kathyanne). Dr Plowden rightly guesses that the father is George Swayne (whose wife Kathyanne worked for about a year earlier). He gives her the $100 bill from George Swayne. Henry agrees to marry her with the baby. Dr Plowden falls down and dies shortly after leaving Kathyanne's place.