Dr Freaks Journal - Non Verbal Communication

To Understand what Non verbal communication really is you need to read this...... LOL

I spent part of my early years in my village somewhere in Ekiti State and I am eternally grateful to my parents for giving me that golden opportunity.
In the village, you acquire "native intelligence" in its most undiluted form, either consciously, or unconsciously.

I observed early in life that some people in the village had over the years developed various ingenious means of safeguarding their valuables. Some would urinate around such valuables with the belief that no one would steal any of same.

We also had situations where the owner of valuables would tie same with either palm fronds or a red cloth cuttings. In your own interest, whenever you see any of the afore-mentioned in Ekiti State, please, flee! "Na heavy juju dey there".

Let me now take you to a higher level.


Despite all the security measures being put in place, occasionally, some daring rogues still defy all the measures and go to other people's farms to steal. On a regular basis these thieves go to steal yam, plantain, etc. 

Remember that in Chinua Achebe's "Things Fall Apart", "Eneke the bird says that since men have learned to shoot without missing, he has learned to fly without perching". By parity of reasoning, since the sons of men have decided to continually steal from the farmers, the farmers too have devised metaphysical means of bringing the culprits to book. 

Whenever you go to any farm or compound in the village and you see a broom (with some charms around the neck) tied to a tree or the entrance of such compound, have a rethink.


My uncle was a farmer and having recorded an untold loss on his farm, he decided to experiment the afore-stated option on his farm. 

Uncle went to the farm quite early on a Sunday. In my village, Sunday was the most sacred day. It is not only important so because it is the day set apart by most Christians as "the sabbath day", but it was a day when all the farmers who had temporarily relocated to their farm settlements since Monday morning will migrate back to the village to attend peer-group meetings and participate in the merry making and engage in palm wine (Ògòrò) drinking spree.

Rumours were rife that it was slightly different in a neighbouring village where the residents used to have their own return to civilisation, peer group meetings and drinking spree on Mondays. Little wonder accident used to claim lives more in that particular village on Mondays (please I did not mention any name oh).


Back to my story. Uncle never worked on Sundays, he had only gone to probably check out some of his traps. The wives and children waited for him to return endlessly. He failed to return from the farm till almost 6.00pm and at that point, they had to constitute a manhunt team to track him down to the farm.

 The whole neighbourhood had been thrown into pandemonium now and trust the villagers, everybody had come up with his version of conspiracy theory. Questions upon questions. Could they have kidnapped him? Could he have missed his way? Could he...?

 The farm was not so far from the village anyway, depending on the means of transportation adopted. Under few minutes, the team had hit the farm and behold, uncle was found sweeping the entire farm. By now he had swept the entire farm clean having laboured all day.

 When he sighted the team he was startled, yet he was still labouring under the dictates of his own charm! One of the guys present sensed what was going on, he asked him some questions and that way he was able to confirm their suspicion.

 Uncle had planted a charm on the farm, however, while planting the charm, he forgot to exempt himself and family members! 

At this juncture, he instructed them as to what to do. Rituals were performed and he was set free.
Hungry and tired, uncle was eventually brought back home and that was how the news went viral in the village.


So when next you find yourself in Ekiti and you sight any of these signs, flee!