The Annual Madness Of Our Sisters In The Zongo Communities

My radar this morning has captured a very sensitive issue bedevilling our Zongo communities and seriously I can't stay aloof to allow it become part of the Zongo culture.

The culprits of these behaviours are mostly semi-educated people that form that majority populace in the Zongo communities and predominantly ladies.

Arguably, Muslim ladies are more extravagant, ostentatious and sophisticated than any other religion my memory has come in contact with. Ironically, we Muslims are blessed with a Messenger that led the simplest life history has ever recorded. In his teachings, he also thought us that any of his followers who does not judiciously spend his resource is not part of his Umma ( followers).

I am told the cloth for this year's Edul Fitr is Called 'Indomie Lace'. Last year we witnessed a cloth called 'Tissue' and last two years it was 'Hammer Lace' This canker has eaten deep into our reasoning to the extent of some ladies engaging in morally reprehensible behaviours just to get money to catch up with the madness of the day in the name of fashion.

I am not an enemy of Fashion and also neither am I trying to bemoan the attitude of looking good on Eid day, but that fact is creating an atmosphere that is slippery, tempting and has a propensity of creating a segregation in the society is what I will not mince a word on at all.

Our Beloved Prophet ( May the blessings of Allah be with him and his household) Admonished us to wear our best cloth on Eid day because is a day of Joy and Happiness. But that does not mean we should go around coining terms for cloth in other to make it look like the order of the day, where defaulters will feel guilty of not having it.

My worry is not only resting on the above reasons, but also the financial burden of this annual ritual on the youth of our Zongo communities. This is the period where ladies who are enthused with this madness will start hunting and fishing for boyfriends who will support their budget in order for them to form part of the class of the' Indomies' Because of this attitude, no man is willing to enter into new relationship at this hour because if you dare, you will be the bank roller of their Annual project.

Surprisingly, those who will toil legitimately through their own hard work and sweat to buy this 'Indomie' lace are few, and those who will be pushed to buy it because of infection are the majority.

It will also shock you to know some toil to buy it, but they spend their night begging and sleeping in people's corridors, some of them are human in the day, and later turn parrots in people's corridor. Where is the sense in committing that amount of money in wearing something that will not last long on you?

The question that comes to mind is, is it necessary to sell your pride for a mere cloth that will fade out, I don't expect you at all to agree with me, but I believe those who reason with logic will find some level of congruence in me.

The Zongo community for the past years has accommodated rich and influential people who can not even boast of a TV pole presently, because of our lack of plan and an attitude of unnecessary competition that is inimical to the development of our community. It will amaze you to know how money is wasted on ephemeral fantasies.

How many of our youth today in the zongo community are actively in school, they always blame their own ineptitude on the government, and yet still buy cloth that is worth a whole year of school fees.

This attitude of pride and boasting that was exhibited by our grand fathers who pitch the zongo camp must be relegated at all cost.

We are now in the 21st Century where education has engulfed all our endeavours. Gone are the days where the illiterate can be night watchmen, those works that were hitherto perceived to be a job reserved for the illiterate is now a highly competitive job known as Security Service.

This should raise an alarm to those who will love to waste their money on bubble that can burst with the softest object one can think of, to sit up and reason. Who ever thought of seeying "Burkina Drink" Neatly bottled one day, this delicacy in the zongo community was consumed in a calabash and solely prepared by zongo indigenes but now corporate bodies have taken interest in it, this is a big warning to anybody who want to take it lightly with education and prudent financial support.

I am not using this piece to disrespect anybody who want to buy the' Indomie Lace' the essence is to educate some of our sisters to make sure they satisfy their basic needs in life before thinking of Luxury.

I have seen some wonderful sisters doing well and even to the extent of selling to finance their education and also taking care of their parents as well, In-Sha-Allah your effort will be rewarded soon.

The One Legacy, [email protected]
0266722272 or 0244204842