WHY THE RIVERS NO LONGER CRY By Arikewuyo Yusuf

The most anticipated and recordable success of the twenty-first century is the emergence of the World’s fastest global market inter-link called the “internet.’’ The African culture no longer takes credence, as to the proper uplifting of the moral values, etiquette and social norms. It has become a far cry from what the norms ought to be.

Values have been neglected and ignored for the exchange of a few Naira. Though quantity may vary, man is faced with so many agonies. There are those he can solve and those he can’t. The story begins to take a new dimension, all in the name of socialization.

Those days of moon light tales have been replaced by the emergence of the PlayStation. The child no longer knows the values portrayed as good by the society. The family system now operates on a social network for communication. The child now has a “virtual daddy” and an ever “busy mummy.” Thus, the family name has no value. Gone are those days the name speaks volume. It is now the issue of a sudden occurrence to share the family name.

Reputation is fast losing its place in the modern Nigerian society, all in the name of technology. Moral values are fast depreciating. The rivers no longer cry because the tears have reached their limits. The Nigerian child no longer speaks his native dialect all in the name of it being too barbaric or not being westernized.

Cultural values are dying. The animal in man is fast being awakened. Grandma(s) and grandpa(s) who pay a visit to their offspring’s house are confronted with the grandchild’s new mode of greeting via extension of hands all in the name cultural integration. The grandparents have no choice. 

Their screams on the child’s behavior only earns them the tag ‘locals’. The cultural values are far gone and nobody is salvaging the situation.

King Sunny Ade, the Yoruba music legend will always be remembered for his value stimulating song: ekilo fomo ode. Asa, the award winning musician made this clarion call in “there is fire on the mountain” yet, nobody is running.