photograph: urhobotoday
Very early in existence in Midwest, then Bendel and now Delta State, I came to realize that there were not too many festivities in our immediate family. There became no Christmas celebration for us as a result of Christ changed into now not born on December 25; so, we solemnly marked the anniversary of his birth in the October with sermons and reflections on the beginning and lifetime of Christ the Redeemer. there were no birthday celebrations in anyway since it turned into useless to lavish funds on the date of one's beginning. besides, all situations of birthday celebrations in the Bible have been now not positive; certainly one ended with the decapitation of a vessel of God. certainly, 'happy birthday' turned into no longer part of our lexicon; it changed into taboo, useless and unnecessary. For, the date of a person's demise become more desirable than his start. changed into this why the Greeks referred to 'call no man chuffed until he be lifeless? there have been no New yr celebrations on 1st of January too. It was a narrow direction. but we walked it. We lost nothing. this is not to assert that some didn't mark birthdays discretely! this is area for an additional day!
The largest party for us changed into the week-lengthy Feast of Tabernacles which took location within the month of December each year, simply before the rambunctious Christmas festivities. The Feast become celebrated in some predominant cities throughout Nigeria and we had the possibility to go back and forth to the chosen venue every yr to a spot 'where The Lord shall select'. I bear in mind touring to Warri from Sapele (1970), to Aba (1971), Lagos (1972), Benin (1973), Warri (1974) Port Harcourt (1975) and Lagos (1978) to mark the Feast of Tabernacles. The deep non secular import of the social gathering become basically for the adults and elders. For us youngsters and later boys, it changed into fun touring to cities which most of our friends had on no account been to. besides, feeding turned into free and we had the probability to have interaction with chums and Christian brothers from far and wide the nation. The party in Aba in 1971 changed into instructive. I heard abo ut the observe 'curfew' for the first time notwithstanding it changed into mispronounced 'coffin! 'there is a 'coffin' on Aba and also you can not enter the town after 7pm'. I pictured a mighty coffin blocking our way into Aba by 7pm!
The fratricidal civil warfare had just ended and the hierarchy of the church led via President E.T. Otomewo made it some extent to host the Feast in Aba to welcome brothers and sisters who had been in the thick of the conflict. Some had lived in Kano, Warri, Port Harcourt and different essential towns earlier than they were forced to flee for his or her lives into the Biafran enclave. It became a great time to evangelise within the war-torn area too and win souls and notice the individuals who managed to reside alive after thirty horrendous months. The devastation I saw in Aba remained etched in my reminiscence for lengthy. We drove via Uli and as we travelled through Igbo country, I noticed homes that still had bullet holes!
The Feast of Tabernacles changed into commanded via God to all mankind for us to remember how the migrating Israelites dwelt in cubicles all through the biblical exodus. In different phrases, it additionally reminds us of our brief live during this world. we are sojourners as were our fathers and our days on the earth are as a shadow'. It additionally become and is still in honour of the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, the more suitable and extra excellent Tabernacle. Jesus Christ himself observed the Feast as recorded with the aid of John the place Christ proclaimed that whoever came to him to drink and trust in the saving gospel, 'out of his belly shall stream rivers of residing water'. The social gathering itself includes bible teachings (studying of the law) through lectures, singing and dancing, blessing of children, meetings of sub-groups, and a extremely colourful procession (carnival like) of celebrants across the town which terminates in Salem city. it is a public st atement by way of celebrants that they accept as true with within the saving gospel of Christ. it's additionally supposed to draw consideration to the value of the Feast by means of inviting all people of goodwill.
in the final twenty years or greater, Warri has been the permanent venue of the Feast of Tabernacles as celebrated by using the God's Kingdom Society. earlier than then the Feast celebration turned into held in diverse cities and infrequently turned into concluded in Warri. Even on the peak of insecurity in Delta State, the Feast changed into moved from Salem metropolis Warri only once to neighbouring Sapele. during the civil struggle, the Tabernacles Feast turned into ceaselessly observed via believers because of the 'promised rain' on all celebrants.
The Feast of Tabernacles hence is each a spiritual event and a potential vacationer attraction if the government gets its act correct. those that have visited Israel on pilgrimage would with ease keep in mind that for the Israelis, the vacationer point of view, it's the company angle is greater essential even for the tour publications. When 'pilgrims' get to historical sites that aren't of any actual commercial cost to the tour courses, they hurriedly circulation the community to the subsequent site where they usually tend to make some brief money. as a consequence, commerce and faith go hand in hand. With that enormous crowd coming into Warri each year, each the state executive and the national tourist Board should still reveal some hobby within the Feast.
The Feast of Tabernacles is intended for all Christians as enshrined within the Bible, the e book to all Christians. in the e-book of Zechariah, the prophet pronounces that 'it shall come to circulate this is left of the entire nations …shall even go up from year to yr to worship the king, the Lord of hosts and the retain the feast of tabernacles.' This futuristic allusion potential a lot to Christians because it confers on the present era the duty to look at the Feast.
This year the Feast of Tabernacles could be celebrated in Salem metropolis Warri from the fifteenth to twenty second of December. As we travel home to different locations, for different reasons, it is the prayer of all celebrants that the Feast will bring blessings to all and supply extra the reason why we need to give because of the Creator for his benevolence against mankind. I started this essay with a private testimony. It is only fitting for me to conclude with a personal reference too. The Feast through the years has provided cloth and equanimity for me to navigate in the course of the minefield it truly is existence within the work location and the place one lives. And if to honour God is the complete duty of man, then the Feast of Tabernacles deserves a worthwhile place in the pantheon of Christian celebrations in Nigeria and the leisure of the area.
Eghagha may also be reached on 08023220393 or heghagha@yahoo.com
No comments:
Post a Comment