The Yoruba Pot for Celebration at Jejelaye
It is not Christmas, no, not new year celebration either but we saw a big pot with fire burning other from the woods fetched from Jejelaye forest. Yes, I could still remember that after going hunting trice with Adekunle Balogun the best among other hunters of athe Jejelaye Community, Badagry, Lagos, Nigeria. It is said that he has never for once missed a shot which I am witness for the three nights I accompanied him for hunting. On the second night while we were on the move he got two Monkeys in a single shot.
As we walked close to where the Monkeys felled he showed me the fallen tree called Atoree. “Woods like this are used for holding big fire especially when cooking for many in festivals and other events; other than that people of Jejelaye community uses kerosene stove to cook for their family — we are not as poor as visitors think we are” Adekunle said. 30 minutes later when Adekunle came around he was as surprised like I was. He said mama never told him her daughter Kude is getting married.
So he said let’s go see what is happening. Smiling with the mind that nobody in Jejelaye needs an invitation to join their neighbors or anybody celebrate, which is more reason why the event host should use a big pot for the cooking and a cow to go with it; to avoid being the talk of town for not being able to entertain your guests after they have left their various activities that day just honor your occasion both invited and uninvited. Most times the uninvited are there once coming with extra bag and plates to go home with takeaway (from the excess they requested for at the event.
Finally we met mama Kude who will explain what was going on to us. People hardly know your name when you have children at Jejelaye — they either call you by your first child’s name or the favorite among your children. In this case Kude is her eldest daughter and of the age to get married according to the tradition of the Jejelaye people. Although, some of the families there now are Christian they stills have to do traditional marriage to be recognized be their people which means observing tradition to be married a right age of getting married. Personally, that is where I disagree (in my mind) with their believe because the western culture isn’t so.
It is not my daughters’ wedding she said. Now, we are puzzled being sure from what we have seen so far that it must be a marriage ceremony from family. Didn’t your friend
told you about our wedding? Mama Kude inquired. No, you know I used to think that you people done it on a low key all this time– so baba Kude has been married to you for free all even after six children — nawaho. That was how we made a U (reverse turn) to prepare for the occasion.
When next you visit the Yoruba land and see a pot like the one in the picture above just know that it’s going to be a great day for everyone around.
