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AFRICAN TIME...
BLACK PEOPLE TIME...
THEY’RE BOTH THE SAME
A C C E L E R A T E L I T E / S E P T E M B E R2 0 2 0
BY: OSHORIAME EGBAKHUMEH
The mere existence of a concept like “African time” is an insult. An insult to us as Africans.
African time refers to
a lackadaisical attitude towards time. It can be described in terms of how nonchalant we are about consistently being late or unprepared. Let me bring this home to Nigeria, our dearly beloved country.
We grow up hearing our parents say things like “There’s no need to rush. Nobody will be there at the exact time” when there
is an event or meeting to attend or “Let’s set the time for 12 noon because people won’t actually be here till 2pm” when planning an event we need people
to arrive to by 1pm. I have witnessed a bride arrive to her own wedding an hour late. Why arrive late to a day specially created for your own celebration? African time. What is the point of setting a specific time for a
function when the inviter will not be prepared to receive people and the guests would not be there at the specified time? We should save ourselves the time (pun intended) of deciding when an occasion should commence.
In other words, we need to understand the importance of time. We are able to
remember multiple quotes on the importance of time but we do not implement them into our daily lives. “Time waits for no man” we recite, but how do we progress as a country if we do not value time?
Stop giving excuses for our lax attitude toward time and its value. If we make a conscious effort, we can easily keep to time and be sequential in our daily activities because consistency is salient.
Lagos traffic is not an excuse. Traffic time should be accounted for when you adequately plan. The next meeting you have, be on time. The next get together you host, be prepared
for your guests at the designated time and inform them that you are strict with time. Stop wasting your time and everyone else’s.
Time is something you can take, but can’t give back. So please be wise.
PAGE 26 INSIDE ACCESS | SEPTEMBER 2020 2ND EDITION