The Diary Game || WHEN PEOPLE NEED YOUR SERVICES, BE AVAILABLE FOR THEM || 17/04/2026

Portioning the Slaughtered Cow according tradition

Hello! Reporting from Odiok Itam for the Steemians to be part of my activities there at Itu Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State. From Tuesday, I have been consistently updating my steemit blog on the burial preparation of my friend's father. 17th April, 2026, was the final preparation for the event that would be held on 18 April 2026.

I have been with them for days now. Knowing the final day to prepare, I woke up immediately and started doing what I could without delay. I started with sweeping and picking waste around the compound with others.

Final Cleaning in the compound

After the clean-up, I assisted the man who slaughtered the goats and cows to pick whatever he requested of him. I was using the opportunity to learn how to slaughter, the parts cut according to tradition and custom. The extended family parts are usually the leg and head, depending on the clan.

Slaughtering cow and goats

How they slaughtered the cow was the most interesting part I watched carefully, using rope to tie the cow from the head, linked to the legs and other parts to ensure that it can fall with the tuck pinned to the ground.

In the kitchen, men were at work, too. We cooked rice and also prepared water leaf and afang for soup for the next day. There were other duties like fetching water, boiling the meat, and attending to guests.

Men in the Kitchen

I was tired, and after eating the rice we prepared, I slept off until evening time. Waking up, I remembered another family that I am close to whose mother will be buried on the 18th of April, 2026, at Uyo. I had to sacrifice to attend their evening of songs, knowing that I would not be in the burial due to my commitment at Odiok Itam.

Evening of Songs and Having Haircut at Night

I was in Uyo at exactly 5:02pm, and I took part in the evening of songs at The Presbyterian Church of Nigeria Uyo Parish. I spent quality with the bereaved family before and left to have my haircut as our home barber was waiting for me. About 7:20 p.m., I was at home, and there was no electricity, we used a rechargeable light to barb that night.I planned to go back that night, but my body was calling for rest. After barbing my hair, I looked for what to eat and then went to bed with the next day plan on my head, which I would update us in due time.