This all happened because of goat meat. Let me explain. Usually, Funmie is the one who helps me get goat meat whenever she goes to D.C. This time, however, The Boy went (not to D.C, but to Pennsylvania). I know, I know, the distance we’ll travel for goat meat. He had been planning on going for months with his friend, but something always came up. This time, up until the morning they actually went, he did not know whether they would make it there or not.
He left the house early, like maybe around 6AM or so because the goat meat place was in Pennsylvania. I did not go with The Boy because I’m not about that goat meat market life. So this story is being told according to what The Boy told me. I wish I was there, so I can be more descriptive about the event.
When they got there, they were surprised to find out that some people were there way before them. When you get there, you receive a number which determines when you will be served. The Boy and his friend were number 12. After you receive the number, that’s when you go and park your car. The Boy and his friend went to park their car (The Boy was driving) when the altercation began.
Another driver in the parking lot got mad because he believed that The Boy jumped the line to park. I don’t know if The Boy “chanced” the man since I was not there. The Boy says he did not, and that there were lots of parking spots anyway. The man got mad and decided to roll down his window and tell The Boy how he felt about him. By the way, the man, too, already had his number. He was number 4 and like I said, The Boy was number 12, so no matter where they parked, he would have still gotten served first.
This man went ahead to tell The Boy that “You people always want to take over everywhere you go.” He said this among many other things. When The Boy was telling me the story, I naturally assumed he was white. Who else would say, “You people?” to a Black man with an accent?
I asked, “Was he White?”
The Boy: No
Me: Black [as in African American]?
The Boy: No
Me: A fellow African? From what country? [Cause you know other African countries tend to say that Nigerians are arrogant and aggressive]
The Boy: No
Me: Then who?
The Boy: He was Nigerian
Me: Huh???
The Boy: Igbo. He said Yoruba people always want to take over.
Seriously, huh??? Hian! I’m not surprised that an Igbo person feels salty about a Yoruba person, but I guess I just did not expect his saltiness to come out at a meat market because of a parking spot that literally did not affect the price of meat (or the time you’ll get the meat). After he told The Boy about Yoruba people allegedly wanting to take over, he also threatened him by saying that he had spent 9 years being a marine and that he would show The Boy. All this over a parking spot at the meat market.
I was boiling when The Boy told me the story. I wished I was there to defend him and tell the man a few things about himself. I would have said some things to him in Igbo, things that I would have had to come back and get down on my knees for to beg forgiveness. It is really unfortunate that citizens of the most populous nation on earth cannot get along because they come from different parts of the same nation. How sad! And you would think that when we meet each other outside in a foreign nation, we’d be quick to hug and have a “Nna, how far!” moment because we have just met our brother in a land that isn’t our own — but no, it’s just more of the same.
People aren’t born to hate. I don’t think that babies even know the difference between black and white and between male and female, so they definitely don’t know what it means to be Igbo, Yoruba, or otherwise. How then do they grow up to hate people who are not like them? This Igbo man that had a sour taste for Yoruba people, he was probably taught something bad about Yoruba people and maybe he had one bad encounter with one random Tunde, so all of a sudden, all Yoruba people are bad.
The fight continues. And I still don’t know what we [they] are fighting for. I don’t think the fighters know either. They’re just hating because they were taught to do so.
Omali says
“And I still don’t know what we [they] are fighting for. I don’t think the fighters know either. They’re just hating because they were taught to do so.”
So true. What is truly gained from hating anyways?
P.S. Is goat meat not sold in Maryland or was Igwe going to a farm to buy live goat?
Vera Ezimora says
Omali, I’m sure it’s sold somewhere in MD, but we don’t know where. It’s that kind of thing where Igwe asked someone if they know someplace to buy goat meat and the person told him about this place in Pennsylvania. So that’s how he ended up there. Lol.
carole ibe says
why are people always generalizing.
http://www.carolesrepublic.blogspot.com
Vera Ezimora says
It’s unfortunate, but it happens all the time.
favourmoyse says
its simple : the danger of a single story.
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Vera Ezimora says
Yes!! I couldn’t have said it better myself.
Okeoghene says
The height of insecurities! Assuming it is even true that yoruba people just go in and take over everything, before someone can takeover something you allowed them. I have driven almost 2 hours for meat so I will not point any fingers.
Vera Ezimora says
Hahahahaha at driving two hours. I’m glad you understand. And yes, it’s insecurities at its best (or worst?)
VOu says
Goat meat: Causing ethnic tension since 0000.
Ememobong says
Two things, one, Nigeria is not the most populous nation on earth 🌎 (don’t let the Chinese hear you o, they f–ked hard for that position. We are however the most populous black nation or at least so I have heard. No.2, that guy is nursing some latent feelings, if you dig deeper, you will discover that either his wife is Yoruba and they are having serious marital problems or he was betrayed by a Yoruba somebody. Either way, the lash out had little or nothing to do with parking 🅿 space.