SALLAH MERRIMENT IN KIRIKIRI TOWN.

The Eid-el-Kabir was officially given a two-day holiday in Nigeria and since Kirikiri town is located in Apapa, Lagos State it has no impetus whatsoever not to observe the holidays.

This is a holiday where civil servants, employees in private establishments and the general public will officially say to their boss “na everyday person go dey work?, make I rest abeg”,

because they have the backing of the number one citizen of Nigeria, their boss won’t do anything funny to them. They won’t bother going to work or do anything whatsoever other than celebrating with each other the essence of the Arafat day.

Some say that Sallah celebration is a time where Muslims extend their warm hands of love and giving to everyone including Christians while during Christmas, what they have shown will be reversed in double fold. It happens to be this way because Sallah comes before Christmas. This happens to be a discussion between two friends, Emeka and Ahmed.

In Kirikiri town, the atmosphere was filled with celebration. Out of the 28,985 people in Kirikiri town about 20% are Muslims.  On the morning of the first day of the Sallah celebration, it was quiet and peaceful perhaps everyone was observing an extended sleep time knowing that there will be no work on that day. After noon, rams bought for slaughter purpose according to the Holy Quran where Prophet Ibrahim was about to sacrifice his only son to Almighty Allah, a commandment which was given to him by Allah which he obeyed with all his heart. When he was about to do what the Almighty Allah commanded, behold a voice asked him to stop and the same voice eulogized his faith. Thereafter, a ram was provided for the sacrifice instead of his solitary son, began to bleat their last. They were slaughtered mercilessly.

A Cow was seen at Magbesa Street and Rams were seen at Akere Street, Ajanlekoko Street, and Johnson Street.  Other streets where sacrificial animals were not seen were perhaps inside fenced buildings. The Rams slaughtered at Akere Street was witnessed by our team and when the slaughter man was asked why the animal was killed, he said “na my oga say make I kill am for Sallah”.

The Muslims converged at the Mosque’s located at Akere Street, Cardoso Street, Otun Street, Airport road, Comfort Oboh Street, Prison Barracks and in their respective homes to say collective prayers to the Almighty Allah.

Immediately after prayers, plates of rice and heavy chunks of meat were seen being moved across streets in an orderly manner of distribution. The content of one plate happened to revealed, the grains of rice was red and white in color with a large piece of meat and two soft drinks.

The second day was a day to round up the merriment and also to prepare for the hustle and bustle associated with the rest of the week. In the past, young Muslim children often walked around in their beautiful and fancy Sallah dresses not forgetting to put on their Hijab, but where young Muslim children were seen no more walking on the streets as they used to, raised scrutiny as to whether there are no more young Muslim children in Kirikiri town or they were asked not to come outside or they have outgrown that style or perhaps they have upgraded their standard. What do you think?

The adults welcomed visitors to their Homes while other adults had enough time to visit their loved ones around and outside Kirikiri town. Others threw parties to commemorate the day. The Muslim youths didn’t fail to celebrate in their way. For years it kept wandering at heart how they celebrated but it was revealed. They celebrated with their families but those who were independent of themselves celebrated with their friends.

Bars such as Amsterdam bar at Karimu Street, Ultimate bar at Ajanlekoko Street were heard playing loud music for their customers. However the Sallah celebration in Kirikiri town was a bit cool. We pray for a better celebration next year.

When we sleep and wake up let’s remember the essence of Eid-el- Kabir and know that we ought to be faithful and hopeful because the Almighty Allah requires of us an immeasurable number of faith in other to bless us. He tests our faith daily, let us live in awe of him. Happy Eid-el-Kabir to our Muslim brothers and sisters outside Kirikiri town.  Happy Eid-el-Kabir to everyone in the world.

Our motto still remains. Upgrading Standard.