WaZoBia

Wazobia stands for culture and unity. Wazobia stands for all of Nigeria. Wazobia is Nigeria. Wazobia is a clarion call for the Nigerian man, woman and child. Wazobia is a spirit. Wazobia is us. Wazobia is a unified history. Wazobia is a tale of our struggle, of our journey through oppression and self-discovery, Wazobia is harmony and tolerance in strife and hardship.

Wazobia is dedication, it is not self-taught. It is a stamp we get on our bottoms as newborns. It is dedication in the face of uncertainty. Not necessarily knowing what the break of dawn brings but in wazobia we pray, in wazobia we understand that no matter what happens we steel ourselves to face it. Wazobia is our bulwark, we sit upon it and stare at the confusion of others, not saying we do not have our own confusion, but at least we understand it, by it we are fortified.

Wazobia is a high five on the local field, an argument erupting in the town hall, gossip at the hair salon, laughter at a ceremony.

Wazobia is our religion. At least it used to be; sadly we are slowly losing the meaning and value of wazobia. It is not being taught in our schools, preached in churches, instilled in our homes. Wazobia is slowly losing its breath, and no one seems to care about resuscitating it. Wazobia has become selfish and bloodthirsty*. Situations of change are seen as strident. It’s lost its prowess and replaced it with meticulous cowardice. Our unity is fast becoming negotiable. What holds us together now is the insatiable quest for greed and insatiable desire for power. And the only way we satiate is by using human shields.*

Our unity is fast becoming negotiable. Wazobia is lost in the despair it has chosen for itself due to the misery in togetherness disguised as comfort.

A way forward for WaZoBia --- what is it? where is it? When is it?