LABARINA :The Five Children: A Tale of Ignorance and Superstition

LABARINA

The Five Children: A Tale of Ignorance and Superstition

In my community, a shocking event occurred when a woman gave birth to five children in the hospital far away from the community. However, what happened next was even more astonishing. The chief priest, in our community, declared that the land needed to be cleansed.

I was perplexed by this announcement, as I didn't understand the reasoning behind it. Giving birth to multiple children is seen to everyone as a sign of good fortune, not a cause for cleansing. It seemed to me that the chief priest's decision was rooted in ignorance and superstition.

This incident reminded me of the story of Mary Slessor, a Scottish missionary who worked in Calabar, Nigeria, in the late 19th century. During her time, the local culture believed that twins were a curse, and as a result, they were often abandoned or killed. Mary Slessor fought tirelessly against this practice, advocating for the rights and dignity of these children. Her efforts eventually led to a change in the cultural narrative, and twins were no longer seen as a curse.

Similarly, I believe that our community needs to re-examine its traditions and superstitions. The idea that a woman giving birth to five children requires a cleansing ritual is not only unnecessary but also harmful. It's crucial that we educate ourselves and others to break free from the chains of ignorance and superstition.

It was further alleged that he was using the cleansing ritual as a way to extort funds from the community.

I hope that our community can learn from the example set by Mary Slessor and work towards creating a more inclusive and compassionate society.

Inspired by The Holy Spirit 

Story narrated 🖋️ Ojo Sunday Ikponmwonsa

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