Photo credit: Catholic Herald
Religious killings could not have happened in the southwestern Nigeria in which I grew up.
We were Christians.
Surrounding us were Muslims, some even lived with us.
Baba Taju lived across the road. Baba Semiyu lived in the house next to us.
Beside us was the house in which the 2 Baba eleran lived. They were Baba Nájímù and Bàba Jímộh.
One of them, Bàba Nájímù, being aware that I’m from Owu, Egba whẹre he hailed from would not fail to reserve my Ileya meat.
Some houses away, in another street lived Ajiroba who was a Muslim. The interesting thing was that some of his wives, in spite of being Muslims, did attend our Aladura church.
The African traditional worshippers were free to do their things.
Indeed, I can’t ever forget the egunguns like adínimọ́do. It even had a song:
“Adínimọ́do
Ó dí baba wọn mọ́’le”
The Igunnuko displayed in a nearby street. We would gladly steal away, like thieves in the night, and go watch them.
And when they went cutting trees, I mean the Igunnu, they were allowed the right to parade the street. Even vehicles gave them the right of way.
That was how we rolled in my Itire!
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