Time: The Silent Witness to All Things

Time is a quiet storyteller. It moves without permission, leaving behind memories, shaping destinies, and whispering lessons to those who listen. In Ala Igbo, time is more than a measure of moments. It is a river that carries the wisdom of the ancestors, a drum that beats in sync with tradition, and a shadow that follows us through the journey of life.

Time in the Eyes of the Elders

In many Igbo homes, time is not counted by the ticking of a clock but by the events that mark a life. The birth of a child is not just a moment but the dawn of a new path. The planting season is not just a date but a sacred dance with the earth. The setting sun does not simply end a day but reminds us that what has passed is now a lesson, and what is ahead is yet to be written.

The elders say, “Oge adịghị echere mmadụ”—time waits for no one. To live without purpose is to let the wind carry away the days like dry leaves in harmattan. The wise understand that time is both a gift and a debt. What we do with it determines what we leave behind.

The Weight of a Moment

A single moment can shape an entire lifetime. “Oge dị ka ifuru, ọ na-agba ọsọ”—time is like a flower, it blooms and fades quickly. It reminds us to hold on to the present, to cherish the laughter of loved ones, to speak words of kindness before they become regrets, and to embrace the things that truly matter.

There is a lesson in every sunrise and a warning in every sunset. A child who hesitates to learn the language of their ancestors may wake up one day to find the words have left them. A farmer who waits too long to plant will find the rains have passed. An opportunity ignored is like a footstep washed away by the tide.

Time and Legacy

In Igbo tradition, a person is remembered not by the years they lived but by the impact they left. “Oge na-eme ka eze, oge na-eme ka ohu”—time makes a king, time makes a servant. A life well-lived is one where time is not wasted on things without meaning. It is in the stories told around the fire, the wisdom passed from generation to generation, the laughter that echoes long after a person has gone.

To live with purpose is to respect time. To honor time is to build something that outlives us. In the end, “Oge na-ekwu okwu”—time speaks. The question is, when it does, what will it say about you?

This is the depth of time in Igbo thought. It is not just seconds and minutes. It is a spirit, a silent witness, and a mirror that reflects the choices we make. The past, the present, and the future are all connected, waiting for us to decide what kind of mark we will leave.