Mafo: The Unbreakable Spirit

Mafo /mar-foh/ is a Yoruba word which literally means “Don’t break,” and figuratively “be strong, don’t be weak”.

This is a popular street slang among Nigerians at the same time it is a powerful motivation. The spirit of Mafo is one you can’t underestimate.

Mafo on the street is a mantra used to maintain an unbroken spirit and to revive our hopes.

Mafo is similar to what Femi Osifisan expressed to in his popular poem “ Homeless, Not Hopeless “. You might be homeless but don’t be hopeless. Hence, he’s indirectly saying “Mafo”.

Mafo is a mantra that we should chew to maintain and sustain our candour in times of hardship.

When your boss gets mad at you at work. Mafo!

When you get into trouble. Mafo

When you hear Coronavirus is taking over the country. Mafo!

You get to a job interview and you’re to face a ten-man panel. Mafo! Wetin go be go be.

Tough times never last but tough people do. Therefore, Mafo.

In some cases, it is accompanied with “Ọmọ iya mi mo wa pẹlu e” meaning “my brother (or sister), I’m with you. We’re together in this.” This verbal encouragement serves to further cement the spirit of oneness in struggle and validates comradeship in any situation. We are together. We gather dey.

I’m not a lover of mathematics but the Mafo equation is one of the mathematical expression I love.

The Mafo equation goes thus:

“If 44–40=4.

And no citizen wants to 4(break). Then, 44–4=40.

Hence, mo 40. (Mo foti). Meaning I won’t break”.

If the phrase “Aluta Continua” can propel Mozambique to gaining independence from their Portuguese colonial masters. Then, with Mafo we can achieve anything.

This is a mild reminder that when the time comes for the great turnaround our country is waiting for all we need is to maintain an unbroken spirit so we won’t pass that “E go beta” jinx the past generation passed onto us to the next generation

Nigeria will be great again. Omo iya mi, Mafo.

Thank you for reading. Mafo. Feel free to drop your comments.

Originally published at http://afromedites.wordpress.com on February 28, 2020.