Another dream..... Another dream... More confusing than the other one but the only thing he could make out of it was the beautiful maiden he saw, so that is going to be his daughter in law, she would grow into a beautiful young woman so he didn't have anything to be scared off but then why did she look so much like Nnuka or was she reincarnating to taunt his family for the rest of their life's? Beads of sweat gathered all around Akidi's neck, face and his body was socked, he felt hot even though it was a cold night, the thoughts made him shiver and wonder what his son's future would look like.
Akidi tossed and turned till dawn, he couldn't sleep.. It was as if Nnuka's ghost hovered around the room and would harm him if he closed his eyes so he remained awake like a night guard.
At dawn, Akidi set out with Okeosisi to meet Dibia Okpanri as the chief priest was popularly referred to. The appeasing was to be done for two days because it required cleansing and several other rituals, if Ozoemena was there it would have just been done that day only but the Dibia had to connect Akidi and his son's spirit so that what ever he does would work for both father and son.
Okeosisi was advised by Dibia Okpanri to go home and catch some rest and await his friend as Akidi would be at the shrine for the next two days to break the jinx that had been a pain in his family, the rituals soon began as Okeosisi left.
The Dibia made some incantations, hitting his gong and singing praises to his chi while mentioning the market days and asking their chi to come and partake in the rituals,he broke kola nut and threw it to the oracle, he also threw the cowries Akidi had offered to the floor in front of the deities and made a circle with a white chalk around it, he then used the white chalk to draw stick signs on Akidi's bare chest and back. He held up a cock and called out Nnuka's name seven times before strangling and letting the blood of the cock to flow freeing on the oracle's head while it struggled for life.
Soon, he made some more incantations, gave Akidi a white cloth to tie around his waist while he held another piece, he went to his big clay pot with his Ofor which he used to strike the water in the pot and Nnuka appeared, the water looked like a mirror as Akidi stepped over to watch, he asked Akidi to ask her for forgiveness and gave him the other white cloth to cover the mouth of the pot which Akidi did. Dibia Okpanri continued with his praise incantations as he motioned Akidi to step into a drum, where he would spend the next two day before he would be released. It was also a Journey as Akidi would commune with the spirits and make amends with Nnuka whom he needed to appease, Dibia Okpanri gave Akidi fresh omu to hold on to which would symbolize he was on a peace journey. He made some more incantations asking the gods to guide Akidi and allow him access back to the land of the living in two days, he then covered the drum as Akidi began his journey in the quest for answers and solutions to his woes.....
Ifunanya Ononiwu (c) 2016
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