Myths vs facts: Funny popular Nigerian myths.

Growing up we all heard a lot of funny myths. Our parents told us many ridiculous things to make us behave well and due to numerous superstitious beliefs, a lot of Nigerian myths were birthed. In this article I will be sharing funny Nigerian myths that will bring back a huge wave of nostalgia and have you wondering how in the world you believed them.

1. Myth: If someone crosses over your leg, your child will look like them / If you cross over a pregnant woman’s legs her child will look like you

Fact: I’m certain this caused a ton of you to flashback to your secondary school days. Back in secondary school, if someone crossed over a person’s leg, they will be asked to cross back. If it was felt that the person who crossed over their leg was good-looking, then they will not be asked to cross back (Do you see how naughty children can be).

The truth is that it is impossible for a child to inherit another person’s looks through means other than genetics. Our genes are what contribute to the way that we look. Therefore, it is absolutely impossible for your child to look like someone else because your legs were crossed over

 

2. Myth: If you swallow a seed, a tree will grow in your stomach

Fact: I can assure you that there are adults who believe in this myth till date. Parents tell their children this myth to make them more careful and encourage them to spit out the seeds of fruits. The intent is good however, it is a complete myth that trees can grow in the stomach. For seeds to grow into trees it needs soil and adequate sunlight and there is no soil in the stomach, neither does sunlight gain access to the inner parts of the stomach.

 

3. Myth: If you whistle at night, you will invite evil spirits

Fact: There is no scientific evidence to back this fact and many of us have whistled at night and nothing bad has happened to us.

 

4. Myth: If you crack your fingers too much you are likely to get arthritis when you get older

Fact: There is no valid scientific evidence that confirms cracking your fingers will give you arthritis. Arthritis is caused by factors such as a lack of adequate physical activity, previous damage to a joint perhaps from playing sports, activities that involve repetitive movements of a particular joint and smoking (A person who smokes is more likely to get arthritis than a person who does not smoke).

 

5. Myth: If you wash your face with coconut water, you will start to see spirits

Fact: Coconut water is simply the water found in coconut. This myth is indeed very funny. There is no correlation between coconut water and the ability to see spirits. No report of a person who started to see spirits as a result of washing their face and you know how the media is this days.. If something like this happens it will be all over the news.

I have never tried to wash my face with coconut water before but I can guarantee you that this myth is untrue. But who knows I might be wrong and it might true.. Why don’t you try it and let me know how it goes, lol.

 

6. Myth: If you step on a toad/lizard and its blood and water from its guts touches you, you will start to develop patches on your skin that look like the skin of a toad/lizard

Fact: This is definitely a myth. This myth however was coined because toads have bumpy and lumpy skin that look similar to a skin condition called Warts and people assumed they were caused by toads. they were perceived to be contagious. However, Warts are not spread from animals to humans it is a human virus called human papillomavirus. Warts however can be spread from human to human. Warts can be contracted if you come in contact with the part of the body that has a wart. No matter how much you touch a frog/lizard, you will not develop any skin conditions.

 

7. Myth: If a person is having a seizure, put a spoon in their mouth because if their mouth closes they will die

Fact: If a person has a seizure, putting a spoon in their mouth can cause more harm than you can imagine. The spoon can actually injure their mouth due to the uncontrollable jerking. When a person is having a seizure, the first thing to do is to remove all objects around the person to avoid the person hitting their head against those objects. If they are close to a wall, take them away from the wall and place a pillow or roll up a thick cloth and place it under the head of the person having a seizure, this will protect their head from hitting the floor due to uncontrollable jerking.