Giving back to the Society

So today my town’s people had their “nmechi” for the year and even though I did not want to attend, my mum insisted and I couldn’t help but remember a line in “Half of a Yellow Sun” where Kainene explained to a white guy the notion about being fresh meat for young single guys out there. I mean I couldn’t help remembering that line cos my mum has been on my case to bring home a guy… if u know what I mean.

Anyways I tagged along and pleaded with my brother to come along so I wouldn’t get bored but he did not want to so I ended up going alone with a copy of “Half of a Yellow Sun” which  I’m still reading. Anyways we got there and I did not see any of my cousins neither did I sight any interesting guy so after looking around for a while, I went back to the car to continue my quest in Olanna and Kainene’s world and couldn’t help thinking that I hadn’t ironed what to wear to work tomorrow. But before I went off to the car, I greeted some of my aunts, “nnukwu nne”, “nne m” and nnam ochie” and all other names we have for such relatives.

After a while, some guy sought me out in the car…he claimed to know me but I did not recognize hime but what the hell! He is from my village so I indulged him and we walked back to the gathering. Upon getting there I noticed that there was so much noise all of a sudden only for me to look up to see that a raffle draw was going on. There were refrigerators, bags of rice, television sets, motorcycles, cartons of noodles and other items all donated by the rich among us in my village. And I thought to myself as I saw the joy on the winners’ faces as their numbers were called, the screams of delighted surprise and the cheers of the audience, this is what charity is all about. I mean whoever said “Charity begins at home” knew what he was talking about. Forty bags of rice were donated by an individual and it was shared among the widows.

Some of us are rich and can afford to help others but we do not start with our families, we do not begin with our immediate communities for reasons best known to us but prefer to help others outside our immediate family and community. But if you are well to do and your family looks shabby, wouldn’t you be ashamed?

While the masses prayed for the givers and asked God to provide more for them, I thought to myself, what more could anyone ask for if not the blessings of his people? While some of us might see it as blasé, I think it is worth commending because after all, charity begins at home.  

If you are in the position to help people, please let it start with your family and immediate community. Much as I did not want to go, it is one thing I learned today.

To all those who put smiles on people’s faces today, may God bless and replace in tenfold all that you gave today and to the wonderful people of Unubi, I say long live Unubi!!! I am proud of my village.