Emeka Walter Dinjos's Blog, page 5
September 9, 2013
Ancient Masquerades versus Modern Masquerades
Ancient Masquerades versus Modern Masquerades I remember my father and other older relations telling me fascinating tales about spirits (masquerades) of the olden days. The stories, while filled with some abominable practices, spoke highly of the mysteries, excitement, and respect the spirit fraternity commanded. Now, I’m aggrieved at the lawlessness that governs the fraternity. In […]
August 9, 2013
Iba Mmuo: The Ordeal of Becoming a Masquerade in Juju Land
Iba Mmuo, meaning ‘initiation into the spirit’, is mostly practiced in Igbo land in south-eastern Nigeria, the term ‘spirit’, in – and only in – this particular instance, implying ‘masquerade’. Not that masquerades are spirits, but Igbo folk prefer to delude themselves with the lie to preserve the mysteries and excitement surrounding the culture prior […]
July 9, 2013
My Eyes Have Seen My Ears
I must point out that at the time it happened I had no mirror or a picture of myself with me. Neither was I near anything glassy. I was girdled by village elders who sit on carved stones, drink wine – palm wine, by the way – from cattle horns, and are as addicted to […]
June 9, 2013
Bush Babies: Facts and Fictions
When I was little, my village elders would fascinate and frighten my peers and I with fables about bush babies at moonlight gatherings. Back then, we thought the tales were true, and I used to picture bush babies as dollish creatures the size of a three-year-old, but now, I scoff and shake my head wistfully […]
May 9, 2013
Thou Shall Not Eat Monkey Meat
That is an easy tradition to follow, I once thought. I mean, who eats monkey meat? After making the list below, however, I discovered that even dog shit is eatable. It all depends on your origin and nurture. If a mother is from a tribe that eats dog shit and fed her baby the nasty […]
April 9, 2013
The Do-As-I-Say Charm
You have probably read (or watched) one of those paranormal books (or movies) with characters possessing magical powers of persuasion, and you have probably dismissed such powers as imaginary while wondering how cool it would be to have them. I have two things to say to you. One, such powers do exist – we call […]
March 9, 2013
Thou Shall Not Kill With Juju
Isn’t that the best of commandments? Juju, like any other form of magic, has rules. The rules vary from village to village, and when broken, come with dire retribution like blindness, paralysis, the pox, madness etc. These penalties can come because one failed to keep his/her charms secret when necessary, said the wrong incantation, or […]
February 9, 2013
How To Stop Bed-wetting: Wind a Snake Around Your Waist Before Sleep
Look at that. It only coiled around a dead tree, yet it makes the mind flutter in a medley of chill, revulsion, and horror–yeah, makes me a little redundant, too. I could almost feel it slithering underneath my skin. Now how would you react waking up one midnight with a cold feeling around your waist, […]
January 12, 2013
Samkos Plaza: A Tale of Misfits
If there is a place most unsuitable for writing, it is Samkos Plaza. Riddled with the unending drone of motor engines and the cries of marketers, the park made me feel noisy inside and drained my mind of creativity. My walk there was like one on a wasteland, and the air reeked of weed smoke [...]
January 9, 2013
Horror in My Stomach
If you were to remain in solitary confinement for the rest of your life, and a cockroach strayed into your cell, would you make the hardy winged creature your friend or would you kill it? This was a question posed at a Live Journal blog last year—wish I remember which blog exactly. Now wait. Before […]
