Olufemi Opeyemi Grace

Ondo State, Nigeria

When Tribes Don’t Matter

It was a hot day, and I was reading a novel when a knock interrupted. I checked, it was a Fulani boy– one of the shepherds who pass through farms and forests, leading cows to graze. As a Yoruban, the Fulani were highly despised by my tribe. They were called destroyers as some of them lead their cattle into people’s farms to graze. The two tribes were hateful of each other, so I wondered why he approached the house.

He asked if he could get some food. I looked at him, thinking away. Had my parents been home, they wouldn’t have obliged him. I battled whether to do as my parents would, and I concluded otherwise. I had to make a change. I got him some bread and margarine and when he finished, he thanked me profusely. His smile was beautiful, and I happily watched him walk down the steps.

Sitting at the television moments later, I thought about what happened. Perhaps, individuality differs– that some Fulani egged on their cattle to graze down farms doesn’t mean all of them do, right? I hoped I’d done something to let him know all Yoruba aren’t full of hate, either.