BY REV FR GERALD NWAFOR
September, October, November, and December are regarded as the ‘ember months’ in our clime. They take up one third of the year. Therefore, the logic of their position gave them the name of the last quarter of the year. These are the months that would see the end of the rainy season and introduce the dry season. They are the months that most people harvest their crops and preserve the seedlings in the barn.
The ember months herald the end of the year and remind the traditionalist that it is time to clean up the old stuff, habits and character, and move into a new being. The Christians celebrate the birth of Christ (Christmas) and the New Year. Because of what these four months represent we tend to do what we cannot do in the first 8 months in the final four months. We should take it easy with these last four months.
Do not swear to
anything that you must be successful in these four months. The language of the times is tempting. During this time, you will be hearing: igba-season (fertile time to make money), igbu-ozu (Making money by all means), and similar thoughts that lead to unhealthy competition among our young people, businessmen, and dreamers. These names can be misleading to an unsuspecting public. The children would expect the parents to buy new shoes and dresses. Some privileged kids would have new toys. The big boys would like to change their cars and when possible, build a new house or remodel the old one. The pseudo-big boys would love to copy the real big boy to measure up to the expectations of the unsuspecting public. These would increase the number of untimely deaths among our young people. I saw the gory images of the people who went to scoop (PMS) Primum Moto Spirit from a fallen truck. From my childhood, we were told to run far away from a truck loaded with PMS, kerosine, diesel, and Gas (cooking gas). We were told that it was a time bomb whenever it fell. So, I ask myself, what in the world would make a person go so close to that calamity waiting to happen in the name of wealth. By the way, if it is not flammable and you scoop it without the owner’s permission, you are a common thief. So, either way, you are not supposed to go close to it because it is not your property.
The 16 people killed at Anambra state during a traditional ceremony at Nibo town died for nothing if the true story is all about cultic dominance, but for whatever reason such a thing would happen during the ember month is not worth it. The old sayings that during the ember months people would go after money aggressively (Oji anya red achu ego) is a total misrepresentation of genuine businesspeople.
Last December my brother lost over 34 million naira to his apprentice (umu boyi); the simple reason they gave was that they wanted to spend the Christmas season in a very luxurious hotel in Asaba. Even the master could not go into the named hotel given normal circumstances. The ember months coincide with Advent, and should be a time of sober reflection in preparation for the coming new year. The Christians have enough celebration for the reflection. It was the month in which the mother of their founder was born (September 8). During this period, they celebrate the conception of the mother of their founder (December). Finally, on December 25th they would celebrate the birth of their founder (Jesus Christ) the occasion popularly known as Christmas Day. All over the world Christmas is being celebrated. (On a side note, the biggest Christmas tree I have seen in my life was in Dubai. When I landed in Dubai on the 20th of December 2013, I could not believe my eyes. The streets were well decorated and when we got to the hotel it was the same gorgeous Christmas decoration that greeted me. The receptionists were well dressed like Santa.)The ember months should bring love, happiness, and unity, not a quest for filthy wealth. The traditionalist can thank God for the 8 months of rain that will end during that time of the year. Thank God for the rich soil that produced the food and gave me time to prepare for the next planting season.
There is a call for celebration but there is no need to destroy yourself in the quest for money during these ember months because many ember months are ahead of us.I would like everyone to return safely to their job after the ember months’ celebration. Do not go and borrow money from a friend or from the bank to impress the villagers who do not know you exist. Do not come back to the city disgruntled because you spent so much money that you cannot pay back what you owe. Do not drink so much that your driving is impaired. I do not want anyone to come back losing a leg, or hand, or ultimately a life. It is uncalled for to lose life where you went for celebration. On the flip side, the rich should save some money for the poor who would come knocking on their doors during this ember-month. We know the rich already but in case we do not know you, and God has smiled upon you, please do not hide away from the needy (Onye chineke gbalu Christmas biko cheta Umunna gi). Let your presence be felt during the ember months. I do not want to go into the political situation of the country now, but we know that a cup of rice, garri, or beans to anybody in Nigeria today means a lot. Nobody should be overzealous because of the ember-month but keep the pedal on what shall be shall be. When I visited a country across the Atlantic, they had a saying that made a big impression on me, “It is what it is.” If you are rich, we know, if you are not rich, we know. We do not want ego-mbute (get rich quick by fire-by force), we do not want igbu-ozu (killing of dead body), we do not want isi-onye-ocha-adaa (yahoo-yahoo). We want clean success and sustained wealth (akajiaku).
In this ember-month may we be careful in what we are doing. May we not run faster than our chi (so that we do not miss our portion of blessing). The ember months as we have sung in our songs are months of happiness, peace, and joy. These ember months will bring abundance, surplus, and conviviality.
