CHILDREN'S DAY EDITION: AYELAAGBE AND ATITEBI
“Ayelaagbe” translates to an admonition that it is good to stay and live in the world.
Ayelaagbe is an Abiku who died before reaching Puberty. Abiku (or Ogbanje) according to belief is a spirit that controls whether a child lives to puberty or dies young. It is belived that the spirit returns to the same mother and is born many times and that the spirit never intends to stay put in life.
In an attempt to make it live, so many thiings are done. Some of these include putting marks on the bodies of the child and giving them names that are usually funny and embarassing.
One of such names is “AYELAAGBE”, The world is the place to live. (Not coming and going like the seasons)
People do not expect Ayelaagbe to survive to puberty or adulthood.
The parents and family strive all they can hoping but not too optimistic that Ayelaagbe will stay this upteenth time.
But in reality, not much hope is placed on Ayelaagbe surviving.
“Atitebi” was born a healthy child. Maybe because of the circumstances of its birth, or as an only child, the child is over-pampered. He is spoilt silly. It is not unusual to find Atitebi crying over nothing tangible. Over time Atitebi, an otherwise healthy child, becomes a hypochondriac, feigning various and varying illnesses and ending up having the symptoms.
Atitebi may frequently visit or switch doctors.
Ayelaagbe is not expected to live to adulthood. Not much expectaton is placed on him. He is Abiku. Born, not to live, but to die.
Atitebi does not have the spirit of Abiku. Unlike Ayelaagbe, he is not expected to die young.
But the spoilt brat fails to grow or acquire the skills required to live through life.
Atitebi is paranoid and not only sees anybody and everybody as a foe but every little taunt or tease gets Atitebi into a feat of Tantrums and Tears.
Rightly or wrongly nobody chastises Atitebi without incurring wrath.
A picture of Atitebi with tears from his eyes and mucus from his nostrils forming a confluence down his cheeks is not uncommon.
By dint of luck, Ayelaagbe may survive the spiritual debacle. Aside the fear of early death, Ayelaagbe grows up like a normal child. If they don’t die young, they grow up to be great men and women.
Atitebi was born a normal healthy child but failed to grow up mentally and intellectually. Stupidity, folly and tactlessness may end Atitebi’s life prematurely.
So much for Ayelaagbe and his friend Atitebi.
In life, politics, governance and business, there are people like Ayelaagbe who were never expected to survive let alone make a mark. But through tenacity and determination scale through.
There are also those on whom so much expectation is placed, but by getting carried away by accolades and praises they lose it all. Erstwhile great men have ended up in oprobium because they, like Atitebi, got carried away by pampering.
Some like Ayelaagbe, from whom there are low expectations have scaled through the initial hurdles of life to live remarkable and impactful lives.
People have reached public office with little expected of them and they ended up great performers.
Others have got to the top on the crest of the wave, riding high, and ended up marooned in the sand of an ebbing tide.
Ayelaagbe, given a slim hope of survival may outlive his spoilt brat friend Atitebi.
Initial challenges may not mean all is lost.
Early advantages may also spell doom if mismanaged.
HAPPY CHILDREN'S DAY
I am Femi Ladapo (Femolad)
Comments