Other Communities Should Learn From Opobo – Ibiso Martins

I see in Opobo is something everyone should experience most especially in a festive period like this. I have gone round and I discovered that they have been able to instill their tradition on people including visitors that came to visit them. As we were going round, people were saying that the traditional plays that have been going on have been hijacked by visitors, by strangers. That would tell you that the community is welcoming because if you are not welcoming you won’t allow strangers to come in and also be part of your tradition.
For me, they have been able to uphold their tradition to an extent that it has also helped to create a peaceful cohesion; peaceful coexistence. When you go round, you find peace and joy everywhere. And that’s what we are lacking in other communities. I wouldn’t want to mention any. But it is important that we uphold our tradition. Our tradition demands that a younger person should respect his elder, especially when the person is a chief. There are ways you communicate to these people. If you don’t follow those traditions, you would not observe those protocols.
In Opobo here, there are ways you talk to a Senibo, a Warisenibo. For me as a stranger, I am very careful. In fact, yesterday when I went to my friend’s compound, I noticed that there were some Senibos seated. I had to come back. I was waiting for my friend to come. I wanted to ask how to approach these people so that you don’t make a mistake. Their tradition has been able to help instill discipline, peace, understanding and love. And I wish other communities will be able to learn from what we are having here.