Browsing by Author "Yao Paulin, Kouassi Aoussou"

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    An African Exodus: Special Reference to the Exodus of the Baoule of Ivory Coast
    (Tangaza University College, 2005) Yao Paulin, Kouassi Aoussou
    Today, in a special way I remember my childhood like it was yesterday. I remember the nice smell of the sand when it rained, when we went to farm all day and came back very tired, and the special moment when we met in the night around the fire with our grandfather and some elders. I still remember the voice of my grandfather and the sound of the drums. Those days were the joyful moments of my life. hi the remote village, very far away, a village that the world may ignore, there, I was born in the silence of the night on the leaves of banana. I w as washed with cold water mixed with some plants. The first thing that touched my tongue was palm wine and then the voice of my grandfather followed to welcome me in the world. Full of mysteries where tomorrow is not known. Afraid, yes I was afraid, but my grandfather assured me his protection and guidance. My grandfather was well known in the entire region by his courage and also by his qualities as a great warrior. It is in the hand of such a great man that I was instructed. He was asked by the elders to be our teacher since he was the pillar o four tradition. Every night we gathered around him and listened to him attentively. I admired him a lot, you can see and feel our 'heritage' flowing from his soul and blood. He was a great man whose intelligence was well known, 'his head shines like fire'2. The method used by that great teacher was the narration of myths. All aspects of our life and about life were taught through myths. The entire heritage of our tradition was written in the soul and blood of my Grandfather. That it is why, we used to say, that if an old man died, it's like an entire library that has been destroyed. Since my childhood, I have been 'nourished by myths'. They formedme and through it I have learned about my tribe, my clan, and my ancestors and also to know the why and the teaching of the rules and morals of my community. Myths have forged my guiding principles and moral life. One who is not initiated into it, is not classified among 'humans' and has no right to sit among the elders. It is to say that, 'a child who has done sixty villages is wiser than an old man who is sixty years old and has never travelled'. Later on, in secondary school and at university, I came across Greek mythology, which has some similarities with ours, and it really fascinated me. Joining seminary was an opportunity for me to use that experience and background in sharing the Word of God, since myths can be found in the Bible too. And are well appreciated. Now it is an occasion for me to look closer at the myths and see in which way they can contribute to our effort of inculturating the Good News brought by our saviour Jesus Christ. Personally, I think that Christianity should be presented to other peoples and cultures in the way that is most meaningful for them. For that reason, the study of one of the myths of my people would be very helpful in presenting the Gospel since myths are a genuine part of our culture. It is an occasion also, to pay homage to my grandfather and through him to all the great Africans, who did their best to protect and to pass our traditions from generation to generation.