In Naija style, we sabi say nobody dey hail rag until their shoes don dirty. This simple truth, wey dey grounded in African wisdom, dey teach us say true respect comes when help or value become necessary. Like Tijjani Ajeka put am on Medium, the rag “existed only to wipe clean the dirty shoes of others, its value recognized only when its service is needed.” In other words, we no go dey cherish small things until gbege touch ground. Na why this article dey full of four real-life lessons for every Naija person, so you fit see how to hold your lane, value yourself, and patiently wait for your time to shine, even when people no dey notice your rag yet. Oya, make we dive in.
1. When you dey needed, people go begin respect you
When your shoes clean, dem no dey notice your rag, na only when rain don dirty their path, then dem say, “Chai, I need dat rag now!” In Naija we sabi say life go test you before people recognise your value. For example, you fit dey always available but dem no go rate you, but once gbege show, na you dem go run find. That one hit home as folks dey yarn: na only when dem need you dem go remember say you dey somewhere.” This proverb sharp well, because e remind us say respect no dey constant, na you fit earn am when people need your help. This thing be like your phone and im charger, you no go quick notice say this your charger don dey old so you go fit get new one down until e don spoil. Then yeye charger go turn premium. Na how naija respect sometimes be so no go gbezome.
2. Stay your lane, show patience
Chill for your corner, no dey shout for people to notice you. Naso LinkedIn people talk am, “Don’t beg people to know your value, when the time comes, they will look for you.” This one sweet me die, because e make sense gidigba: no need hustle for applause now. Like farmer wey dey wait for harvest, if you dey sow right seed and dey water am every morning, one day you go see fruit. You no need beg sun to shine; you just dey your farm, everything go mature on time. Same with respect: once you dey consistent and reliable, people go naturally come find you when their shoes dirty.
3. Value your race, no need to beg
When people dey run after you only when dem need help, no dey reduce yourself. See life like an Auntie wey dey street selling akara, nobody dey praise am until hunger burst body. But once hunger show face, na her akara go become the hottest matter. So, no need to dey cry for people to celebrate you early. Just dey do your thing quietly, dey improve your skill, dey build your hustle. When the time land, dem go come even if na midnight. Your matter go be just like generator; light dey o light no dey o, everybody go always go fuel station to buy petrol keep for house in case of when dem go need am.
In our Naija communities, we sabi say people go dey call your phone when trouble show, so, as you dey grow, cherish the rag lessons: consistency, patience, and self-belief. Before rain come, prepare your umbrella. If you fit hold your ground when nobody dey gree you, then when life give you stage, you go perform full ground.
4. Your time go come
When your grit and talent match the need, respect go follow. Picture am: small boy wey dey repair phone for corner no dey get hype until phone spoil. Then na him call dem go make. E prove say every skill get time. If you dey polish your skill quietly, one day dem go hail you as guru. So, hold that mindset: every seed you plant, one day you go dey enjoy the fruits. When your moment reach, forget shame, stand tall, collect your respect. Na life be that. No need beg; your time na your time. And trust say the same people wey no dey recognise now, dem go come salute you when their shoes dirty.
The Naija Lowdown Writer 