Day dream

The language of morning speaks fragments of home, the people and happiness.

Sometimes someone wandered slowly as they smoked on London roads.

Sometimes I remember stories like shadows behind friends, I become myself again.

Published by Empress on Nov 19, 2011 - 22:05 on ABC Tales

http://www.abctales.com/story/empress/day-dream

snowflakes and Harmattan

Snowflakes falling, thick and fast float in the air as the winter announces itself with a vengeance.

When I first arrived in England, the very first thing that struck me was the weather; it was freezing cold with droplets of snow, white and slippery and as I walked on it, I knew that any missed steps could be a fall or worse. I was in a dilemma wondering what these white fluffy drops were as they enveloped trees and made them look so picturesque. I was at the window of my flat in Bayswater and could see the roof tops all covered in white. It was really shocking and at the same time exciting. Shocking because I came from a tropical country where the weather is always sunny and the temperature is usually over 40 degrees. Exciting in the sense that this is nature and it is part of me.
The sound of the icy blasts on the window pane turned my thoughts to the cold in the north of Niger. The noise was like that of harmattan, the season of a dry wind that brings with it dust and the occasional sandstorm from the Sahara desert. The cold wind of harmattan is a welcome relief from the heat but at the same time a hazard as the wind and the dust irritates both the people and animals.

It also changes the scenery. Plants and foliage shrivel and die; the branches of trees dry and the bark peels off, leaving people to run helter skelter looking for cover to escape the wind and dry sand getting into their nostrils, eyes and mouths and making them spit. Doors and windows are shut to prevent the sand getting indoors. Clothes sway from the washing line in the strong breeze as if dancing to the tune of the wind, and kitchen utensils such as pestles, mortars and calabashes are swept up and ripped apart. The dust is everywhere and dusk is approaching fast as the wind continues to gather strength. Some trees are uprooted from the ground as well as some mud huts.
As I thought of this I remembered Mallam Sani, a hardworking farmer who is proud of his yields and his relationships with nature. He adores the land and the secrets buried within which he unearthed with pride by digging, cultivating and harvesting. He has recently been made Sarkin Manoma (King of Farmers), the status that every local farmer aspires to. He is dressed in his big flowing robe of red and black with a turban wrapped round his head and looks like the tall baobab tree. It’s a status symbol associated held in high esteem by the town and village people alike.
Mallam Sani is affected by the harmattan like everybody in that town. Every year, he counts the cost of the damage caused by the weather. This year he has lost the roof tops from his mud huts and many of his granaries where he stores his grain. They are thatched roofs made of straw and have been blown away by the harmattan leaving clutter and disorder in and around his compound. But he is carefree and unassuming - the kind of man who always looks at the bright side of life and faces challenges head on. He retained his humour even as he surveys his compound and the animals at the back of the yard. He was already thinking in his mind of how he could reconstruct and build a stronger roof that can withstand any weather conditions and one that everyone will admire and imitate.
Then there is Binta, a middle aged woman who like Mallam Sani was affected by the Harmattan but unlike him is saddened and depressed as she counts the cost of damages and repairs. In her compound, you can see utensils (calabashes, pestle mortar, baskets, dishes, spoons, ladles) everywhere, broken and damaged, scattered or piled up on top of one another like a rubbish heap. The broken branches of her baobab tree are bent and hanging down, like they are bowing and saluting the ground. It is a scene which an artist might find impressive but not Binta, who is wondering where to start the work of putting things in order. Binta is vulnerable.
But after the harmattan comes the rain that leaves everywhere drenched. Soon the farmers are able to sell grains such as millet and maize along with cassava, groundnuts, ginger, cotton and many other agricultural products that they will put on display in a fair. Unlike harmattan, this is a time of celebration, of abundance and prosperity. As the farmers are busy selling, the musicians some of whom are farmers and dressed in colourful flowing robes and some wearing turbans, are going round the market beating their drums in frenzy, doing special dances and chanting songs of praise and gratitude to the Almighty God and the abundance of nature. Dancing children follow them as they sing and people are giving them money, grains or clothes to show their appreciation and gratitude. This is an age old tradition dating back to thousands of years where musicians visit markets at harvest time to celebrate and exhibit their art.
As the musicians and drummers entertain, a showcase of other talent is on show ranging from a solar water heater developed by college students to a model of a mechanical digger made by a deaf man after once seeing a real one. The body of the digger moves like a caterpillar as the arm extends, and the bucket scooping up the mud from the ground. Then there is the partially blind farmer who weaves brightly coloured rope furniture around welded metal frames; he was trained by a Good Samaritan who saw him begging in the streets and has trained other blind people to weave furniture like him. They in turn are teaching other people to weave and make a living and to stop them begging in the streets. His hands move carefully over the string, counting each one and remembering the number of colours he has woven. As the dances continue, each dancer demonstrates a style of dancing to reflect not only farming but social meanings as well.
But Binta is still sad and disheartened about the whole weather phenomenon.
As the images run like pictures in my mind, I was suddenly brought back into reality by the cold wind slashing against my home; I realised I am still in England and my life is here now.
I moved away from the window and made my way to the kitchen to gather my thoughts and comfort myself by nibbling some waina, a traditional Nigerian food similar to oatcakes. All the time I was wondering how I could help these people ravaged by harmattan, and how I could help Binta to start building her life again, to return to some sort of normality.
Portobello market is the place to start looking for the things I need to send. It’s a market where you can find a variety of things; from food o antiques to traditional clothes and antiques - you can find anything that you fancy as long as the market is not covered in snow and gripped by ice. It reminds me of the town market in Nigeria but without the festival and the funfair. I saw an image of cowrie shells flash before my eyes and before I knew it, I was on the phone with my mother telling her that I would help Binta.
As I came off the phone, I felt homesick, perhaps irritated and sad like Binta whose life is changed each year by the harmattan. I felt paralysed by the falling snow which was keeping me indoors and helpless to do anything. I see the similarities between my circumstances and Binta’s.
And then as I reminiscent ... The cowrie shells…. of a dancer flashed through my mind……
A dancer has a leather belt tied to his waist with shells dangling from his waist as he twirled and swings around. He is proud to be celebrating and has reason to be, particularly as he is now ready to get married to a young girl.
Even though there was devastation and destruction all around caused by nature, people still celebrate, pray energetically and remain resourceful, determined and unbelievably resilient, adapting in ways you cannot imagine. They are eager to breathe a new dawn of revival.
Eventually the London snow melted away and with it the snow man decorated with household items - like carrots for the nose, coal for the eyes, nose and mouth, with hat and shawl draped round the neck. Electricity, gas supply and telephone lines that failed had been restored.
As everything brightened, Mallam Sani’s friendly face sprang to mind and I knew that his compound, which resembled a dump during harmattan, had been restored to its former glory. And I knew that with my help Binta’s home life would also be returned to normal again, even better than before the disaster, thanks to the contribution of family, friends and me through my mother.
It was a time of renewal. The flowers and branches on the trees were blessings to sore eyes and so was the cool refreshing rain after the harmattan. Butterflies buzzed around people’s faces and species of all kinds came alive again. It was an unbelievable sight.

Published by Empress on Jan 17, 2012 - 22:02 on ABC Tales

http://www.abctales.com/story/empress/snowflakes-and-harmattan

The Enemy of the Forest

It is a narrow and long winding road deep in the jungle with thick bushes, foliage, beautiful trees, and flowers everywhere. There are varieties of plants and fruits and different species of animals. It is truly a magical place where you see the majesty of nature, a place like nowhere on earth. There is such abundance, more than you can ever imagine! It is surely the most fertile place in this planet, a vast rain forest and the only place in the world where wildlife and people dance to the tune of nature. It is the heaven of our imagination.

This place looks timeless but it has a history because of the folktales that are associated with it.

Though the environment is unpredictable and fast changing, it manages to sustain both animals and plants in a harmonious way. It is a kingdom of wonders where people and animals enjoy the juicy plants while rejoicing and dancing, as they mould the place to their liking. The efficiency of the cycling nutrients is made possible, by the movement of people and animals, as they trample on the grass and encourage the breeding conditions. Here we see the miracle of change and regeneration in a dynamic, exciting and exuberant atmosphere.

The varieties of beautiful flowers are a rare sight, and the trees ever green create an umbrella-like canopy. It provides welcome shade for the light sensitive flowers. The spring rain replenishes the spring and the pond with beautifully clean water, which is good news for the pollution sensitive amphibians.

Added to the whole scene, are the slow moving rivers that enable the marsh frogs to construct and repair their nests and the plants to bury themselves in the soft cold soil by the edge of these rivers. But these plants have to survive the onslaught of ferocious nibbling animals whose appetites never seem to be appeased. But as this paradise offers lots of easy to reach food, some of the plants have by nature developed thorns to limit the damage. However the destructive plant eaters are creative at the same time, because their continuous movement on the trampled grass encourage it to grow faster and the humidity of the area encourages the worms to breed even faster.

This unique and seemingly ideal site has all the trappings of a tranquil world where nature’s best is at display, where your imagination runs wild with visions of reawakened memories. It’s a place where you can create a balance between body and mind. All your worries are taken care of.

You are free of the stresses of life, and you are completely transformed to another world of endless possibilities.

As your imagination continues to run freely, the chemical messengers create a feel-good effect on the body and pain relief…..the safest way to health. And you are grateful to be alive and well.  Maybe you are also thinking, ‘my body is a masterpiece’, because you are probably awakening your inner genius to express something magnificent.

The creations in this wonderful place stretch to the Amazon where you find explosions of herbal plants and vegetables.  The grasses are resilient and fast growing; they are thriving even in different weather conditions. Other herbs provide important food for the small and mighty invaders or hunters who are always looking for the rare herb that is a cure for a variety of diseases. Stories about the healing benefit of this herb abound.

It was said that once you take this herb, you will become ageless and fit for life.

There is also a variety of tree whose branches are plunged down 30 metres to tap the water deep underground. But in the dry seasons leading trees fade away, turning the land into an empty space. When rain arrives, the land become alive again, and the moisture loving trees display their natural beauty.

People fly from across the world in search of this healing herb which seems to evade them. Many keep coming every year to unearth the treasure of this life essence and with the hope of transforming their lives, guiding them to greater level of awareness, but with no success.

One day a man once came halfway across the other side of the world and vowed not to return home until he found this elusive treasure. His body was covered with sores and so was his face. His sores had developed in his childhood. As he walked through this jungle of bushes, trees, herbs and green vegetation, he suddenly became very thirsty and was desperately in need of water. He had been trekking for over two hours without stopping. It was like a marathon race for survival and a perilous journey deep in the Amazon.

Suddenly, he found himself between a ditch and a river, he was not sure how this came to be as he was following a thick jungle trail and was not expecting to come across a river. He was not carrying a map, though that would be useless as this place is like no other and is extraordinary. He really did take a chance in pursuit of this ‘missing treasure’.

As he stopped to get a sense of his bearings, the man heard a loud noise that seemed to be coming from the ditch. As he stepped forward to look down, his body took on a new form, like a tree with twigs and his whole demeanour changed. He was rooted to the spot and paralysed.  The landscape dramatically changed.  Time seemed to have stood still. And he felt as if he was trapped in a cave.

Meanwhile the sound was becoming louder and louder with each passing moment and it was coming on to him with such force.  How could he escape this ‘danger’ now that he is paralysed and trapped? He thought the noise was deafening and at the same time frightening.  Hot air with thick smoke was coming from the ditch.

Within a short space of time, the vast trees had turned into thick woodland and then disappeared altogether leaving just thick grasses. Is this an illusion of the mind? A mental illness perhaps? Where are all the beauty and the majesty? Where has all the tranquility gone or has he imagined it all? He seemed to have lost control of all his senses. The grass beneath him seemed to grow faster, fueled into action by the loud noise senses. He saw images of ferocious beasts flying silently and grasses, leaves and everything beneath him seemed to be vibrating. His life has taken a new dimension. He was looking into another world.  It was like nothing he had ever seen or experienced before. He was mesmerised by the images playing before him; from flying beast to faster growing grass to the vibration and the disappearing jungle. And his body! Which has been transformed into a tree like structure?

The thunderous noise was approaching fast.  He cannot run away from it because he has been paralysed and even if he were able to run, there is nowhere to hide for there isn't a hiding place. Moreover, he has become an entity, no longer the same being. His mind was alert, but did it have the power to answer questions?

Could it be that his thirst had triggered this scenario?

At this point he saw an image of a baby monkey perched on its mother’s back, while what appeared to be a lion and a snake were desperately looking for the kill. And plant eaters which seemed to be controlled by a larger force have suddenly appeared from nowhere. These creatures are approaching him! They are vibrating in a circle and seemed to be in tune with the noise. As they came closer to him, he felt as if a certain force was dragging him away and lifting him up. He was no longer trapped and paralysed but he is still a ‘tree’ because his features haven’t changed back to normal.

World of possibilities?

As he was dragged away, the noise from the ditch suddenly stopped and at that moment he felt that many forces have converged at once and the feeling he was experiencing was out of this world. All his mental and emotional faculties are in sync which enhances his ability to see people and things differently. He felt healed and in balance. There was a shift with a new energy and vigour.

His whole life was unfolding in this space. He was free of the past, of all addictions and powerful…..

At that moment, the noise started again and he felt a deep yearning for contact with it. His body was vibrating and different images of plants and herbs began to appear before him and saluting before a giant baobab tree which sprouted from the ditch. This was amazing for what he thought was a ‘the noise’ was actually a giant baobab tree! But then stories had it that baobab trees have got spirits in them and if you attempt to climb them or pick their leaves, you are done for; you get attacked. Such stories abound and continue to be told to this day. He was day dreaming

He was jolted back to the present when the giant Baobab tree suddenly spoke:

‘I am the king of this space, in this time and I take charge.  You are trespassing and must honour all living beings. This jungle is home to different species, plants and animals and you have stepped into a sacred territory. You are lucky to be alive because the ferocious animals who are our gatekeepers are more active at night but silent hunters in the day. You are lucky also because we were expecting you here for you are ready for this vital information.’ You possess certain qualities that no one who has been searching for this healing has. That is why you are chosen. Many have tried to find it but failed. But it is not a miracle; it is your body, your power and mind and combined with the healing! You are master of your life’.

What vital information? He was interrupted from his thoughts and the tree continued, ‘You were carrying your past with you and subconsciously creating and manifesting problems and health issues in your life despite your best intentions. That is not your fault, for that is the power of negative emotions on your life.

Now you are free of that because you have been transformed and now aware of how learned negative emotional patterns are creating chaos in your life. And there are laws of the universe. Laws governing health and wellbeing, if adhered to can make you feel invincible’

From now on you will learn about optimum nutrition and about the right foods. And because you have the knowledge of self, from now on you can now express, vent and release feelings in healthy, conscious and appropriate ways and never get stuck in negative emotional pattern. It makes all the difference when you consciously experience all your emotions.

Be conscious of your breathing; release all negative emotions until you feel a physical sense of relief in that part of your body”

Then everything went silent, the giant tree disappeared, the saluting plants went with it and the noise. The landscape returned to normal, vegetation; everything returned to normal. It was as if nothing had happened. He was transformed back to his former self, but this time he felt different; there is a new kind of vibration, a new energy and a deep sense of health and well-being.

Was he dreaming? Were his senses playing havoc with him? But it couldn't be. He was a tree and that voice, the giant baobab tree, his words which still echo, his transformation, the whole process. Surely that was not his imagination and he was not daydreaming either?

That was years ago now. He had since become more than average and had inspired average people to attain their goals

He had become a healer with his knowledge of herbs and power of words. He was a shining example of how one can turn bout of addiction into doing productive things to heal the body and mind.

The blessings of nature are endless when you are in tune.

The Wealth of the Forest

Gado’s children were hungry and he set out to borrow money so that he could feed them.

He first went to his friend, Kaje. After they had exchanged the usual traditional greetings, shaking hands and inquiring about the family well-being and so on, Gado said: ‘I have come for a loan- I want you to give me two hundred pounds until the end of the month so that I can buy food for my family’. Kaje agreed and gave him two hundred pounds in cash.

From Kaje’s house, Gado went on to Dabo’s and asked him for the same amount of money as a loan and also promised to give back the money at the end of the month. Dabo agreed and gave him the money.

From there he went on to call on Sabo, Raba, Sala and finally Dagi, the famous hunter. From each of them he got a loan of two hundred pounds each and when he had collected all the money, he bought what he needed.

Just before the end of the month came round, Gado went into a bush, on the outskirt of the town and cleared a space, large enough for him to be able to see anyone approaching from any direction. In the middle of this space he built a grass shelter which had a doorway at the front and a smaller way out at the back.

On the day itself, Gado went to the shelter and there, Kaje found him when he came to collect his money. They had hardly finished exchanging the usual long traditional greeting when they saw a wild dog approaching. ‘Quick’, said Kaje ‘Is there a back door?’

‘Well, there is a way out at the back’, said Gado, ‘but you see as the children made it, anyone else who uses it has to pay three hundred pounds for the privilege’

‘That’s alright’, said Kaje. ‘It just means that now I owe you one hundred pounds instead of you owing me. I’ll let you have it next time you come to my place’. He added as he hurried out at the back.

No sooner had the wild dog gone, than Dabo was seen approaching but not before he noticed the wild dog disappearing into the bush, but he was already shaken by the sight and he is known for his fear of dogs in the village. He quickly asked his friend, ‘Quick, is there a back door?’

‘Well, there is a different way out at the back’, said Gado again, ‘but anyone who uses it has to pay three hundred pounds’

‘That’s alright’, said Dabo, ‘It just means that now I owe you one hundred pounds’. With that he too hurried out at the back.

Now Gado knew that all his friends had this fear of wild dogs and he had tried for several years to hypnotise them just to get rid of it, but to no avail and now he is using this to his advantage in order not to pay back the debt.

Using this to achieve his desire in this way, Sabo, Raba and Sala all came and went, with each owing Dabo one hundred pounds when he left.

Finally, a lion appeared from nowhere, and Dabo used his cunningness to lure the lion into the shelter. And when the lion had entered the shelter, Dagi, the famous hunter appeared in the clearing. The lion was clearly taken by surprise and Dabo knew what was coming.

When the hunter came, he said to Dabo. ‘Here I am, I have come for my money’

‘Sit down,’ said Dabo ‘while I count it out for you’. While he was doing this, he showed the hunter by signs that the lion was hidden in the shelter. So the hunter drew an arrow from his quiver, fitted it to the bow, aimed and shot the lion dead.

As for Dabo, he paid his debt to the hunter and then lived happily on the carcass of the lion and the money which all his friends owed him! What a way to weather the storm and they say cheating does not pay?

I give gratitude that we all have the quality of friends based upon what we are. This can be a challenging reality. The truth lies in the world around you. Treat others as good as you would like to be treated and then go the extra mile, of course that is your choice. Put value into your real friends, do not let things get so bad  that you cannot talk or reason again. Many stop communicating for years based on egoistic nonsense. Everyone deserves a chance just like you
One of the greatest things to hold onto life is real friends. Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born. When one loves, one does not calculate