Can Tribal Differences Be Totally Ignored? #MyCorperDiaries #day11

Today, it is the turn of my platoon to fill the book of life. First, I wonder why it bears that name. It mitigates the importance of what the Book of Life actually is. Secondly, this would be about the 10th time so far we would be filling in our details by hand. What happened to the electronic copy of our details? Why do we have to spend valuable time on the queue to give NYSC what they already have? I especially pity the person who wrote numbers 1- 3500 with a marker, that person deserves a perseverance medal.

Immediately after parade rehearsals, we queued to start filling. I got a space and left to get my food. I returned but the queue hadn't moved an inch. It appears there's a pregnant woman in front filling for unborn generations. I left to wash and returned, only to realise the queue had been reshuffled. I had to start over. I waited to get a space but I was feeling dizzy right where I sat. I decided to give my number to a friend to call when my turn is close.

While waiting, just before I went in to take a.nap, I went to check accounts department to collect my internal transport allowance. I asked directions from an elderly male member of staff. He asked where I am from and I said Ogun. Next, he asked if i was Ijebu. Since I was unsuspecting I said yes. He then asked me to introduce him to money rituals. That must have been a joke because if I knew I wouldn't probably be making enquires for collecting 1000. But whether he was serious or not, I realised two things. First, the average ijebu person is considered fetish. Secondly, that is the fear every other person nurtures about Ijebus.

I returned to the queue and started a conversation with a lady to while away time. We came in the same bus together. The first question she asked me was "Are you Ijebu?" It sounded like fail this test and you don't qualify for a conversation. I didn't realize I was in for trouble. She said her mum told her not to even talk to an ijebu boy. I was shocked! I probed to know why. I discovered she thinks every ijebu person was fetish among many reasons. I tried to convince her that civilization, faith and urban settlements pacifies the traditional characteristics of our ethnic origin. But all attempts were futile.

Here, you find cliques of people communication in their indigenous language. They are building stronger bonds with people with same ethnicity.and creating wider gaps with others. That is an automatic signal that 'if you aren't one of us, you aren't welcome.' It is so serious that you can't ask 5 questions without raising the issue of ethnicity. If you don't raise it, they will.

One good practice in an environment like this is to communicate in English. Another practice is to relate on professional/career basis than ethnicity. This will help keep off the very sensitive issues of ethnicity.

But it isn't all negative. I have seen friends learn language at the speed of light. I am really impressed. I sincerely wish I can do the same.

I must say that effective education will help relate properly with people from other places. We should be able to overcome these limitations because we are educated. Also, genuine faith helps to live beyond ethnic limitations. Kindness and love is universal. A smile is universal. Next time anyone asks me about my origin, I'll say "I'm Femi, from Nigeria!'