Season Greetings from Nigerian Canadian Association
As we eagerly and joyfully stroll into the new year, it is a great privilege that we are alive and healthy to exchange season greetings. This year has been particularly challenging for everybody across the world, nobody could have predicted the lifestyle changes brought about by the pandemic. We adjusted our lives to conform with the ‘new normal’ and we appreciate God almighty that we made it!
Permit me to share below the extract from Chapter 3, of the novel titled: Things Fall Apart written By Chinua Achebe, which has been circulating on the social media for many months this year.
“The year that Okonkwo took eight hundred seed yams from Nwakibie was the worst year in living memory. Nothing happened at its proper time; it was either too early or too late. It seemed as if the world had gone mad. The first rains were late and when they came, lasted only a brief moment….
The drought continued for eight market weeks and the yams were killed. The year had gone mad. When the rains finally returned, they fell as it had never fallen before. Trees were uprooted and deep gorges appeared everywhere. That year, the harvest was sad, like a funeral and many farmers wept as they dug up the miserable and rotting yams. One man tied his cloth to a tree branch and hanged himself. Okonkwo remembered that tragic year with a cold shiver throughout the rest of his life. It always surprised him when he thought about it later that he did not sink under the load of despair. He knew he was a fierce fighter, but that year had been enough to break the heart of a lion.”
“Since I survived that year,” he always said, “I shall survive anything.”
The worst health crisis in ages came with its domino effect on every strata of human endeavour and the flood came ravaging the downtown area compounding our local challenge which made us to adjust to new lifestyles and protocols.
Well, 2020 was quite a year! Indeed, year 2020 could be termed the annus horribilis! (horrible year)
As we peep into the new year and look back at the outgoing year, we can heave a sigh of relief and say, thank God we made it!
My wish for you is that the new year brings with it renewed hope, abundant happiness, unparalleled joy, and plenty to be thankful for.
May 2021 be the annus mirabilis (wonderful year) that you and our loved ones are hoping for!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Tunde Jegede -President -NCAFM