Let me use this opportunity to thank everyone here.
The NOLU, to my understanding, is a place for continued Education or Learning of Nenwe traditions , culture, wisdom, philosophical worldview, etc; among other things.. It, therefore, has not just students, but learners. By learners, it means that every student already has profound knowledge, in areas of their choosing, but knowing more and adding more to other bodies of knowledge.
I wish to appreciate the acceptance of my explanation of or contribution to a proverb here. I also want to encourage more contributions to issues or interactiveness of all learners to make our learning here, stimulating and dynamic.
For the proverb - Ngwere lokiria l'egu o woo awu or Ngwere Lokiria la uji, o woo awu, the two proverbs are the same. One is just a variant of the other.
Ngwere ( lizard), and Awu (Monitor lizard or Agama lizard ) are both in the same family of reptiles. They have close look in anatomical structure, and visualization. In fact the Agama Lizard is like a magnified lizard. The only difference is the size, but that does not, in any way, mean that the common lizard would grow big, at any time, to become Agama. It is like a mistaken thinking that the rat ( Oke), will one day grow very big to become Nchi ( grass cutter), because they are close cousins and looks alike. No, nature has made them to have the same look, but different size and entirely not the same creature.
Having said that, it is also worthy to say that their inhabitants differs. While Ngwere prefers homes and staying close to humans, Awu stays in Uji (Okorobooshishi) which are cavities in trees or stones (like caves) and stays away from humans. Yes, Ngwere could sit close and be enjoying human discussions and nodding its head as to the entertainment of such discussions, but Awu will run away with greatest speed at the slight human noise. The common lizards does not ordinarily live in uji or egu ( distant farm lands) but awu prefers uji and egu.However, if common lizard decides to stay in uji or la egu (l'egu), Farmland, and particularly for a longer time, then it will metamorphose or change to become Awu, in behavior and temperament.
The practical application of this proverb, can be seen in a Nenwe man who had live abroad ( ijhe or eru) for donkey years ( onye aka ijhe), and his behavior or new orientation changes. This has to do with his acculturation which will result to his values over everything. One observing his shocking behaviours and attitudes would safely say " la Ngwere lokiiria la uji, o woo awu"
Similarly, a young nenwerian who was born outside Nenwei and does not know Nenwe culture, and if a boy, impregnated his distant cousin ( Ada umunna). This is " aru" in Nenwei, but he may not see it as a big deal, claiming that she is not the sister and no direct blood relationship, forgetting the transient and spiritual blood connection. This can easily happen when Ngbere lokiria la uji!
Also if a Nenwe wife due to acculturation at Onitsha or any big city decides to start sleeping with other men while still married with the husband or separated without consummating a divorce with him, simply because other women from other towns are doing the same thing and maybe her husband who is also disoriented accepts it as allowing her to do what pleasures her. In both cases, they are aru, but due to the fact that Ngwere has overstayed l'egu or uji, it has totally changed to a semblance of itself .
😅We are the learners👩🎓. I am expectant of other views, please.
Cheers everyone.
Manzhi Clement Ebere.
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