Anginyi Nyiam,
My affiliation with the people of
Igede in Benue State continues today. I have come to ‘My People’ just like they
call it. This week is bombarded with many activities and I am hopeful that it
will all end in praise.
Have you ever heard older people
talk about certain tribes that they have some traits as such; they will make an
inference advising their children and relatives to desist from associating
them. Also, some communities are renowned for the production of academic
doctors and professors. Interestingly, some people pride themselves with these
traits.
Generalization is a situation
when people of certain clans have been stigmatized. This happens intra-tribal
and inter-tribal. I know that the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria have
different banter on one another. This generalization has been negatively
affected a lot of loving relationships and how people are treated in the case
of any eventuality.
Individuality is about a person-
the lifestyle, the attitude, the character. A contact with a person from a
certain community might be the beginning and the conclusion of the traits from
a community. The trait found in these people is not as a result of their
ethnicity but based on their personality.
What is the crux of today’s
discussion? Do not make people stigmatize others from the same ethnicity with
you because of your behaviour. Also, you can stand out as a different person
regardless of the ‘negative’ attributes associated with your tribe across
generations.
Take time to rewrite history and
not continue with negative attribute from your homeland.
Cheers!
Olutayo
