Olowogbowo: Sustaining old tradition of family reunion

GBENGA AJAYI
Olowogbowo, a popular traditional setting in Nigeria’s economic hub, Lagos, which now boasts vestiges of modernity — network of roads, government offices, bridges, schools, banks and sundry commercial concerns —  January 1, became a scenic attraction, when its major highways, community roads and paths from Apongbon Bridge, the renowned strong landmark that houses underneath it sellers of assorted wines and provides parking space for vehicles of different makes, colour and sizes, were closed to vehicular movement and became grounds for open-air parties and a rainbow of social activities staged by a union, Olowogbowo Forum.

Unlike the Christmas, which the world celebrated a week earlier, the environment became more agog with the sound of different brands secular music, bangs of exotic explosives and noise of felicitations amidst feelings of trust and friendship by natives who were related by blood because they were products of the same family tree. Though most have become granddad and grannies, the umbilical cord of family relationship was glaringly still very strong if the way they embraced to have bear hugs, held themselves tightly to kiss or gladly exchanged banters and pleasantries is considered.   

As early as dawn, the streets’ firmament wore colourful pennants and ribbons of different hues and shapes; walls and gates bore banners showing pictures of notable personalities and their congratulatory messages; ladies of the community like responsible respecters of the nation’s monthly environmental sanitation exercise order, swept off litters and dirt before youths arranged white tables and chairs with artist’s sense of precision and beauty. The elderly, also highly spirited and happy to have witnessed another family festivity, were busy monitoring various activities to make sure event’s plan were carried out meticulously.

  Without doubt, monetary outlay the ceremony gulped was enormous going by the varieties of meals and population of fat cattle and fleshy goats which later turned to roast, grilled or fried meat, but it was gathered that donations came freely from families, organisations in the environment and generous donors such as Chief Rashidi Alaba William, the Ajiroba of Lagos; Chief Luku Adeleke of electronics giant, Panasonic; and Alhaji Taju Agbede, Lagos State chairman of National Union of Road Transport Workers.

 Shedding historical light, Secretary, Olowogbowo Forum, Comrade Razak Durojaiye, told Newswatch Times the ceremony is a tradition that has spanned over a century and it aims to bring together “all sons, daughters and descendants of this area in Nigeria and the diaspora. Every family converges in front of the homes of their forefathers to eat, drink, dance and discuss matters relevant to members’ progress and this community’s development,” he states.

But more than wine, women and song, other characteristics of the gathering which confirmed its traditional nature, Newswatch Times observed January 1, included prayer and a long sermon by an imam, parade by different banner-wielding families that entertained all with traditional songs that told their history, some even recited poems about their patriarchs and matriarchs, but most pleasing to the eye is the appearance of  many men and women, boys and girls in a customised wear or a family uniform, which not only  symbolised unity and understanding, but members’ a sense of belonging and belief in the monolithic social organisation.

The event achieved its social value of reuniting long-lost kith and kin as youths of different families played with a tightrope either to climb to a high point or slide down to its base without getting injured. Their giggles and chats, hisses and raps threw the area of land under the Apongbon Bridge into spectacular joyful din. Olalekan Macauley, a nursery school pupil, who accompanied his parents to the event, told Newswatch Times said he felt happy “seeing other members of my father’s large family.”

Most elderly members congregated on Broad Street, adjacent to Olowogbowo area, to reunite, felicitate, discuss, exchange jokes or put their lives into reverse gear by opening pages of history or phases of their incredible youth life in the environment. They however took some time off to dance to music provided by four locals that electrified the environment with their danceable renditions.

 Abdusalam Disu, an America-based native, who visited the country last in 1980, was glad that the Olowogbowo community still sustains the annual celebration. “I am very happy that this practice that I met and enjoyed when I was a young boy continues to this moment. This is what makes Africa unique and different from other countries. Here the family is important and everybody tries to make sure he doesn’t destroy or bring the name of the families he is related with into disrepute. In Africa, the family is the last hope of everybody, because members love themselves. If you have a problem in Africa, it is a shared one with members of your family, but over there (overseas), they are too individualistic, self-centred and egoistic. Once you are there, you are on your own, God with you,” he stated.

The Iyaloja of Apongbon General, Alhaja Adiat Alao, urged families in Olowogbowo to “always seek the interest of yourselves and the community with love, because in unity lies your strength. You should register your presence in Nigerian politics and economy by competing with major stakeholders in all spheres of life and be winners,” she enthused.

The meaning of ‘family’ in Africa transcends a primary social group consisting of parents and their children, a European definition, but includes extended family: father, mother, children and relatives; and compounded family: sister, brother, relatives having their wives and children living together in a community.

Nowadays, family value, the idea that the family is very important is in danger of petering out in many African societies, but the people of Olowogbowo should therefore be praised for perpetuating a tradition whereby kinship, that is family relationship, is strengthened and sustained because “to part from friends is to die a little and to distance oneself from family is to become a living dead,” Alhaji Muniru Gbajabiamila, an elder in the community stated.