ELVIRA’S PEN

THE GENERAL EARTH ENERGY- Elvira Jordan Good Morning Beloved! 🥂 How has your environment influenced you this period? How has the media space been for you lately? I mean radio, television, social media. What has been the predominant narrative? Except you are tuned to a different media in a different world, it is predominantly flooded by negativity, distractions from reality, money worship, separation, bad news, chaos, war, sexuality and death. It seems like whenever I see a television or pick up my phone, it’s either scores of people were killed somewhere, accidents destroying lives and properties, threats of war, contents that commonize sex and substance abuse, display of extravagant lifestyle or some doom-activist trying to brainwash men into hating women and vice versa. You cannot scroll through 5 TV channels or social media posts without getting at least 3 negative occurrences somewhere.  It is true that bad news sells but have you ever wondered why the beauties of life, colour...

Have you ever seen a figure covered head to toe in colorful costumes… dancing, chasing people, or commanding silence in a crowd? That… is a masquerade. But in African culture, especially here in Nigeria, a masquerade is far more than entertainment. A masquerade is believed to be the  embodiment of a spirit , sometimes an ancestor, sometimes a deity brought to life through masks, costumes, music, and performance. Once the mask is worn, the performer is no longer seen as human… but as a spiritual presence among the people. These traditions date back centuries and play powerful roles in society ranging from storytelling and festivals to justice, spirituality, and even community protection. Now let’s explore some  notable masquerades and their origins. First, the legendary  Ijele masquerade , often called the King of all masquerades. Originating from the Igbo people, Ijele is massive, sometimes as tall as a house! It can take months to prepare and a whole team to carry. Ijele...

  KINDNESS IS AN INVESTMENT - Elvira Jordan Good Morning Beloved! 😊   I was walking along a busy road one day and I saw a beautiful lady who should be a few years younger than me, struggling with some bags. Normally, that eternal beef between ladies (which I still don’t understand) would have made me pass without even noticing. But I did notice and offered to help. Somehow, with my very small hands, I always want to help people to carry stuff. The surprise on her face, that a young girl like herself would offer help…. it was everything.    I helped her with her bags to a nearest bustop where she took a cab and we bid each other farewell. The smiles on her face and many many “thank you! God bless you” was enough payment for me. To my soul, it was like a chilled glass of juice on a sunny day.   Fast forward to many months later when I moved to a new city that is known for its harshness and cruelty, I had called a cab and had this big luggage I couldn’t lift into ...

Nigeria is full of culture… but some festivals?  Let’s just say if you’re not used to them, they’ll leave you shocked, amazed, and asking questions! Let’s talk about some of the most shocking and fascinating festivals in the country. First the legendary Eyo Festival in Lagos. Imagine thousands of people dressed completely in white… moving silently through the streets like spirits. Each group represents a different lineage, and they carry long staffs used to maintain order. No bikes. No sandals. No smoking. And if you break the rules? You might get chased down by a masquerade. Yeah… not your regular street parade. It’s not just a festival; it’s a sacred rite, often held to honor a departed king or chief. Now, travel to Kebbi State for the Argungu Fishing Festival. Thousands of men… one river… bare hands. At the sound of a whistle, they all jump in at once fighting to catch the biggest fish. It’s chaos. It’s competition. It’s survival of the fastest. And the winner? Earns massive res...

STANDING ABOVE PROBLEMS - Elvira Jordan Good Morning Beloved! ✨ My thought this morning is drifting towards the bitter-sweet nature of life as God has given. No matter how rich, beautiful, talented or intelligent we may be, we all have one issue or the other bugling our minds.  The way God created us differently and shared problems to us differently is what keeps us humble, activates our humanity, keeps our minds busy and helps us to thrive daily.  Even the best of us have one issue or the other bugling our mind. They may differ in magnitude, urgency or complexity but we are all going through something. Some people know how to carry their problems on their head, while others prefer to conceal it move on with life, yet they wake up everyday with a similar question and a similar prayer, “what will I do? God help me.” Therefore, don’t expect another person to understand your pain and carry it as their own, because they may not be going through your kind of pain but they are going...