Unfortunately, I’m Colour Blind

So you remember how we were taught primary and secondary colours in primary school? Remember that yellow + red = orange; yellow + blue = green; blue + red = purple ? Okay, if you have forgotten, I’ve just reminded you. So basically, growing up, 95% of us had a favourite colour (some of us still do). Let’s leave the 5% for the weirdos :p :p

Now let’s imagine the colour blind girl who can’t identify the differences in the colours, she just randomly picks different colours of toys other than pink, purple (common amongst her contemporaries). She doesn’t throw tantrums if you only found colour blue or green of her favourite toys. You don’t have to stress out trying to get a particular colour of whatever she wants because she loves any colour you get her… SHE IS COLOUR BLIND

I have had three major experiences of being far away from home. My first was at the young age of 9 when I was whisked away to Ilorin, Kwara state (north-western Nigeria). I was so quick to blend in to the Yoruba-speaking culture of the school, that I almost lost every diction of English I prided in from Primary school. I couldn’t even complete a single sentence in English after two terms, lol. Well, maybe it was because I was young, but I was quick to pick the characters and accent of the people. I was a child… I WAS COLOUR BLIND.

My second experience was in 2010 when I was sent to far away Adamawa state (north-eastern Nigeria) for the compulsory National Youth Service Corps. I was going to a place where I knew absolutely nobody but I was ready to mingle. In camp, there was a large group of Igbos (about 60%) and a fewer number of Yorubas and other tribes. I wasn’t about to start a fraternity or a club in camp and so I was quick to mingle with the first set of people I came in contact with, the Igbos. A few days into camp, a group of ladies came to me and questioned why I, a Yoruba, was found frequently in the company of the Igbos. That was a surprise to me, who is Igbo? who is Yoruba? I don’t see any of that, I only see different humans with amazing characteristics and I happen to mingle with my first friends. I even got so close to an Igbo guy that we almost dated after camp… I WAS COLOUR BLIND.

Outside of camp, I was excited to mingle with a host of northerners (hausas, fulanis, and other tribes). Learning their culture, language and history. I was always among the first to try out their meals and you can’t miss the petite corper under the tree with the ‘Fura de nunu’ vendor and other customers. They always looked at me like I was doing something uncommon. It was rare to see youth corpers in their midst but I WAS simply COLOUR-BLIND.

My third experience was an international one, when I had to spend a year in England for my Masters. I had all sorts of advice from people telling me to watch out for racism, discrimination and lack of love. Thank God, I turned a deaf ear to those and accepted only the fact that we are all humans born in different continents. I had a wonderful relationship with my tutors. My personal tutor turned out to be one of my greatest supports and encourager. I was so grateful to her and my year tutor who sadly passed away before the end of the program. I was so sadly affected by her death because she was also very supportive and always vying for me. Anyway, I met amazing people, learnt a great deal on research and presentations, made a few friends in my hall and on some jobs. British, Chinese, Indian, Africans etc… I WAS simply COLOUR BLIND

It doesn’t matter who you are or what tribe you are, I am COLOUR BLIND. It doesn’t matter if you maltreat me, I won’t assume it’s because I’m different, I am COLOUR BLIND. I don’t understand the word racism, I am COLOUR BLIND. Children are colour-blind and don’t understand the difference in human colours or races until we begin to teach them from our own actions.

The world is full of humans born in different continents but with great hearts and experiences we can learn from. If only we can be open to step out of our comfort zones and mingle.

I celebrate this COLOUR BLIND family. They truly understand the love of humans beyond their colours. See beyond the colour, be COLOUR BLIND.