Superstitions

Are you superstitious?

I wanted to provide a brief response to this topic. People often believe in many things that may not be true. These beliefs can be deeply rooted in sociocultural, religious, or political contexts. I want to share some common superstitions found in Southern Nigeria.

Whistling at Night

Growing up, we were always warned never to whistle at night. If you disturb the peace of the ghosts roaming after dark, something terrible could happen to you. I can’t count how many times I whistled at night and brushed it off. Nothing ever happened, anyway—it’s just local folklore. 🤷🏽‍♂️

Walking Over Other People’s Legs

It is believed that if you walk over a sitting person’s legs or any part of their body, that person will never grow tall again. To appease the person, you must walk over them again. I’m not sure if it bothers me when someone does that, but honestly, I don’t mind if anyone walks over my legs. 🙅🏾

Never Bend Down To Look Through Your Legs

This is a popular belief: to identify a ghost, one must bend down and look through their legs. By doing this, it is thought that you can see those whose feet never touch the ground. Additionally, there is a rumor that ghosts will knock on the head of anyone who attempts this, so it’s probably best to avoid trying it. Don’t say I didn’t warn ya. 🙆🏾‍♂️

Hitting a Foot on a Stone

I heard that striking one’s foot against a stone suggests terrible luck. I can’t say how many times I’ve mistakenly hit my foot on rocks, but I don’t believe any ill luck will come to me. 👣

Itchy Eyes or Palms

It suggests that when a person has itchy eyes or palms, good news or good luck is coming. Itchy palms may indicate incoming money. 💵

Sneezing

I often joke about this! When someone sneezes, I say someone somewhere is thinking of them. 🤧

Superstitions are common in Nigeria and around the world. While some may seem absurd or be dismissed easily, they play a significant role in cultural beliefs and folklore.