Village Born
written by: Nehemiah Ojochonu Egwuda
Born in a remote African village nestled deep in the heart of Nigeria, I emerged from a riverine community devoid of road networks and electricity. Farming and fishing defined our daily existence, instilling in me a profound passion for farming and swimming prowess.
Unfazed by the wilderness and unshaken by the sight of vast water bodies like lakes and the mighty River Niger, I mastered the art of paddling a canoe and tilling the soil. My hands became adept at catching fish, without any fishing tool, safe my bare hands.
As years unfolded, my father’s role as a full-time clergyman, subject to regular transfers, allowed me to traverse diverse landscapes within the country. From regions blessed with abundant natural water bodies to places grappling with severe water scarcity, I adapted effortlessly.
I have been to a place in Nigeria where 25-litre keg of water is currently selling for ₦200. (Believe me, I am not joking). It was in this land that my initiation to manhood began. There, I tended to myself by myself. The farming skills I inherited from my beloved father became extremely useful. Here, I learned how to fry ‘garri’ -granulated cassava flakes- a skill that helped me so greatly in the later years of my higher institution.
Subsequently, the clarion call beckoned me to one of the state capitals, a well-planned city in the far North East, boasting structured road networks and uninterrupted power supply. From the rural riverine village to an urban center, I not only survived but seamlessly adapted to diverse environments.
In academia, I am no novice; among fishermen, a champion; and amidst rural farmers, a familiar face. Whether navigating waterways or traversing roads, I harbor no fears, eagerly anticipating my first experience of air travel.
Versatile in the kitchen, I am not strange to cooking with hot plates, electric cookers, gas, or firewood. I can comfortably use any of them extremely well.
Proficient with modern technological gadgets, I navigate Microsoft tools, AI, and smartphone graphic design. Armed with ink and paper, I’ve inspired many, yet remain adept with a cutlass, digger, and hoe on the farm.
These multifaceted skills owe their development to my rural upbringing. Born in the city, I might have been a novice to rural life, but being “village-born” affords me the unique advantage of adapting seamlessly to any geographical setting, rural or urban.
Embrace your background without shame—it has equipped you with indispensable survival skills.
I can thrive anywhere, rural or urban, and I attribute this resilience to my “village-born” roots.
“Embrace your background without shame.”
- Village Born - July 18, 2024
- Torn by Thorn - June 27, 2023
