Ancestor Testimony VII

The death of a king
Brings down so many
Why would we live for short-term honor?
Stay away, stay away! That’s what we say
Live near the ground
So that you won’t die for it-

-Ndem (the ancestral author)

This (choreo-poetic, now that I ponder it) piece has deep, deep context.

When a ruler died, it was customary in various parts of Nigeria to sacrifice certain members of his royal team (and servants) so that they would travel with him to the after-life, and serve him there. This happened in the parts of Nigeria where my people are from.

The ancestors see so much more than we do: they see how long we shine in the sun, how long our successes last; how long the world is ours, and how long before the vultures come to pick at the bones of past glories. They know it all; or almost all, because there are things hidden even to them.

They also know the names of those who were sacrificed, whether through life or through death, to kingdoms and territory, formality and appearances, pomp and circumstance. And they mourn those sacrificial victims, even those who did not know that they had been sacrificed at all. I understand why they exhort us not to seek glory or (political) position or notoriety - it doesn’t last, in the end.

It seldom does.

It also intersects with the insight that I acquired through my practice of Ifa. It’s not inherently bad to be in a position of leadership, or to be driven - there are righteous causes in this world that are worth furthering and fighting for. However, humility provides an underestimated (and understated) amount of protection against falling into the kinds of traps that unchecked ambition can lead you into. The ancestor who wrote this piece understood that only upon entering the grave. And now he warns us: don’t be so quick to race to the throne or to build your empire - it may well be your (at least spiritual) grave.