Not much has happened in my life asides from work being extra demanding and I got a new phone. A Samsung with a better camera than my previous phone (I still love you Ideos). This means that whatever I experience, I can now share it with all of you instead of downloading photos from Google. Yay!
[I am on Instagram: @amandaiheme- Do people even read these posts of mine?]
I don’t usually go out often on Saturdays because all I want to do is sleep and go to the golf course in the barrack and read. (…and stalk my crush whose apartment is close to the golf course)
Last Saturday, 13th of July, 2013, I went out to grab the new phone from a store in Challenge and I went through a place called Bere.
I can definitely say right now that the pressure to learn Yoruba has increased. With taxi drivers and bus conductors hitting on me on the regular in Yoruba, I would love to understand what they are saying. All the other passengers laugh when they talk but I just smile because I don’t understand any word of what they are saying. The worst is when I say something in English. Ah! The nickname ‘Oyinbo’ starts to flow, with them trying to create funny American accents to talk to me.
At least, I know how to ask for the price of something ‘Elo ni’, yeah? Then to stop at your bus stop is ‘Owa O’. That’s about it but with time; I’d pick up more, hopefully.
It was quite peaceful in town. I remember the last time I passed through Bere on my way to Bowers Tower, it was busy with a lot of people dressed up with party packs in their hands. Loud music bursting from where I couldn’t locate and the faces were smiley and happy. I think it is because of the Ramadan the events reduced considerably. There were a few bike men around, buses doing their usual runs and very few women and men dressed up for a party. The streets were a bit empty with no loud music but that wasn’t necessarily what got my attention. It was a sign post that read
‘Spiritualist Association’
I was a bit surprised and curious. Why would there be a spiritualist association? What do they do there? Conjure up spirits? Is that where people go to get juju? Most of all, is this practice legal? If it is, why are people so furious about witches falling from the sky when you have a standing building that clearly reads spiritualist association or have I got the meaning of spiritualist warped up?
I wanted answers but I was too scared to walk in there. Plus, I speak very little Yoruba. If they tried to sell me, I wouldn’t know. I better behave and go my own way. Which I did until another sign caught my eyes.
‘The 32nd anniversary of the appearance of Guru Maharaji’
The guru has been around for quite a while.
If you have ever travelled or plan on travelling from Lagos to Ibadan, keep your eyes on the right side of the road as soon as the driver hints that you are getting closer to Ibadan or you could ask someone to show you, if they know, the ‘temple’, if I may call it so, of the Guru Maharaji. I haven’t ever been in there. I remember a friend once wanted to step in and find out (I think I should suggest it to him again as a road trip adventure) but he couldn’t. He had gone past it before the idea clicked.
The interesting thing about it is that you almost never miss it because the entrance is covered with so many beautiful flowers, and I am a flower admirer. I knew he had been here a while but I didn’t think it was that long. 32years. I must investigate and if you have any idea do share it with me. ?
What is interesting about this Saturday outing is that it finally hit me that there are other religions here in Nigeria that are accepted by the people even if much of a fuss isn’t being made about it. I must find out what Guru Maharaji is about.
Hopefully, curiousity doesn’t kill this cat.
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(Photo: Sunset at Ojoo Courtesy: Andhiii)
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