Morning Ritual

It began with her. Every morning in Abuja, before the streets fully stirred, she appeared at the old well behind my window, small, determined, and half-awake. The sound of the rope scraping against the concrete, the splash of water, the quiet sigh of effort, these became part of my mornings. From that rhythm, from her persistence, this moment birthed my short series titled “Voices Outside My Window.” What began as an ordinary sight soon became a meditation on labor, resilience, and survival, a story that echoes across countless Nigerian homes. For many, fetching water remains a ritual of necessity, a measure of both endurance and hope. In her movement, I saw the poetry of daily struggle, children growing into strength too soon, women carrying the day before it even begins, and a people who continue, quietly, without complaint. “Morning Ritual” is not just an image, it’s the heartbeat of a nation still learning to find grace in the weight of its mornings.

Uploaded on 20 October 2025.