A sha Ruwa Kadankada
Reflections on a Philosophy of Moderation
A sha ruwa kadankada 🎼🎼🎷🎹
A sha ruwa small small 🎼🎼🎷🎹
A sha ruwa Kadankada 🎼🎼🎷🎹
A sha ruwa small small 🎼🎼🎷🎹
It was in Yelwa Yauri in the early 80s, and I recall vividly how this song came about.
It was a naming ceremony within the Yoruba community when people treated themselves to the Ijagbo, Kwara State, made Lager Beer, Noble. A moment when heavily drunk individuals started speaking grammar that may not exist in any known dictionary, when people were quarrelling over issues that may not exist.
Of course, there were other people present who were partially drunk and some who still had their heads over their necks. Yours truly was a water-drinking, almost gentle young teenager who witnessed all the events unfold.
Then came the three-person band onto the scene. Armed with a string instrument (Goje in the similitude of Dan Maraya, Jos), a drum and the third person who kept the purse (not Judas Iscariot, I believe). Seeing what was going on, they started singing the song above.
Before we could say Jack, those who were partially drunk trooped to the floor to dance to the band’s melodious tune, when enveloped in the complete spirit of Owambe, dipped their hands into their pockets and started pasting money on the band leader’s forehead. The third man, the purse, was at his best, ensuring none of the money was missing. As the enjoyment continued, those already paralyzed by excessive consumption grew dismissive of the musician’s advice.
Those of us who had not compromised our insanity were having fun in its pure, undiluted form.
The song’s import is advice on moderation.
However, certain things were not noticeable.
✍️ Those who took the advice and applied caution in the drinking spree.
✍️ Those who were carried away by the song’s lyrics and just keyed into its entertainment.
✍️ Those who have gone too far for the lyrics to make any sense to them.
✍️ Those being sober, reflected on the song’s lyrics and saw beyond the immediacy of the song, and thought deeply about why moderation can become a virtue.
Let us try to unpack the four categories.
✍️ Those who took the advice and applied caution in the drinking spree.
These are categories of people who may have already immersed themselves in certain behaviours, activities or even a vocation that may not be heading in the right direction. When someone shows up on the horizon to offer even unsolicited advice, they see reason, make the necessary detour, pause, or quit completely based on the advice. To these categories of people, they will always benefit when anyone lets them be aware of the need to apply the caution button. The great thing about them is that they neither dismiss such advice nor fail to act on it.
✍️ Those who were carried away by the song’s lyrics and just keyed into its entertainment.
These are the kind of people who, though they listen and respond to some great advice, do not intend to act on it. They may applaud and speak glowingly to the adviser, and offer a deeper interpretation of the advice, but it does not go beyond that. Like the legendary Sledge Hammer, it is common for them to say, “Trust me, I know what I am doing.” Just like those who converted the sober moment of the musician to a money-spending and dancing moment, the entertaining part is more important than the real message.
✍️ Those who have gone too far for the lyrics to make any sense to them.
There are instances where, despite how sensible some advice can be, people think it is not meant for them, as they have crossed the line beyond any hope of redemption. Yes, this is not uncommon in spiritual matters, especially for those who have ever tried to preach salvation or redemption to people before. In fact, many will tell you that they have gone too far for whatever you are saying to make any meaning to them. So, they are dismissive of any call to moderation. They think they have gone too far to think about anything called moderation.
✍️ Those being sober, reflected on the song’s lyrics and saw beyond the immediacy of the song, and thought deeply about why moderation can become a virtue.
These are people who are not unnecessarily encumbered and actively listen to the voice of reason. They are on their own and may not subscribe to the herd mentality, as many in the crowd interpret events and follow them. They see things from their own merits or otherwise and reflect deeply on how they may affect them personally. They weigh themselves and see if they are already crossing the lines and seek possible remediation from whatever excesses the advice seeks to address. They benefit from the hindsight they have unconsciously omitted or did not know existed.
That simple event has many implications for you and me.
What categories do you think you belong to? Do you have the courage to switch to a better category in case you find yourself in the wrong category?
Your thoughts and views are welcome.
(The figure man who loves alphabets)
