So there’s this royal rite in Yoruba land where there’s a chosen aide to the King called #Abobaku. He, with his family, enjoys a lot of benefits through the lifetime of the King in exchange for his life. When the King dies, he is buried with the corpse of the King.
Abobaku = Yoruba phrase that translates literally as: One who dies with the King. From culture of burying dead monarchs wt trusted aide(s)
— Tolu Ogunlesi, MON (@toluogunlesi) August 12, 2015
Rumor has it that the Abobaku of the late Ooni of Ife is on the run. Poor guy. But, in 2015, who wouldn’t do the same?
As disheartening or funny as this story may seem though, it serves as a call point on many of the practices of our cultures, in Africa, that need urgent review and scrutiny.
While there are so many angles to pick the story from, I decided to project it from a workplace perspective.
A friend of mine is currently having legal issues in his workplace. While he was offered employment, he signed certain clauses in ignorance and these clauses are currently inhibiting him from giving his family ample home time. His case is even worsened by his show of arrogance to the HR lead of his company, and action he’d later regret after his contract terms were brought to fore.
https://twitter.com/WoleOdeleye/status/631521544288772096?s=09
My friend is ‘Straight Outta Joy’ at the moment. He’s running from pillar to post to untagle himself from his own signature. We are yet to find a solution, plus he can’t even resign because of one of the clauses of the said contract.
My friend is an Abobaku. I hope you, or yours, won’t be the next on the line.
Ignorance is backward. The last time I checked we are in the 21st century. Abobaku is another fake propaganda against our tradition.
so true! Is always of importance we understand the tenets of our job abinitio.