Ubuntu (I Am Because We Are)

I came across this phrase today while reading. It had me thinking for more than 10 minutes, and the only question that came to my mind was: Why do we Africans have such short memories?

On one hand, I wanted to blame the colonisers, but I realised that it is the loss of this concept of Ubuntu that has made us the way we are today. This means that blaming whoever or whatever caused it would be a waste of time.

Can you believe that 28 African heads of state have either been assassinated or poisoned in the last five decades, yet we are not perturbed by this? We simply believe that we are better off on our own than united.

Many are in prison today because they dare to speak up for their people, yet those same people blame them for speaking out. Afufu gbaa nwoke obi, o di ka o na eke ike. (When a man becomes accustomed to suffering, he mistakes it for hard work.)

The question remains: What scares us about being united? The answer lies in our perception and understanding of ourselves. We are afraid of being betrayed because we ourselves are not trustworthy.

Almost on a daily basis, you discover people who sell fake or adulterated products to others just to survive, yet they turn around and blame the government for not working for the people. The foreigners rejoice because they know there are many saboteurs among us.

Ubuntu is not just a statement but a mantra that every African man or woman must embrace and practise. Enough of this religious confusion! The way or means you choose to worship God should not cause you to hate or despise your brother. Instead, it should unite us.

I also learnt that the full statement behind the saying “Blood is thicker than water” is “The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb.” The real question is: Which covenant?

Now, if we could all come together and become one, believing that we need one another to truly become complete, I sincerely believe we would break free from this mental slavery and that is our covenant.

The important thing to note, though, is that coming together must begin among those who truly understand that there is no place like home. A man was told that he was going to die, and he smiled upon remembering his brothers who had gone before him and died for a noble cause. Every man must die, but how is not important; rather, why is very important.

It is saddening to watch our brothers and sisters work so hard to please those who are determined to keep them in perpetual suffering, blind them with lies, and cause them to fight anyone who dares to bring light into the dark room in which they are kept.

I am today because you are! Let it sink into your head. Any day you look at your brother or sister, smile and say to him or her, “I am because you are! There is no me without you!”

I stand for world peace, progress, and unity. However, it must start with self-awareness, understanding, and acceptance of who we are as a people. We must never repeat the mistakes of our ancestors; instead, we must build on their strengths for the future of our children.

A lot of things happening in the world should not concern you because a man whose house is on fire does not chase rats.

Ubuntu! Ubuntu!! Ubuntu!!! Until we are all united in love and progress!

I remain your friend and brother,

Maazi Onuora Obodoechi.

Breaking Away from Ourselves: The African Identity Crisis and the Price of Distraction

It is deeply disturbing when a people embrace other people’s cultures, belief systems, and ideas while despising their own. It is equally concerning when the only role models young people have to look up to are individuals involved in political thuggery or musicians whose lyrics focus on the commercialisation of women, nudity, and the pursuit of easy money, without creating meaningful values.

Some people, simply because of a change in their accent, skin tone, or environment, begin to feel that they are no longer African and seek to belong to other races, perhaps assuming that those races are as foolish as they are. The evidence is becoming increasingly clear, as people are being reminded that staying in water for ages does not turn a lizard into a crocodile.

The argument that religion is our problem, particularly the debate over whether Christianity is responsible for Africa’s problems, especially Nigeria’s, is, in my opinion, a waste of time. Most religions and faiths condemn wrongdoing and advocate peace, at least in principle. Therefore, I believe the argument should not be about which religion is better or which one everyone should embrace.

The real concern of every Nigerian and African should be what those in government are doing to improve the lives of the people. A preacher who tells you to pray for clean water, hospitals, or even electricity, without encouraging you to demand accountability from those responsible, is either failing to understand that God cannot be mocked or simply deceiving you. It is, therefore, your responsibility to know your God and understand yourself.

The Bible teaches that you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free. It does not say that you should merely believe the truth; the emphasis is on knowing it.

So, I ask you: Do you know the truth, or are you simply going by what other people tell you?

While I agree that many preachers exploit the vulnerability and gullibility of people for their own advantage, I also believe that encouraging people to accept suffering and hardship as proof of faith is ridiculous. At the same time, I sincerely believe that many people have refused to confront their realities and work on themselves to improve their circumstances.

There is no lasting solution if we refuse to begin solving our own problems. The more we argue and fight over religion and tribe, the more politicians strategise and implement policies that continue to impoverish us, undermine our progress, and weaken the very belief systems we claim to defend.

Secondly, one would think that the African continent would rally around the president of Burkina Faso and acknowledge the work he is doing in his country. Instead, many of our men and women are busy fighting one another online, engaging in endless debates about bodily autonomy and abortion. While we remain consumed by distractions and seemingly senseless arguments, other nations are busy building families, corporations, and companies.

Little wonder that conversations about gender roles and identity have become increasingly contentious. Everyone seems to be trying to redefine or replace something, while very few stop to ask who benefits most from the confusion, the propaganda, and the division. I believe that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity, but my concern is that a person whose house is on fire should not become so distracted by chasing rats that they forget to put out the fire.

Honestly, so much is happening today that leaves me amazed. Sometimes, I wonder how humanity has gradually moved away from the exercise of common sense towards the pursuit of personal feelings and immediate gratification, often at the expense of reason and collective progress.

Nevertheless, despite all the confusion and distractions in the world today, there is something important you can do for yourself.

Create a healthy environment for yourself, both physically and mentally. Be selective about what you read, eat, watch, and the people with whom you associate.

Many people have been led astray, and some do not want to go down that path alone. Make sure that no one leads you astray simply because they have chosen to lose their way.

As an African man or woman, deepen your roots in your cultural values and traditions. Educate yourself. Read history so that you can recognise the smile of a wolf, even when it comes disguised as friendship.

Remember that something may be good, sound good, and appear good, yet still not be right for you.

Never allow your environment, whether pleasant or unpleasant, to hold you captive or determine who you become. Wherever you find yourself, make sure you never lose your identity.

Finally, many of the things we hope and pray for are things we could achieve ourselves if we stopped allowing distractions and unnecessary arguments to consume our time. We must learn to hold our leaders accountable for their responsibilities.

Our foods, games, cultures, and traditions are gradually being replaced, repackaged, and renamed, and we seem to be watching without paying attention.

For instance, the thatched houses our ancestors built with an understanding of our climate were once dismissed as primitive. Yet, when similar architectural ideas are repackaged and given modern names, they suddenly become symbols of luxury and sophistication. The same can be said of puff-puff, which is now often presented under the broader label of small chops. The examples are endless.

I am not suggesting that everything happening today is harmful or that change is necessarily bad. My point is that sensible people should be more concerned about the affairs of their nations, the future of their communities, and the unity of the African continent, with women included as equal participants in that future.

Enough of the endless battles between men and women. Anyone who insists that they can exist entirely alone should remember that old age is waiting around the corner. We all need one another in ways that may not become apparent until much later in life.

As the saying goes, it is the firewood one gathers during summer that sustains one through winter. Likewise, anyone who chooses to bathe with their clothes on should be mindful of the consequences of their actions.

Until we wake up, we will continue to lose what we fail to recognise, value, and protect.

I remain your friend and brother,

Maazi Onuora Obodoechi.

When We Forget Who We Are: A Reflection on Heritage, Identity and the Wisdom of Our Ancestors

There was a time when men were judged by their ability to reason, and by their capacity to sit with and counsel the elders who had gone before them. Morals and values were handed down from one generation to another. Every generation understood its responsibility to preserve its moral code, values, principles and spirituality, and to hand them over to the next.

Then the invaders came with a religion that preached a different set of beliefs, teaching the people that their wealth and reward were somewhere in the sky.

They also introduced a new method of writing while condemning our own native means of communication as primitive.

The men of old perceived this threat and fought for over 37 years to preserve their culture, inventions and, to some extent, their spirituality.

During this period of war, they manufactured their own guns and spears and even used natural bulletproof protection known as Odeshi.

The invaders could not understand their tenacity, so they devised another tactic: they condemned everything they believed could give the children of these men the power, knowledge and confidence to reclaim their land and identity in the future.

And gradually, the children of these great men are still wallowing in ignorance today, fighting over the latest hairstyles, clothes, gender issues and other distractions, while the very things that make them who they are are being stripped away.

Do you have any guess where this could be happening?

I bet you do.

Isn’t it a shame that our forefathers would risk their lives, energy and skills to preserve a generation that would one day look back and condemn them?

Let’s reflect on a few things.

First, let’s talk about our spirituality.

In the olden days, men and women were deeply connected to nature and to the spiritual world. They interacted with their ancestors, understood the signs around them, and had a strong sense of who they were. There were even people who could tell you that their time on earth was near, and rather than being consumed by fear, they could face it with acceptance, believing that their elders would be there to receive them.

What is happening today?

We have so much departed from ourselves that we now rely entirely on weather forecasts—and even make excuses for them when they predict wrongly.

Our ancestors could look up at the sky and warn of rain while the sun was still shining brightly.

Again, I came across a video of a man on TikTok who narrated how people from other countries and continents preserved what their fathers handed down to them, while continuously improving it as the world changed. He mentioned things such as red wine and spirits.

But what stood out to me was the fact that the palm wine our forefathers used for weddings, relaxation and meetings is, in many ways, still at the level at which they left it. In fact, one of the few “improvements” this generation has managed to make is to adulterate it.

This makes me wonder: what happened to our spirit of innovation?

If previous generations could create, invent and adapt, why are we not doing the same with what they handed down to us?

Look at the Igbo people of Nigeria, for instance. They endured immense suffering and conflict throughout the twentieth century. During the Nigerian Civil War, they fought to survive and demonstrated remarkable ingenuity despite extreme limitations. They produced scientists and engineers who developed cars that reportedly ran on fuel derived from palm oil, created the Ogbunigwe, built an airport in a thick forest, and sustained a war effort for three years under extraordinary circumstances.

Don’t you think that if it were this generation facing such circumstances, we would ask ourselves whether we would fight with the same determination—or simply resort to fasting and prayers?

The point I am trying to make is that Africa needs to sit down and reflect on itself. We need to embrace our uniqueness and relate with other continents of the world on equal terms.

This is because no nation will truly take seriously a people whose arguments and contributions are constantly reduced to men-and-women issues, marital conflicts and an incessant quest for material things that they cannot even produce for themselves.

Therefore, it is high time we all put on our reasoning hats and reflect on who we are. We must rediscover ourselves, embrace our heritage and understand that no one will do for us what we ought to do for ourselves.

Our ancestors handed something to us.

The question is: what are we going to hand over to the generation that comes after us?

Until we wake up,

I remain your friend and brother,

Maazi Onuora Obodoechi.

Painted Shackles Are Not Jewellery

I have always made reference to a wounded eagle that was domesticated by a farmer but refused to fly beyond its previous confinement, even when that confinement was no longer there physically.

This highlights the fact that the greatest obstacle to a person’s success or progression in life is not necessarily what they have faced or are facing, but the thoughts they hold within themselves and the perception they have of themselves.

The pressures we face each day are not necessarily meant to destroy us or weigh us down. Sometimes, they are meant to force us either to move forward or to stop and reflect.

Again, it is not the stress we face that we should be most concerned about, but the interpretation we give to that stress. The meaning of suffering ceases to be painful when it is tied to a purpose.

Therefore, it is necessary for everyone to constantly question their circumstances in order to identify the significance of their experiences.

Those who become accustomed to suffering without purpose can only be likened to the wounded eagle.

It is therefore my opinion that painted shackles are not jewellery and should be treated, or understood, for what they truly are—bondage.

Haven’t we suffered enough?

This is the question every well-meaning citizen of Nigeria is asking. Why are politicians so bent on painting our shackles, and the people wearing them, as jewellery instead of encouraging us to throw them away?

On a personal level, why have you allowed yourself to be held hostage by habits, beliefs, or ideologies to the point where you forget that you have a purpose to fulfil in life?

A wise man once said that when men lack purpose, they distract themselves with pleasure.

The call today is for each of us to ask ourselves: Are we merely painting our shackles, or are we working towards our liberation from everything that is holding us down?

The quality of our existence will, to a great extent, be measured by the people we surround ourselves with and what we choose to spend our time on.

If this country, or indeed this continent, is to become great, it must begin with a responsible citizenry. We should therefore stop waiting for what this continent will do for us and start doing what we ought to do for ourselves—for the growth and betterment of our communities and our continent.

The shackles may no longer be there physically, but they are clearly holding our minds captive. And the tragedy I see is that those who are free are at risk of being hunted down by those who remain ignorant of their own bondage.

This is one of the reasons Solomon said, “Woe to the land when a slave becomes king,” because you may be physically strong, but once your mind is weak, you are still a prisoner.

Therefore, as you build your muscles in the gym, empower and strengthen the muscles of your mind. Educate yourself. Develop a mindset that enables you to see every obstacle as a stepping stone to a higher echelon.

Make sure you remove the shackles that are holding you back from achieving what you have set out to achieve.

Until we meet next time,

I remain your friend and brother,

Maazi Onuora Obodoechi.

Independence: Freedom from What?

It is indeed 66 years of independence. However, one would be tempted to ask: independent from what, exactly?

The country has not shown many signs of true independence since 1960, particularly since it returned to democracy in 1999.

I therefore want to implore every Nigerian citizen to reflect on what freedom and independence mean to them and reconcile those ideals with the reality we have today.

I recently came across a post by a man who was questioning whether Nigerians are a pest to the rest of the world, claiming that there is hardly a prison in the world where you would not find a Nigerian citizen.

Many have chosen to remain in prison in a foreign land rather than return home to their country, which, in my opinion, is a terrible choice. However, what this also shows is that people are desperately looking for ways to survive.

Our former heads of state have often preferred to travel abroad for medical treatment instead of building functional government institutions and healthcare systems at home.

It is important that we understand that many people have lost their lives, and continue to lose them, to insurgency and insecurity across the country.

Sincerely, Nigeria has become synonymous with difficult circumstances. Hence, you hear people say, “Nigeria has happened to me,” or “Make Nigeria no happen to you.”

It is indeed disheartening, and it should serve as a call for all of us to reflect on what we want as a people instead of celebrating nothingness.

I remember a time when people genuinely celebrated Independence Day. Nowadays, many barely remember what independence was meant to represent.

My dear fellow citizens, the Japanese rebuilt their country after being devastated by American atomic bombs. They did not spend all their lives complaining. Burkina Faso is attempting to do the same today. The Chinese did it as well, as have countless other nations.

It is very pertinent that we prioritise ourselves and understand that many of our leaders have failed to put the welfare of the people first. Our division, sycophancy, and tribal hatred only make matters worse.

If independence means the monopoly of businesses, if independence means insecurity and poverty, if independence means constant killing and incessant borrowing without corresponding production, then we are living in a delusion.

It would be a shame if, in the next 44 years, we find ourselves looking back at these terrible years with nostalgia and using them as a reference point for better times.

Nigerians are intelligent, resilient, and hardworking people. We all need to stand together and say NO to the gangsterism, corruption, and failures that have characterised our leadership.

Finally, as you celebrate, remember those who have unjustly lost their lives in the Nigerian project; remember the dreams that were cut short and those that never had the opportunity to materialise.

Until we wake up and decide to vote wisely to rescue our land,

I remain your friend and brother,

Maazi Onuora Obodoechi.

The Power of Words, Boundaries, and Defining Your Own Success

It is very common today to hear people say, “Don’t judge me by my past.” Most people find it difficult to look back, let alone reflect on who they used to be. However, there are others who deliberately look back, not to remain stuck in the past, but to draw strength from the little progress they have made and the failures they have experienced along the way.

In today’s discussion, we will look at how our words and actions impact other people, and how we can develop a tough skin by setting and maintaining clear boundaries with people who talk down to others.

When Oliver finished secondary school, he attended a house party where he observed the lives and behaviours of some of his classmates. After returning home, he decided to write his first book, titled Reasons Why People Fail: A Manual to Living a Successful Life. The book was written in accordance with Christian principles and the basic law of cause and effect.

Oliver was very happy and proud of himself for having written a book so soon after secondary school. Everyone was surprised to learn about it. As people began making requests for copies and placing orders to support him, one of his closest friends, Peter, showed little or no interest.

So Oliver asked Peter if he would like to read the new book and, at least, give him a constructive assessment.

Peter started laughing and asked his friend a question:

“How can you write a book about success when you have not succeeded yourself?”

At that moment, Oliver felt hurt. He pondered Peter’s question for a while and began thinking about the struggles he was experiencing at that point in his life. The person he thought would be happiest and most supportive seemed to be the person who doubted him the most.

This is a classic example of the saying that it is often someone close to you who will tell you whether your mouth smells or not.

Oliver had two choices: he could either feel sorry for himself or take his friend’s words as a challenge and define success for himself.

There is another example that comes to mind. We often put on a mean face either to hide our shyness or to reveal what is going on within us.

I am not advocating that we should laugh all the time, but I believe in having a warm, welcoming and approachable face that makes it easier for people to relate to us.

Many times, because of the high rate of crime and deception in society, we equate toughness with having a mean face. On the contrary, true toughness comes from an intelligent and wise mind.

From the example above, you can see that Peter believed there was no point in writing a book about success without first physically achieving what he considered to be success. This perspective prevented him from recognising that Oliver had already achieved something significant: he had created a book, a form of value that could eventually lead to monetary success.

So, what can we learn from this story?

I will put it the way Donald Trump once said: “The more people tell you it is not possible and that it can’t be done, the more determined you should be to prove them wrong.”

There is also a responsibility to pause and reflect before we speak to someone, because our words can either make or mar a person’s life. This is why the Bible teaches us to be quick to listen but slow to speak.

How, then, should you handle people who constantly doubt you or talk down to you?

The highest form of motivation is intrinsic motivation. It is important to remember that people often speak from their own perspective. They do not know everything about you, your journey, your struggles, or your plans.

Therefore, you must develop a mental filter.

This filter helps you separate facts from emotions and compare what people say with the plans and purpose you have for your life.

Sometimes, the truth can be communicated in the wrong way. However, we must be careful to recognise the truth regardless of who says it, rather than basing our judgement solely on the person who said it.

It does not matter whether it is your parents, friends, or loved ones who have spoken negatively about you. If you allow their words to define you, you may eventually begin to prove them right.

Listen, it would be unrealistic to claim that such words will never hurt you. They can hurt. But this is where the principle of pause and reflect becomes important.

It is wrong to suppress your feelings or pretend that you are not affected. Instead, observe your thoughts and emotions, and compare them with what you are working towards.

Always separate yourself from the challenging situation.

For instance, if you write an examination and the result is poor, the examination was unsuccessful—not you. With this mindset, you have the opportunity to critically examine what led to the poor result and determine what you can do differently next time.

This is not about living in denial. It is about refusing to become trapped in emotions and shame by believing that because you failed at something, you are a failure.

Overall, no one can look down on you without your permission.

When people become unbearable, tell them how their actions are affecting you. Address the issue, not their person. Set healthy boundaries, define what success means to you, and remember that failure is feedback about the actions you took.

You can choose to learn from that feedback, correct the loopholes and try again—or avoid failure altogether and remain stagnant in life.

Those who fear criticism, mistakes and failure rarely achieve anything worthwhile.

Be kind to people. Mind what you say to people, and know what you are willing to accept from people.

At the end of the day, you are the one who defines who you are by what you choose to believe about yourself.

Smile and be kind. God is ever faithful.

I remain your friend and brother,

Maazi Onuora Obodoechi.

Ignorance is the number one enemy of man.

It is very important that you do not allow someone who is going nowhere to take you along with them.

In a game of chess, the queen appears to be the most powerful piece. She moves across the chessboard, defending, destroying, and, at some point, even giving up her life when it is established or certain that a pawn has all it needs to become another queen or one of the other powerful pieces.

I used the word appears because no matter how strong and determined the queen is, once the king is captured, it is checkmate for all of them.

Now, reflect on your life. What is your king? Upon what does all the activity you carry out rest?

This question is particularly important in a nation that often prays everything away.

I recall one day when we were getting ready for an interview, and there was no electricity. There was no light anywhere in the neighbourhood. All we were saying was, “Chukwu mee ka e weta oku,”—we were all praying that God should cause the electricity company to restore the light.

The funny thing was that we were not owing any electricity bill. Yet, the system seemed to understand that the people were peaceful and religious enough to run to God instead of demanding what they had actually paid for.

This pattern can also be seen when it comes to our health and wellness. We often hear, “It is not your portion.”

Now, before you get emotional, understand that the problem is not with calling upon God or praying. The issue lies in praying and fasting over things that God has already given us the ability to do. In some cases, we have even paid for these services, but instead of demanding what we are entitled to, we leave everything to God.

This is not just a religious issue; it is cultural as well. We are people who value law and order, but we also tend to trust others without necessarily having a reason to trust them. We leave everything to God, which in itself is not a bad thing.

However, how about we build schools, hospitals, factories, and companies, and then call upon God when our efforts are failing or have failed?, if we do our part then we can pray for God to take a lead.

It is therefore very important that you prioritise your health because it is the foundation upon which every other area of your life rests.

Let your vision and dreams guide how you live your life. Once you are alive, you are destined to die. The question, therefore, is not whether you will die, but how?

Unfortunately, no one knows the answer. But I sincerely believe that a death caused by a lack of discipline, ignorance, or the wrong company can be painful—not only for the person but also for his or her loved ones.

The message is simple: be mindful of what you eat, what you drink, and the company you keep.

We live in a world driven by business, where everyone wants you to eat and drink all the time. Among the many forms of addiction, one that people often overlook is food addiction, particularly the excessive consumption of sugar and sugary products.

It is very important that you regulate your eating habits, exercise, and then pray. We should all start demanding what we need from our government while also helping one another.

God can never be mocked. Whatever you sow, you shall reap.

Until we wake up,

I remain your friend and brother,
Maazi Onuora Obodoechi.

Poverty, Illiteracy, and the Struggle for African Liberation

When I reflect on the vast mineral resources that we have in Africa, sometimes I don’t know whether I should blame God for giving us such vast resources and then cursing us with greedy and self-centred leaders, or whether I should blame the people who refuse to study the patterns of our history and fight for their resources.

The fact that we can read and write today was not originally intended to free us, but rather to ease the burden of the colonisers and replace our languages—the languages we once used to hide our secrets from our oppressors.

Every gift given has had ulterior motives designed to favour the oppressors. Now, over 2,000 years ago, transatlantic slavery officially came to an end—at least, it is illegal today. That represents centuries of Europeans and Arabs selling Africans as commodities.

Many of our forefathers suffered through some of the most horrific periods in human history. Yet, up till today, for some reason, we are still entirely dependent on those who sold our ancestors to save us from ourselves.

The idea of religion in itself is not bad, but its interpretation was made in a way that encourages us to seek God outside ourselves.

The school system kept everyone in line and in a constant rat race of trying to survive, to the point where people hardly think about thriving and creating anything worthwhile.

Today, there is nothing holding us back except ourselves—the illiterate and the gullible among us. And by that, I also mean educated fools who don’t think for themselves or are afraid to implement what they have learnt.

These charlatans could be seen in the death of Patrice Lumumba. His own people chased after him and allegedly aided his killing by the Belgian government. The same could be said in the case of Thomas Sankara, and the list goes on.

Let’s bring it to the present day. Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is currently facing life imprisonment for speaking up for his people and calling out the injustice being done to them. Yet some stomach-infrastructure politicians of the same ethnic origin allegedly aided his arrest.

The current NDC presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, who has proven to be trustworthy and has a clear record of integrity, came under scrutiny not only from his opponents but also directly from his state and his brother.

Now, you can see why they say, “Passing six is not passing sense,” which simply means that common sense is not common.

The question we all need to ask is: Until when are we going to start embracing ourselves as Africans, protecting one another and our dear land, and, most importantly, honouring the spirit of our ancestors who yearned and gnashed their teeth in agony?

Please, my people, let’s understand that the poverty we are facing today is, in part, orchestrated by those we voted for who are not serving the interests of the public.

We should support our brothers and sisters who are doing well and ensure that we conduct adequate research before condemning our own, especially when the accusation comes from outside Africa.

May the spirit of our ancestors, and those prophets who were murdered for speaking the truth, raise men and women who will liberate this continent and help make the world a better place.

Finally, do not be a weapon that an enemy can use against your brother. Educate yourself, love your land, and love your people.

Viva Africa!

I remain your friend and brother,
Maazi Onuora Obodoechi.

Knowing Who We Are: A Reflection on Igbo Identity, Culture and Education

Oja dufuo dike, dike banye n’ala, oja abanye na akpa.

It is sad how low we have descended as a people. We show our strength when it comes to our own brothers and sisters. We claim to be educated and aware, yet with each passing day, we question our identity and depend on others to label us and remind us who they think we are.

There is indeed an identity crisis happening within the Igbo community, where education is now measured by the level of vocabulary one is able to quote in a meeting rather than by one’s ability to solve problems.

Ideally, the education we embrace was supposed to make us more aware of ourselves and help us embrace who we are as a people. Instead, it has sometimes made us hostile to many of the things that made us who we are.

It brings tears to my eyes to see how we are gradually losing our culture, our language, our women, and our sense of livelihood. It is also painful to watch some of our brothers struggle to claim ancestry from Israel and others from the Arabs. We seem to want to be everyone else but ourselves.

Ndi Igbo recently celebrated Ohanaeze @50 in Lagos State, Nigeria. One would wonder what happens to the people they are representing in South-Eastern Nigeria. Perhaps that is where their masters told them to do it.

A lot of our cultural values are being replaced by modern ways of life. The danger of this attitude is that it places us in a state where we are neither modern enough to fully belong to Western culture nor sufficiently grounded in the principles embedded in our own culture to truly be ourselves.

Now, tell me, what better way is there to weaken a great people than by getting hold of their women? One would think that having educated women would make them more reasonable and conscious of the responsibilities that come with education. Instead, some have interpreted liberation as complete independence from men and the rejection of traditional responsibilities. As a result, some of our men are gradually leaving to marry women from other tribes who, in their view, understand the importance of cultural preservation.

We have lost much of our religion and are gradually losing our grip on our women. The high level of education among our people should make us appreciate the ingenuity of our ancestors—the men and women who fought a war for 37 years and endured a civil war for three years, manufacturing their own weapons with little external support. Instead, some of us choose to pray against them and disconnect ourselves from their history.

This is not just a crisis of culture; it is a crisis of self-definition.

The solution is not to ignore it or wish it away, but to begin working our way back—to recover our ability to consciously decide who we are, what we keep, what we change, and what kind of society we want to build.

The first step is to ensure that education becomes more than certification. The goal of education should be to help our children understand Igbo history before colonialism and the Civil War, as well as the diversity that exists among Igbo communities, rather than treating Igbo culture as one uniform thing.

Additionally, we have to start learning Igbo philosophy, proverbs, literature, music, and traditional institutions.

It is true that history has been discontinued from the school curriculum. However, that does not mean we should stop studying and educating our children about Christianity, colonialism, Biafra, migration, and modern globalisation.

A person who knows where they came from is not necessarily hostile to other cultures. Rather, a secure identity makes genuine cultural exchange easier.

It is also our responsibility to teach our children that culture is different from whatever is done in its name, particularly when such practices fail to preserve human dignity, family stability, freedom, responsibility, and the flourishing of the people.

Furthermore, this obsession with external ancestry, such as claims of descent from Israel or the Arabs, makes our identity more complicated and therefore requires careful examination. There is no need to use exotic ancestry stories to make Igbo identity valuable. An Igbo child should be able to say, “I am Igbo, and this is my culture.”

Finally, our women should know that they are the life of every nation. It is high time we embraced who we are and developed a deeper sense of self-respect. There is no respect for Ada Igbo anymore; many are found in situations that do not befit who they are.

The challenges are enormous, and I cannot exhaust them in a single post. However, the aim of this write-up is not to make us more traditional for the sake of tradition, but to make us more conscious of ourselves.

In the South-East, there is no international airport and no seaport, yet our politicians continue fighting among themselves instead of focusing on the welfare and development of their people.

When brothers fight, their enemy wins, because nobody will trust someone who sold his brother.

We are not Israel, neither are we Arabs. Anyi bu ndi Igbo.

O ma akwa asa ahu mara onwe ya..ndi igbo wake up!!

I remain your friend and brother,

Maazi Onuora Obodoechi.

Be Kind, But Guide Your Kindness With Wisdom

There is little value in repeatedly being kind to an entitled person—someone who only takes from others and never feels the need to give back. It is important to watch out for such people. They may not have much themselves, yet they can make you feel guilty for not having enough to give them.

Some schools of thought believe that one ought to give without remembering, but there is also an important lesson in learning to receive without forgetting.

Many people live their lives as though no one has ever helped them. They borrow ideas but never acknowledge the source. They receive clothes, shoes, financial assistance, and other forms of support, yet somehow come to believe that these things are their entitlement.

This is not a new phenomenon. We see an example in the Bible when the Lord Jesus healed ten lepers, but only one thought it necessary to return and show appreciation. The other nine went on their way without expressing gratitude.

We also see a lesson in the story of Nebuchadnezzar. He became so wealthy and powerful that he began to attribute everything he had to his own strength, resilience, and determination. Pride and grandiosity took hold of him, to the point where the Lord had to humble him and make him experience a completely different side of life.

The point of these examples is to remind us that it is human nature to assume that the person helping us must have everything going well for them. The truth, however, is that many people who give have simply cultivated the habit of being kind and are willing to give a little of what they themselves have received.

The teaching about giving says that your left hand should not know what your right hand is doing. However, that does not mean the person receiving should not be appreciative.

Now, here is my point: learn to be grateful for the life, health, and resources you have today. Use some of what you have to assist another person. At the same time, be careful not to fall into the hands of ungrateful people. And when you do encounter them, do not allow their ingratitude to discourage you from helping others.

Just recently, I came across a story about a woman who sued a man for performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on her drowning child. She claimed that the man caused the child to suffer a broken rib and that this subjected her to pain and emotional distress. The question that comes to mind is: would it have been better for the child to drown with intact ribs, or to survive with a broken one?

This is where the world seems to have gotten to. Someone can go out of their way to save another person’s life, only to be criticised or punished for the way they did it. Just imagine the thought process behind such a reaction. The focus became what could be gained from the situation rather than recognising the help that had been offered.

Again, my point is that ungrateful people come in different forms, and their behaviour can sometimes discourage you from being kind to those who genuinely need your help.

Overall, learn to appreciate the people who have helped you. It may not always be financial. Someone who checks up on you every day, offers you encouragement, shares an idea, gives you an opportunity, or simply stands by you in difficult times is also being helpful.

Learn to return favours, even if you cannot return them to the exact person who helped you. If you have been blessed with the ability to help, extend that help to someone who genuinely needs it.

Finally, do not become an entitled person. Whatever you achieve through hard work, discipline, routines, habits, opportunities, and the environment in which you were raised should make you humble and wise—not arrogant.

Prioritise being kind to people on your way up, because you may meet them again on your way down.

We are all here for one another. Do not be an ingrate, and do not pour your help endlessly into people who refuse to value it. Some people will focus only on what you are not doing for them while belittling everything you have already done, as though your kindness were simply your responsibility.

Be kind, but guide your kindness with wisdom.

I remain your friend and brother,
Maazi Onuora Obodoechi