My Last Owambe....

To continue the fun as the weekend starts properly today, I decided to share how my last Owambe party went. I am sure the name doesn't sound familiar because I have lots of friends who read my articles but are not Nigerians.

Owambe simply means "it is there" but many Nigerians are fond of using the word to boost the party spirit and when you hear the word in the mouth of any Nigerian, you should know there is something huge coming up. I am not sure there is a country that loves parties and celebrations more than Nigerians do, it is in our blood.

I have seen people go out of their way just to attend parties in grand style, it starts from buying Aso-Ebi with lots of money. Don't be surprised if I say people take loans just to buy clothes for parties and they start running helter-skelter to pay their debt after the party, that should make you understand how much importance people place on parties. I don't blame anyone, the stress in Nigeria alone is enough for you to attend parties so that you can dance away you're sorry and cool off with lots of drinks and food if there is surplus because these days, inflation has made people cook the small dish.

Let get back to the topic.

I am not a fan of parties and I hardly go even if I am specially invited to one, it is not my fault because I took that habit after my mom. Growing up she didn't have many friends because she wasn't the party type, she will rather buy foodstuff at home rather than using her money to buy party clothes and the only thing that would her very comfortable for parties is when she gets the catering job for the event. She wouldn't just go alone, she will go with her kids to help her serve meals at the event.

It wasn't something I find cool but it was a family hustle and those events helped because I learned how to make different meals which makes me proud today when I am in the kitchen. Since mom stopped making party food, I haven't been attending events that much and I can confidently say I haven't attended more than ten Owambe in a decade now. That would sound strange to many Nigerians but that's a simple truth because I am not a party freak and I doubt if people will turn up for my big event someday.

I didn't just choose that way of life, I don't like crowded places and noise affects me. I can say that I was forced into 60% of the parties I have attended but I was put in tight condition before I agreed to go.

I could remember a time when a friend bought my clothes and sew them for an event, it was irresistible but I felt reluctant because we had to travel to Osun State for his in-laws' burial. I found the village life cool despite my fear of travel and we spent three days learning about the culture of the people in the village.

My last Owambe party.

The last Owambe I went to was unplanned because it was on a Sunday evening. I don't joke with my Sunday rest when I was still working with an organization, we work from Monday to Sunday and that's the only day I have to rest well, I wouldn't trade that rest for any event.

I was bored on that Sunday and my girlfriend came feeling bored too, she kept saying she felt like attending a party but there was none. I had an invitation already but I wasn't ready to go and if I told her, she would persuade me to go. The person who invited me started calling and my lover started suspecting because the caller was a female. I had to pick it and started giving excuses to the caller.

My girlfriend had the conversation begged that we attended the party and I didn't have a choice other than to break my rules of resting on Sunday. We dressed up and set out for the event, the location was very close to the Surulere National Stadium.

It was like an hour's journey from my house, the friend who invited me was surprised to see me because she wasn't expecting me again.

I had to go greet my friend's family before I went to sit at the table provided for me. I had a lot to eat and drink, the fun was cool. Before we knew it, everywhere was dark and we had to leave the event.

There was traffic on the way back and it made vehicles scarce that we had to stand in the bus coming back home, the food digested even before we got home and I was unhappy I didn't rest because I knew it was completely going to affect my week due to my poor health.

My girlfriend and friend were happy we had a great time but it wasn't what I wanted.

I wished I slept throughout the day.

Since then, I haven't attempted attending a party even though I always buy Aso Ebi that ain't too expensive.

I just love living as quietly as possible, if there was a ghost mode for humans - I would probably activate it 24/7.