The weekend in Ibadan is a time for relaxation, celebration and prayer. Families spend most of their time watching TV, reading or tidying up around the house. There must be at least three weddings on the University of Ibadan campus alone every Saturday. My family and I did not attend one this weekend, but on our drive on the way out of campus we saw hundreds of people decked out in traditional Yoruba clothing gathering outside the churches and mosques. My mom assured me I will be bored of weddings by the end of my 9-month stay here. Prayer is a big part of the weekend in that EVERYONE goes to either church or mosque on Sunday morning. Seeing that I’m Jewish and this weekend is Yom Kippur, I thought it would be wrong to go to church with my family, so I stayed home this time, but I will go in the future to see what it is like. My parents were up and in the pews by 7 a.m. The children go from 10:30-12:30. Religion is integrated into every part of life here. Many of the University signs have some comment about God’s blessing. When I tell people I’m a ‘Joo’ (how its pronounced here) people just say ‘ahh, so which church do you go to?’ Even the water I drink out of a sachet bag is called “Blessed.” But more about religion in another post…
This weekend my mom wanted to bake a wedding cake for one of her friends so we went to a woman named Mercy’s house outside of the UI gates in a neighborhood called Orogun to mix the batter and get the baking pans. While the women baked, I was left to hang out with the kids who sat in front of the compound sewing, eating, chatting and kicking a soccer ball around. The presence of an Oyinbo girl really stirred up their Saturday afternoon. Hearing me speak Yoruba made them all giddy, and like typical greeting situations they all wanted to ‘snap’ with me. I met a man there called ‘Ayo’ or Joy, and he spoke Conc Yoruba to me. Conc Yoruba is the real deep, concentrated traditional Yoruba language where the Yoruba we speak today originated from. I could hardly make out most of what he was saying. After I told him a few of the proverbs (òwé) I know, he asked me if I eat ‘pomo’. I don’t know what ‘pamo’ is, I told him, and he said ‘eh, eh, then you don’t know Yoruba.’ Apparently ‘pomo’ is the meat right under the cow’s skin that is a typical Yoruba dish. I’ll have to try it soon to be a real Yoruba person…
For the rest of the weekend we are going to Lagos to go to the American Embassy and meet the Regional Security Operations officials. I don’t know what exactly is in store, but any reason to go and observe Lagos is alright with me. Look forward to a post about the chaotic, bustling thorough-fare that is the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
I love your work! What bounty, what promise you offer. I feel like an infant again!
Yeah, Uche was right! dont drink the pure water, we rather call it poor water…lol. Take the bottled ones they are more hygienic. bet u don’t want to have typhoid fever. Even people that were given birth to here gets infected by the fever after takn “poor water” not to talk of someone from a different background like u drinkn such water. Wishn u all the best
Thorough-fare bahahahahahaha miss the crap out of you!
must be a heck of a thorough-fare!
Amanpour,
i am highly impressed by your EXPEDITION. It goes a long way to show how BIG your heart is. Your GREATNESS will not take time to manifest,the world should look out for you.
Uche,
Thank you for following! Yes, Christime Amanpour is a role model of mine. I am humbled by your comments. I’ll do my best to live up to to them.
You are precious! Loved the video of your walk to school. Proud of you beyond words. Loves
Titi, se alaafia ni? I am glad you are enjoying your time in Ibadan. Konk! (lol! Actually, it is conc. It is a naija slang word which comes from the word ‘concentrated’, as used in chemistry equations.) The yoruba we speak is really conversational. When someone speaks the traditional yoruba, we say his yoruba is conc!
I’m very impressed. You are really adjusting to life in naija. It is totally different in every way from what you are used to, but you have adjusted. (Please don’t drink the ‘pure water’ satchels!! Buy the bottled water instead.)
You know, it is a trip watching your video of your walk from your hostparent’s house to your class. I went to secondary school at ISI for 7 years (form 1 to upper sixth) and I know UI very well. I recognize everywhere in the video.
Keep the pics and videos coming. Have fun in Lagos (slang for Lagos is Lasgid or Gidi or Lasgidi!!)
Hi Cara!
It is so great to get these updates from you. Keep them coming. It’s fun to see what you are up to.
What a wonderful experience you are having!
Happy New Year!
Love,
Holly & Terry
so great to keep up with what you are doing! great blog! post some recipes sometime, too!