The 59th Independence Day Celebration of Nigeria came with different vibes with citizens divided on the fact that there is actually nothing for the country to celebrate.
Photographer Amarachi Mbagwu (MARATIMES PHOTOGRAPHY) alongside her siblings and other kids combine to produce these amazing pictures with strong story to tell on what Nigeria has achieved so far in 59 years of Independence.
Enjoy the Photos
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What are we celebrating?
My Father talked about practising this kind of religion in his early years. And when I got into the university, I met a young lecturer who spoke so much about the traditional way of worship.
My Father said this was the way our Forefathers communicated with God Almighty.
In the history of Buganda during the reign of Kabaka Mutesa 1, a time happened when the two Christian denominations fought against each other.
A year ago, I travelled to the village for a family prayer and the pastor who held us in prayers paused in-between his teachings to begin to condemn the Catholic and everything that it comes with.
I have come to understand that religion is man-made and yet, one of the most biggest problem in the whole world.
God doesn’t care about religion and yet, we bother so much about what God doesn’t care about.
There are so many ways to worship your creator and it’s not in man’s place to say which way is right or wrong and which religion is demonic or pure.
A few years ago at the Owerri Bookfest, Mrs Nnenna Ihebom talked about this. A tradition which doesn’t allow the woman be part of discussions. A tradition who sees the vagina as synonymous to weakness.
A tradition where only the men discuss very serious things.
The one who should feel cheap and be ashamed when she is raped.
The one who should never talk about her sexuality and strength, hence the man who she would serve her hymen to would think her aggressive and think her anything below a wife material.
The one who it is her fault when she becomes a victim of rape. And so, she is expected to stay in the dark with her story and depression hence her bride price be reduced.
The leaders who buy our lives before we begin to live them.
The ones who pay us to stain our souls.
The ones who think us ‘things’ below the human specie.
The ones who turn back to take us down when we take the footsteps they set?
The one who when we refuse to sell our consciences take the lives try didn’t give to us.
The one who makes the media lie through their teeth.
Four years in the university and out, I hit the road with my taxi, my shovel, my hammer, and if all of these fails, my gun.
I know that one day, I might begin to wear their kind of uniforms and walk to school and run to my Mother when I am back to help with my assignments.
"One day." It is what my Mama says. But I don't know when.No matter how much I make from selling a full bucket everyday, my Mama says it’s never enough sew uniforms and buy books. She says ‘somethings’ are more important than the others. My education is ‘others.’
They look away when I stretch out my hand to beg.
But when I am too hungry and become too impatient to wait to be given when I beg, they come close enough to call me names and cause me pains that would take me months to heal before I go back into the streets again.
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