NA OUR MAMA BE THIS O

 

I was thinking this morning..... It was usual in Warri to hear senior citizens being called Papa lolo (with the lolo pronounced low-low) and mama lolo. There have been diverse views as to the meaning of papa lolo or mama lolo. While some believe it means an old man or woman that misbehaves, others believe it meant a funky old man or woman. Whatever the meaning, the husband of Fanny wasn't taking it. Who exactly is Fanny's husband?

He was a funky senior citizen in Warri, and his wife, called Fanny, was also well advanced in age. As he walked with swagger into his compound, his children would hail him shouting 'papa lolo.' On a certain day, he just couldn't take it as a compliment anymore and needed to return the insult. As they shouted 'papa lolo,' he responded, 'na Fanny be lolo.' A second hailing of 'papa lolo' was returned with 'na your mama be lolo.'

It was this story that came to my mind when news broke of the incident involving the students of Delta State College of Nursing Science at Asaba. The event’s Master of Ceremony had introduced the first lady by singing the song 'Na our mama be this o,'  and the students responded in unison, 'Na your mama be this,' meaning 'This is your mother,' refusing to accept the designation.

Just like Fanny's husband sees 'papa lolo' as an insult, so many Nigerians have interpreted 'na your mama be this o,' to be an insult. It won't come as a surprise to a typical Waffarian because one common insult to throw at someone is 'Your father,' or 'Your mama.' How simply saying 'your mama' amounts to an insult is still a mystery to me. However, pikin wey say im mama no fine dey use style call im papa blind man.

To me, my mama na my mama. You can't force your mother on me, just like I can't expect you to accept my mother like I do. One thing that is true, though, is the proverb that says, 'No food for lazy man, no be for person wey im mama get bukka.' A mother’s love and compassion for her child cannot be faulted. So, a child that is not proud of his mother, naim know wetin dey do am. Isaiah 49:15 says, 'Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb?' Respect and show love to women, be it a babe or mama lolo. Happy Mothers Day to my young wife, my mum and every mother in and around my life. Without you, life for get as e be. Truly, na our mama be this o.

Stay hopeful. God's got our back.

Happy Mothers Day!

......Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey