I remember when we were kids, we used to go to the stream at moon night to fetch water that Adaobi and I will bath with before going to school the next morning. It was fun going with my peers because going in company of many abort the fear of meeting spirits on the way as we were told.
To speed our movement, we do hide and seek games. We call it Oro-akwukwu oo because you need to run and get a particular leaf that one is told to get before you are nabbed by chaser. The whole idea of the game was to speed to the stream. Then we were warned by our parents not to whistle at night for fear of evil spirit but the one we defied as kids was not to drink Fanta Coca-Cola used for sacrifice.
One day Emeka drank the Fanta and nothing happened to him. That opened our eyes to the fact that the gods eat no sacrifice. Emeka is a rough boy who is fearless and physically strong. He always takes lead in whatever we do, both the good and the bad, especially the bad.
Coming back from the stream one needs to be careful especially in handling the water pot because the road to the stream was sloppy and craggy. One fateful day, I broke my pot because I was playing with the pot, trying to carry it without my hands supporting it. On reaching home, my father, Mazi Okafor, pounced on me and spanked me heavily.
My father, who was in his early 40s, stammered, but expressed himself with cane whenever Adaobi and I went short his rules and regulation at home. Every corners of our house had a cane hidden on it even in the latrine. To worsen the situation, mum will spank us after father had. Adaobi used to be Daddy’s pet because she was more intelligent than I was. I loved music while Ada enjoyed reading and writing. So, apart from the hilly road to the stream which often breaks our water pots, going to the stream as a kid was a fun seeking one.
Another event that spiced those days was playing football at Amaukwu. We used to fix match with children from the neighboring village of Umunkwo, which is kilometer away from our village of Umuarusi. We used to win them because we had strikers like Chimaobi who we called Maradona because he played like the famous Argentina footballer.
Chimaobi left the village for Aba where he went to learn trade. Chimaobi can miss going to school but can’t miss scoring goals especially when having 90 minutes encounter with Umunkwo village. Sometimes the match ends in a fight between the villages. When such situation occurs, Chimezie who we affectionately called Oji isi kara Umunna ya will fight for our village because he fought like cat and hardly his back touched ground.
Chimaobi left the village for Aba where he went to learn trade. Chimaobi can miss going to school but can’t miss scoring goals especially when having 90 minutes encounter with Umunkwo village. Sometimes the match ends in a fight between the villages. When such situation occurs, Chimezie who we affectionately called Oji isi kara Umunna ya will fight for our village because he fought like cat and hardly his back touched ground.
If my memory can serve me well, I still remember the day Obinna, Oyorima and I went to plug Mama Ekpere’s mango. We were caught by Mazi Ojemba who was farming around the farm at the time we did that. He reported us to the village chief who said that tomorrow morning we gonna appear at the village hall to receive 24 strokes of cane each for stealing, after which we will be paraded in the village.
When we were told, as children, we started crying because we did that out of hunger which the chief knew, but wanted to instill fear in us. To parade someone around the village is called “Igbaobia” and it is the most shameful punishment one can receive. The nature of the punishment is that one will be walking round the village naked. Dozens of children will be following you and will be chanting “ Egbo onye osi nma nga na nga obula anyi huru ya anyi ahuwala ya ama”. To avoid that, we pleaded for mercy and we were only flogged 24 strokes of cane.
When we were told, as children, we started crying because we did that out of hunger which the chief knew, but wanted to instill fear in us. To parade someone around the village is called “Igbaobia” and it is the most shameful punishment one can receive. The nature of the punishment is that one will be walking round the village naked. Dozens of children will be following you and will be chanting “ Egbo onye osi nma nga na nga obula anyi huru ya anyi ahuwala ya ama”. To avoid that, we pleaded for mercy and we were only flogged 24 strokes of cane.
My father was at the village hall that day but he didn’t utter a word. Little did I know that he was waiting at home to rain strokes of canes on me. He spanked with anything at his reach. Be it belt, shoe or any object that could serve him well if the canes were far reaching.
Dancing in the rain was another thing that evoke memories of our early years in Umuarusi. Amidst the heavy rain and thunder, children will be bathing and playing in the rain naked. Then, Satan had not taken over children as it is today and we can play with our opposite sex without any conjugal feelings of each other. Even though we play in the rain, children of those days hardly fall sick. Sicknesses such as pneumonia and cold were not heard. After playing in the rain, we apply ‘ude aki’ on our bodies. Ude Aki is a locally made body lotion from the extraction of oil from the palm kennel after it has been fried. According to our elders, it is medicinal and can cure many skin diseases.
Dancing in the rain was another thing that evoke memories of our early years in Umuarusi. Amidst the heavy rain and thunder, children will be bathing and playing in the rain naked. Then, Satan had not taken over children as it is today and we can play with our opposite sex without any conjugal feelings of each other. Even though we play in the rain, children of those days hardly fall sick. Sicknesses such as pneumonia and cold were not heard. After playing in the rain, we apply ‘ude aki’ on our bodies. Ude Aki is a locally made body lotion from the extraction of oil from the palm kennel after it has been fried. According to our elders, it is medicinal and can cure many skin diseases.
Recounting my childhood life, “Baby, you may not go to Accra market this morning,” I told Oforiwaa my girlfriend whom I met on my way to Ghana. Oforiwaa is from Asewinso in Asante Region of Ghana. We boarded same flight to Accra. She came to Lagos for Pastor TB Joshua’s prayer camping.
I had never known how women could love a guy who is gentle until I met Oforiwaa. I was reading a book written by Walter Rodney titled How Europe Underdeveloped Africa. After a fraction of seconds, I closed the book to listen to the cabin crew who were relaying the safety tips to us in case of any casualty. Sitting close to me was this dark-skinned with a round, pretty face. Her voice could bring life to a dead body.
With that voice she asked, “Hello, what’s that book all about?”
I replied, “Oh the book is all about how Europe under developed Africa… Walter Rodney was trying to explain that nothing good came from the Europeans during colonial era”.
There she stopped. She seemed to hold her breath for a moment, and then broke into laughter. She laughed so hard that she nearly fell down. I was watching her with keen interest to know if she was under the influence of alcohol because of the way she was laughing. After some seconds, she asked me if I really understood the book I was reading. Deep inside me I knew I didn’t understand sh**t owing to the fact that I was gathering the morale to talk to her. With her pair of clear, sparkling eyes, those eyes she turned on me, appraising me from head to toe.
With that voice she asked, “Hello, what’s that book all about?”
I replied, “Oh the book is all about how Europe under developed Africa… Walter Rodney was trying to explain that nothing good came from the Europeans during colonial era”.
There she stopped. She seemed to hold her breath for a moment, and then broke into laughter. She laughed so hard that she nearly fell down. I was watching her with keen interest to know if she was under the influence of alcohol because of the way she was laughing. After some seconds, she asked me if I really understood the book I was reading. Deep inside me I knew I didn’t understand sh**t owing to the fact that I was gathering the morale to talk to her. With her pair of clear, sparkling eyes, those eyes she turned on me, appraising me from head to toe.
Oforiwaa took long before she accepted my proposal because she grew up with the notion that Nigerians are bad especially the Igbos. On our first date I took her to Movenpick Hotel. It was a fun catching day for us. It was the day she became irresponsible child before her parents for accepting to marry a Nigerian.
When we were swimming at the pool, she emotionally whispered to me how she fell in love with me from the first day she set her charming eyes on me.
“Ikemefula,” she called me.
“Yes Odoyemi,” I answered.
She continued, “I love you with my whole heart and I don’t want to lose you because of my father.”
She gave me the kiss that sparked all the cable connections in my body. Then I noticed that she was horny and I took her out of the pool and booked a room in the hotel. This was around 6pm. When we were in bed, she told me that she wanted to get pregnant for me when I tried using condom. Reason: because that’s what could convince her father to give her hand in marriage.
When we were swimming at the pool, she emotionally whispered to me how she fell in love with me from the first day she set her charming eyes on me.
“Ikemefula,” she called me.
“Yes Odoyemi,” I answered.
She continued, “I love you with my whole heart and I don’t want to lose you because of my father.”
She gave me the kiss that sparked all the cable connections in my body. Then I noticed that she was horny and I took her out of the pool and booked a room in the hotel. This was around 6pm. When we were in bed, she told me that she wanted to get pregnant for me when I tried using condom. Reason: because that’s what could convince her father to give her hand in marriage.
Three months after, Ofriwaa and I went to Asewinso to see her parents because she was four months pregnant for me. When the father saw the situation, he had nothing to say but allowed her daughter follow who her heart hunger for. However, her father told me that he hated Nigerians with passion and can remember what a Yoruba man did to him in Lagos before the GHANA MUST GO saga, which made him to lose his property and nearly his life.
In his words,“Nigerians are the only people that can make a man to be woman and a devil to be a saint.” After speaking harshly, Mr. Frimpong activated his cool mood and said that as part of marriage tradition, I must bring Nnima for the okasiboo before the kokooko or knocking at the door. As a matter of urgency, he told me to bring goat, money and wine. What I went through to marry Ofriwaa made me to ask where the oneness between Ghana and Nigeria is. One may say it is in the bedroom. Maybe!
In his words,“Nigerians are the only people that can make a man to be woman and a devil to be a saint.” After speaking harshly, Mr. Frimpong activated his cool mood and said that as part of marriage tradition, I must bring Nnima for the okasiboo before the kokooko or knocking at the door. As a matter of urgency, he told me to bring goat, money and wine. What I went through to marry Ofriwaa made me to ask where the oneness between Ghana and Nigeria is. One may say it is in the bedroom. Maybe!
Months later Oforiwaa gave birth to twins (a boy and a girl) and my heart was full of joy not only that I was a father but a father of two. What else could I ask from God? After two months of my wife’s delivery, we wedded at Holy Spirit Cathedral in Accra and the mass was co-celebrated by the archbishop of Accra and some Nigerian priest residing in Ghana. During his homily Archbishop Odio Nii Nortey said that the wedding was a unique one and has brought Nigeria and Ghana together. He went further to advocate such union in the sub region. The event attracted who was who in the Nigerian community in Ghana and other society I belong to.
Two months after the wedding, I decided to travel back to Nigeria with my family to see my parents who refused to come for my wedding because I chose a Ghanaian to be my wife. For my father, it is against the custom for me to marry outside my tribe since my father is the king of the newly created autonomous community.
Two months after the wedding, I decided to travel back to Nigeria with my family to see my parents who refused to come for my wedding because I chose a Ghanaian to be my wife. For my father, it is against the custom for me to marry outside my tribe since my father is the king of the newly created autonomous community.
This happened few years after I left the village for Ghana to study. Again his refusal for me to marry Oforiwaa was because according to him some Ghanaian women don’t stay glued to one man.
On reaching my village, I couldn’t locate our compound, for it was close to ten years I left home. I was able to locate the Amaukwu where we used to play ball when we were kids. What I used to call village has taken a center stage and transformed into mini city.
On reaching my village, I couldn’t locate our compound, for it was close to ten years I left home. I was able to locate the Amaukwu where we used to play ball when we were kids. What I used to call village has taken a center stage and transformed into mini city.
When Eze Okafor (my father) saw us, he welcomed us in his Obi before we went inside. He said though I disobeyed him and married a woman outside our tribe, he had nothing to do than to welcome me. However, a woman that gave to this beautiful twins (he went close to where Ofroiwaa and I sat and touched the babies) cannot be ostracise because babies are blessing from God. He added that ‘Omutara zuru’ which means she that gave birth to should take care of the children.
Oforiwaa didn’t get it easy with her mother in-law Orjiugo (my mother). Oforiwaa couldn’t cook Nigeria rice very well as she was at home with Ghana perfume rice which doesn’t need a lot of water to cook. My mother hated my wife just because she was a foreigner and she wanted me to send Oforiwaa packing and marry Ukamaka the daughter of her CWO (Catholic Women Organization) friend who studied medicine at University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Sometimes, Oforiwaa will tell me in Twi language what my mother did to her in my absence. It used to be a sorrowful moment for me and Umuechima mu (my twins) who hadn’t celebrated one year birthday.
My father understood more than mother. My father started loving Oforiwaa and the babies. Sometimes, he goes to the room to play with them. To make sure that Oforiwaa is comfortable, he will tell Oforiwaa to teach him Ghana language and in return he will teach her Igbo.
One day I busted in to their conversation and heard when Oforiwaa was teaching him Twi language. She said “Daddy in twi language, if you want to say how you are, you will say ‘mepacho etisen?’
With a smile on her face, I could see the joy between father-in-law and daughter-in-law. Again, Daddy if you want to ask someone ‘What is your name?’ you will say ‘Yefre wo sen?’ and the person will respond ‘Me dindi Okafor’ which means I am called Okafor.
It was a scene to behold and there is nothing that gives a married man joy rather than seeing his wife having a cordial relationship with the family.
One day I busted in to their conversation and heard when Oforiwaa was teaching him Twi language. She said “Daddy in twi language, if you want to say how you are, you will say ‘mepacho etisen?’
With a smile on her face, I could see the joy between father-in-law and daughter-in-law. Again, Daddy if you want to ask someone ‘What is your name?’ you will say ‘Yefre wo sen?’ and the person will respond ‘Me dindi Okafor’ which means I am called Okafor.
It was a scene to behold and there is nothing that gives a married man joy rather than seeing his wife having a cordial relationship with the family.
My joy was cut short on March 1st when I received a call from the Road Safety Commission that my father died in fatal car accident on his way coming back from the meeting of Ndi Eze (traditional rulers) in the state capital. Now the calabash has broken and agony has rented a room in my heart. My biggest lost was who will protect Oforiwaa and the children against the unjust hatred of Orjiugo, my mother?
Things have really fallen apart and the center cannot hold and the falcon in the village cannot hear the falconer. Eze Okafor, the Ebule 1 of Umuebule (the autonomous community created out of Umuarusi) was no more and silence had swallowed the usual noisy market of Orie agbasa (the popular market in Umuebule). After the meeting of the chiefs and Olowu (traditional prime minister), they agreed to bury him in the next four market weeks.
Things have really fallen apart and the center cannot hold and the falcon in the village cannot hear the falconer. Eze Okafor, the Ebule 1 of Umuebule (the autonomous community created out of Umuarusi) was no more and silence had swallowed the usual noisy market of Orie agbasa (the popular market in Umuebule). After the meeting of the chiefs and Olowu (traditional prime minister), they agreed to bury him in the next four market weeks.
One year after the burial of my father, Olowu called me.
“Ikemefula.”
“Nna anyi,” I responded.
“Now that your father is late, tradition demands that you will be the err to the throne because the seat can’t be vacant for long otherwise it will start hunting for human heads.”
“Let me go and think of it.”
As I thought of it, months after, I harnessed my interest in becoming the new traditional ruler of Umuebule clan. I went to Olowu and told him my resolution to become the king. To my greatest surprise when I got to his house, he told me that Mazi ikpuatuegwu just left his house. Shocking: he said that Mazi Ikpuatuegwu my uncle narrated to him how Adaobi and I were adopted from Umuagwu, a village known as outcast or OSU. That was the first day that it got to my hearing since my 37 years on my existence on earth. The tradition of Umuebule can’t allow one with OSU blood to assume the position as the King of the land.
“Ikemefula.”
“Nna anyi,” I responded.
“Now that your father is late, tradition demands that you will be the err to the throne because the seat can’t be vacant for long otherwise it will start hunting for human heads.”
“Let me go and think of it.”
As I thought of it, months after, I harnessed my interest in becoming the new traditional ruler of Umuebule clan. I went to Olowu and told him my resolution to become the king. To my greatest surprise when I got to his house, he told me that Mazi ikpuatuegwu just left his house. Shocking: he said that Mazi Ikpuatuegwu my uncle narrated to him how Adaobi and I were adopted from Umuagwu, a village known as outcast or OSU. That was the first day that it got to my hearing since my 37 years on my existence on earth. The tradition of Umuebule can’t allow one with OSU blood to assume the position as the King of the land.
I wept bitterly that morning. For this reason I was disqualified from becoming the King and my uncle Mazi Ikpuatuegwu became the traditional ruler. On the day of his coronation I flooded my room with tears.
Two years after the coronation, Eze ikpeatuegwu died and the throne became hot and couldn’t save lives of Mazi Ofuruzor and Mazi Uzoigwe, his successors until they went to Agbara Nze the Oracle of Umuebule and the chief priest Ntumagburuehi said that I am the legitimate heir to the throne.
Two years after the coronation, Eze ikpeatuegwu died and the throne became hot and couldn’t save lives of Mazi Ofuruzor and Mazi Uzoigwe, his successors until they went to Agbara Nze the Oracle of Umuebule and the chief priest Ntumagburuehi said that I am the legitimate heir to the throne.
He revealed to them that my father impregnated the woman that gave birth to Adaobi and me. She was poisoned by Orjiugo my mother because of her fear of the woman assuming her position in the family since she had no child after 10 years of marriage. Ntumagburuehi went further to say that since Okafor and Umugwu village had mixed blood; there nothing like Osu and Diala. To avoid the calamity from continuing, he advised that I should be coroneted before 4 market days.
This is how I became Ebule the IV of Umuebule and my coronation brought together the legitimate sons and adopted sons, Ghanaians and Nigerians, the poor and the rich, above all my mother and my wife.
Chidinma and Chimankpa are 4 years old and they were busy playing with grandma as the event went on. Adaobi came home with her Scottish husband. Notwithstanding his race, he was busy dancing to Igba ndi eze, the talking drum. love come more natural than hate. lets love each other because be you white or black, the blood is still red
Chidinma and Chimankpa are 4 years old and they were busy playing with grandma as the event went on. Adaobi came home with her Scottish husband. Notwithstanding his race, he was busy dancing to Igba ndi eze, the talking drum. love come more natural than hate. lets love each other because be you white or black, the blood is still red
CREDIT : OKPARA UGONNA .D
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