It is our believe in Africa or let me bring it down to my ethnicity- Yoruba ( a tribe in South Western parts of Nigeria), that there a being living in the moon, either a girl or a dog. This is always evident whenever the moon appears at night.
Whenever there is full moon and brightness at night. Our parent are fond of telling us tales. One of the tales I remember being told by my mother was that of a young beautiful girl who got annoyed by her mother and started living in the moon.
The name of the girl is Jemade a Yoruba name, which in English means "Let me take the crown".
Jemade happens to be a very beautiful and adoring young girl, a girl every young man wants to take as a wife due to her beauty and elegance. She was made the leader of the young girls association in her village.
Jemade was very lazy and also a wasteful spender. Whenever the ladies go on outings within outside the village they are most times given money, foods and other gift. While others are keeping theirs, she makes sure she finishes everything on that very day. Her mother kept warning her. But she didn't yield.
At the beginning of a year she and some other young girls in the village agreed to do some savings towards the end of year, whereby they will use it in celebrating Christmas. When her mother heard this, she called her and advise her on how she can accomplish this, instead of sticking to her mother's advise, Jemade grew worst spending all she had on snacks, sweets, chew gum and so on.
Her mother pleaded with a carpenter/Furniture man to make her a piggy bank, which was unknown to her. She stores all the paper and wrappers of all her daughter's wasteful spending. Gradually the year was coming to an end and every girls in the village were buying clothes, shoes and other things to be used for the celebration. Jemade ran to her mother to ask her what she would do to get her own wears. Her mother assured her not to worry. The fixed day finally came and everyone dressed up happily and celebration began.
Jemade's mother called her and said as the leader she should be the one to dress last, and she should invite all other girls to her house before she got dressed. With all joy and gladness, Jemade went to each of the girls house inviting them to her house. Around noon time they all gathered, singing and dancing to their leader's house. On getting home, Jemade ran inside to call out her mother so she can bring out her beautiful dress. With haste, her mother brought out the piggy bank and opened it to the other girls. Jemade was still wondering what her mum was up to, she then ask her to pack all the waste bin to a tailor to sew for her, every other girls were surprised and disappointed.
She began to cry from noon till night due to the disgrace and shame. Every one begged her but cried the more. When her mother realised the tears were getting too much, she made lot of promises to her, just to clam her down.
Jemade's mother called her and said as the leader she should be the one to dress last, and she should invite all other girls to her house before she got dressed. With all joy and gladness, Jemade went to each of the girls house inviting them to her house. Around noon time they all gathered, singing and dancing to their leader's house. On getting home, Jemade ran inside to call out her mother so she can bring out her beautiful dress. With haste, her mother brought out the piggy bank and opened it to the other girls. Jemade was still wondering what her mum was up to, she then ask her to pack all the waste bin to a tailor to sew for her, every other girls were surprised and disappointed.
She began to cry from noon till night due to the disgrace and shame. Every one begged her but cried the more. When her mother realised the tears were getting too much, she made lot of promises to her, just to clam her down.
At around 7pm the moonlight began to rise with the stars. Parents began sitting outside their huts with their children playing all around. When it was 10pm everyone was about going inside to sleep , a ladder dropped from the moon. Jemade immediately took to the ladder
and started climbing up with everyone watching in awe. Her mother came out crying and pleading she promised to do whatsoever she wanted. she started a song in "yoruba"...
Jemade jemade gba aso ki oro
Jemade jemade gba aso ki owo
Jemade gba apoti aso re
Meaning :
Jemade take this clothe to cover your nakedness
Jemade take clothes to wear
jemade take your box filled with clothes.
This was how Jemade moved to the moon and started residing there till date. From the day i heard that story, I have been encouraged to save in order to avoid disgrace.
Lesson from the tale
Learn to invest from the little you are earning. Do things when it's honourable.
Invest in bitcoincash (BCH) now that others are doing it.
...and you will also help the author collect more tips.
That is a great tale Adereign. The only thing is that you repeated a part of it twice, when talking about Jemade’s shame day. Otherwise I enjoyed reading your story.
Please don’t ever say that your writing has no value. You are great! 💙