Folks are usually about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” –

Good afternoon folks

Good afternoon folks

THE VILLAGE OF THE TWO HUNDRED EYES
An African Folktale of Communal Wisdom
by
Linda Somiari - Stewart

In the heart of the green valley of N’nika, where hills rolled like the backs of resting lions and baobab trees whispered secrets to the stars, a child was born on a moonlit night.

Her name was Zoya, which means “peace after longing.” Her mother, Amina, had wept for many seasons, her womb quiet like an abandoned fireplace. Her father, Kwaku, had prayed by rivers and planted trees that never bore fruit. But when Zoya arrived, laughter returned to their home like rain after drought.

Now, in many places worldwide, a child is considered the property of the parents. “My daughter,” “my son.” But in N’nika, a child belongs to the people. There, they say, “A child is birthed by four eyes, but nurtured by two hundred.”

And so, Zoya was not only the joy of her mother and father, she was the moonbeam of the village. Her first laugh echoed from hut to hut like festival drums. When she took her first step, an elder carved the memory into wood. When she said her first word—"Maji" (water)—the village griot sang it into the evening fire.

Each villager played their part. Old Mama Binta, whose eyes had dimmed but whose spirit saw clearly, taught Zoya riddles and proverbs. Uncle Sefu, who shaped clay like it was born in his palms, showed her how to mold earth into beauty. Auntie Dede, swift-footed as a gazelle, taught her to dance on the drum’s breath. Even Blind Baba Chikere, who never saw her face, listened to her soul and reminded her, “You are more than what eyes can see.”

One day, when the rains were late and the air cracked with dryness, Zoya, now a child of seven seasons, saw a brilliant green butterfly flutter past. Her eyes widened. She remembered Mama Binta's tale: “The butterfly that glows like emerald flies toward old magic.” Curious, fearless, Zoya followed.

She wandered into the forest, past the watchful iroko tree, into the thick silence where children were told not to stray.
Hours passed. Shadows lengthened. The sun bowed out.

Panic rose like smoke in Amina’s chest. Kwaku’s hands trembled. But before their fear became thunder, the village moved.

Mama Binta said, “She spoke of butterflies this morning.”

Uncle Sefu recalled, “She asked me about the old stone under the iroko tree, the one shaped like wings.”

After pausing her grinding, Auntie Dede added, “I saw her head toward the bush path near the river bend.”
No one said, “Not my child.”
Because Zoya belonged to all of them.

The drum was sounded - not in alarm, but in unity. Two hundred eyes awakened. Old legs and young feet marched. Voices called her name not angrily but with love braided into every syllable.

They found her just as dusk kissed the sky. She sat peacefully beside a stone shaped like wings, humming a song she had learned from Baba Chikere. When asked if she was scared, she said, “No. I knew someone would come. Someone always comes when someone is lost.”

That night, under a sky heavy with stars and the smell of roasted maize, the village held a feast - not just for Zoya’s return, but for the power of many eyes, hands, and hearts.

Zoya grew into a woman of many talents. She became a healer, a teacher, and a singer of old songs. When she had her own child, she did not build a wall around them. She opened her door wide.

And when strangers from far lands encounter her versatility, they would ask, “Who taught you such wisdom?” She would say: “The eyes that watched me were many.
The love that raised me was village-wide and deep.”
And so, dear friend, learn this: The natural order is not to raise any child alone. Whether in Nairobi or New York, Lagos or London, an authentic village is not made of huts and fences - but of hearts willing to see, hands willing to hold, and spirits willing to lift. Please do your best to return the natural order to our neighborhoods and villages.

Let every Igbo read and pass this educational piece to our children. Culled from Chike Ofilli.

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ON THE IGBO:
Clearing the Basic Confusions Honestly

*Question: Is Southeast and Igboland the same thing?*

*Answer* : Not at all. Southeast is only about 3/5th of Igboland. Igboland covers the whole of Southeast, parts of Rivers, Delta, Edo, Cross river, Benue, Kogi, and Akwa Ibom states.

*Question: Why were we taught in school that Igbo people are easterners?*

*Answer* : It is both an unfortunate parroting by teachers and careless adoption by Igbo educated class. Igbo people come from Southern Nigeria and not Eastern Nigeria. It may be correct to say that the Igbo are found predominantly in eastern Nigeria. However, by saying that the Igbo are easterners, the implication is that the Igbo in western Nigeria, numbering about 2.5 million (Agbor, Ogwashi Ukwu, Ibuzo, Okpanam, Asaba, Orimili, Ndokwa, Anioma, etc) are not Igbos. The best-known Igbo anthropologist Professor Mike Onwuejeogwu is from the western part of Nigeria, Chukwuma Nzeogwu, Dennis Osadebe, Okonkwo Adibe (the famous musician), Sony Odogwu, etc. are all from the western part of Nigeria. They are no less Igbo than those who live in the eastern part of Nigeria. The correct answer to your question is “the Igbo come from Southern Nigeria.”

*Question: Why do some Igbo refer to themselves as “core Igbo?”*

*Answer:* That is clearly arrant nonsense. Nobody is core and others peripheral. All Igbo are the same. It is both arrogant, thoughtless, and insensitive for anybody to regard others as marginal.

*Question: Is Igboland landlocked?*

*Answer:* Not at all. Igboland stretches from Port Harcourt to Agbor. The Atlantic ocean washes the shores of Igboland at the islands Opobo and Bonny, Africa’s second largest river – River Niger, traverses Igboland with one part of Igboland in the east and another part in the west of Nigeria. Oguta Lake has the potential to accommodate large ships and could be made a navigable port. If Igboland is landlocked, then all Nigeria is landlocked.

*Question: Is there oil in Igboland?*

*Answer:* Yes, indeed. There is a lot of oil & and gas in Imo, Abia, and currently in Anambra states and Igbo areas in Rivers and Delta States. Besides, Igboland has many other natural resources, including coal, iron ore, limestone, lead, zinc, brine, glass, etc.

*Question: Are the Igbo a nation or a tribe?*

*Answer:* The Igbo is a nation and a very large one. There are many dialects or tribes in Igbo nation, just like you have many tribes within Israel.

*Question: Why do some Ikwerre people and other non southeastern Igbo say they are not Igbo?*

*Answer:* First, it is not up to them to say what they are and what they are not. When God created them, He did not ask them who they wanted to be. He just created them Igbo. The only way you’ll know who belongs to what ethnic group in Nigeria is the name and what language the name comes from. Anybody whose name is Amadi or Onyeri, or Eke, or Odili, Wanodi (Nwanodi) does not need to tell you who he is. He is Igbo, notwithstanding their politics.

*Question: But they claim that their language is Ikwerre, not Igbo.*

*Answer:* That is politics. Ikwerre is a dialect of Igbo language. Just like an Ngwa man speaks Ngwa Igbo, Arochukwu speaks Arochukwu Igbo, Ika speaks Ika Igbo, Ibani speak Ibani Igbo etc.

*Question: Some people say that Igbo language is not complete, is it true?*

*Answer:* No language is complete. All languages borrow from each other. Igbo language is very rich. It has inexhaustible and rich linguistic features like idioms, proverbs, aphorisms, sayings, anecdotes, riddles, folklores, etc. Igbo language is one of the major languages of the world, being spoken by millions of people.

*Question: How many are the Igbo?*

*Answer:* The Igbo are very numerous. There is an educated guess that if Nigeria’s census is properly enumerated, the Igbo could easily be the largest ethnic group in the country. They may number up to 40 million. Everything right now is speculation. Nobody knows the true stratification or ethnic populations in Nigeria. The Igbo are the only ethnic group found in large numbers everywhere in Nigeria and foreign countries more than any other ethnic group in Africa.

*Question: Do the Igbo have a culture of their own?*

*Answer:* Yes, indeed. Igbo culture is perhaps one of the richest and all-encompassing cultures in this world. Igbo culture always observes the temporal and the spiritual aspects of cosmology. The study of Igbo culture reveals that it is extremely deep and original.

*Question: Why do the Igbo wear Yoruba Agbada and Hausa babban riga, but the Yoruba and the Hausa do not ever wear Igbo national dress?*

*Answer* : Unfortunately, this is the case. The Igbo have very attractive and resplendent national dresses. And they come in assortments that are extremely dignifying. The Igbo take up foreign cultures more readily than other Nigerians, and they seem not to care that nobody reciprocates their carefree attitude to life. Most ethnics promote their cultures and show off what makes them unique. Actually, it is still the same so-called educated Igbo class who behave in such disgraceful and devil-may-care attitudes.

*Question: Why do the Igbo call themselves Biafrans?*

*Answer:* Great question. Some people have the idea that Biafra originates from the Bight of Biafra. But that is wrong. Biafra was the National name of Igboland given to Igbo by the Portuguese, just as Nigeria was named by the English of Britain. There was the Kingdom of Biafra that ruled most of the ancient subtropical Africa about 50,000 years ago. Unfortunately, nobody talks about it, for whatever reason (maybe because Portugal lost the colony right of Biafra to Britain who buried it, in other to promote Nigeria amalgamation), "I do not know". But, it is in the ancient maps of the world. If you wish, search it in Google.

*Question: Were the Igbo also taken into slavery during the slave trade?*

*Answer:* Yes. The Igbo slaves themselves gave account of their travails in slavery. Olauda Ekwuano, an Igbo ex-slave who bought his freedom in Britain, was the first slave to write about his experience in slavery. His book has become a classic. You ought to find it and read it. Also, other Igbos who were brought to America revolted, and some walked back on water and were said to have returned to Africa. Several books have been written about them. One of such books is “Ibo Landing.” It is available in bookstores like Barnes & Noble. In Haiti, the Igbo settled there and refused to be colonized by anybody. There are many places where the Igbo left their mark or their signature.

*Question: How did the Igbo know days and years?*

*Answer:* The Igbo invented an accurate, if not the most accurate, calendar called “Iguafo Igbo (Igbo Calendar).” In Igbo calendar, there are four market days – Eke, Afor, Nkwo, Orie that make one week. Four days make one week, seven weeks make one month, and thirteen months make one year. There are 28 days for each month, with the last month having 29 days. Each month starts the same day as the previous. Igbo calendar forms the perfect astronomical alignment with the cosmos and regulates the seasons, agriculture, navigation, astrology, geography, mathematics, travel, etc.

*Question: Did the Igbo have their own alphabet?*

*Answer:* Yes, indeed. It is called “Nsibidi.”

*Question: How about mathematics; did the Igbo know mathematics?*

*Answer:* Yes, indeed. There are such inventions as “Okwe” and “Mkpisi” which the Igbo used to resolve figures.

*Question: Did the Igbo know anything about banking?*

*Answer:* Yes. Igbo banking was more in the nature of savings and loans. The authentic Igbo savings and loans invention is called “Isusu’ in which contributions are pooled each week, and one person who has the need, collects, is still in practice. Igbo slaves took this invention to the Caribbean Islands, where they still practice it and call it “Sue Sue.”

*Question: Some people say that Igboland is too small for the Igbo, that they have no alternative than to live as Nigerians: is this true?*

*Answer:* False. Igboland is a large country. Do every Igbo need to stay and work in Igboland? No. Everywhere in the world, some will stay home while others venture abroad in search of opportunities. Igboland is large enough for the Igbo. It is a very rich and hospitable part of the world. It has rich soil for agriculture, abundant rainfall, good sunshine, and table land in many parts. Its land space and population are more than that of over half of the present countries in the world.

*Question: Where did the Igbo come from?*

*Answer:* That question is still being asked. There are very intriguing theories or histories now being studied. You may have heard of the Jewish angle & the Egypt angle which are connected, and the Origin of man angle. This twenty-first century, hopefully, will resolve the mystery.

Share to educate others if you love Igbo👍🏾 @IzuchukwuCenter

BREAKING: Legendary Igbo folklore musician Mike Ejeagha has passed away at the age of 95.

Doyin Okupe left. He didn't leave without a fight. He had to go on Channels TV to drag Peter Obi. Isaac Balami left. He didn't leave quietly. He had to throw punches atOkupe's funeral. Then it got to your turn, & you had to drag the entire SW into your personal vendetta.

Yours I’ll take personal. Why? "Because you are the one I had maintained was a mole from the start." We saw worse than this in 2022/2023.

There was no tactics we didn’t see, no antics we didn’t experience. Still, we won. But Bola Tinubu had other ideas. He did the most unthinkable. He bought INEC & the Judiciary.

Then he found additional change to buy the elders as well. Balami left, Okupe did, now you. But Peter Obi will always have millions in his corner. The Obidient Movement will continue to trudge on. You were never there when it all started. You didn’t start the movement, Nigerians (of immense goodwill did).

It all started here on Twitter. At first, it was Chude. Then there was Jack. I came along, & we became a triumvirate so close to greatness.

You know what that means? It says that Peter is incredible, we all are running through him.

No one is stopping you from leaving, & no one will notice if you leave. But leave quietly; do not make it about you. You didn’t leave because of what random folks did/said online; that’s a lie.

You left because it was your personal decision.

Don’t insult anybody, we are not the reason for your bitterness. None of us is paid to support. We are the future leaders you haven’t met.

Agbados have done & said worst things, still do. They attacked people who look a certain way in Lagos (at the polls). They attack even their own blood for choosing to support Peter Obi.

In 2011, Buharists attacked & killed many across the North. We saw the blood of baboon soak the streets. Yet, the Obidients have no single bone of violence in us. We remain calm, despite the provocation. But we are no Stoic, don’t take out inaction as cowardice.

You left not because Peter Obi is incompetent, neither did you leave because of what he said. You left because that’s your prerogative, & rightfully so. But some of you won’t leave quietly. You wanna make some noise & create quiet a buzz. You wanna rave mad (before & after you leave). The Obidients are no Stoic, we will match the energy. The same privilege you enjoyed can/will always be taken away.

Why? Because none of us were recruited by Peter. We joined because we want a New Nigeria that is POssible. It's a powerful dream, the noblest of idea; there is nothing better than that. You only need whisper it, & it'll come alive.

“He can’t win 2027!
2027 is now different!
He is no longer popular!
He has lost his voting bloc!
He succeeded because of sympathy votes.”

Do not arrogate to yourself, the powers you don’t have. The Obidients were here before you joined. We will be here long after you are gone. And when the time comes, we shall know who is who. A New Nigeria is Alive & POssible.

The World Loves to Hate, Then Copy, Then Hate Again

The sweet taste of success! It's like a delicious cake that everyone wants a slice of, but only after you've baked it and proven it's edible. You know, that moment when everyone's like, "Oh, you're so lucky!" or "You're so talented!" But what they won't say is, "I was wrong to doubt you."

Let's face it, folks! When you choose a path that's unconventional, a career or business that raises eyebrows, people will think you're crazy. They'll whisper behind your back, "What is wrong with this one?" or "Has this person gone mad?" But you know what? That's when the magic happens.

You see, when you're brave enough to take the road less traveled, you'll encounter two types of people: the Haters and the Copycats. The Haters will, well, hate. They'll mock, ridicule, and predict your downfall. But the Copycats... ah, they're a special breed.

At first, they'll pretend they're not interested in what you're doing. They'll scoff, roll their eyes, and mutter under their breath. But secretly, they'll be watching, studying, and taking notes. They'll try to reverse-engineer your success, to figure out what makes you tick. And when they think they've cracked the code, they'll start copying you.

But here's the thing: when they copy you and fail (and they will fail, because they didn't put in the work or understand the vision), they'll start spoiling your name. They'll claim you're a fluke, that you're not as smart or talented as everyone thought. They'll try to bring you down, to make you feel like you're not good enough.

BUT (and this is a big BUT), you mustn't let them get to you! You mustn't let their hate or their copying bring you down. Why? Because you're a trailblazer, a pioneer, a game-changer! You're the one who dared to be different, who refused to follow the crowd.

So, when the Haters hate and the Copycats copy, just smile, nod, and keep on keeping on. Remember, success is not about what others think of you; it's about what you think of yourself. And if you believe in yourself, your vision, and your abilities, then nothing can stop you.

Kniw this, choosing your path and achieving success is not for the faint of heart. There will be doubters, haters, and copycats along the way. But if you stay focused, stay true to yourself, and keep pushing forward, you'll prove them all wrong. And when you do, just enjoy the sweet taste of success, knowing that you earned it, and you deserve it.

AnoDaily Dose

Farming4TheFunAnd Money