There are certain cultural practices peculiar to every tribe that would elicit a puzzled reaction from an outsider.
For instance, in Tiv culture, it is customary for a husband to let his wife spend a night with his male guest. I don’t know if this culture is still practiced. In certain parts of Yoruba land, if someone farts, it is akin to them hurting themselves and if it is done in public, those around are supposed to console the farter ( I coined this word). Odd, right? An incident happened some years back that still leaves me wondering if an outsider would find certain cultural practices of my tribe repulsive.
When I was 10-years old, my friend, Abu, and I went to visit a mutual friend, Jamiu. The visit was occasioned by a football match we had agreed to play with kids from the next block. Jamiu, our star player, was conspicuously absent so our captain delegated two of us to go and fetch him.
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We went to Jamiu’s house and met them having lunch, Amala and stew made with chinge( termite). That was their delicacy so we weren’t surprised at the combo. They offered us food but we declined. We stated our mission and since he was almost done with his food, he told us to wait.
All of a sudden, we heard a thunderous sound. The walls vibrated and I can swear I felt an earth tremor. Guess where the sound emanated from? It came from Jamiu’s dad! The man unashamedly farted! No sooner had he farted than the entire family started saying, “Pele, Sir! Pele, Sir! Pele Sir! Pele, Sir!” In the Yoruba language “Pele” means “Sorry”.
An overpowering stench permeated the room. I was nauseous and I felt choked. It was as if I was in a gas chamber. While I was disgusted and beside myself with rage, Abu’s reaction was that of confusion, amusement, and disbelief. He started to giggle. When I saw him giggling, my disgust gave way to amusement and I almost burst into laughter but I managed to stifle it.
Mama Jamiu looked at us angrily and said,” Won’t you say sorry? Don’t you have home training?” We said sorry to Baba Jamiu multiple times in quick succession. In fact, Abu and I tried to outdo each other in saying sorry, just to prove that we had home training.
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The smell that enveloped the room was suffocating. Just imagine the stench caused by the putrid smell of a carcass, the pungent smell of rotten eggs and stew made with termite. That was how bad the odor was and a miasma hung in the room until we left. If there were an infant in the room, I have no doubt that it would have choked to death.
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In their culture, breaking wind, another word for farting, is seen as perfectly normal and nothing to be ashamed of. In another culture, it is mortifying and considered antisocial behavior.
Are there cultural practices peculiar to your tribe that you think an outsider would frown upon? Have your say in the comment section.
Note: This article was written by Aminu Darius, owner and publishing editor of Cevenade.com
In my culture, we squat to greet our elders. We squat to listen to advice or instructions from an elder. We squat to say “thank you” to an elder. I never liked it and I got serious lashing when I was little for not squating when I should. As I got older, I stood my ground and stopped squatting. I just found it embarrassing and I still do. My cousins do not see anything wrong with it, so whenever we go out together and they squat to greet an elderly person, I squat too because I don’t want to be… Read more »
🤣🤣🤣 I imagine the girls from your tribe would be gifted on their back side as a result of the numerous squats.
😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣 nothing extraordinary about their backsides. It’s pretty much regular.
What a waste of squats😫😫
in my culture, you don’t pass in front of an elder when he’s eating.
Maybe in the early days children stole meat with such tricks🤣🤣🤣🤣
The only weird cultural stuff I know has been abolished. No one practices it anymore.
In the past, when a man dies and he has some properties to his name. None of his children has the right to claim it. No matter how much or how little. The properties are given to the children of his sisters.
Where are you from though?
Ohafia in Abia State.
I was taught this in Igbo language in school. I’m not sure but I think the tribe was Abriba.
Wow! Thank God it was abolished. Weird!
Yeah you’re right.
🤩🤩 I feel good to have been able to recall
In my tribe a son can’t use a walking stick while his father is still alive even if it’s just to compliment your outfit, it’s said you’re stepping on your father’s heart if you dare use a walking stick.
Really! Interesting!
🤣🤣🤣 heart ke! So wait o, not even for medical issues?
The weirdest I encountered while growing up was my grandfather’s earnest desire to receive a ‘thank you’ mixed with other forms of praise whenever he farted. He believed that the gas that he passes is death and its a good thing from the gods to fart.
🤣🤣🤣 not just ‘thank you’ but accolades too? Pls, what tribe are you from?
Nnaji is an Igbo name, so I guess he is Igbo.
Igbo of course
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