– A RESULT OF SPONTANEOUS RENDEZVOUS
I learnt upon my attainment of manhood that the arts are incorporated in every serious endeavour we will embrace towards livelihood and, more importantly, peace of mind in growth. Thus, life is bound by profound rules, laws, creeds, and dogmas are not exclusively religious but related to the significant principles that most of us were schooled in and must be adhered to. This was towards the give-and-take balances of the relationships that we will be engaged in through the unchartered journey of this life. So, how does art fit into this?

The arts, whether acknowledged, accepted, or understood, remain through their varied mature talents, the principal vehicle of interpreting the creeds and salient practices. These practices have built and destroyed relationships, exalting and deploring loyalty and betrayal, unveiling tainted secrets, as well as bold, noble acts of loyalty and self-sacrifice that other humans may understand but cannot articulate towards posterity.

In that very way, the gifted scribe and illustrator will immortalise whether it be the obsessive love of a God or king or a man or woman against the overwhelming odds of their age.  These examples, through time, have influenced both royalty and noble citizens. Nevertheless, there are, and were always, those who denounced teachings to also complete and allot to posterity the artistic murals and portraits of the misguided fallen and the legions of the caste down.

To the above is allotted my interpretation of the esteemed statement that “the shaping of a nation is a work of art.” Our era requires more attention because there seems to be a rebellion against all rules previously flaunted in good taste that, in too many ways, have become props while a more sinister application was conducted.

The asset of this time is the technology that can capture evidence where doubt and tall tales are substitutes, as well as institute values that are indiscreet and get dismal results over time.  I must share a true incident without names being mentioned: A young man married a young woman I know, and they moved to Sophia. I saw her on Hadfield and Cross Streets one day, and she asked me for “a raise”. Knowing that she has two children, I enquired about what she was doing there. She has a former stepmother in Cross Street, but my concern was her two young daughters. She explained a strange story to me: the electricity in Sopia was cut off by GPL for non-payment again. Whenever this happened, her husband’s mother would order him to her home, leaving her and the two children alone since he couldn’t carry his wife and two children with him. This affected the mental condition of the young lady and almost destroyed the elder of her daughters.  Worse followed, which cannot be contained in this article.

We live in a difficult age of bright lights inhabited by darkness. The incident mentioned was not the only case where a parent flaunted indiscreet authority that ended up disabling a family. In another case with another female and another mother-in-law that occurred in distant Canada, it caused death.

How can we institute change where a social menu towards ‘needs and wants’ is not itemised through any detailed discussion? Ideas must be discussed. During 2023, I was invited to a meeting to discuss issues affecting specific areas that I once lived in and still have family in and I was told to ask them what was upsetting them. I declined on the pretext that the people I would have to talk to would think that I’m mad because how could I ask them what I already know?

I’ve always pondered the term “The good old days” with skepticism. Some things worked then but will not now. I think each age has the answers to its problems.  I’m an artist /writer, and if you’re inclined to the arts and a keen friend of literature and reading this article, then play your part. What’s happening is a search for respect, love and relevance in a masquerade of imbalances. We’ve had the ‘virus of funny money – a callous view of life and distrust – choose the portrait of your building blocks now. It may not win friends, but it will balance your world and the standards of your future engagements with fewer regrets.