Special Dance

Title: The Clever Spider and the Rainmaker’s Secret

In a time when animals ruled the forest and talked like men, there lived a cunning spider named Kwaku Ananse. Though small in size, Ananse had a mind sharper than a porcupine’s quill. The forest was in trouble—a terrible drought had turned rivers to dust and crops to ash. The animals grew weak, and the young ones cried for water.

Now, it was said that only one creature held the secret to bring rain: Mzee Mbura, the old tortoise who lived atop the tallest baobab. He was a rainmaker, but he never shared. His crops flourished while others wilted. His shell stayed glossy while the other animals grew thin and cracked.

Ananse decided it was time to act—not with strength, but with wit.

He spun a long silky thread and tied gourds to it—one for kindness, one for courage, one for wisdom, and one for lies. He painted them with bright forest colors and carried them like gifts.

When he reached the baobab, Mzee Mbura was asleep. Ananse sang softly:

“Four gifts I bring,
For a shell so wide.
But only truth
Will open your pride.”

The tortoise opened one eye and chuckled. “What do you want, little web-walker?”

“Just a drop of rain,” Ananse said, bowing.

Mzee Mbura laughed. “Only the wise can summon rain.”

Ananse smiled. “Then let me try.”

He offered the gourd of lies first—but it broke into smoke. Then he offered the gourd of courage—but a wind blew it away. When he gave the gourd of kindness, it opened into a soft breeze. But the final gourd—wisdom—burst into a thundercloud.

Suddenly, the sky wept.

Rain fell. The trees danced. The animals cheered.

Mzee Mbura was shocked. “How did you do that?”

Ananse bowed low. “Sometimes, the smallest voice carries the biggest truth. Kindness and wisdom can open even the sky.”

From that day, the animals honored Ananse not just as a trickster—but as the Savior of the Rain.

Moral: Wisdom is not in how loud you speak, but in how true your heart is.

#AfricanFolktale #AnanseWisdom #RainmakerSecrets #ForestLegends #AfricanStories

A dance from the soul

Something amazing happened in Nebraska.

A young man showed up to an auction, hoping to buy back his family's 80-acre farm that they’d lost during hard times. But with over 200 local farmers in attendance, he didn’t stand much of a chance... or so he thought.

What happened next? Nobody bid.
Not one person.
They all stayed silent — letting him buy the land back without competition.

No drama. No applause. Just quiet, powerful solidarity.

It wasn’t about profit. It was about doing the right thing.
Faith in humanity: restored.

[Last Night] Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr played a away match in Saudi Arabia. The attendance on the night was just 14000+

Meanwhile Messi played a away match in USA. Where football isn’t even a main sports, but the attendance on the night was 60000+

JUST LOOk AT THE GAP!!!!!!!!!
The rest is history everyone knows.

Ronaldo has 1 Billion followers & still couldn't able to pull 15k people to watch him Live at the stadium where the ticket price is very low. only £9-10.

You can't judge Leo Messi by Instagram followers. He owns streets. He is the REAL one. Messi is the most popular person in the world!

If you don't agree. Just Go & see the stadium.
There are LEVELS guys!

- posted by (Md Amin)

True abundance is not based on our net worth, it is based on our self worth

100 METAPHORS AND ANALOGIES
METAPHOR:
Metaphor is a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable, in order to suggest a resemblance. It compares two unlike things directly without using "like" or "as".
1. Time is a thief.
2. Her voice is music to my ears.
3. He has a heart of stone.
4. The classroom was a zoo.
5. Life is a rollercoaster.
6. She’s a shining star.
7. His mind is a steel trap.
8. The world is a stage.
9. He’s a walking encyclopedia.
10. Her eyes were sparkling diamonds.
Her eyes are bright and captivating.
11. The thunder was a lion’s roar.
The thunder is loud and powerful, like a lion's roar.
12. His words were a double-edged sword.
His words could have both positive and negative effects.
13. She has a green thumb.
She is skilled at gardening.
14. The city is a jungle.
The city is wild and chaotic.
15. He’s a night owl.
He stays up late and is active at night.
16. Her smile is sunshine.
Her smile brings warmth and happiness.
17. The stars were diamonds in the sky.
The stars are bright and sparkling, like diamonds.
18. His temper was a volcano.
His anger could erupt suddenly and violently.
19. She’s a butterfly.
She is graceful and delicate.
20. The wind was a howling wolf.
The wind made loud, eerie noises, like a wolf's howl.
21. He’s a couch potato.
He is lazy and inactive.
22. Her mind is a maze.
Her thoughts are complex and intricate.
23. The lake was a mirror.
The lake's surface was calm and reflective.
24. He’s a rock.
He is dependable and strong.
25. Her laughter is a melody.
Her laughter is pleasant and musical.
26. The snow is a white blanket.
The snow covers the ground completely, like a blanket.
27. He’s a snake.
He is deceitful and untrustworthy.
28. Her hair is a golden river.
Her hair flows smoothly and has a golden hue.
29. The moon was a ghostly galleon.
The moon is compared to a large, mysterious ship.
30. His eyes were piercing lasers.
His gaze was intense and penetrating.
31. The fog is a thick curtain.
The fog is dense and obscures vision, like a curtain.
32. She’s a diamond in the rough.
She has potential but needs refinement.
33. His voice is velvet.
His voice is smooth and soft.
34. The car was a rocket.
The car is extremely fast.
35. Her eyes were pools of sorrow.
Her eyes reflect deep sadness.
36. The clouds were cotton balls.
The clouds are fluffy and white.
37. He’s a lion in battle.
He is brave and fierce during conflicts.
38. Her skin is porcelain.
Her skin is smooth and pale.
39. The night is a black veil.
The night covers everything in darkness.
40. He’s a ticking time bomb.
He is likely to explode in anger soon.
41. Her words were daggers.
Her words were hurtful and sharp.
42. The river was a snake.
The river winds and twists like a snake.
43. He’s a shining beacon.
He provides guidance and hope.
44. Her heart is an open book.
She is transparent and honest.
45. The storm was a raging bull.
The storm was wild and uncontrollable.
46. He’s a pillar of strength.
He is a reliable source of support.
47. Her mind is a sponge.
She absorbs information quickly and easily.
48. The computer is a brain.
It processes and stores data like a human brain.
49. His life is a train wreck.
His life is chaotic and full of problems.
50. The sun was a fiery eye.
The sun is hot and watchful like a blazing eye.
ANALOGY:
An analogy is a comparison between two things, typically for the purpose of explanation or clarification. It shows how two different things are similar in a particular aspect, often using relationships or functions to explain.
51. As a sword is to a warrior, a pen is to a writer.
Just as a sword is a warrior's tool, a pen is a writer's.
52. Bird is to nest as bee is to hive.
Birds live in nests; bees live in hives.
53. Hand is to glove as foot is to sock.
A glove covers the hand; a sock covers the foot.
54. Fire is to heat as ice is to cold.
Fire produces heat; ice produces cold.
55. Fish is to water as bird is to air.
Fish live in water; birds live in the air.
56. Wheel is to car as leg is to human.
Wheels help cars move; legs help humans walk.
57. Eye is to see as ear is to hear.
Eyes are for seeing; ears are for hearing.
58. Pupil is to school as patient is to hospital.
Pupils are taught in schools; patients are treated in hospitals.
59. Battery is to flashlight as fuel is to car.
Batteries power flashlights; fuel powers cars.
60. Seed is to tree as egg is to bird.
Seeds grow into trees; eggs grow into birds.
61. Chalk is to board as pen is to paper.
Chalk writes on boards; pens write on paper.
62. Cat is to kitten as dog is to puppy.
A kitten is a baby cat; a puppy is a baby dog.
63. Night is to moon as day is to sun.
The moon appears at night; the sun appears in the day.
64. Brain is to body as CPU is to computer.
The brain controls the body; the CPU controls the computer.
65. Painter is to brush as writer is to pen.
A brush is a painter's tool; a pen is a writer's tool.
66. Leaf is to tree as petal is to flower.
Leaves are parts of trees; petals are parts of flowers.
67. Fingers are to hand as toes are to foot.
Fingers are part of the hand; toes are part of the foot.
68. Knife is to cut as shovel is to dig.
A knife cuts; a shovel digs.
69. Smile is to happiness as frown is to sadness.
A smile shows happiness; a frown shows sadness.
70. Nose is to smell as tongue is to taste.
The nose is used for smelling; the tongue for tasting.
71. Roof is to house as lid is to pot.
A roof covers a house; a lid covers a pot.
72. Scissors are to cutting as broom is to sweeping.
Scissors cut; brooms sweep.
73. Doctor is to patient as teacher is to student.
Doctors care for patients; teachers educate students.
74. Bee is to hive as ant is to colony.
Bees live in hives; ants in colonies.
75. Chef is to kitchen as pilot is to cockpit.
A chef works in the kitchen; a pilot in the cockpit.
76. River is to water as mountain is to rock.
A river is made of water; a mountain is made of rock.
77. Lock is to key as password is to computer.
A key unlocks a lock; a password unlocks a computer.
78. Compass is to direction as thermometer is to temperature.
A compass gives direction; a thermometer measures temperature.
79. Clouds are to rain as smoke is to fire.
Clouds often bring rain; smoke indicates fire.
80. Book is to knowledge as gym is to fitness.
Books build knowledge; gyms build fitness.
81. Milk is to cow as wool is to sheep.
Milk comes from cows; wool comes from sheep.
82. Shoe is to foot as glove is to hand.
Shoes protect feet; gloves protect hands.
83. Airplane is to sky as ship is to sea.
Airplanes travel in the sky; ships in the sea.
84. Hunger is to food as thirst is to water.
Hunger is satisfied by food; thirst by water.
85. Pencil is to write as brush is to paint.
A pencil writes; a brush paints.
86. Chain is to link as rope is to strand.
A chain is made of links; a rope is made of strands.
87. Sun is to solar as moon is to lunar.
Sun relates to solar; moon relates to lunar.
88. Roots are to tree as foundation is to building.
Roots support trees; foundations support buildings.
89. Author is to book as composer is to music.
An author writes books; a composer creates music.
90. Ant is to hardworking as fox is to cunning.
Ants are known for hard work; foxes for cleverness.
91. Mother is to nurture as soldier is to protect.
Mothers nurture; soldiers protect.
92. Snow is to cold as fire is to hot.
Snow is cold; fire is hot.
93. Question is to answer as problem is to solution.
Questions need answers; problems need solutions.
94. Storm is to chaos as breeze is to calm.
Storms are chaotic; breezes are calming.
95. Skeleton is to body as frame is to house.
A skeleton supports the body; a frame supports the house.
96. Flashlight is to dark as umbrella is to rain.
A flashlight helps in darkness; an umbrella in rain.
97. Seed is to harvest as effort is to success.
Seeds lead to harvest; effort leads to success.
98. Book is to reading as piano is to playing.
Books are read; pianos are played.
99. Artist is to creativity as scientist is to logic.
Artists rely on creativity; scientists on logic.
100. Fuel is to engine as food is to body.
Fuel powers an engine; food fuels the body.

"I was married to my ex-wife, Hiba Abouk, from 2020 to 2023, but I realized she was after my money just two months into our marriage. I then transferred everything to my mother and patiently waited for her to file for d!vorce. I can never trust a woman again, except my mother. My mother and I danced together after my dívorce." ___ ARCHRAF HAKIMI

"I registered all my assets in my mother's name the moment I started suspecting my wife, Hiba Abouk. This was about a year into our marriage, before our divorce. We had a minor f*ght one morning, and she told me that I should know she could file for d!vorce anytime, and if she did, we would share my wealth equally. Upon hearing this, I realized I was living with a gold-d*gger. Then I started thinking about what to do, and all of a sudden, the idea of registering my assets in a trust in my mother's name came to me.

So, I went to my mother and explained everything to her. She told me, "Son, I carried you in my womb for nine months, and I can never let anything happen to you. We worked so hard to get you where you are today, and no woman is going to come out of nowhere and bring you down." We immediately transferred everything I owned to her, so much so that even my clothes and the jersey I use to play football belonged to her.

When my wife filed for d!vorce and demanded half of my wealth, I was unbothered. She even told me I was going to go br0ke after our d!vorce, but I just laughed in my heart. As we always say, "Failure to plan is planning to fail." She failed to plan, and I succeeded in planning. She was shocked to realize I had nothing, and my mother had been the one taking care of us. She w3pt in court, not because we were dívorcing, but because she left empty-handed, just as she came. Dear men, friends will betr∆y you, wives will betr∆y you, but a mother's love is supreme."

_____ ARCHRAF HAKIMI

Legendary Achraf Hakimi explains to the brotherhood how he devised the HAKIMI THEORY

"This is just a throwback to the incident, so you should be wise and apply Hakimi's Principle when falling inlove."

They buried Chief Okeke at dawn, but by nightfall, his body was back on the veranda—eyes wide open, mouth full of sand, and flies buzzing around like he never left.
CHAPTER ONE
Nobody spoke. Nobody moved. The first person to see the body was Mazi Ude, the village night watchman. He screamed once—sharp and loud—then took off running barefoot through the red sand, shouting, “Abomination! Tufia! Chief Okeke has returned!”
People gathered, drawn by the noise. Old women clutched their wrappers tighter. Young boys climbed the guava trees for a better look. The elders arrived in silence, their faces heavy with meaning. They looked at the body, then at each other.

“This is not ordinary,” Elder Nwosu said, squatting beside the corpse. “The gods have rejected him.”

The corpse lay stiff, not smelling of decay, but of palm oil and dust. His eyes were open. His skin, cold. But the strangest thing? His fingers clutched at the earth, as though he had dragged himself out of the grave.

Chief Okeke wasn’t just any man in Umuama. He was the lion. The voice that roared during village meetings. The wallet that bought silence. The hand that fed both the church and the council. He rose from nothing. From the child of a poor farmer to a man whose house had twenty-two rooms and a compound wide enough to host a football tournament.

But in his rise, he spat on many things. Especially the old ways.
"These rituals are for fools," he would say. "We have churches now. Hospitals. Banks. What will kola nut do for me that money cannot?"
When his father died, he invited a bishop from Enugu, dressed in gold robes, who spoke in tongues. No kola. No egwú. No consultation. Just hymns, glass coffins, and photo banners.
The old men watched in silence. The dibia, Ezenwa, turned his back that day and said nothing.

When his mother passed, he hurried the burial again. Hired white caterers. Flown-in musicians. And when someone mentioned "Ikwa Ozu," he laughed. "My mother does not need dance in the grave.

MBOMUZO IN OKWUOHIA AUTONOMOUS COMMUNITY,
OBOWO L.G.A., IMO STATE, NIGERIA.
Okwuohia is a Community in Obowo
L.G.A., of Imo state, Nigeria, that has enviable rich historical background and deep cultural heritage. Okwuohia is the only community in Obowo and the old ETITI District that has four markets covering the four market days in Igbo calendar, namely: Eke, Orie, Afor and Nkwo. All these have distinct locations and hold accordingly.
The community prides herself with many cultural festivals which include Mbomuzo, Ntumaka, Nrim-ji (Iri ji) among others. But the one that attracts people in their numbers to the community is, "MBOMUZO", a-k-a "NKUISI-MKPURU-UKWA".
MBOMUZO simply means, "clearing of the roads ", otherwise known as environmental cleansing, especially with regard to roads leading to traditional centres and matket places. It is intended to make the roads passable again in order to give proper access to the markets and homes of citizens.
In Okwuohia, all roads are cleared very thoroughly starting from individual homes to the Eke-Okwuohia, Orie-Okwuohia, Afor-Okwuohia and Nkwo-Okwuohia market squares. Also, roads leading to major and significant rivers are cleared. For instance, the Onu-iyi-lolo-nwanyi (Onu-ngele) stream at Umuduru Mgbakam is usually kept cleared for the "AHIA-NGANGA" ceremony by the women of Okwuohia during the same period. It has to be noted that all the road clearing and cleansing must be completed on or before the NKWO market day preceding the EKE market day of the ceremony.
NKUISI-MKPURU-UKWA: As said earlier in this write-up, MBOMUZO Okwuohia is also referred to as NKUISI-MKPURU-UKWA. Why?
Ours, is an agrarian community. In those good old days, our people cultivated yams, coco-yams, maize, cassava and mkpokoro in large scales. Farming was done more at locations far away from homes. Due to this, farmers constructed make-shift structures there in the bush/farms, where they rested and had their meals during the toils of the day. Most times, people returned to their homes very late in the evening. Major foods eaten in the farms those days were bread-fruits (Ukwa), palm kernels, yams and coco-yams. The bread-fruits were eaten whole without removing the the shells or the outer covers. Farming took place between the months of January and May, during which period farmers fed on any available food items. When such farmers returned to their homes from their farms in the month of May, they settled down to enjoy more pleasant and well prepared food. They would no longer eat the bread-fruits with their shells. Also, they cleaned their environments that had been left bushy during the period of intensive farming activities in the farms. From their homes, clearing and cleansing progress to the roads that lead to other homes and traditional centres. At this time, people begin to exchange visits with relatives and friends both far and near to show that they have returned home after the farming period in the bush. Such visits are usually reciprocated. During such visits, entertainments are unlimited based on the dispositions of the parties involved. In Okwuohia, after the entertainment at home, people gather at the designated market square to demonstrate it the more. The venue is usually at the ORIE OKWUOHIA, where the EKWIRIKWE music music is played and danced in an organized manner.
EKWIRIKWE MUSIC AND ORDER OF DANCING:
After the presentation and blessing of kola-nuts by the traditional ruler of Okwuohia, who declares the ceremony open after his speech and brief demonstration of the dance, the ceremony begins. Ofeiyi people, who are the custodians of the EKWIRIKWE do a brief demonstration dance. Thereafter, the traditional order of seniority of the three sections of Okwuohia is strictly observed thus: MGBAKAM, OFEIYI and AMARAMOHIA. Finally, a general dance which is usually longer and more thrilling comes up and marks the end of the ceremony.
The EKWIRIKWE music delivers messages which present Okwuohia as place with people of remarkable mutual respect, prowess and noted for wrestling. EKWIRIKWE music is used to caution Okwuohia people not to eat the bread-fruits with the shells again after the Mbomuzo. Hence, "ONYE ATALA UKWA NA MKPEKELE" and "NKUISI-MKPURU-UKWA". This is demonstrated by hitting one's back-side to symbolically discharge the ones eaten previously. Before the EKWIRIKWE dance arena is approached, people sing various songs and dance along the road according to Age Grades, socicultural groups and sections.
MBOMUZO AND THE PRONOUNCEMENT OF DATE.
Only the Eze of Okwuohia, in consultation with you Traditional Council has the powers to announce the date for MBOMUZO every year. Above all, it is a known fact that Okwuohia community is the first among all the communities in Obowo and even the old ETITI District to perform Mbomuzo every year, thus determining the cultural calendar for other communities that perform the same and or related festivals.
Mbomuzo holds in Okwuohia on the second EKE-Okwuohia market day in the month of June every year. Visitors, friends, in-laws and well -wishers of the community visit the community to enjoy the characteristic hospitality and conviviality associated with the ceremony. Entertainment items are unlimited especially according to the preparedness of the individual families and persons during the period. Such entertainment items include and not limited to polished bread-fruit meals, maize pudding, cassava foo-foo, oil-bean pudding and different kinds of drinks.
PROBLEMS:
The festival has suffered from various problems which include but not limited to wrong perceptions, misrepresentation, misconception, ignorance, ineptitude, iconoclasm and apathy. Many, especially the less informed and the neo-religious groups strongly hold to the perception that that the festival is fetish and wasteful (especially those who are not willing to spend their resources to host guests).
ADVANTAGES:
The period leads to keeping the surroundings clean, re-union of families, friends, in-laws and well -wishers, tourist attraction and advancing our cultural heritage including ensuring the acquisition and development of the EKWIRIKWE playing and dancing skills.
In the good old days, women who earnestly took part in the road and market clearing and cleansing and later took part in the AHIA-NGANGA activities after bathing on serious intents at the Onu-Lolo-nwanyi (Onu-Ngele) stream, would appear at Mbomuzo the following year either pregnant or as nursing mothers if they either prayed for or desired such thereby.
MODIFICATIONS SO FAR:
Since culture is dynamic, efforts have been made by the leadership of Okwuohia community, over time, to modify certain aspects of the festival and programmes there-of in order to exponge some questionable and undesirable aspects of it. For instance, the timing and declaration of the date of the festival are now done by the Traditional ruler of Okwuohia in synergy with the Traditional Council. Also, no shrine or deity is either worshipped or honoured before, during and even after the festival. Most times, the traditional rulership open the festival with Christian thanks-giving worship at an agreed Christian church here in Okwuohia.
CONCLUSION:
In line with the realities of the present moments, efforts should be made to allow for acceptable modifications while there should be insistence on protecting and upholding the soul, spirit and purports of the cultural heritage of our dear Okwuohia community especially as regards affects MBOMUZO.
Written by:
Chief Emma C. Anyanwu, (DIKEMBA),
1st Traditional Prime Minister and Currently the Chairman of Okwuohia Traditional Council,
Being a lecture presented by me at the 2019 edition of MBOMUZO festival, at EKE-OKWUOHIA Market Square.

We are more than a celebration—we are the heartbeat of Idoma culture, unity, and pride.
The Idoma International Carnival is a vibrant showcase of our rich heritage, beautiful traditions, and the strength of our people.

From colorful parades to cultural displays, music, dance, and community empowerment—we bring the spirit of Idoma alive each year in Otukpo, Benue State.

We are Idoma. We are hospitality. We are resilience.
And through this carnival, we tell our story to the world—with pride and passion.

Join us. Feel the rhythm. Experience the culture.
#IdomaCarnival #IdomaToTheWorld #UnityInCulture @topfans

“A moment wrapped in love " Priscilla Ojo shares an emotional dance with her father, dancing to the sweet melody of her husband’s song, "Ololufe Mi."

In a heartfelt video, Priscilla is seen with her father, who had just returned to Nigeria for her big day, taking over the dance floor.

Photo credit: bellanaijawedding @its.priscy/Instagram