"Yellow House and the Science of Losing with Style"
Every secondary school in Nigeria had Inter-House Sports that one day in second term when the whole school turned into a stadium, carnival, and federal embarrassment all at once. This one personal for me because I be Yellow house citizen.
But no matter the school whether na Hussey College, Dom Domingo, or any other one mystery still dey remain:
1. The House Spirit No Dey House
Red House dey shout. Blue House dey form. Green House dey train since January.
Yellow House?
We Yellow go just show face with two whistles, one cracked megaphone, and half-hearted chants like:
“Yellow! Yellow!!”
Crowd: (Cricket sounds)
Even our Yellow House teachers dey pretend say dem no belong. Na dem dey clap for other houses.
2. Their Athletes Na Trial and Error
Red dey bring born athletes. Blue dey recruit from football team.
Yellow go line up:
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That boy wey tall but slow
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That fine girl wey sabi slay but no sabi run
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That JSS3 boy wey only fast when dem ring bell for dining time.
And when race start, Yellow House go start well, then baton go fall. Every year.
3. Too Much Focus on Marchpast
Yellow House sabi march like military. Socks match, steps in sync, head up like presidential guard. But when e reach field event? Zero form. Zero medals.
Na dem dey win “Best Behaviour on Parade”, but when dem call real events?
Yellow House: no medals yet.
You fit count Yellow out for 100m or relay, but when e reach Egg race, Lime and spoon, Sack race Yellow dey dominate! The drama, the fall, the loud “Aunty! Dem cheat me o!” na dem dey give Inter-House flavor.
When DJ start music? Forget competition Yellow go scatter dance floor.
Marchpast na cruise. Closing ceremony na party. Yellow House dey run on pure ginger and vibes.
Yes, Yellow House no dey win. Yes, dem dey carry last like say na tradition.
But deep down, we all know they never stop showing up.
And that right there is the Nigerian spirit. We Show Up, Even When Life No Dey Smile
Yellow House dey train like dem go win, even though dem sabi say dem no get legwork.
Dem go march, dem go chant, dem go hype themselves, and even after falling baton, dem still go dance go back hostel. Yellow House na those people wey know say dem fit lose, but still go training.
Dem go still do marchpast. Dem go still shout chant under sun.
Why?
Because giving up no dey sweet for Naija pikin.
Because for here, we go laugh inside struggle and still turn up in style.
Just like Nigerians dey:
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Dress sharp with zero bank balance
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Laugh inside fuel scarcity
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Hustle on top two-hour sleep
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Carry hope go election like say miracle fit happen
Dress well, even when country hard
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Crack joke, even when fuel price high
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Hustle two jobs, even when one no dey pay
Yellow House is every Nigerian that refuses to quit. Even when nothing dey work.
Yellow House dey lose competition, but dem go win people heart. Their spirit dey loud, their joy no fake, their dance no need gold medal.
They remind us say life no be only about winning na about showing up with joy, even if na just to run relay and fall gallantly. Na so Nigerians dey win not because everything perfect, but because we sabi turn nothing to something, and find happiness inside wahala. Some houses run for glory. Yellow House dey run for memory. Na dem dey remind you say life no suppose too serious. Say even when result no come, your spirit fit still shine. In that way, Yellow House na the real MVP. Dem dey teach young Nigerians:
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To show up, even when odds no dey your side
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To carry last with pride, but eye next year
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To never let the system kill your shine
You see we Yellow House students? We fit carry last today. But we go still shine for life:
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The girl wey miss baton go become lawyer
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The boy wey fall for 800m go end up CEO
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The dancer wey scatter Inter-House go win Big Brother
That’s Naija. You count us out now, we go bounce back with full chest tomorrow.
When NEPA cut light mid-braid and you still complete the hair with torchlight...
When you write WAEC with prayer and pen from First Bank...
When you dey dance away your stress in traffic after 6-hour queue for fuel…
When light no dey but you iron cloth for wedding...
When JAMB jam you twice but you still dey register again,
When you dey dance inside traffic after paying ₦2k for ₦300 fuel…
That’s Yellow House, that’s us.
We no dey always win, but we dey always try. And somehow, we dey still shine.
That’s Yellow House inside you.
That’s resilience. That’s humor. That’s hope.
That’s Naija.
Your Turn: You Yellow or You Win Zone?
Did your house win anything? Or you follow chop the yearly “we go try next year” speech?
Drop your school, your house, and your own Yellow House moment.
Let’s honour the only house that never carried first but carried the most joy.
📌 Next week, we go discuss:
Debate Club Chronicles – How We Learn to Talk Like Politicians Without Saying Anything.
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