WEATHER AND DISPOSITION

 

In every nationality group, people differ from individual to individual. But it is possible, however, to mention certain characteristic which in general describes the common disposition among the people of a country or region. Such prevalent attitude and practice is why others often suffer culture shock when they move between geographic regions or locations.

Having just arrived Nigeria from South Africa, my thoughts are probably the flight of fancy of a jet lagged imagination but I'm thinking that the weather influences the social rules and customs of nationalities more than we acknowledge. How warm and inviting the people are, service in hotels and restaurants, hostile or friendly reception at the airports or other gateways, are largely influenced by the cool, humid or crappy nature of the weather. Which is why timing of visits can be critical.

My remarks are generalizations and there are many cultures within nationalities whose values and behavior differ significantly.

Within this context, the often observed and commented aloofness of the British, for instance, may have something to do with their unpredictable weather. That chilling coldness might be weather induced and not intended to be rude behaviour.

My remarks are based on personal experience rather than any scientific research. I'm seriously considering, from my travels, that there is a correlation between the weather of a region or country and the prevalent moods, emotions and culture of the people. The weather, clearly and greatly, influences the optimism, expectations, social and economic activities of a region. Could the weather report or forecast then indicate what mood we will also find the people? This could prove to be a useful advance warning tool before one goes visiting and could improve cross-cultural communication and interactions. It could also improve empathy where cultural differences arise.

Some unusual cultures may also be better understood. Why did the Eskimos (Greenland) give out their wives to male guests for their entertainment during visits (wife-lending) and engage in spouse exchange? Legend has it that if a guest was offered the host's wife, it was usually implicit that the host would have access to the guest's wife at some point in the future (wife-sharing). Could it be a weather induced need to provide additional warmth or according to some accounts, the act was a ritual supposedly to achieve good weather and hunting conditions? Weather connections again?

The northern region of Nigeria has an arid climate with a harsh topography. Desert encroachment is a real threat and an ongoing challenge. You will observe, generally speaking of course, that the often tall and beautiful inhabitants of northern Nigeria appear more austere in their lifestyle and resistant to embracing other influences and cultures than their southern Nigerian counterparts. The Boko Haram sect has taken this resistance to the extreme in recent times, with their unacceptable violent and bloody agitation. They have made their stand known in no uncertain terms.

Friendliness, just like the dress sense and the diet of a people seems to reflect their topography and the warmth, unpredictability or serenity of their weather. Bright sunny days engender happy moods and warm feelings.

Temperatures in the city of Johannesburg, South Africa are usually fairly mild due to the city's high altitude. I arrived in the Rainbow nation at about 5.45am on a South African Airways flight. The throng of passengers milled around the airport counters indicated for those with African passports for clearance. The reception we received, not surprisingly, was as chilly as the weather. The immigration officers acted contemptuously and we were treated like slimy earthworms that had crawled out of rotten crevices.  They yawned unhappily from being awake at break of dawn to do their jobs. We were also yawning because we were tired from the long flight. But this common yawning ground earned us no points. It brought no bonding and cut no ice with our hosts. They seemed irritable and ordered us about from one queue to another. Unceremoniously, the officers behind the counters will suddenly close shop after attending to a person or two and take a walk around the airport. The walk might have been to keep warm but was interpreted differently by the visitors judging from the growing frustration etched on our faces.

We kept moving from one unwelcome counter to another until we were eventually cleared to enter the country.

Right from the point of entry into Johannesburg, one encounters a city full of diverse cultures, people and sights. A heaving metropolis of undulating valleys, range of hills and well-defined swinging hips - moving, it seemed, from one swinging attraction to another. Gradually the eyes grow accustomed to the everyday reality of the hills and valleys and constantly rolling backsides of the South African women.

But was their cold reception and hostile attitude weather influenced? I've been to Johannesburg a number of times and I often get this chilly reception at some point of my stay. Either at the sprawling shopping malls, hotels or at the airport. It might be argued that the weather has nothing to do with people radiating a positive or negative spirit or energy. It may even be suggested that my experiences could have arisen from the baggage that comes with carrying the Nigerian green passport (our reputation), or perhaps my disarming and charming looks or lack of it - depending on the beholder (my identity), or my personal disposition (attitude) or even my reading of deeper meanings into simple human behaviour that sometimes may swing like a yoyo based on factors other than weather.

But the differences in weather and the impact on attitude is better appreciated when our reception on arrival at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, is contrasted with that of the O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.

The city of Lagos is densely populated and often has an oppressive heat. Lagosians often appear harried - possibly running from the heat. There is a palpable  air of frenzy and the pace of life seems rushed almost causing dizziness. It is sometimes chaotic, induced in all likelihood by the sweltering condition. The airport officials are often friendly but almost in your face and you sense they are sometimes just a tad too friendly, possibly they want something? Yes, they usually won't mind "something". You hear expressions like:

"Oga, anything for weekend?"

"Madam, anything for the boys?"

"Your boys are here, sir. We're the ones securing this place!"

We arrived at the Lagos international airport at about 8.40pm and to my embarrassment and utter confusion, we were advised that a ramp (the movable staircase for entering or leaving the cabin door of the airplane) could not be found! Perhaps the oppressive heat affects the brain and creates such disorderliness and chaos? Just like the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Direct Data Capture machines, the ramp had simply disappeared from the airport. Bizarre things certainly happen in the oppressive heat.

We waited on board the plane for what appeared like eternity before a makeshift ramp that didn't quite align with the door was arranged for us to disembark.

Can one conclusively say then that nice weather breeds nice people? The weather, our disposition, missing ramps and well-defined rolling hips - is there some correlation? Of course, one can't rule out individual exceptions whatever the weather brings.

Perhaps I should just quarantine my travel thoughts which possibly are impacted by jet lag and the sudden changes in weather?

Anthony J. D'Angelo however advises that, "Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine."

EGYPT AND TUNISIA ISNT HAPPENING HERE YET

 

It may be simplistic to aver that the events in Egypt and Tunisia will now happen in Nigeria. My take, sad as it is, is that the ripple effects of those events won't necessarily take root here. Our climate isn't ripe for it. And it isn't because Nigerian youths are all cowards, chicken or lily-livered. Do the Boko Haram and MEND militants appear pusillanimous? These youths willingly put their lives on the line in their violent agitation.

The reason the mass revolts won't happen in Nigeria is because of our culture of avarice and corruption, our sham religiousity, ethnic and religious cleavages.

Nigerians are deeply polarized along ethnic and religious lines. These cleavages do not allow for a common front or unity in dealing issues of common interests. There is a huge distrust and it is passed down from generation to generation. A heavy baggage of deep seated prejudices, mistrust and bias regarding our fellow countrymen. We have derogatory and insulting names for other tribes and religions within our own inner circles which we delight in affirming at every opportunity. We often play the ethnicity card. Viewing events from a pair of tribally tinted glasses which we refuse to adjust. The animosity we carry in our hearts for other tribes is like a simmering cauldron of deeply seated emotions which frequently boils over in fights between groups: Ife and Modakeke, Ijaw and Itsekiri, settlers and indigenes in Jos, Hausa and Igbos, Christians and Moslems claiming thousands of lives. It is estimated that about 218 people are murdered in senseless killings in Jos in one month!

The Niger Delta environmental degradation and sundry issues, for instance, do not evoke much sympathy from other regions of the country. It isn't their problem even if the oil wealth of the nation has turned the region to a wasteland.

Nigerians have also earned a reputation as the happiest people on earth. There is the suffering and smiling mentality as Fela Anikulapo Kuti sang about. We believe it will "somehow" get better one day. One day it will be our turn to “chop” too or our children's turn. If not, something supernatural will happen to change the tide. Note that our often envisaged change is not necessarily by our effort but usually by some miraculous spiritual means that does not need our input. We also have the reputation of being one of the most corrupt people on earth. A confounding paradox. A highly religious and highly corrupt people!

Therein lies our inability to build the critical mass necessary for the revolts in Egypt and Tunisia or even move forward as a country in any positive direction. We just do not have the right soil to sow the seeds of such revolutions or mass revolts. It is usually every man, religion or tribe to his own tent. Even the coalition permutations and voting alliances in the forthcoming elections are tinged by such considerations.

We can't rule it out completely in the distant future though. A time when the citizens will arise and with one voice speak up against tyranny and bad governance. But a lot of work on achieving true nationhood, such as mass enlightenment to provoke attitudinal change and integration of our body polity will have to be done. There is a need to bridge our cleavages and arrest our confounding paradoxes.