The Art of Debating: Reflections on Verbosity and Growth

Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman, esteemed co-debaters (as we used to call them), and our ever-reliable timekeeper. Back in those days, we sought to impress our listeners by stringing together words that were often incongruous or “strange bedfellows.” A debater might confidently declare, “Before I symbolize on my… of today’s symbolism,” evoking a round of applause—not for depth, but perhaps for sheer audacity. It was, in essence, a functional advertisement of the shallowness in our otherwise impressive vocabularies.

Tosin and Femi were the constants, the recurring decimals, representing our school in debates. Before them, there was Folorunso Omolaja, who had established himself as a regular representative in the years prior.

My first foray into debating came in Primary 5. I was assigned the challenging topic: “Doctors are better than farmers.” My primary argument revolved around doctors taking care of our health—surely the principal point. However, after a few sentences, I ran out of steam. In Yoruba terms, I just stood there like “ọkan” (one)—silent, motionless, and perhaps looking thoroughly embarrassed. The quietness felt eternal that day—a mortifying experience indeed.

By the time I reached Form 1C, I was more confident. I no longer resembled an iced fish atop a plate of jollof rice. My points were better organized, and I delivered them with a newfound poise.

In Form 3, however, I encountered Tosin and Tony—powerhouses in the debating arena. Their speeches were filled with fireworks and an elaborate jumbling of words, often verging on hocus-pocus. Tosin, in particular, had a flair for weaving phrases like “symbolize on my… of today’s symbolism,” regardless of whether they held any coherent meaning. His style reminded me of Benjamin Disraeli’s famous line from 1878: “I am intoxicated by the exuberance of your verbosity.”

Tosin’s commanding presence and bold delivery often left no room for verification of his verbiage. Yet, he was undeniably brilliant, adept at turning those linguistic acrobatics into tangible results. While I don’t recall ever outwitting him in a debate, the skills honed during those sessions—persuasion, quick thinking, and impactful communication—remain invaluable.

Even today, those debating skills come in handy—whether in impressing an employer, securing clients, or negotiating a higher paycheck. Picture this:

Good afternoon, Mr. Managing Director. Increase my salary, or I quit.

Simple, direct, and effective. Or, as we might have said in the old days: Before I symbolize on the essence of my employment…

Uwem Sampson