Tribalism - Let's Be Individual

I’ve mentioned before about my childhood fear of the Nigerian tribal mask that used to hang on my father’s office wall.  This gift from his brother who spent many years working for a petrol company in Lagos in the 1950s was ugly and scary and moved with us from one pub to another. The mask and many items my uncle brought home had been given to him as souvenirs but they were meaningful to their tribes and culture and he was honoured to receive such things as gifts.

 

 Apart from the really scary mask, we had an ornamental boat made from brass that was always on the mantelpiece and fascinated me as a child, and a few other bits of bric-a-brac that had come from Africa. I don’t know where it all ended up. I can only guess it was lost over time, or discarded when my widowed father remarried.

I don’t think tribalism begins and ends in Africa, though. We all follow a culture of sorts, or a mixture of thoughts and feelings that define who we are and give us a sense of belonging when we are with like-minded people. Politics, religion, sport, entertainment; it all falls into specific boxes and some don’t or won’t mix.

 In my youth we had Mods and Rockers. Mods rode scooters, Lambrettas adorned with many wing mirrors and sometimes a fur tail. Rockers rode motorbikes, the bigger the better. Triumph Bonneville was loved and some of the Japanese motorbikes were getting popular, Honda and Suzuki. No one could afford a Harley Davidson. And Rockers never rode scooters.

There was the ‘either or’ thing in pop music. It was Cliff Richard or Elvis Presley, The Beatles or The Rolling Stones, rock/prog rock/metal or Tamla Motown. A person was not supposed to like both and live in both camps, but I did and I wasn’t alone. I like what I like.

My step-mother’s mantra was ‘be an individual, don’t follow the crowd’ and yet she complained because I was different from her and I didn’t conform to her ways. I didn’t fit in with her. I still don’t ‘fit in’ to a lot of things, including work, but not fitting in has never held me back.

Back to Nigeria, I found this poem:

     Tribalism is an identity
     Resulting to nepotism
     And a great animosity

     Tribalism is an identity
     Of no statutory backings
     Denting my nationality
 
     From existing as an entity
     Resulting to conflicts
     And the death of humanity
 
     Tribalism is an identity
     A scar on nationalism
     Degrading our community
 

By Onyeche Vincent Onyekachukwu

 

  

Thanks for reading, Pam x

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An Oscar Complex

Well, what a man!

I decided to look at quotes from Oscar Wilde as opposed to anything else, as I think they can truly give a better insight into persons psyche.  Those quotes which are observations off the cuff are the most revealing of course, as opposed to clips from edited novels or poems. However, doing my research, I found a proliferation of quotes online, showing an abundance of thoughts, subjects and excerpts from his written works. One that really jumped out at me was as follows:  "To recommend thrift to the poor is both grotesque and insulting. It is like advising a man who is starving to eat less."    The Soul of a Man Under Socialism. 1881.

In the current economic climate this is as true today as it was back then. Perhaps David Cameron could do with being reminded of it.

I also liked this: "I love acting. It is so much more real than life."     The Picture of Dorien Grey. 1891.

To a degree, I think everyone is guilty of doing this at some point. Creating an alter-ego who is more than you really are. Wilde also carries this theme over into his other great work "The Importance Of Being Ernest" as explored yesterday on the blog. If you haven't read Lara's post yet, give it a read.

My absolute favourite though has to be: "The truth is rarely pure and never simple".     The Importance Of Being Ernest. 1895.

That is something which I class as one of my mantra's in my journey through life. I try to make a point of hearing both sides of a story. Although, even then, things may not be as clear cut as we would like them to be.  It is also a quote which I wish more people would follow.

I must admit, I do find that finding an inspiring quote is uplifting. It adds to my mantra of Life itself. Of course, there will always be opinions of others which I don't agree with, but again, that's life!

He was a man ahead of his time. In this day and age, his lifestyle choices wouldn't be a big deal, as they were back then. Shame really. I could sit here all day, just listing the many things that this man once said, but there are so many of Oscar Wilde's quotes to read, it is mind-boggling. But even if you only find one that truly speaks to you, then follow it wholeheartedly. Be a better person by the example of others.


"On Your Shoulders" - By Louise Barklam

Standing tall
Feet firmly planted
Rooted solidly upon knowledge of old
Progress unearths a road before you

Dare to step out
Forge forward
Pave the way

We stand on the shoulders of Giants
Every day
Do we notice? Not really.
Take it for granted at your own risk
If we forget what they have done
Future generations may wonder
"What's the point?"

Those Giants have lifted us up so high
We've forgotten them
They created works, things, and gadgets
They made our lives better
Enriched us

Don't forget the Pioneers
They made EVERYTHING possible!

BE the next Giant
Forge forward
Pave the way!

Lift the future on YOUR shoulders!!


Thanks for reading my random waffle today.  ;-)

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