The Ewe “ablafo or gbadagba” (aka soldiers) were the men of valour counted on in times of tribal and ethnic assaults or battles in a manner of speaking.
The elders told me that far back in the history of people, there were frequent confrontations and similar bloody encounters among kingdoms and folks over land, territorial borders, natural resources, and markets. It is ridiculous to note that those days saw certain traditional authorities planning and carrying out battles merely as contests for superiority.
For the sole purpose of shedding blood and bringing the enemy to lick the dust, the “ablafo” groups train with ammunition such as guns, balls, swords, powder, shields and spears. In fact, anything helpful in subduing the opponent was usable.
These arms, coupled with incarnations and the like, sufficed to scare an opponent.
For superiority, fame and wealth, states and nations invest greatly into firearms and military.
On Commemoration Day of a nation’s Liberation or Independence or during other great State functions, parts of these military outfits are put on display for the public. There is satisfaction!
There is a feeling of national complacency when citizens see the sort of formidable machinery and men they could count on in times of war.
Fast forward to 2020! Here we are, all of us with a common cry.
Nations, both great and small; skins, black and whatever; ages, both the young and the old… everyone now prays against a common enemy, not a fellow man now, not a terrorizing nation this time around, not the force or arms now.
Hitherto, we failed to see that we are all a big family of human species and that men’s skins have many colours, but the human blood is always red. Here we are, our swords of hatred, division, boastfulness, power (potesta), money, ideas, book knowledge, and all of these helplessly hanging at our sides.
Sadly and suddenly, everyone seems equal to each other on one denominator – fear. In the twinkling of an eye, even all the stars have lost their shine: I mean the football stars, music stars, movie stars, political stars, and the usual eloquent stars of the pulpits. Where have all our stars gone? Where are all the uniformed men? Where is the morale? Where have the intimidation and domination escaped to?
Surprisingly, our radio stations have abandoned the usual adverts and jingles of goods and drinks for power and masculinity, and now welcome pastors and prayer “warlords” to their studios, this time, freely without charge.
Sadly, we leave our doctors, nurses, and other health workers to stay at service, to fight for us, and to ensure their own safety.
It is as if the All-Powerful in heaven who is often forgotten is now making His presence, or rather absence felt. He seems to say that not all armament are useful, and not all enemies can be disarmed by force of arms. Behold, the common enemy the world struggles to fight now is the Coronavirus.
It seems the words of Psalm 33:16-17 come now to remind us of the bitter truth: “No king is saved by his vast army; no warrior is delivered by his great strength.
A horse is a vain hope for salvation; even its great strength cannot save.”
Yes, we have guns in hand, but we are not able to pull the trigger: “Tu le asi dada glo!”
Both animals and trees laugh at us, as it were. They have been spared this catastrophe. These creatures seem better than us now as day unto day gives us the rising confirmed cases, and night unto night reveals the death records.
“The LORD shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more” (Isaiah 2:4).
The worst should teach us. Our attitude towards fellow human beings and the unseen God should be polished. If you survive this disease and attack, what will you do anew?
Source: Enyonam (Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Sebastian DORGBETOR)
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