ninehillsRAMBLE in the JUNGLE
Ritual
By Wanaku Verdzekov · · Kom & Indigenous
Date note: Undated Facebook note, written between 2011 and 2014.
Tags: ritual, marriage, culture
On a picture of a marriage ritual in Bamenda, where the couple is drenched in palm oil:
The keyword here is ritual. Western, Eastern, Middle Eastern and other cultures ALL have "rituals". So the question could be: what is the role of "ritual" in the psycho-social existence of a human?
At that point, you would have started an in-depth investigation into the who, what, which, where and how of the scene. The mysteries of life are rarely understood by people in a hurry.
Take time and smell the oil (oya).
Praise to you all for giving our ancestral leader the respect he deserves, and for the spirit of Kom brotherhood that these events create. When you bet on culture, you can hardly go wrong.
The children are watching.
iBoisɨ
— Wanaku Verdzekov
Reading & grammar
Reading level: Gr 7–9
Understand
- What ritual does the picture show?
- What question does the author ask about the role of ritual?
- What does "Take time and smell the oil" twist?
Grammar focus: adapting a saying. "Take time and smell the oil" adapts "stop and smell the roses" (slow down and enjoy life). Adapting a well-known saying to a local image makes it personal.
Try it: Adapt a well-known saying with an image from your own culture.
Discuss: What role do rituals (weddings, graduations, festivals) play in a community? Are they necessary?