They wrestle to meditate, outside general patterns. At such moments, life is imaginatively given to everything. Such a process zooming to a height is hardly ensconced in docility. Anything interfering with the antennae of illumination becomes irritation. In this drizzles, a nugget could appear and apprehended.

Remember, such men and women sometimes watch and listen to birds. They make analogies. They share stories of nature. They teach. They instruct. They leave life lasting nuggets.

Remember, when nuggets are not properly used, they hardly waste. After all, nuggets at the end usually return to their place. Where do people keep gold? Hardly in dustbins. Even if dropped in a dustbin, gold always return to its rightful place at a time. That is the nature of gold. Just think about it a little more.

Remember, man’s interest in birds cannot only be explained by their mobility and closeness to man. It is not curiosity or their unique nature per se that attract. Lesson and wisdom drawn from birds are fathomless.

Remember, when generations pass, new ones may have to learn anew from birds. Not many persons have the privilege of seeing kinds of birds in their natural habitat. For example, in your community, have you ever seen parrots in large numbers flying loudly in glorious colours in the morning from the east to the west? Locals would say they are on (Ije nbia) medical tourism. Is it type one or two? Have you ever watched how they return swiftly as a flock to the east in the evening? Do you observe they hardly make the same level of noise as in the morning? Why is there a difference? If you have watched parrots on National Geographic, perhaps, you may not have had this unique experience.

Remember to draw from specially designed legs of birds which enjoy blood flow but still withstand powerful electric current. As birds line on naked electric wires, reflect on the nature of their legs and how you can make yourself to withstand some kind of societal shock without changing your blood flow to that of birds.

Remember, new shock waves in politics, economy, religion, social life stretch to the ends of the earth from time to time. These shocks rout mankind. Watch birds one more time as the shock from the east to the west does not alter their ability to withstand shock. It can be explained, birds have shockproof. You are right. But where is yours and mine? Any lesson from legs of birds?

Remember some birds night vision is a marvel. How do some birds fly in the dark? There are studies about it. But let’s go ordinary. Birds like Okwi-okwi – Owl, Obu, and Usu are night birds that have enjoyed mystical attributions in many societies. It is interesting that some birds are comfortable flying in the dark using echolocation than in the day. During the day, they have dimmed vision. What do we learn? All birds have different areas of strength. They utilize it and create mysteries. If the owl is only a daytime bird, uncanny shawls around it would have been minimal. Use your night vision well. Create unique things about yourself.

Remember, chirping and sounds of birds provide plethora of ideas in music, timing, weather forecast, reconnaissance and fire. Some birds give tips on human threats. Others are simple, yet giving intricate melodious compositions. Mimicry is rudimentary and second nature to some birds. Ask ornithologists.

Remember to take a sample. Nduri, amana ani, obe na nkpu. The dove assumes, that is why it landed on anthill, as if it is mere ground.

Remember, Okpoko asi na onye na anuro ka ona efefe, nti chi onyea. If one does not hear when Okpoko is flying, one is either deaf or dead.

Remember, Ka onye ha, ka ona da, bu afa miri chukwu nwa nza. The baptismal name of nza – a very little bird, is contentment!

Remember, Okwi-kwi sina onye ya gbachi nkiti, na anya adina mma. Okwi-kwi – Owl says “if one insults and is ignored, it means one is insane because one should know how dangerous it is to insult the Owl.”

Remember, we know the Falcon’s story. We know about the eagle’s story. We know about the dove’s story. They fit in didactic stories found in sacred writings. Without doubt, many can tell these stories in their context.

Remember there is still a challenge.

Remember to mention names of birds in your ancestral land. What do you know about them?

Remember, besides bird’s mesmerizing colors, sight, beaks, peaks and picks, birds teach great lessons. Ponder on flying, landing, breaks, stillness, strength in lightness and dexterity. Check out migratory patterns, skills for success, alertness, pollination, agriculture and environmental cleanliness.

Remember, names of birds vary in every land. There could be name uniformity in biology textbooks. But, how do birds behave in each region and climate? How are they perceived in each culture, religion and philosophy? This knowledge would probably reset new trough of wild extrapolation on people and issues. Extant lingo is “egun-egun be careful” on extrapolation.

Remember, understanding nature of things is not age dependent. But experience helps a great deal.

Remember, there is natural pattern too. Water flows down not uphill. On the surface there are times it looks as if the flow goes against natural pattern. At this point, it requires a deeper look to identify the cause of the unusual. Such investigation can lead to knowledge of disruptions in geologic equilibrium ushering ‘unnatural experience’. In human eyes and experience, it is something deeper in naturalness.

Remember, for example, the dizzying experience of trying to capture a feature in physical geography at primary school of those days. Here are village children under 9 years doing physical geography of Africa/Egypt and the Nile.

Remember, they see the River Niger flows down south to the Atlantic. On the other hand the Nile flows into the Mediterranean in the ‘north’ of the chalkboard on the wall. This appears to go against the rule. In the minds of under 9 years children of the 1960s with limited knowledge of the outside, it is a puzzle. Why does the Nile River flows up? It takes proper shading and explanation for the young minds to see beyond what they see, to capture the essence. Here comes the rule: “To capture, you must identify properly, explain and shade”-otherwise nothing has been done. Marks are lost.

Remember, logical reasoning without experience is not easy sum game. Unless one is naturally endowed to be smart, minds are shaken during Friday afternoon arithmetic test each week… Arithmetic of those days was a combination of everything.

Remember, interesting aspects are birds transmogrifying to figures. 100 birds on a ‘tree question’. A hunter fires. He kills a number. How many are left on the tree?

Remember, often, pupils confess giving the wrong answer.

Remember, logical reasoning sometimes is aided by experience. When there is a bang, how many bird will wait? Humans hardly wait in the event of an explosion. Movement even one step is usually made either to safety or to see what exploded. To brave or to see, is only by ‘the lion heart’. But movement is natural and a sure action.

Remember, all the birds not killed are sure to fly away. To adults, it is simple. Knowledge and experience have come to their aid. But stop, there are logical reasoning issues that imperil leaders and their followers today. Aforementioned twin factors may be responsible for their seeming confusion, some say dullness. Limited knowledge and experience like the school boy. Don’t be shocked when you see adults betray amazing ignorance. While mental health sometimes could be culpable, there is need for adults to do more work. This simple story could foray into ‘illogicalities’ in grasping issues that supposed not to cause offence. This is important. Valuable time is lost daily on issues logical reasoning could resolve for individuals. Is it the nature of humans to always return to kindergarten in adult life? Why do some kind of quarrel ring all the time?

Remember, this is only one side. Will the birds return to the tree again? Yes is the answer. It could take a while. There is symbiotic relationship between birds and trees. Activities on trees will continue because birds are comfortable perching on trees. Will they remember their fallen ones? Not likely for a long time. How can this be proved? Simply watch birds in their flock. Cast a stone and all will fly away. After a while they will return and by their gangling plays and chats, a deduction could be made.

Remember, humans often behave in the same way even though they are not birds! My folks used to ask when death hits closely. What are things to be done to really mitigate death? There are some but not too many. However, our lives should not be like birds that immediately forget what has happened. Quickly forgetting could allow the same thing happen in succession. Yet, we should forget, otherwise life will be a burden. Do not be like birds that easily forget. But do not forever carry a loss through life. This is simple and complex. Open your mind.

Remember, parallelism is a bumpy road to completeness in analyses of nature. Notwithstanding its limitations, there are a lot that can be drawn here and there. We can always start somewhere.

Remember, when crisis ravages the world, the pains looks interminable. After a while, there will be a remission and life goes on. After the ravages of Covid-19, many things will alter, as always in history. People will adjust and life goes on like the birds returning to the tree once again.

Remember, the birds will fly again. You will live and live well again. Be assured. Don’t allow the moment to conquer you. All the parked planes will fly again after checks. You can start your checks now so that you fly well like the birds again. The great Teacher says: Learn from birds.

“Generation comes and goes but some persons do not want old generation burdensome baggage to rest in perfect peace.” - Imaife

Some still want to wear past generations wristbands. They regale at old wristbands dimmed omnipresence and wished their entrenchment. They see them as all deserving. But do all still fit?

Every generation is kind of a tapestry. Often, there is the desire and enthusiasm to undo a bit of this collage. Others think otherwise and try to fuse old generation paraphernalia to the present, decreeing the past must not rest from its works even after jubilees!

It is always in the heart of men, sometimes reeling out innuendos, euphemism, inexactitudes and caricatures of what are thought as custom and tradition in the quest to sustain the past in a complex new circumstances of life. These are like hardened lava in a milieu disallowing flows in disparate rational, environmental, cultural, technological worlds. Refusal to see and accept a kind of breaks in generations and inappropriately downloading their wristbands are conterminous project with delusion and nkuyeri!

Always, think it through, shrouded evil one may wittingly or unwittingly be giving a nod when it looks convenient. Ask yourself uncomfortable questions like who are known living twins of the 1930s or later in your community? What happened to others, even after Europeans had taken over the justice system?.

Mind what you support in the name of custom and tradition. They may be unenviable wristbands from generations you never knew. Do not be lullabied, believing that all sun rise and set are exactly the same every time and in every place because there is a new day break and evening every day. Remember, some days the sun rises without being seen throughout the day. If you don’t know ask normal solar light engineers not ‘political solar light’ contractors. The engineers would tell you how solar dependent light works in sunless rainy season.

Many generation wristbands are underlaid on philosophies or world views of a time. Such views are often domiciled reflecting where they developed. The process of development of western philosophies are known. Carlyles, Bertrand Russel and other contemporary philosophers provide lights. African philosophies are known too. They deserve no repetition.

Wisdom and thoughts of any given time are not static. It flows with multiple influences, sometimes gaining entry to unusual places even dominating. Such dominance arises from activities of those who control the means of the society. In the past, their conventional wisdom was imposed by variety of modes- agglomeration of men or women known as the state. They used force, education, religion, family, persuasion, foisting personal ideas nourished to general ideas. Today, it is culture, custom and tradition.

It therefore implies that origins of various philosophies had their start to a location and time. In time they may filter beyond their territorial confines and age. It is the reason we today still invoke Western philosophy especially when one perceives a universal outline akin to other philosophies elsewhere. But a wholesale change always pose the challenge for sameness. The German philosopher says you cannot step in the same water twice. Same applies to some philosophies in various locations. It makes wearing same generation wristbands across various generations not exactly. The archetype hardly survives in every generation.

Custom and tradition go through the dynamics of change even when it is not convenient for their operators. Power imposition, trade, cultural infusion and diffusion and travels initiate change. It’s worth a recall that a visit to Lagos to see his son in 1923 compelled the king to use the same toilet with women. This was an abomination in their custom. On his return home, the king Obi Or, abrogated through the Council of Elders the custom(abomination) that a titled man and a woman cannot use the same toilet! Modernization threw a spanner to the works of customs and tradition here. But change overtook tradition!

In the 1980s, a new king Ok. also abolished the compulsory 3 to 6 months traditional mourning for widows. He reasoned that some daughters of the community were high government officials who had only a week official, compassionate leave. Were they to keep wearing black mourning cloth, sitting on bare floor, not bathing everyday and waiting for 3months before traditionally removing their ‘sackcloth’? Were they expected to loose their permanent work positions as ( Directors, Permanent Secretary, Executives etc.) for the death of a husband? Many wahala for ‘dead bodi o’

A follow up was reduction of compulsory mourning days to five days for titled chiefs wives/others and removal of other unacceptable inhuman practices associated with mourning of a husband. For some cultural purists, romanticists and irredentists, the action of this new king makes sense. But on other issues they take umbrage as it does not suit their narrow and selfish proclivities. Anything not pandering to their perceived wisdom leaves one castigated even brutalized for underserving debt to customs and tradition. Think again what you support now in the name of culture, custom and tradition.

Note that the Millennial and Gen Z generations may not understand the basis of your cultural impositions. Usually, these are seen as underserving and infringement on their rights in a new world environment. They are distant from you. Gen Z is not part of these woozy contraptions. Hardly do they wear or appreciate your cultural wristbands. When they see them, they hardly make the same meaning out of it. The ship obviously left the harbor. Those with cultural baggage for this ship may only send messages that may or never be acted upon. Those with sufficient knowledge and means of enforcement are either limited or not there at all. Older generations should always understand the limits of their advantage.

There are glaring reasons for the knowledge gap and desired consensus expected by cultural purists being far-flung. The language of old has changed. The world speaks a new language even in the sub languages of your areas.

Take for example non verbal symbolism in language that means a lot for the old. Igba urio - simply roving the hand around one’s head and spluttering a word means a lot and could lead to a scare for those who understand. Euphemisms, symbols, signs, twerking of the nose, eyes, mouth, hands and legs were greatly deplored in communication in the past. Some are non- performative, nuanced verbal prosthetic. Indeed, they are igbudu esiri esi. A little touch entraps the un-wary. How much of these are known and currently employed by the new generation? Yet, when tradition and culture are bandied, some less informed joins in the chants. Note too that there are cultural intangibles that mean a lot for the old generations. We may not deal with it here. However,it is helpful for one to understand one’s subject to avoid disembarkation on quicksands and muddy terrains of cultures and tradition.

As I always say, a reader has a lot of work to do. Some current wristbands are simply a mockery when thoroughly examined in the context of old and new. Look at it again. This is not a walk to abolitionism but a caveat on absolutism. Reflect how culture and tradition in the listed areas have eroded or changed.

⁃ Identities - men and women

⁃ Heritage

⁃ Visual and non visual

⁃ Environment

⁃ Quotidian activities

⁃ Political climate

⁃ Education

⁃ Religion

⁃ Authority

⁃ Laws

⁃ Culture

⁃ Art

⁃ Technology

Understand what you propagate as culture, customs and tradition. Knowledge puffs . True knowledge humbles. It is a choice. Make the right choice.

Amongst intellectuals, analysts and debaters

Demarcation is always uncertain

loose like a jute bag

Allowing needling needles

Historians debate your length

Thirty or more years

Others confuse you with silver jubilee

Public commentators pile, pad with extra years

As if figures per se constitute your identification mark

Names in favour and against pasted

Adulterous generation our Lord denounced

Wasted generation our Nobel Laureate deprecate

Baby boomers Americans carpeted

Oil boom, is oil doom generation they say

Is the spanking of generation

a generation gap spanking

It's awkward value a packing

A generation harassing

The old as old school

Yet old things are swallowed to the marrow

Originality and discipline they declare enemy

A Generation of old song remix

A parody

Given air of originality

A denizen of school cultism demonism

dubbed socialization

Examination malpractice digitalized,

Cheating without trace

In the face of forensic audit

Generation of 8 As in SSCE

Less than one hundred score in JAMB

Three hundred and seventy score in JAMB, but slim pass in college

Nudity, tattoo on buttocks

a way of life

Some wink

Others look the other way

Categorize it as half or full

As if half should be hallowed

Glorified as creativity, choice

Does the choice elevate human spirit

One generation my Lord once asked

What shall I compare you

Children playing game but hardly recall what had taken place

Soaked in violence, situational ethics

Generation of stray bullets

As if guns are not triggered

Building pejorative bridge of criminality

Sullied name for many

Have your inventions balance the evils of your time

Internet curtail immorality

Glamour checkmate sex scandals corruption murder

collective waywardness

World class cars reduce accidents,

Abracadabra in science, religion and social life ticket to peaceful world

Why do you celebrate this generation

Where grey is dominant colour

Discrimination, ethical orientation gone astray

Straight talk reject, glorify watered downs

Condemnation hated, as it sparks uneasy fire

Discomfort for distorted ways

Are there not good in this generation

Is it sown in evil, reaped in evil buried in evil

Does a generation critically identify its generation

Deprecate its degeneration

Differentiate its generation

Aggregate new condition for another generation

That will not exceed its degeneration

That is the work of a generation that will not waste

One to align

Generation its recall sends sweet memories

Its rendition after fifty years or more flutes

Meaningfully to old and new

Quality not transient,

Relevance not ephemeral

Values not decadent

Spirit enduring

That is my generation

Whose generation is the other

Condemn it if it is yours

Live for a generation regeneration

Not its degeneration and degradation

Extinct knowledge documented in books have hairs of advantage over the unwritten. Plato, Socrates, Roman Senators, Church Fathers, School Men, and ancient philosophers. They are still evoked in modern writings in drawing comparisons.

Comparatively, what has happened to words, thoughts, arts, creativity, medicines, architecture, of great men and philosophers in your communities 300 years ago or more. Do you think their ideas were superficial, unworthy, deservedly cast away? Yet, they seep into what you call your cultures today. Some see them like dreams, a recall of someone with high fever. Unwritten recall, a great deal remaining confused, even missing. Yet, a lot can be gained from it. It may not be whole, but remember that understanding of atom changed history at a time.

In knowledge encounters, the powerful usually takes over and relegates the seemingly weak to mere strain, or nothing. When the weaker is thoroughly examined, sustained and modified, it could open doors to entirely new knowledge. Such new knowledge could become a champion. Take for example the study of genes DNA/RNA that takes new paths in the rising area of biology, and winning 2024 Nobel prize in physiology or medicine.

What about this years prize in Economics? A fellow sneers: “This year’s price should posthumously be shared with Walter Rodney.” “His dominant thought of economic history and underdevelopment and poverty are seen all over, others say ‘vaguely’ in this years award.” Read the two books(names)and see for yourself (culture, colonialism, exploitation, extractive society/leadership, institutional/bureaucratic inertia,etc) Leave the extent to the pundits to engage in their roforofo fight of how far and how deep. Think beyond what you are told. That is past and present knowledge for you. But what qualifies you to ask deep questions?

Non singers can hear songs of music!

Why do we need to recover traditional extinct knowledge now?

Have you ever queried the essence of environmental recovery advocacy? The latter has gotten a voice reaching outside, beyond Africa. Although still being argued, immediate dangers are not only palpable, they are already hitting below the belts of naysayers. When flood enters your house, you forget the “carbon ding-dong” of who generates more gas emissions with industries, those without, those in the vortex of the issue and bystanders with their conspiratorial theories. When you are forced to own a hurricane or extremely unusual seasons, environmental issue comes real to you, until it is over.

Note, there are marked differences in the two. There are always differences in a twosome. What are the differences? One is open. The other is closing very fast, even faster than you think. Knowledge of the past not documented in the next few years will be gone for ever. Extinction is a nightmare!

Do you realize that the old among us are daily going the way of all mankind. Even those in their nineties have their limitations. Their hybrid nature does not make things easy especially in obtaining ancient/ extinct data. Some of them were born in the cities without real knowledge of how things were done in the past. Some failed to learn from their parents. Some did not have the advantage of living and listening to other aboriginals.

Some cannot understand the contours of their language. How can such one be purveyors of extinct knowledge. These are not usually proponents of documentation of extinct information. They have no advantage over the young. They were never brought up in traditional villages. World view embedded in such places as extinct knowledge is unknown to them. They may “wear isiagu everyday”(Mazi O.) and adorn their thrones with Nollywood Royal caricatures. Yet, they lack the depth in traditional knowledge developed from cradle. A few original hands outside this hue, need to be harnessed in the next few years before natural clearance takes its course.

Pessimism wreaks its havoc too.

A decade ago, Mrs. Chi, Principal, of a High School asked this writer:

“Nnaa, kedu kwanu ife iji okwu ndi mbu na eme na uwa STEM?

“Don’t waste the lives of beautiful children. STEM or nothing!”

“Agreed,”

Kweri onye ocha ka onaba, ka okwu bè nke nke!

“STEM is great.”

“But ‘nothing’ can become ‘something’, over a time especially in the realm of knowledge!”

“Never overlook what looks like empty space in your life.”

What are possible areas and things to explore? Everything related to our past especially those affected by the present. Those things still without appreciable reach and aspirations sustaining pains induced by nostalgia.

For example, on health matters, why have many suddenly begin to draw attention to leaves, tree barks, oils, physical touches, stimulations and methods hitherto consigned to natives superstitions and ignorance? Why a recourse to traditional healing methods in a world of STEM? Why are collaborations with traditional healing systems ringing more than before even in rejected zones and multilateral bodies? Is it just another ruse? Or they see more being lost because many have been bamboozled that ‘our unscientific past’ holds no key for today. Do we know all about our traditional health and life style improvement? Extinct knowledge can come handy in a beautifully documented way.

Few days ago, during a serious thunderstorm, something eerily surfaced. Reminisces of after thunder strikes on trees on the way to farms interspersed my thought. During curious visits to the scene, we sometimes discover fulgurites, Oganigwe, Ose Sango of different shapes. People know of their uses especially by traditional health councils.(Ndi Dibia) Some have dismissed fulgurites simply as a collection of sand and other elements - after event of catastrophic fire without any great, scientific uses. They say so with a finality -‘nothing’. Is that all there is about it? Ask those living in areas with high thunder activities, their traditional insight on fulgurites. Then, record it. What extinct knowledge exist in this area?

What about other areas of knowledge that intersects?

Wind, water and fire in traditional setting

Insects

Festivals, Music and worship

Genealogical trees and boundaries

Infections, diseases and cures

Stories

Words and idioms (eg Sin) Njo, Alu, Mmefie)

Symbols and icons

Delicacies

Social control

Others

The above is enough for a book or academic event. But leave that for academics and do your little best. If possible write about such ‘ foolish’ finding. Your little best without documentation may not represent your best. Don’t succumb to what woke-wing youths would say:

Kedu ife eji ife ndi mbu, kachara nka n’eme?

Some have written theirs. Others are visiting their communities trying to find out. They are scouring the stem of a kind of knowledge. Could this exercise generate ideas surpassing ours. There lies the usefulness of sharing. Take action today, that is IMAIFE.

Start now.

ELEGY

Unfortunately, aspects of past knowledge can become an orphan.

Who comes to her defense?

Would it be a generation that don’t know her?

Those without a hint of her birth, growth and achievements?

Her glory that now comes in hazy outlines?

And misunderstood by many?

Aspects of past knowledge is an orphan,

For we do not know her well

Unless, her lingering, blurred features

pressuring the present and robbing its peace.

Are confronted

It remains an orphan…