By By Sulaimon Mojeed-Sanni
Dear Adesola,
Seven is often said to be a magic number for many things aligned in sevens; the Lord of Host was said to have created this habited space in 6 days and rested on the 7th. The most resonating colours of nature – the rainbow – has seven colours: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. And what’s more, our world is geographically split into seven regions often called continents. Know it, Son, that Asia is the biggest of the continents followed by Motherland Africa, then North America, South America, then the inhabitable space called Antarctica followed by Europe and Australia but you may begin to wonder why Africa always looks so small on the world map.
Son, the map you see is a product of colonial bias deliberately designed to make Africa look tiny and inferior. The Mercator projection (world map) developed in 1569 distorts the relative areas of land masses of Africa on the equator so be wary of what you read, not all you hear or read are the basic truth.
Dear Muqsit, 777 is a number, a singer once sang. As 7 is a number, remember it counts forward and from tomorrow, your age would be a day above seven. Yet nobody truly knows what tomorrow holds. Show me a man who claims to know tomorrow and I will show you a man who lies to his boots.
As a father, I am beginning to contend with your outrageously innocent questions hinged on your desire to question the existence of things, even though I didn’t enjoy such privileges, your questions or the anticipation of them has kept me on the edge of learning and relearning things I assumed I know.
In truth, what are stars made of? What is the name of the fastest bird in the air? Why does a full moon not hurt our skin like the morning sun? What is the actual size of a blue whale? Why is the peacock named the king of birds when it cannot even fly high? Where is the longest river? What is the difference between a jet and a rocket? What happens outside the earth? If God is Jesus’ father, who is God’s father? Did Prophet Muhammad write the whole Quran himself?
To answer many of these questions, I have been forced to confirm on Google or consult the dictionary. Aside from answering these questions, I see these moments of questioning as an opportunity to bond and share life experiences with you, telling stories about our culture and our people even though we are struggling to find our footing in it.
Read also: Letter to Ubuntu at 6: Welcome to age of learning By Sulaimon Mojeed-Sanni
Letter to Ubuntu on arriving at age of cognition By Sulaimon Mojeed-Sanni
Dear Son, know the difference between culture and religion. We are from Africa, Yoruba of the Ijebu stock in Ikorodu area of Lagos State. You are a direct descendant of Igbelegun, daughter of Onadugba who himself was the son of Oba Rademo. You are also Omo Lisa Ajuwa in Itundomiganran in Ikorodu; know the ways of your forebearers so that you may not lose your source. Remember my Son, religion is a divider. Names are mere nomenclatures. Humanity is the only true and pure faith.
Dear Ubuntu, even though your name connotes prioritising the essence of others, life will never be fair to you; it has never been fair to anybody. We take our doses in different strides, as in, we all have our time to eat breakfast. Son, what you need to stay afloat is persevere, resilience and endurance. When tough times come, preserve. When life challenges want to push you off the cliff, be resilient. When you are aiming for something and it does not come at the right time, endure because every cloud has a silver lining. Dear Son, I know you will overcome.
As 2022 edges towards the end, I have learnt 3 key lessons. I have learnt about anxiety, learnt about the need to plan and the importance of family support. Aside from the fear of the unknown that sucks out your cognitive sense of taking proactive decisions, anxiety can be terrifying too. Anxiety like fear is a wrong friend to befriend. Anxiety is persistent worrying about everyday situations causing your heart to beat fast and causing untoward feelings. It is more worrisome when the situations are beyond your immediate control, so why should you worry in vain?
Dear Son, always plan, for your strength lies in preparing for what lies ahead. Plan for examination by reading from the first day of class and sustaining it through the months. Plan to be a great person by taking little steps for nobody arrives at the top of a ladder without considering the individual rungs. Plan to be human by considering helping others for no one gets to the top using only his wisdom.
Dear Adesola, remember, family is everything. It is a gamut of characters; the good, the bad and the just tolerable. But in the end, your family remains, it is the name you protect, it is the name that projects. In times of need, it is the family you help that will stand by you. Remember, Son, always pull a family along.
For many years, I lived a carefree life either thinking less or not thinking at all. Oftentimes I act to satisfy myself without bothering what others think but in recent times, I think age has caught up with me and the thought of what becomes of you, Uhuru and Upendo are becoming a priority. Because in the end, family is everything.
Son, as you attain the age of seven, hear my words and take learning, everything is fair in love, politics and war. For the need to dominate, intimidate and eliminate drives the engagement in these human endeavours. It is personal interest above collective interest, even collective interest gives credence to personal interest in the long run. Always measure intent carefully, a man doing good to you might be doing evil to another. Learn and reflect.
As you celebrate your birthday, Muqsit Adesola Mojeed-Sanni (Ubuntu), remember, the stars according to the National Geographic, “are made of huge celestial bodies made mostly of hydrogen and helium that produce light and heat from the churning nuclear forges inside their cores.” Beyond those words, to me, a star is made of you to shine bright and influence the world positively.
With much love from your Father,
Sulaimon Mojeed-Sanni.
