Chidimma Writes

  NEW YEAR, NEW BELLS By Chidimma Placid Nwaka Everyone looks forward to the New Year, carrying resolution wishes in their hearts. Some wishes, however, seem to die along the way not because they were unheard, but because change did not take effect. Sometimes it is stagnation in the same old place; other times, it feels like the wish is fulfilled in the opposite direction of what we asked for. Yet every wish is heard by our Father in heaven. He listens, He acknowledges, and He understands which outcome will truly favor us. Some wishes may not come to pass as expected, while others are fulfilled quietly, so quietly that we get too busy to notice the beauty in them. The prophet Isaiah reminds us that it often takes brokenness for a person to rise. And Jesus Christ made it clear that when we ask, seek, and knock at God’s door, we will receive what we need. God gives us what we need, not always what we want. Perhaps that is why some wishes are delayed or denied. As you make your New Ye...

  WHEN THE CLOCK RESETS By Chidimma Placid Nwaka  The year has been a long one. We win, we lose, and we learn. Like babies, we depend on every little good. Like children, we laugh wholeheartedly. Like adults, we chase confidence and opportunities. Different people meet us and share our struggles. Some leave because of the weight we carry. Some stay and help us carry it on. The year might not have been your winning one, But remember, you were still rich, Because you had real people around you. A few hours to the New Year… Make a revolution wish.

  YOUTIDE  It has been moments since we welcomed the new month. Tons and tons of posts about elves and Christmas days have been flooding social media platforms since day one. Many people have been blessed in ways they expected, while some are still appealing to the traditional Santa Claus idea. Christmas is not just a season. It is a period of connection and good tidings where people around the world come together in happiness. In different parts of the world, streets are decorated with amber lights, and stores are filled with buyers shopping for trees, lights, and gifts for loved ones. However, in Nigeria, it comes with the joy of reconnecting with family members and friends. Streets do get lit up, but the beauty of the season is not measured by amber lights. It is measured by the warmth it brings despite the dusty weather, a feeling many people still wonder about. Like other countries, many people visit malls, salons, and other places to look good and celebrate Christmas. Bu...

Like heroes and villains, They came with light and with darkness. The darkness spread like a virus A killing virus that turned the hearts of fathers Against their own sons and daughters. A plague that forced many to deny their heritage Just to stay alive. One that tried to erase the smiles They were born with. Many women became motherless. Many babies became baits for alligators. Old men chose money over their sons. The villains, heartless like monsters, Watched them drown in foreign oceans, Watched them hang themselves without guilt, Watched them beaten to pulp And left to die on the way. With shackles on their feet And chains on their wrists, They hummed like true warriors. Only the flesh died The soul remained untouched. These were great heroes Who fought through cold and heat, Through blood and sweat, Yet kept their eyes on the brightest hope, Praying we would never witness What they endured. And today  it remains a history A painful one. – CHIDIMMA PLACID NWAKA 

  STEREOTYPES AND STENCILS The Scar That Forges Everything By Chidimma Placid Nwaka   In our everyday lives, we are easily lured into assumptions, fallacies, fictions, and even old narratives that leave deep scars on the human heart and, worse still, corrupt the mind. These scars do not end with us; they find their way into the next generation, breeding problems that often escalate into heated crises. Like an ailment, they spread rapidly, creating what may be described as the “Dark Circle.” The dark circle is one many people struggle to break free from, either by running away from the problem or by dying silently within it. It is a cycle of pain, silence, and inherited prejudice. Often, we live by the assumptions, judgments, and perceptions of others without hearing both sides of a story. This phenomenon is known as stereotyping. Stereotypes rule many parts of the world today, fueling crises, violence, and social division. People frequently pass judgments without personal expe...

MOVIE CRITIC: THE HERD Just Like Every Other One, It Reminds Us of the Poison People believe history shapes our lifestyle, and while the stories get interesting, the movies created from them make the connections more visible. The Herd is a historical movie; not too old, just about six years from the real events that inspired its visuals. It is a film that does not intend to hurt any religion or portray any tribe in Nigeria negatively. Effiong Daniel, an inspiring actor, delivered a project that could easily be misunderstood as controversial, especially because it was released during a chaotic and sensitive period in the country. Many critics from Northern Nigeria claimed the movie undermines the region, but the truth is that it delivers factual information in visual form. Bandit attacks, killings, the selling of human body parts, and other dark realities were portrayed, not to demonize anyone, but to reflect what victims actually go through. Just like To Kill a Monkey, The Herd uses st...

  OUR CULTURE, OUR WAY OF LIFE By Chidimma Placid Nwaka  INTRODUCTION Culture is defined by the attributes that make it honored and respected from one generation to another. It is the way of life of a people in a geographical setting. Culture is a beautiful reflection that tells about a tribe, region, city, village, town, territory, or nation. It provides details of what is held important and how people live their lives, whether simple or sophisticated, bothered or unbothered. In this article, the different cultures of different people will be explored, and their uniqueness identified. CULTURE AND ITS IMPORTANCE Culture is an attractive blend of different arts that adds color to a specific group of people. It is not only based on a tribe or country; workplaces, schools, and institutions have their own cultures that present value and appreciation. In a quick one, culture is everywhere, irrespective of class or size. Even families have their own culture that everyone holds with ...