Story 2 - Managing the …ember months

September, October, November and December.  There is something common among these months.  Apart from three of them being in the last quarter of the year, they all end (except October) with the letters – ember. That is how September – December is branded in Southern Nigeria.  They are known as the ‘ember’ months, which lead to the end of the year.

For indigenes of southeast Nigeria, the ‘ember’ months hold some significance, which derives mainly from the string of activities and events usually slated for the Christmas period and the end of year.  For the Igbo nationality of these parts, the Christmas period and the last week of every year are significant.  It is usually the prime time for general return by all sons and daughters of various communities at home and abroad.  Almost all towns, villages and communities in Igbo land bubble with activities in the last two weeks of every year.  It is the period for accomplished professionals and successful businessmen to take chieftaincy titles and show that they have ‘made it’.  It is also the period for young men to take wives and consummate their traditional marriage with the “Igba Nkwu” (wine carrying) ceremony.

The Christmas and end of year period is also a time to launch community development projects, for traditional dance groups to make their maiden outing; for traditional rulers – the Igwes and Obis to hold their yearly ‘Ofala’ (outing) festivals; for different age grades, (men of same age who band together in recognized associations to pursue common goals geared to community development) to take stock of their yearly activities and plan for the new year; and for family members (especially these living abroad) to re-unite with loved ones in Nigeria,  felicitate, and make merry.

Christmas and end of year is an engaging period for indigenes of South East Nigeria and neighboring states.  They look forward to it, and many even plan big for it.  The common feature of all the activities in this period is this:  it is a time to spend money, and big money too.  There is a frenzy of celebrations and activities, and merry making for men, women, social groups and development organizations.  For those who went through hard times during the year, they do not bother to travel home end of the year.  If you are cash strapped and you travel home you may be in for a shocker.  Everything is monetised, and your low liquidity will make you stand  out in the crowd. Why?  Because it is a time to spend.

The build up to the Christmas and end of year spend begins with September and peaks in the first week of December.  This is the ‘ember’ period when strange things happen in the cities beyond the southeast states where those planning to travel home live and work, as the frenzy to the gather enough cash for spending gathers momentum.  For many citizens, ‘ember’ is a time to be prudent, alert, watchful, and safety conscious.  It is so because many who are obsessed with the drive to feature prominently in the end of the year activities of their home communities, do all sorts of things to make big money. Some even go diabolical.

During the ‘ember’ months, crime rate soars – armed robbery, ritual killing, fraud, mugging, stealing, mob attacks and more.  Accidents on highways also increase in number, as well as unresolved murder, kidnapping, and riots  in many cities. If you are  not careful, you or your family member may be a victim. 

The ‘ember’ months means many things to many people in Nigeria.  For parents, it is time to maintain strict watch over their children and wards as well monitor their movements. Reason: kidnappers are on the prowl.  Already television news networks and other media reports are raising alarm over the increasing rate of kidnapping and abduction of minors.   For the righteous, the ‘ember’ months is a time to watch and pray; for the police, it is a time to put more men on patrol and to strengthen anti-crime units.  For the men and women of the Federal Road Safety Corps, a government parastatal charged with preventing accidents on the highways, the ‘ember’ months stretch their human and material resources to the limit as they strive to maintain road safety.  No one wants to die on road accidents especially in this period. The belief is that any bloodshed is used for moneymaking ritual for the end of year rush.  The Road Safety Corps is now recalling all its personnel from leave to strengthen its workforce on federal highways and maintain an accident free period.  The volume of traffic on major highways leading to the southeast and south-south states is usually very high during this period.

We are in the ‘ember’ months. For traders and market women, it is a time to sell and sell, to build enough stock of cash for the end of year spending.  For the banks and other financial institutions it is a time to be more “eagle” eyed to check fraud.  These are the ‘ember’ months, which for some desperate people, it is a time to kill, steal, kidnap, destroy and shed blood.  For others it is a time to be more alert, to work harder, to be more prudent, and to take priorities.  This is the story of ‘ember’ months in the south of Nigeria.  StoryAfrica will keep you posted of developments.

Is there any wisdom in setting aside a particular time of the year for families, communities and towns people to travel long distances to their villages so that they can re-unite, felicitate, launch, commemorate, declare open and hold socio-cultural festivals? The question is timely because such periodic rush comes with many risks. Besides, it demands plenty of spending, and takes it toll on health, human and material resources, and puts the lives of many people at risk?  For me, this is not necessary.  It is one of the socio-economic maladies of our time.  It promotes greed and materialism, and stretches the expectations and abilities of young men and women beyond tolerable limits.  Some who cannot meet up legitimately are forced into crime.

How can this social trend be checked?

Please offer suggestions.  Is there any story on ‘ember’ months from your own end?  Please share it in the Great Story Telling Network for others to learn from your experiences.