Siting on a couch with my legs spread across my bed this morning while looking out of the transparent window as the gentle breeze flows in; wouldn’t have been helpful enough to remind me of the concept of life; the victories;mistakes;accomplishments of the past ; as well as the fears and challenges of the present..It was a another bright morning with a nice weather; at 17* Celsius partly cloudy with 20% chances of rain..I reminisced on the person I have become for the past 3decades while sipping my cup of coffee.
The memories of my recent visit to Africa (motherland) descended on me like the eaves of early morning dew; It was a an extraordinary feelings which had the hairs on my body erected; As I closed my eyes while having a second sip of the coffee with a smile on my face I Remembered how exited my families were at seeing me first in a decade since my quest for greener pastures separated us. The hug by my immediate younger brother at the mortala Mohammed airport when he came to pick me up; the dance I had with my mother on same day after we got home; the feelings of joy in the air all had my eyes closed in sweet memories; i decided to have another sip of the coffee, as more flashbacks kept me in gleeful mode; I took a deep breath as I put my left foot across the right one due to little pains I felt on my knees. I could still hear my door being opened and my niece of 3yrs bashing in saying..****uncle uncle uncle; Chibuike beat me., and I would reply him with ^^^^ sorry…after which he would jump straight on the bed with numerous questions 😂 which I enjoyed answering. Also the drive with my brother on the street of Lagos and Owerri; the atmospheres;hives and energy on the street; people living happily irrespective of the harsh economic conditions indeed was nothing but a sign of motivation to me.
Having not visited my home town for the past decade; It was the best part of my experience ; I remembered attending the kindred meetings and having my voice heard for the first time; the native delicious delicacies prepared for me by my mother was priceless; also hearing my father offer prayers to Gods and the ancestors of our land with kolanuts and Gin always made my day blissful. visitors trooping in and out of our compound every time of the day and merriments and festivities that came along with December celebrations were quite wonderful; Also the excitement of watching a masquerade dance in a neighboring village reminded me of the good old days; not mentioning community’s football championship that were played every evening at community secondary school which was a five minute walk from my village added a flavor of sweetness to my mind, it was indeed a journey down the memory lane which I exchanged in search of greener pastures in whiteman’s land, (a necessary evil indeed ),As I console my self. Suddenly I felt little eaves of rain On my body as I opened my eyes and realized it has started raining already, with my cup of coffee emptied I decided to sit down properly and had my legs taken down from my bed;unable to continue with my flashbacks my heart began pondering fast with question. ***what is life all about for Africans in diaspora?***and the main reasons behind their migration. Yes many would come to a conclusion of the seek of greener pastures in terms of financial well being; jobs/employment which constitutes 90% reasons for Africans abandoning their continent for Europe; whereas the remaining 10% would be attributed to unrest and wars in African continent.; whatever your views maybe; one cannot be wrong in such conclusions because I am a victim of such judgment and guilty of such viewpoints; But that does not in any aspects take away our values;purposes;rationality;of the quest in first place; For many Africans in diaspora are lost in the process; Especially those integrated into the system in relation to residence permits.; Many has denied their origins; disassociate from and reject their culture; some has refused to visits and invest back home irrespective of their circumstances here in foreign land of which many live with out LIFE.*** Until We Africans in diaspora Realize that Are more to life than financial wellness; and understand that LIFE is what happens to us when we are busy doing and thinking about something else*** We would never have a lifetime we aspire and proud of.
Yes we all want a better life but let us not in the process of seeking a better life deny our self the least things that makes our lives blissful and worth living. My trip to Africa may not have solved my present challenges and fears But Rather has helped reshape my view on the purpose of our quest for greener pastures which doesn’t not solely exist in quest for financial wellness..There are things money can’t buy and there are feelings one cannot accord to him/herself when living in another mans land irrespective of how integrated one feels. For there is no greater feelings like being in a place you truly belongs.Home will always be home
…written by
Chukwuaku Uju.
the untold Realities 