Nigerian childhood was full of tales that kept us in check or scared! Here are some of the classics:
• “If you swallow gum, it’ll stay in your stomach for 7 years” still waiting for mine to come out! • “Don’t whistle at night, you’ll call snakes” 🐍 so no whistling during power outage! • “If you play in the rain, you’ll become deaf” why did we even risk it? • “If you make that face, it will stay like that forever” no smile, no frozen face! • “If you step outside with wet hair, you’ll catch cold” always rushing to dry up • “Eat your food or the spirit of the food will come after you” motivation to finish plate • “Don’t open the fridge too long, the light will go out” fridge fear was real! • “If you point at the moon, your finger will get cut off” moon gazing was risky business • “If you don’t say ‘God bless you’ after someone sneezes, bad luck will come” manners + superstition combo • “If you talk back to elders, your tongue will get tied” respect enforced, no exceptions!
Zainab
130 days agoNigerian childhood was full of tales that kept us in check or scared! Here are some of the classics:
• “If you swallow gum, it’ll stay in your stomach for 7 years” still waiting for mine to come out!
• “Don’t whistle at night, you’ll call snakes” 🐍 so no whistling during power outage!
• “If you play in the rain, you’ll become deaf” why did we even risk it?
• “If you make that face, it will stay like that forever” no smile, no frozen face!
• “If you step outside with wet hair, you’ll catch cold” always rushing to dry up
• “Eat your food or the spirit of the food will come after you” motivation to finish plate
• “Don’t open the fridge too long, the light will go out” fridge fear was real!
• “If you point at the moon, your finger will get cut off” moon gazing was risky business
• “If you don’t say ‘God bless you’ after someone sneezes, bad luck will come” manners + superstition combo
• “If you talk back to elders, your tongue will get tied” respect enforced, no exceptions!
Which one got you the most? 😂