African Costume Day

Cultural heritage, Sense of belongingness, National identity,

African Costume Day
During our schooling time May,
Was an event sanguine
A souvenir as I rewind.

We were primitives journeying trials
Of rediscovery of our lose wealth to be higher,
All pupils had the desire to be entirely
Africans (uncivilized, diabolic, & illiterate )wholly.

May on the eve of that day,
Our Christmas; we learned many ways
Of life, as our assignments were to know
The specific chalk and bomber, we did so bold.

Yes we did neglecting others' garments
Under mentorship of the elder men and women
Having mastered the required talents,
They prepared to see us with much patient

May, at morning you could see girls
Walking in beauties without curls
Yes! Half naked, bare footed with chalks
And char coals on them; many talks

Were heard as they did. Their lumbar regions
Were camouflaged so much finely ancient,
Their upper regions- their breasts
Were strongly protected from threats.

Still some passed with peppers
And bitter balls in their hairs as ribbons with helpers,
If by errors drop to protect, the rest with calabash; a price
In hands came broadcasting rice.

Next to see were our male counterparts,
With bombers in fine arts
With splendidly designed cotton shirts woven
Came dancing war dance in the open.

Aye May, our days were goodies
But what will you say to your buddies
And kids
When they vex you looking in their faces?

Author's Note

African Costume Day is a poem that celebrates such days I'm not the Liberian Educational System some years back before its deletion by Ministry of Education in the country.
During such times, the students were on the path of rediscovery of who were are and solving our lose cultural heritage.
It was a proud by then, to be entirely African; " uncivilized, diabolic and illiterate wholly "; as seen the below line.

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[Rubein Geterminah]

A poem of national identity, cultural heritage, self belongingness, and appreciating national worthiness