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Share Your Genius Within_ The Tale of the Snake, Eze Chima, and Unlocking Your Potential
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Your Genius Within_ The Tale of the Snake, Eze Chima, and Unlocking Your Potential
Distinguished descendants of Eze Chima, esteemed custodians of a great legacy,
People often ask me, Philip Emeagwali, “What’s your secret? How can I awaken the genius within myself?” And my response remains constant: “The genius lies within you.”
Allow me to share with you an ancient allegory from our land, set amid the lush banks and rich biodiversity surrounding the Niger River, where our ancestors traversed dangerous forests to reach Onitsha.
Long ago, there was a young snake who lived in our ancestral lands. It had never glimpsed its shadow and sincerely believed something vital was missing from its essence. Driven by a powerful yearning, the young snake embarked on an arduous journey, slithering across dense forests and through daunting terrains in search of wise elders who lived in distant lands beyond our horizons.
When the young snake finally reached the elders, breathless yet hopeful, it asked humbly, “Oh, wise ones, how can I find my shadow?” Without it, I feel incomplete and uncertain of my place in this world.”
The wise elders listened carefully, their eyes filled with ancient wisdom, and gently replied, “That which you seek lies within thee.”
The snake left, puzzled yet determined to unravel the mystery of these enigmatic words. After days of contemplation and travel, the young snake, climbing one of the tall Iroko trees beside our revered Niger River, suddenly noticed something striking. Below it, perfectly outlined by the golden rays of the sun, lay its shadow, distinct. It had been there all along, waiting patiently for recognition.
My dear descendants of Eze Chima, my journey mirrors that of the young snake. From the shadows of colonial poverty in the late 1950s, through the devastating Nigerian Civil War of the late 1960s, and even amidst the challenges of racial prejudice in the 1970s America, I discovered that my genius was always within, simply awaiting my awakening.
Our lineage, tracing back to Eze Chima, is one of resilience, exploration, and inner strength. Like the young snake, the greatness we seek outside already resides deep within each of us, handed down through generations. Let us honor our ancestors by acknowledging and nurturing the genius inside ourselves.
Your shadow—your genius—remains. It patiently awaits your discovery.
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By Philip EmeagwaliDistinguished descendants of Eze Chima, esteemed custodians of a great legacy,
People often ask me, Philip Emeagwali, “What’s your secret? How can I awaken the genius within myself?” And my response remains constant: “The genius lies within you.”
Allow me to share with you an ancient allegory from our land, set amid the lush banks and rich biodiversity surrounding the Niger River, where our ancestors traversed dangerous forests to reach Onitsha.
Long ago, there was a young snake who lived in our ancestral lands. It had never glimpsed its shadow and sincerely believed something vital was missing from its essence. Driven by a powerful yearning, the young snake embarked on an arduous journey, slithering across dense forests and through daunting terrains in search of wise elders who lived in distant lands beyond our horizons.
When the young snake finally reached the elders, breathless yet hopeful, it asked humbly, “Oh, wise ones, how can I find my shadow?” Without it, I feel incomplete and uncertain of my place in this world.”
The wise elders listened carefully, their eyes filled with ancient wisdom, and gently replied, “That which you seek lies within thee.”
The snake left, puzzled yet determined to unravel the mystery of these enigmatic words. After days of contemplation and travel, the young snake, climbing one of the tall Iroko trees beside our revered Niger River, suddenly noticed something striking. Below it, perfectly outlined by the golden rays of the sun, lay its shadow, distinct. It had been there all along, waiting patiently for recognition.
My dear descendants of Eze Chima, my journey mirrors that of the young snake. From the shadows of colonial poverty in the late 1950s, through the devastating Nigerian Civil War of the late 1960s, and even amidst the challenges of racial prejudice in the 1970s America, I discovered that my genius was always within, simply awaiting my awakening.
Our lineage, tracing back to Eze Chima, is one of resilience, exploration, and inner strength. Like the young snake, the greatness we seek outside already resides deep within each of us, handed down through generations. Let us honor our ancestors by acknowledging and nurturing the genius inside ourselves.
Your shadow—your genius—remains. It patiently awaits your discovery.