Beauty in diversity: The Nigerian way

10 days ago

Joseph Olamide Ayedogbon is of the yoruba tribe from the west born and raised in the north where he spent most of his earlier days, before moving to the east for his studies and settled down afterwards to do business, so on this beautiful sunny day I went out to get stuffs from him when I was about to pay via mobile transaction, I saw his name Olamide, I'm like this guy is yoruba, but I heard him speak igbo, and so I thought he's Igbo, a predominant tribe from the east I asked him he said he's been here for a while and so he learns the language very fast, no doubt because the way he speaks the language perfectly and very fluent such that you will never know he's not from igbo.

then Another day while I was just seated close by, two Northerners walked up to him and started speaking Hausa with him, Hausa is a tribe predominant in the northern part of the Country and this guy speaks Hausa very well without mixing words at that point i just looked at him I'm like bro you're really gifted to have these ability of speaking all three languages in Nigeria which is yoruba, Hausa and igbo also representing the three major ethnic groups and tribes in Nigeria.

I'm sure you've heard of Nigeria, one of a kind multi-ethnic, rich in diverse cultures, tribes and tongues scattered all over the country, this uniqueness is what sets us apart, it's really so beautiful to immerse yourself in our rich cultural and traditional heritage preserved and handed down from generations after generations.

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it's like having all the colors in the world splash on a white board, stand afar and see the magic in your eyes, this type is rare in the whole world, yes we've had our differences but then there is something that keeps bringing us together no matter what, the way we are geographically located with different minerals resources deposited underneath our soil which is very fertile and rich for diverse kinds of agricultural produces is amazing, each states has some form of rich deposit of these minerals and farm produce that other states do not have so somehow this balances the equation of I need you, you need me.

so back to our story about Mr Olamide a Nigerian gifted or should I say opportuned to be around these locations that has enabled him speak and understand all three major languages in The country.... so that means he can literally talk comfortably with any of these tribe, most importantly do business and deals with them at ease because of the language advantage.

imagine living in a country like ours with lots of languages then you know the role of speaking one especially when buying or selling that's where the advantages is. that is what Mr Olamide has over us, if buying something with say a hausa speaking person because of that language he is at liberty to recieve a good discount, or more quantity of goods, same with an igbo speaking person or yoruba and its really amazing to be able to speak an understand all three languages.

there is that cord it's strike in your brain whenever you hear some one speaks your language, there is an awareness it brings to you like a sense of belonging , it makes you poke your head out in search of the one who speaks.

language is such a beautiful thing that makes us very unique, feels welcomed, appreciated and accepted, meeting your own kind, a person who share the same mother tongue as you is special, no matter where in the world you meet up you can delve into sharing things with each other that ordinary it's not possible to share with strangers.

Nigeria is a beautiful country.