BY TEMITAYO OLOFINLUA

In this troubled times, when the unity of the entity called, Nigeria is constantly under threat by forces of insecurity and religious intolerance, it behooves on every genuine citizen of this country to continually reflect about the fate of  this commonwealth and look  deeply into those things that threaten  national unity as well as those other things that bind the thread of  unity.

It is for this reason that Arts on Sunday issues today an excerpt from  Unity in Diversity… a collection of essays published by Henric Boll Stiftung. The essays aim to encourage Nigerians to be part of a solution to the recurrent diversity-related violent conflicts in the country.

Rule one

I was 13.My mother looked me deep in the eyes; “Do not make friends with Ijebu people.” She did not give reasons. It was a rule, in addition to the usual talk of remembering whose daughter I am, not allowing men touch me and facing my studies. As I left that day, I wondered if I was going to ask new friends their tribes, in addition to their names. So, where are you from? Pleased to meet you! It was a joke!

But no one argues with my mother.

That was her first rule I remember breaking. The very first time I was consciously disobedient. I was a boarding student at Federal Government Girls College, Akure. My school drew students from different parts of the country. Of course, there were Ijebus in my school. My friend, Kemi Ashiru, who sat beside me in class was Ijebu. I took garri from her when starvation came like a devil pulling the walls of my belly with its three-pronged fork.

We both laughed at the Geography teacher with his belt sitting on top of his protruding belly like a river across a mountain. I made friends with her. Did I remember my mother’s injunction? Yes, but she could not see me. I was only bothered that during the holidays, she would look deep into my eyes and find out I’d been with an Ijebu girl.

There are certain things students didn’t choose in my school: bunkmates, corner mates and class mates. It was a mixed bag. In life, there are certain things we can’t decide: our place of birth, our family, our national and ethnic backgrounds. They are chosen for us.  These differences which define us should enrich our humanity; they should make us better. They should be stepping stones not stumbling blocks.

The Beauty in Diversity

Nigeria’s diversity reminds me of a huge tapestry: each thread carefully knitted to make a beautiful whole, no part claiming responsibility for the beauty of the embroidery. Nigeria’s diversity is hidden, not in her over 200 tribes. It’s in the 200 tribes, each with its own unique culture. The beauty lies in each one of us accepting that no tribe is superior to the other; neither is any inferior to the other.

My Culture is better than yours!

Lie! Big lie! Bigger than Rivers Niger and Benue combined.

My friend Chizobam offered me akpu with ofe n sala. She asked if I wanted it Yoruba style (stew and meal in the same plate; a slow passing stream or a river on a mountain) or Igbo style (stew and meal in different plates). I found it interesting. We got talking. I told her how as a child my father told me not to eat okele (swallow) in two bites. Like the Igbos. Take only what you can swallow, he said.

Does my different way of eating make me better than Chizo? No. Difference does not mean superiority or inferiority; it just means another way of doing things; another way of speaking; another way of worship. Nigeria is a huge baobab tree with many cultures sheltered under it; it is fast becoming shade for other nationalities too.

These nations have not only come, they have brought their cultures with them. They have inter-married with Nigerians; I suspect someday soon, there will be the creation of new tribes like Yorindians, Haujaps and Igbonese. The tree reminds me of the Yoruba concept of the sky being big enough for all birds to fly.

Lesson One: De-stereotype your mind

In my short life, I have learnt certain lessons. I would not say that I was always like this: open to everyone regardless of ethnic associations. No! There was a time, when in my mind Yorubas were party loving garrulous people; Igbos were always looking for the next person to dupe and Hausas were such slow and unintelligent people. However, several life situations have questioned these myopic stereotypes. How narrow-minded I was?

I do not know how I picked these stereotypes. I only remember being shocked on a certain day that a man (who from his accent I could tell was Hausa) argued intelligently with another. I was so surprised at meeting a sincere clothes seller in Yaba market. I asked again: You are sure you are Igbo? As if to double-check and to question his ethnic associations. How I was so tribe conscious?

Tribalism, like its elder brother racism, implies a notion; “My people are better than yours”  therefore “1 love my tribe over yours.” Consequently “I am more concerned about the common good of my tribe over national interests.” We make our generalizations of certain people, tribes and nationalities based on certain experiences of them. We not only do that, we want to impose these experiences on other people. No one is better than the other! No tribe is better than another, only different.

There’s a need to do a mental detox. Delete the stereotypes of other people that exist in your mind. When it comes to stereotypes, one does not represent a whole. Be quick to address your biases anytime they raise their heads. Do not pretend that they do not exist. Only strike their heads before they affect your judgment of people or situations.

Lesson Two: Many Roads Lead to Heaven

Who is God? This question is answered in diverse ways God himself would be surprised if he peeps at the creations humans have made of him. Different people hold strong opinions of their God. It does not matter if the religion was transported across miles of sand or ocean.

Nigeria is a complex society where world religions like Christianity, Islam and Buddhism exist with Traditional African Religion. We are also quick to create sects and denominations. This is diversity, in a way; yet we have taken to guns to defend our gods. Aren’t our gods powerful, why do we fight for their honour? Religion unites yet we divide ourselves with it.