August, the eight month of the year does not need much introduction as it plays host to festivals, the elevation of customs and in fact the celebration of beliefs.

At least, prominent among those celebrations are August meetings and New Yam Festivals. Given the legal maxim that ancient custom has the force of law, adherents and believers of such celebrations exhibit a lot of vigour to make it what is often described as colourful.

And so, on the part of August meetings women would come from near and far usually tagged home and abroad and head for home in a show of solidarity with the womenfolk of their communities.

In defense of such actions, observers have pointed out that as they gather, they tend to discuss the development strategies of their communities. Although, its origin is hardly traced, yet it pulls a lot of crowd just like its cousin-New Yam festival which they say, is to thank their god for the yield.

It has also been argued that a good number of features are exhibited to prove their credibility, as they pray and sing.

But critics have come hard on such practices and dismiss them with a wave of the hand. To start with, they argue what kind of prayer would make some women sleep with men in order to get assorted wears for the August Meeting, or that would encourage gossips and jealousy among women during and after such meetings. They also argue what kind of prayer and development would encourage pouring of libation and the molestation of people, as in the case of New Yam festival among other practices.

Actually, beliefs and customs have one common feature.

And this is the fact that they are a product of conviction. Their practices have a fashion whose passion evoke acclaimed credence and confidence among faithfuls who share similar habits and manner of doing things.

And this goes to confirm John Stuart Mill stance that one person with a belief is equal to a force of ninety nine who have only interest. This is even supported by John Burroughs who believed that it is always easier to believe than to deny, as our minds are naturally affirmative. This informs the often-noticed passion by people for associations and gatherings whose aims run counter to what they profess or are difficult to explain. Of course, that is why Michel Montaigna says that nothing is so firmly believed than we least know.

And so, whether in the rascality by youths in the New Yam festival or the so called fashion and gossip parade as in August Meeting, one thing that unites them is an incongruous conviction which J. Barklett describe as custom which is a tyrant of our feelings and our manners and rules the world with the hand of a despot. No wonder, they even force people to belong else trouble. but, if a cultural practice runs contrary to others belief why should they be forced to like what they do not believe in.

Actually, some cultural practices are good, like having respect for elders etc, but when youths molest even their elders on the rod during their celebrations how does that become a good culture.

Indeed, it has been observed that culture is the habit of being pleased with the best and knowing why. This is echoed by Mahatna Ghandi who says that no culture can live, if it attempts to be exclusive.

Unfortunately, humanity has failed to realized that some belief exude and dictate fear, the fear for the unknown which people have refused to come out of. But fear has its magic. according to Lloyed Douglas, if a man habours any sort of fear, it percolates through all his thinking damages his personality and makes him landlord to a ghost.