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.

"Kòkúmọ́ ọmọ ọ̀dọ̀ àgbà" ( a play by Àkòfẹ́ Adéníyì).

 OTHER CHARACTERS NOT IN THE FAMILY TREE PICTURE.

ÀKÀNGBÉ: Ọlátidé's friend.

KÍKẸ́LỌMỌ : Àkàngbé's wife.

ATINÚKẸ́ : Àbẹ̀ní's friend.

OLÓRÍAWO: the king's herbalist.

FÁBÍYÌÍ , AWÓKÚNLÉ: other herbalists in the play.

JAGUN, Ẹ̀Ẹ̀KẸRIN, ALÁSÀ, Ọ̀TÚN,AJÍRỌ́BA, AMÒFIN MỌ́GÀJÍ: chiefs.

KÉBÉ:the king's messenger.

 ỌLÁWÙMÍ: Kòkúmọ́'s friend.

AJÉLABÍ:businessman.

FỌLÁKẸ́ : Ọ̀tún's wife.

WÚRÀỌLÁ: Jagun's wife.  

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

THE PLOT

ACT 1 

SCENE 1 : Àbẹ̀ní visits her 30-year-old son, Ọlátidé, and advises him to get married and give her a grandchild. 

SCENE 2: When his friend, Àkàngbé (who is married with children at the same age), later arrives to take him to a beer parlour, he refuses. 

SCENE 3: Àkàngbé goes to the beer parlour alone and drinks so much that he misbehaves and is arrested but later released. 

ACT 2 

SCENE 1: Ọlátidé has married Adénrelé but their first son (Ọlákùlẹ́hìn) dies in infancy. 

SCENE 2: Three years later, they are yet to have another child. Ọlátidé vists Awókúnlé , who says Adénrelé will soon get pregnant. 

SCENE 3: She has a new baby, whom Àbẹ̀ní names Kòkúmọ́ (" he will not die again"). 

SCENE 4: At the modest naming ceremony, no alcohol is served so Àkàngbé goes to Ìyá Gbajúmọ̀ ( the beer parlour woman who got him arrested earlier) after eating his food.

ACT 3

SCENE 1: Kòkúmọ́ starts living with Àbẹ̀ní at 3 years of age. At 5 years of age, he starts school at Primary 2 because of his performance at the admission interview. 

SCENE 2: Five years later, he is appointed the "Senior Boy" of the school. That same day, he and his friend Ọláwùmí see a purse containing 10 000 naira on the road on their way home. Kòkúmọ́ takes the money to the police station and the owner turns out to be Olorì (= Queen) Adébísí. The king decides to sponsor his education to the university level, have him at the palace and give his parents a house. Queen Adébísí feels it is too much but the king overrules her objection. 

SCENE 3: She tells Kòkúmọ́ to wash her children's clothes with his, among other household chores, and must not report to the king. On the 6th day of his arrival, she tells him to stop wasting electricity by reading at night. He replies, " Please, Ma, it's because household chores prevented me from reading in the evening after school hours". Kábíyèsí (= "the king") overhears them and warns her against maltreating the boy. 

SCENE 4: Queen Adébísí consults a herbalist (Fábíyìí) to kill Kòkúmọ́ for outshining her children (though he teaches them at home). Fábíyìí gives her a poison to put in his food and a charm that makes whoever steps across it mad till death. After serving the children's food, the king calls Queen Adébísí (who tells the children not to eat before her return). While the other children wait, Adélékè (the crown prince) gets impatient, eats the wrong food and dies. Queen Adébísí steps across the charm while rushing back and runs mad. 

Some chiefs suspect Kòkúmọ́ until Olóríawo consults the oracle and reveals the queen's atrocities. 

ACT 4

SCENE 1: Kòkúmọ́, now a medical doctor, refuses to abort a 3-month pregnancy for Ajísafẹ́ and his girlfriend, Bọ́látitó.

 SCENE 2: The king gives his daughter Àsàkẹ́ in marriage to Kòkúmọ́ and the marriage is blessed with children.

 SCENE 3: Kòkúmọ́ assembles all the town's herbalists to cure his mother-in-law, Queen Adébísí. Only Fábíyìí is understandably able to cure her and gets the monetary reward. However, robbers ambush him, beat him up and take all the money.

 SCENE 4 : The king dies without any surviving son so Kòkúmọ́ is made the new king of Ayéwùmí.

  

          ACT 5

  

SCENE 1: Kòkúmọ́ consults with his chiefs on ways of moving the town forward. Among other things, he offers free land to any indigene who wants to build a company in the town.

SCENE 2: Ajélabí is the first indigene to come. He wants to build a cocoa-processing company and the king tells him to choose any parcel of land he likes. The land Ajélabí chooses belongs to Jagun , who insists on selling the land or getting some of the bribe he thinks Ajélabí has given the king.

SCENE 3: Jagun plots with Ọ̀tún and Alásà to get Kòkúmọ́ dethroned. He alleges that Kòkúmọ́ has collected a 10 000 naira bribe from Ajélabí and is also having an affair with Ọ̀tún's wife. Ọ̀tún and Alásà refuse to come out as witnesses. Jagun loses his chieftaincy title to Ajélabí.

¤ 

"The Incorruptible Judge " by Olu Owolabi

Mr James Adé Agbàlọ́wọ́mèrí is an Establishment Officer in a Government Department. Àjàlá Òní, a young school-leaver, discusses with his classmate, Fẹ́mi Àjànàkú, outside the office. Femi works at A.B. & Co. , where his father is a manager. Ajala is applying for the post of a third-class clerk in Mr Agbàlọ́wọ́mèrí's department. Femi waits outside while Ajala goes into the office. Mr Agbàlọ́wọ́mèrí  offers him the job but asks for a £5 bribe before he can get his employment letter. He gives Ajala a 3-day ultimatum evetn after  learning that he is poor. Femi advises him to report the matter to the police.

The following day, Ajala comes back, pays the money and gets the employment letter. He coughs as he leaves the office. Detective-Sergeant Agbonifo Okoro then enters the office and accuses Mr Agbàlọ́wọ́mèrí of bribery. The 5 marked notes are found in Mr Agbàlọ́wọ́mèrí's pocket and he is arrested after trying to (a) chew and swallow the notes (b)bribe the officer.

  After being released on bail , Mr Agbàlọ́wọ́mèrí visits his friend , Mr Eniola Durodayo (the father-in-law to Mr Justice Faderin, who will hear the case the following Wednesday). Mr Agbàlọ́wọ́mèrí claims that he didn't collect any bribe. Mr Durodayo sends for his daughter, Mama Tunji, to influence her husband with 25 guineas. She explains that her husband doesn't  take bribes. When they disbelieve her, she asks them to come and talk to him themselves.  
The judge refuses to be bribed by both his father-in-law and Chief Bọ́bamẹ̀tọ́ (who brought 50 guineas from Mr Agbàlọ́wọ́mèrí). He politely tells both men to let him do justice to the case before him. He is now sure that Mr Agbàlọ́wọ́mèrí is guilty of (and addicted to) bribery and corruption.

In court, Anthony Lawanson is the Prosecution Counsel while Dúró Arógunmátìdí is the Defence Counsel. The Jury returns a guilty verdict. Mr Agbàlọ́wọ́mèrí is sentenced to 3 years imprisonment (aside the loss of his job and retirement benefits). He really proves to be a "taker from the poor" (the English meaning of his Yoruba name) for demanding a £5 bribe from a penniless school-leaver despite earning not less than £1 000 a year (after 20 years of service). 

¤