There is a tribe in Africa where the birth date of a child is counted not from when they were born, nor from when they are conceived but from the day that the child was a thought in its mother’s mind. And when a woman decides that she will have a child, she goes off and sits under a tree, by herself, and she listens until she can hear the song of the child that wants to come. And after she’s heard the song of this child, she comes back to the man who will be the child’s father, and teaches it to him. And then, when they make love to physically conceive the child, some of that time they sing the song of the child, as a way to invite it.

And then, when the mother is pregnant, the mother teaches that child’s song to the midwives and the old women of the village, so that when the child is born, the old women and the people around her sing the child’s song to welcome it. And then, as the child grows up, the other villagers are taught the child’s song. If the child falls, or hurts its knee, someone picks it up and sings its song to it. Or perhaps the child does something wonderful, or goes through the rites of puberty, then as a way of honoring this person, the people of the village sing his or her song.

In the African tribe there is one other occasion upon which the villagers sing to the child. If at any time during his or her life, the person commits a crime or aberrant social act, the individual is called to the center of the village and the people in the community form a circle around them. Then they sing their song to them.

The tribe recognizes that the correction for antisocial behavior is not punishment; it is love and the remembrance of identity. When you recognize your own song, you have no desire or need to do anything that would hurt another.

And it goes this way through their life. In marriage, the songs are sung, together. And finally, when this child is lying in bed, ready to die, all the villagers know his or her song, and they sing—for the last time—the song to that person.

You may not have grown up in an African tribe that sings your song to you at crucial life transitions, but life is always reminding you when you are in tune with yourself and when you are not. When you feel good, what you are doing matches your song, and when you feel awful, it doesn’t. In the end, we shall all recognize our song and sing it well as we " Live Life With No Regrets"...

Anambra State Governor, Prof. Charles Soludo has given reason why a church belonging to popular prophet, Chukwuemeka Ohanaemere, known as Odumeje, was demolished.

A statement issued by Soludo’s spokesman, Christian Aburime on Thursday said the Mountain of Holy Ghost Intervention Deliverance Ministries, owned by Odumeje was an illegal structure.

He said Odumeje was served demolition notice since April and that he did not vacate the structure.

“Following the expiration of the more than two months notice beginning from April 2022 served on developers and building owners who built several illegal structures along the waterway in Fegge and environs within Onitsha, Anambra state government has begun demolition of such structures.

“The exercise which is being carried out by a joint government task force, commenced the exercise from Bida Road by Modebe Avenue, Fegge Onitsha.

“The affected buildings include Mountain of Holy Ghost Intervention Deliverance Ministries, shops and other perimeter fences.

“The structures were marked since April, 2022 and all developers and building owners were served notice to remove such illegal structures,” he said.

Odumeje’s church was demolished on Thursday by a joint government taskforce.

Goods worth millions of naira were destroyed in a fire disaster triggered by a gas explosion on Tuesday in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

According to the spokesman of the state fire service, Hassan Hakeem Adekunle, in Ilorin on Wednesday, the fire disaster was caused by an accidental discharge from a damaged hose which suddenly burst during the gas delivery process at a gas retail shop.

The incident occurred at about 16.38hours at Mayegun Junction, Alagbado Specialist Hospital area of Ilorin metropolis.

Firefighters were, however, able to bring the fire under control within record time.

At least seven container shops were affected in the fire incident, while one person was injured.

The injured person, said to be the wife of the owner of the gas retail shop, reportedly lost N2m cash kept in the shop to the fire incident.

She was said to have been rushed to a nearby Fatimah Hospital for medical attention but later moved to another medical facility in Ilorin for comprehensive treatment.

Another victim of the fire incident, Mrs Bashirat Bashir, lamented that she lost goods worth N2m to the inferno as she had just stocked her shop with goods for Sallah sales.

Director of the state fire service, Prince Falade John Olumuyiwa, while reacting to the incident, advised both fuel stations and gas plants to procure all necessary safety equipment at their various stations.

He equally urged the public to be safety conscious in handling such delicate items.

Peace never!!

Gunmen Have abducted a Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Peter Yakubu Amodu, in Benue State.

It Was Gathered By NaijaCover, that the priest was kidnapped at about 50 pm on Wednesday, July 6, along Otukpo/Ugbokolo highway.

The Priest was said to be going to Okwungaga-Ugbokolo to celebrate Holy mass when he was abducted, NaijaCover Learnt.

The Catholic Diocese of Otukpo confirmed the abduction of the priest in a circular signed by Rev. Fr Joseph Itodo, the Diocesan Chancellor.

"We write to notify you of the kidnap of Rev. Pr. Peter Amodu, a priest of the Holy’ Ghost Congregation who is working in the Catholic Diocese of Otukpo as Parish Priest of Holy Ghost Parish, Eke-Olengbeche," the circular read.

"The Sad Incident Occurred Yesterday, July 6, 2022, at about 5.00 pm along Otukpo – Ugbokolo Road, Benue State, while he was on his way to celebrate the Holy Mass at Okwungaga-Ughbokolo.

"The Local Ordinary, Most Rev. Michael Ekwoyi Apochi, has called on all Christ’s Faithful in the Catholic Diocese of Otukpo and beyond to earnestly pray for his quick and safe release as we intensify efforts to ensure his release

"We Commend our brother and all those in the kidnappers’ den to the powerful intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary for their speedy and safe release from the hands of their abductors.

When Contacted, The Spokesperson of the Benue State Police Command, SP Catherine Anene, said she had yet to receive the report.

Source: BENUE CATHOLIC CHURCH

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Short story

"Portrait of a black woman" now known as "Portrait of Madeleine" 1800. By Marie Guillemine Benoist, Louvre Museum.

This work was painted six years after the abolition of slavery in the French colonies and symbolized the emancipation of black people.

With this work the author broke the habit of Western painters to represent the inhabitants of non-European countries in exotic costumes. It was also the first time that a black woman occupied the center of a portrait. The young woman portrayed was named Magdalena and was in the service of the artist's brother-in-law.

Only two years after presenting the painting Napoleon reestablished slavery, which was not definitively abolished until 1848.