07 Jan 2008 |
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“That’s the joy of being saved.” I stated. “You are entrusted with the gospel, the power of God unto salvation.” Wọnu looking up smiled and stated, “Here comes my man.” I turned to see a grinning Wọle walking towards us. When he arrived at our table I noticed another gentleman behind him. He looked familiar. Ọlaọmọ introduced him as Patrick. As they sat down I remembered and asked, “Were you at Ojuọlape’s a fortnight ago?” Patrick: Yes. I was. Were you there as well? I nodded. “I believe you were called Deinde.” Ọlaọmọ: That’s his Yoruba name. I prefer Patrick. It means noble. “That reminds me of my grandmother’s name.” I replied. “Her name was
Wọnu: Well, do the nobles want to eat? We all laughed. Wọle and Patrick made their order. “Wọle,” I began, “Wọnu has told me how supportive you’ve been of her breastfeeding efforts. I want to thank you. You’re a noble husband and father.” Wọle: Thanks Derbrah. Since I decided to become a father, I made up my mind to go all the way. I want my only son to be strong, smart and secure. Ọlaọmọ: Patrick, Lily was here. Patrick: I know. She called my cell. She told me how the baby changed her mind. I was overjoyed. Ọlaọmọ: God is awesome isn’t He? Wọle: That’s my boy fulfilling the calling on his life. Like father like son eh? Wọnu: How far are we taking that rule? Wọle: I know what she means, I’ve been having the same dream for weeks and it’s like a nightmare. But I’m not going to let it break me, I’m going to break it. Wọnu: Let’s explore counseling as one of the tools shall we? Wọle: Baby, you worry too much. A dream is a dream. It’s not real. Wọnu: My sleeplessness is real. Patrick: Just go to your dad and talk man to man. That should put an end to this. Ọlaọmọ: You can’t talk with someone who does all the talking. Patrick: I don’t think the man is that bad. Listen to him, then talk with him. Wọle: The truth is talking with him drains me of energy. Wọnu: That’s why I recommend counseling. I have to be your pastor as well as your wife, then I mother Ọlaade and look after myself. It’s becoming overwhelming, especially when you can do something about it. “Wọle, let’s just say that we all need counseling from time to time.” I stated. “It shouldn’t hurt to seek for advice should it?” Wọnu: I’ll come with you if you want. Wọle: You guys, this is my battle to fight. I don’t need counseling. Ọlaọmọ: I’m beginning to think that I’m wrong. You do need counseling. You sound like you’re in denial. Wọle: Na wa o. Do you all now know me more than I know myself? What’s a counselor going to tell me that I don’t know? “Why don’t you answer that question by going to one.” I suggested. Wọle: I’ll just be wasting my time. Wọnu is worried for nothing. I am fine. Wọnu: It’s been six weeks Wọle. Wọle: I know what’s wrong, and I’m dealing with it. These things take time. It will phase out. “So what’s wrong?” Wọle: It’s a complex issue but it has to do with my dad. Ọlaọmọ: Patrick is right. You should go to
Wọle: There’s no need. I mapped out three months. If things don’t change after three months, then I’ll consider counseling or traveling to
Ọlaọmọ: We’ll discuss this another time. Let’s enjoy this fabulous restaurant. Lovely song playing huh? Patrick: That’s the twelve days of Christmas. I used to sing that as a child. “Me too.” I responded. “It was recently that I got to know the meaning of the song.” Wọle: I used to tease my friends with it. Ọlaọmọ: Really, how? Wọle: I would play pranks with it. Like on the first day of Christmas my true love sent to me, I would sing, on the first day of Christmas, my uncle sent to me, a parrot eating toffee, on the send day of Christmas, my auntie sent to me, two pairs of shorts and a parrot eating toffee… Wọnu: Ẹlẹşẹ, orin mimọ loun bajẹ (sinner, you were perverting holy song). Wọle: I didn’t know what the song meant then. Patrick: I knew the meaning but what I liked about the old tradition was the big cake, the twelfth night usually involved the baking of a King’s cake. We used to celebrate that in my elementary school. Wọnu: Now I feel like having dessert. Why did you mention cake? Wọle and Patrick’s food arrived and Wọnu ordered some dessert. Wọnu: I know what you’re thinking, I’m westernized, go ahead, say it, I can take it. Patrick: We’re all westernized my sister. I take dessert after each meal too. Wọnu: Honey, My sister and Derbrah think we should only speak Yoruba to Ọlaade so that he will understand Yoruba. Are you up to the task? Wọle: Ha that will be hard o. I only speak contemporary Yoruba, and only like once or twice a week. How can I speak only Yoruba at home? Ọlaọmọ: One step at a time, you’ll try it one day at a time. “I wish there were schools that would make Yoruba language one of their classes at the elementary level. That is another way to solve the language problem.” Patrick: I know a school where Swahili is offered at the elementary level. We could approach some schools and see if they’d be interested. Ọlaọmọ: Do you have funding to pay the teachers? Wọnu: Why can’t all the countless Yoruba organizations in
Wọle: That is a thought. Derbrah, I don’t think I can speak Yoruba alone at home. However, I promise to send him to Yoruba summer classes. I know there a re a lot of that. Patrick: Why don’t you want to teach him Yoruba yourself? Wọle: I don’t have the time. Wọnu: Or the skill. Wọle: I could acquire the skill if I wanted to. I guess the truth is, I don’t have the interest. What’s so great about Yoruba language? We’re not living in
“That was the same thing your wife said.” Ọlaọmọ: He doesn’t lose by learning a second language. He only gains. “While he’s learning the language, he’ll be learning different aspects of the culture as well.” Wọle: The culture that oppresses women and exploits children. Why would I want him to learn that? Patrick: Don’t put your father’s face on your culture. Your dad was a bad example and in a way, your mum too for letting him get away with it, but Yoruba culture has some peculiar godly values. I plan of teaching my children Yoruba. Wọle: Really, what are these Yoruba culture only values, list them? Patrick: Respect for elders, love for family, love for children… Wọle: Every culture has that. What is peculiar about Yoruba apart from our clothes, our food and our language? Ọlaọmọ: No need to go any further, let’s endow Ọlaade with the clothes, the food and the language and he’ll pick up whatever else he needs. Wọle: What every child needs is knowledge of whom God is, who they are as His creatures, why God created them and how He wants them to live. “Since God created languages, remember the
Wọle: Maybe. Important does not translate into mandatory does it? Wọnu: No it doesn’t however, it should not be relegated either. I’m getting a Yoruba bible. That’s how I plan to teach him Yoruba. I will read it aloud. We can add that to your summer classes. By the time he’s nine or ten, he should be Yoruba fluent. Wọle: I’ll support that. Wọnu: Thanks darling. Patrick: Derbrah, so you think Yoruba started way back in the time of Nimrod? “I truly don’t know.” I stated. “It’s just a presumption. I am no historian.” Ọlaọmọ: I thought it started much later, within the last century to be exact. Patrick: That’s a good thing to look up. Wọnu: I think there’s more information on the beginning of the written form than the spoken language. Wọle: That reminds me of Logos (written word) and Rhema (spoken word). Wọnu: The Greek scholar has arrived. Patrick: It’s really a shame. I speak the language, I was raised in the culture, but I never really studied the linguistics, the history and the peculiarities. Ọlaọmọ: You’ve been busy with other things, which are equally important. Life is full of vast resources, one can only do so much. “As you mentioned earlier, we start somewhere. I used to think that I could not teach Yoruba until I became a mother. That helped me to do some research and put a minimal curriculum together, then, Yoruba Christian Women (YCW) came along. Wọnu: So do they teach Yoruba? “Yes.” I replied. “However, not in a school format, in a fun format.” Ọlaọmọ: I’m thinking of joining. Wọnu mentioned it some time ago. What’s needed to join? “You must be a woman and you must be a Christian. That’s all.” “Wọnu: That’s doable. Ọlaade: How much are the fees? “Really, there’s none. Send an email to address and you’ll be contacted.” Patrick: Another feminist click. Why can’t men join? “You may write tot he address as well, you’ll be contacted. I think men can be supporters but not members.” Wọle: Patrick, no problem, we will form our own Yoruba Christian men. “The more hands on deck, the better. Let’s get the gospel to the world.” Wọnu: YCW is about spreading the gospel in Yoruba language right? “Yes it is.” I responded. “We also promote the re-translation of the Yoruba bible into contemporary Yoruba language. The one translated by Bishop Ajayi Crowther and his team is old Yoruba.” Patrick: I can hardly read that bible, such archaic words! Wọnu: I heard there’s a new translation. That’s the one I’m going to buy. Wọle: When I read Yoruba bible, that will be the day. Wọnu: The day what? Wọle: The day… Ọlaọmọ’s phone rang and she picked it up. She saw the caller ID, hesitated for a second, then answered; “Hi Ariel.” The melody of the background music was soothing. It was the Christmas carol, Angels we have heard on high. I enjoy Christmas carols. Ọlaọmọ announced that Arial and Mosumọla would be coming by. Wọnu: For what? Ọlaọmọ: Wọnu, don’t get worked up. When they get here we’ll find out. I’m not bothered. “You have a large heart.” I stated. “I like your spirit.” Ọlaọmọ: It’s not me, it’s God’s mercies. I love God because He first loved me. Why won’t I love my fellow man? She went on to explain to Patrick what had happened earlier. Patrick: I look forward to seeing them. Derbrah writes courtesy of Agape for All Ministries. Author retains copyright. Jadesọla’s restaurant is a drama ministry of the Yoruba Christian Women (YCW), an international faith-based non-governmental, not-for-profit organization. Similarity of names and stories are coincidental. Feel free to copy for non-commercial use. Commercial use requires permission. For more information on YCW write Jesutoyin Ajikẹ-King (toyinking@yahoo.com).
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