I’m Not Short Fused. But, I Get Angry At A Borderless Life

Growing up I was exposed to Age-grading as a fundamental evidence of who to respect and why. My Mom resigned from her age-grade because the interval was increased by 5, qualifying her younger brother to now be a member of her age-grade. To her, that was intolerable. Her protest yielded fruit when it became manifest that even the persons for whom the interval was considered, somehow, could not co-exist in a circle of persons they could not share serious banters. 

“Njakiri” is the word for “cruise” in my local dialect. Njakiri, no matter how serious, can be tolerated when it’s coming from your age-mate or an older person. One of the signs of decency is the ability of a child to understand these differences. For instance, a younger person keeps quiet when older folks are exchanging banters. The very fact that they are not your mate must make you uncomfortable to share social spaces with them. 

This is why I avoid social “hang outs”, especially the ones where owning an android phone is the common denominator. While we socialise and hang out, it is important to appreciate that my “generation Z” folks are borderless and can catch cruise with every and anything. For some of us that get irritated by this borderless life, we try to keep our circle small for the sake of our sanity.

They may call me Methusela or old school. However, like Soludo, I strongly believe that “the future we seek is in our past”. 

– Mazi Ejimofor Opara writes from Awka, Anambra State.