Oh, holly jolly, we ended 2023 with a family holiday. At the end of December, we left our place in Lagos to visit Chuck’s childhood home and celebrate the season with the fam. We spent eight days at the family compound in Okpofe busily entertaining family from all over the community… and beyond.
And when I say “busily,” I mean B.U.S.I.L.Y! There were so many aunties and uncles and nieces and nephews and cousins and kinda-cousins that by the end of the day my head was spinning trying to remember names and how exactly we are related. I would often pull Chuck aside to see how many names and connections I could remember. My results were sub-par…at best! But, I was mostly referred to as bekee (white lady) or nwanyi-anyi (our wife) so I feel I didn’t do too badly.
Life around the compound
Our first few days were spent hanging with our closest family members. We danced, we laughed, we argued, and best of all, we got to visit with mom. She was so happy to have everyone out. I’m sure by the time we left she was probably like, “ok, I’m done with you lot!” I mean, there was over 20 of us visiting for over a week in one house!
And as soon as we brought out the Igbo music, mom immediately came around the corner dancing. We got my smallest nephew, Chisindiri, into the mix too.
At one point, we found an old photo album of Chuck’s siblings rocking some hardcore 70’s style.
‘I think I’m turning Canadian’
One of the best moments during our stay was dressing mom up as your common variety “Canadian soccer mom.” She’s most likely coming to Canada for a visit this year, so we thought she should look the part. Wearing lululemon from head-to-toe, with an Adidas ball cap and some pink Sketchers, she is ready to meet you for a latte at the local coffee shop. LOL
Also, this was her first time wearing pants ever!
And boy, did everyone get a kick out of the outfit. I thought she looked pretty darn good even if she did put her wrapper back on immediately after we took photos. I don’t think we’ll ever see those pants again.
Celebrating the holidays
There are 12 villages in Okpofe, and during the holiday season, each one has their “celebration” day, where people from all over visit and partake in food, drink, games, dances/masquerading and general socializing (so much socializing!). It’s truly following that whole “12 Days of Christmas” thing.
The celebrations are very much an equal ‘you-visit-us-we-visit-you’ way of sharing the holidays with the entire community.
While out on our celebration visits, I was treated to a masquerade performance, visited tons of friends and family, who all welcomed us with big open arms, freshly tapped palm wine (it’s good!), fried chicken and ugba (Nigerian salad)… and at one spot we got to take home a rooster!
That was at Chuck’s maternal home (his mother’s birthplace). We brought him back to mom’s but he didn’t much ‘rooster’ until we left. I guess it takes a few days for a rooster to get used to his new environment and start calling the shots. From what I hear, he hasn’t shut up since we left. Eek.
I rode a scooter!
My cousin Gertrude drives a pretty nice scooter, and two years ago — on my first visit to the village — I told her I would drive it when I came back. Everyone laughed. Like, seriously laughed. 😂
Well, when Gertrude came to visit, she looked at me with her warm smile and sparkling eyes and she handed me the keys. My lucky day! She gave me a few quick instructions and off I went.
It was fun and I couldn’t stop smiling, hooting and laughing the whole time I was on that scooter. But one thing they would not allow me to do was push it past second gear. They probably got the heads up how clumsy I am. 😂 Next time tho!
Family time
In between all the visits, I had fun hanging out at the compound, waiting to see what the day would bring… besides the heat, and also watching my nieces and nephews kick the ball around and get into all sorts of hijinks.
It was a special treat to have so many of my nieces and nephews visit at the same time. And they had so much fun together. My brother-in-law Simeon told me that because most of the kids live apart from eachother in congested cities, they can’t wait to visit the village and run around and play in all the green space with their cousins. And that just took me back to hanging with my cousins at the lake as a kid.
One night, while chatting with Chuck’s brothers and wives, they were reminiscing about their youth spent together in the community and they were howling with laughter to the point tears were coming out. And watching my nieces and nephews hang together all day long I just know decades from now they will be sitting in the same spot we were laughing just as hard at their youthful antics.
And remember my tiniest nephew Chisindiri, the one dancing with mom? I fell head over heels for him. He doesn’t speak much English yet, but he attached himself to me like a magnet. Followed me wherever I went. We called him my ‘shadow.’ And boy, could he pack a lunch in his belly! Look how round he is (in the photo below) after one meal. I’m surprised he didn’t burst. And his brother (the one in the striped shirt) has the most amazing smile, but obviously refused to use it once the camera came out. I remember doing that as a kid. Made my mom crazy. Kids antics are universal no matter where you are in the world.
All-in-all, it was a lovely visit. A very different Christmas experience than what I’m used to, which was a treat to experience. ♥️
I am glad you loved your experience at the village Christmas. Really, the celebrations have unfortunately been watered down with time, as urbanization and mass migration to cities have taken their tolls. It used to be super electric, full of joyous frenzies and frightening happiness.
Next time, we will ensure to attend the “Iriji Mbaise” (Eating the Mbaise New Yam and Festival Celebrations).