THE JOURNEY 8

Several years had passed and Akidi flourished, he became one of the richest farmers in Owa and Ozoemena, his son grew into a handsome strong young man so also has Uzoamaka, his betroth grown into a very pretty woman. She comes around to assist them in cooking and cleaning, Akidi didn't remarry so Uzoamaka was really of help to Ozoemena whenever she comes around, Ozoemena had accepted her as a sister and haven't wrapped his head around the fact that his father insists on addressing her as his daughter in law.

Akidi knew he was getting old and weak and needed to fulfill his promises to Nnuka, the time to make things straight had come.  That evening, after they had dinner, Akidi called Ozoemena into his Obiri and explained why he is going marry Uzoamaka even though he may not love her enough and the circumstances surrounding his birth and naming, he explained his sojourns to his son and the strange deaths of his grandparents, mother and older siblings. 
Ozoemena was reluctant at first until he encountered a strange woman on his way to the farm one day, the woman advised him not be stubborn and asked that he marry the girl his father had chosen, she spoke in parables but told him it was for his own good, that evening Ozoemena narrated it to his father and described the strange woman who according to Akidi fit into Nwayinma, his mother's description.

Two weeks after the encounter and after much ponder, Ozoemena decided, he told his father, they informed Uzoamaka's family and fixed a date. 
The next Nkwo day was the traditional marriage, on Afo Owa they bought all the item's required, Akidi also bought new wrapper's for his in laws and for the bride and Ozoemena, he bought the same material.   The marriage rites was performed and there was merry after which they took Uzoamaka home and lived in harmony.

Uzoamaka reflected Nnuka in every way, she had her charisma and happy attitude towards things, she was the perfect choice and Ozoemena had to appreciate his father's advise for him to marry her. She soon conceived and on the ninth month she bore twins, male and female.
Akidi's house hold was filled with joy and laughter and he was overwhelmed with such great news, he thanked his chi and made a sacrifice in appreciation.

Two years later, Akidi joined his ancestors, he died a happy and fulfilled man.  Happy that his lineage remained and he made proper reconciliation with whom he offended and that he walked through his own journey and made a better second chance of it.....
The End!
Ifunanya Ononiwu (c) 2016

THE JOURNEY 7

Five days gone and Akidi was not yet back, Okeosisi was restless and pacing about the shrine while Dibia Okpanri continued in his incantations. Thick clouds of smoke from a pot filled with concoctions that cooked in a corner escaped from the thatched roof of the shrine, Okeosisi's eyes followed the smoke even as his head ran wild in thoughts. 
"Wise one, its already five days and my friend is yet to return, what is happening?"  queried Okeosisi with an almost weeping tone and worried face, the Dibia replied calmly that he was doing his best to bring Akidi back.

While Okeosisi paced about frightened and deep in thoughts about his friend, he had the rumbling of the heavens like it was about to rain but this was harmattan season and it can't rain... The rumbling was even louder and he was scared,  "what is going on?" Okeosisi asked the Dibia again, who then announced it was Akidi's come back.  
The drum cover went off with a mighty sound and Akidi sprang up like someone who was awakened from a deep sleep, he looked weak and was too tired to talk.   He was helped out of the drum and the Dibia asked him to lay on the floor till he regained his strength, he later narrated his ordeals to the Dibia and how he found it difficult to gain access back to the living when his sojourn was over.

After Akidi got strength, they thanked the Dibia and made back to Okeosisi's maternal house to rest awhile and prepare to leave for their own village the next day.

*************************************
It was a glorious arrival as Akidi and Okeosisi arrived Owa, Ozoemena was excited to see his father and Akidi was happy his journey was over and they could live in peace now.  The next day he took his son and some relatives to betroth Ozoemena to Uzoamaka, the family received them well and it was agreed that when Uzoamaka becomes ripe for marriage,  the full marriage rites would be performed, they were already in laws and that's the important part.

Soon Akidi's ailment was gone and his debtors began to pay him back what they owed him, even when the planting and harvesting seasons came, his crops flourished.  He bounced back to life and became rich again, he usually visited Uzoamaka's family with gifts which signifies his interest is still in the child.  Ozoemena didn't understand why they owned Uzoamaka's family a lot even after his father explained that she was going to be his wife, "he is still a child" everyone told Akidi and "he would understand when he is of age" ......
Ifunanya Ononiwu (c) 2016

THE JOURNEY 6

As soon as the drum was shut, it looked like a tunnel.  Akidi began to hear strange voices, then he heard Nnuka's voice like it was a roaring lion then his parent's voice and Nwayinma's voice, she sounded so loving and was asking about their son.

He then began to see weird things, he saw his late relatives sitting under a shade and chatting away, Akidi wanted to reach out to them before he remembered the Dibia's warning not to talk to any other person before Nnuka, he looked away and they beckoned to him to come over while the let out weird sounds and  laughter's.  Akidi was frightened but he had to be a man and face this challenge, he left them and suddenly saw himself walking through thick bushes when he met some children playing and dancing in circles, soon the children came together and formed into a huge woman with a scary face, she began to chase Akidi and he ran as fast as his legs could carry him.  He ran through the bushes and was almost losing his breath as the huge monster caught up with him when Nwanyinma, his late wife appeared and saved him from the spirit, he heaved a sigh of relief and before he could say anything, Nwanyinma was gone just like the wind that brought her.
  Akidi gasped for breath, he wished this nightmare would be over soon, he looked down and saw a beautiful lake with fruits blossoming from the trees that surronded it, he wanted to take a swim and pluck from the fruits but the Dibia's voice echoed to him once again, he took another turn through the bushes in search Nnuka.

Akidi had walked for many hours already, he began to wonder what his mission here was all about if he had begged Nnuka and appeased her spirit,  he couldn't make anything out of the journey. 
He was tired of walking already and decided to take a rest, as soon as he spotted a huge tree with shades, he made for it and sat under the tree, soon he dozed off, only to wake up to see that he had been surrounded by five beautiful maidens who were identical, they were whispering and he couldn't make out anything they were saying,  they turned to see he was awake, then began to laugh,  their laughter's grew louder as they danced and twisted their bodies like snakes.  They continued dancing round Akidi and laughing before another young woman appeared and joined them in their loud laughter's, hers was the loudest, she was veiled so Akidi couldn't see her face.  It was not until she spoke that he realized it was Nnuka, the woman he seeks, he immediately knelt down and began to plead with all his might and strength asking that her spirit forgives her for everything his family put her through and release them from her spell.

After his pleads, Nnuka took Akidi into a place that looked like a cave, she told him, he she had forgiven him as he didn't know what had really happened but asked that his son be betrothed to her as she had reincarnated into the child that was born and of whom the Dibia had asked that Ozoemena be betrothed to.  Akidi wanted to plead for mercy on his son but Nnuka won't hear, she told him he would stay in the cave until the Dibia opens the drum that lets him back into the land of the living and if he is not able to make it back, Okeosisi his friend would stand as representative at Ozoemena's betrothment....
Akidi thanked her and she disappeared, he thanked his chi for his son's safety and hoped he makes it back to make amends!
Ifunanya Ononiwu (c) 2016

THE JOURNEY 5

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

THE JOURNEY 4

Just before mid night, they arrived Okpanri.  Okeosisi led the way and they made for the oracle of Okpanri.  Akidi was restless and beads of sweat had gathered on his fore head, he thought about his young son and then about his dream on the way to Okpanri, he was soon brought back to life by the sound of the chief priest's gong.
The chief priest motioned them to seat on the dark cloth placed on one corner of the shrine while he continued with his incantations, he is a stoutly built man with a round belly that had the shape of the oku`(clay bowl), he had  different designs on his body and eye that were drawn with a white chalk.
After about twenty minutes of his incantations, the priest turned to face Akidi and Okeosisi with an expressionless face shaking his head as if he was in deep sorrow.   He already knew what they had come to seek and told Akidi that a sacrifice to appease Nnuka's spirit had to be made as her cause had been the main reason why all his children had died at infancy and for Ozoemena, his son to live he would be betrothed to a
a child from Nnuka's father's family.   The child to whom Ozoemena would be betrothed to was being born at that hour and Akidi would make his intentions known to the girl's family with lots of gift and must make sure his son follows up with the plan as he grows into a man if not they would be wiped out.  He also advised Akidi not to bother taking another wife for procreation sake as his man hood had been destroyed as a result of the strange illness that befell him.
Akidi thanked the dibia and they set out for Okeosisi's maternal compound to pass the night as he had a sacrifice to offer to appease Nnuka's restless spirit the next day. 
They were welcomed with lots of food and drink because the journey was a far one, Okeosisi's uncle's were so happy to see their nwa nwa who seldom visits and wanted to stuff them with variety of food items. 
After their meal, they had a bath and settled in, Akidi could not help but think about all the good times he had with Nnuka and why he had given up on her when she was accused of harvesting cassavas and yams belonging to other people.  In Owa, the punishment for stealing is banishment and Nnuka was banished without hearing her own side of the tale, he should have just found a way to help her but he was young and stupid, he didn't know how he let his parents deceive him into accepting that someone he knew for so long was a thief and yet he never found out, now they are not here to help in his sufferings.
He thought about his son again, his only survivor and heir, what if the child he is to be betrothed to doesn't turn out well, what if there was something about the child, why does Nnuka demand that before sparing his son's life.  Shouldn't she have asked for something else, he didn't want all this but he brought it on himself and now his son has to bear the greater consequence.
Akidi drifted off in his thoughts, he dozed off and next he saw himself lying inside his Obiri, a very beautiful maiden appeared and called to him "Nna dim, your food is ready" the maiden looked so much like Nnuka and he was confused as to how someone he didn't know addressed him as "Nna dim", suddenly the maiden disappeared and he saw his parents and Nwayinma at one corner of the Obiri laughing hysterically in a confusing manner, Akidi tried to reach out to them for an explanation but they laughed even harder until he jumped up and discovered it was another dream.....
Ifunanya Ononiwu (c)  2016

MY SISTER'S WOES

It was the night of 5th july in 1993,that rainy night, i was
busy scribbling on a paper, ideas on how to set up my new
business as i had been settled by my Oga after serving him
for four years, as papa couldn't afford to send me to a
secondary school, i had just returned to the village to
announce the good news to my parents who were so happy,
i didn't see my sister and was too tired but decide to visit
her the next day.
As i wrote my ideas down, i heard a knock on my door, it
seemed more like a tap, then it came again. I wondered who
it was at this hour, it was almost 11pm and anyone who
needed anything should be knocking on mama's side of the
house not here.
I hesitated, then i heard my sister's voice "Emenike, its me",
it was Ugonma, i quickly ran to unbolt the door, she was
there, wet and shivering. I gestured her to come in, gave her
my wrapper to cover herself and made to get the ointment
on my table for her to inhale before dabbling into all the
questions running through my mind.
Ugonma was my only sister, she had been given out to Mazi
Ize four years ago, the richest palm wine tapper as papa
usually hailed him, my sister's marriage was all because
papa didn't have enough money to pay for me to learn a
trade, i wasn't bothered because i didn't want my sister to
do something that's against her will. It was also at a time
when we couldn't afford even food as papa's crops had
been affected during a great flood in our village as such
mama didn't have anything to sell in the market, we were
just managing to feed.
Then suitors began to come for my sister's hand in
marriage, she was only 16 and didn't want to marry then,
she had dreams, i remember when papa would call her into
his room to plead with her to consider the proposal of one
the men coming for her as that was they only way we could
start up again through what he'd get from her bride price.
Ugo had to be bait for our survival, she cried for many
nights but she decided to marry Ize after papa threatened to
disown her, he was tired of pleading with an "inconsiderate"
child, he'd always say then.. As i remembered, tears began
to trickle down my eyes.
I summoned courage, wiped my tears and asked her "Ugo,
what are you doing here at this hour, what happened, what
was chasing you, what about your husband?" there was so
many questions that needed answer. When she finally found
her voice she told me she was going to run away. My jaw
dropped and i demanded to know why, she explained how
she wasn't happy and couldn't come back home as my
parents won't accept it, my mother was even the worst,
she'd begin to scream "go back to your husband's house
and leave my own husband's house for me". I heard news
about my sister's ordeal while i was with my Oga but i didn't
know it got to where she had to run.. I held her, we cried
together and then fell asleep.
I woke up and couldn't find Ugo, i looked at my wrist watch
to see it was 6am.. She had left, i didn't know what to do,
then i had voices, it was Mazi Ize and papa arguing, i
jumped out of bed because i already knew what the
commotion was about, my sister had ran away as she
promised. I felt so bad that i couldn't do anything about her
situation.
As i got out, Mazi Ize was fuming and shouting on top of his
voice that papa should return his wife from wherever he had
hidden her, he didn't even respond to my greeting as he was
screaming like a man whose balls had been cut by a sharp
object..
I just prayed my sister was alive and had somewhere to get
shelter, i was pretty worried but then i couldn't do a thing,
everyone was worried but we couldn't do much.
Days, weeks,months and years had passed without word
about my sister, we lost hope of seeing her again. I had
started my business and was doing well and i was even
planning on getting married soon.
*******************
It was a sunny Friday afternoon in August 11th 2010,i had
gone to visit my wife to be , she is educated and works in a
big office,she was already out to meet me before i got to
the office, Chiamaka is a very good woman, she is all a man
could ever dream off though stubborn in a way. We
exchanged hugs and i asked that we go have lunch but she
declined saying she wanted to introduce me to her boss as
she'd been on her neck to marry her husband's younger
brother, Chiamaka wanted her to know she was serious
about being in love with someone. I obliged, i am a very
jealous man and i was thankful my woman understood we
had to do things in a certain way.
As we made it to the woman's office who is dark skinned
and in her late 30's, her husband, the actual owner of the
office before his demise the previous year had handed
everything over to her, Chiamaka had told me. She is just
two years older than i am, i was impressed a woman could
have done so well that her husband trusted her enough to
leave his business in her hands.
My thoughts still ran wild as i saw the face of the boss. My
face turned green, i became pale, the woman fainted and i
immediately got myself and jumped over to help revive her
as Chiamaka called for help.
It was my sister, my Ugo, my friend before fate separated
us, i always believed in her.. I was in tears, i couldn't
imagine she had done so well for herself, i was filled with
happiness and sheer hatred at the same time. My parents
had caused this separation if they weren't out to achieve
their selfish desires and the hatred was for them but then
happiness filled me, unexplainable happiness!
Ifunanya Ononiwu, copyright 2016

THE JOURNEY 1

Akidi had to bear the pains of having to lose his two children under two years at infancy, he had also buried his parents the same year and now his wife, he couldn't bear the pain again. Sleep was far from him and food was story for another day.

Nwayinma, his wife was all he had, she can't die now.  He paced around as he prayed to his "chi" to protect and keep his wife for him.
The midwife came out, took a bowl of water and made it back to the room, it was almost dark.  Akidi sat down as several thoughts raced through his mind.  He was the only child of his parents and couldn't stand not having his own children, who has he offended, he continued thinking...
At the footstep of the midwife, Akidi startled, jumped up with expectations of good news but the mid wife's face wasn't encouraging.
But she broke the news, "Nwayinma is dead but your son lives". Akidi let out a loud scream which woke the entire kindred, his worst nightmare had come, his heart felt like it was been ripped out with a sharp object, darkness filled every corner of the compound and the dark clouds thickened.
Akidi continued screaming "Ozoemena", he had had enough and continued to question his chi but took solace when he finally beheld the face of his son, the survivor.
**********************
He was named Ozoemena, considering the circumstances surrounding his birth.   The year  Ozoemena turned five, Akidi fell ill with a strange disease, it was exactly the kind of illness that killed his father and Akidi wouldn't sit back and watch himself die like a helpless chicken.  He had decided to consult the oracle of Aro, one of the most powerful deities around, he told his son to get ready as they would set out for their journey the next day at dawn!
#to be continued#
Ifunanya Ononiwu (c) 2016

THE JOURNEY 2

THE JOURNEY!
Contd....

At dawn, immediately the first cock crowed, Akidi set out to Aro with his son, he dragged two healthy goats along as a sacrifice to the oracle of Aro. They had packed roasted yam in a bag in case they got hungry, the journey was going to last the whole day and as it was quiet a distance from Owa to Aro.
Akidi hoped his chi would be kind enough to show him mercy this once, he believed the journey would change a lot of things, the journey should have been taken a long time before now.
The finally got to the shrine of the oracle of Aro at sunset, the shrine had demarcations, one side was for sick people, suffering from different ailments, another section was people with their different problems that needed solution.  The oracle was consulted on a daily by people from far and wide and Akidi was convinced his problem was a small case.

It finally got to their turn, it was almost mid night, Akidi stepped into the inner chambers of the shrine with his son and the goats he had brought to appease the oracle, the priestess after several incantations finally spoke to him...
Some years before he married Nwanyinma, Akidi had been with another woman Nnuka, his parents rejected the romance between this two and sent Nnuka away from the village by cooking up false tales against her which attracted banishment, they didn't know she was pregnant,she was left helpless and while she was dying, she placed a cause on the family "No child shall live above six years and there shall be no descendants from the lineage"
Akidi was shocked at this revelation, he asked the priestess what he could do, She told him it would demand a human sacrifice, which after it, he Akidi would get better, marry another wife and procreate children who would not die at infancy but the human sacrifice had to be someone dear to him.
His son....... Ozoemena!
Ifunanya Ononiwu (c) 2016

25 AND NIGERIAN episode 6

That evening when Preye got back i couldn't gather the courage to tell him anything because he had already planned for us to have dinner at one of his favorite restaurant.
I can't continue doing this to myself, i thought but i was going to get the shock of my life.      By 7:00pm, we left the house to the restaurant, Preye had ordered the food ahead of our coming and we were served in less than five minutes after we got seated and we ate silently, the silence spoke volumes, i knew something was up because unlike Preye we should have been all chatty or he should have complimented the food.
I didn't like the silence because i found it difficult to think of any other thing besides the fact that i was madly in love with this man and i couldn't say it.

The meal was nice no doubt and i used it as a way to break the silence, i also went ahead to find out why Preye was quiet and he said he was fine and that he needed us to go to his old house because he wanted to see one of his tenants. We still drove to the house without a word, Preye insisted we had to go into his old apartment and at this point i was kind of worried at his calmness and strange attitude today but i didn't say anything.
When we got into the house, the place had a good scent then Preye immediately went on his knees and asked me to marry him , he slipped the ring he had giving me before from my finger for a better diamond. I was confused and i just stared at Preye in utter surprise, he asked me again to marry him and i asked if we were not already on it, we are wedding next month right but he said that first proposal was for our plan unlike this, he swore that he loves me more than he thought he did, he confessed his love to my surprise.
So like me Preye is also crazy about me but also concealed it, i couldn't believe it yet.

'When did you realize you loved me this much'? i asked and he explained how he had always had eyes for me but he thought i didn't love him and when i asked him to go ahead with my plans to act as my husband he didn't hesitate because he couldn't stand seeing me married to someone else. I was shocked and i opened up to him how i had decided we'd call off the wedding because i didn't want to continue deceiving myself... Preye asked again if i would marry him genuinely now and i agreed, we hugged and kissed and made love before driving home........


November 5th, standing in front of the mirror on my first traditional marriage attire, i was happy that i was marrying my husband and best friend, Preye was everything i wanted and more and he was all smiles you could see the happiness in his eyes when i looked through the window and saw him as he walked to the canopy, i know he is happy with me.
My mother came into the room and also confessed to how happy Preye looked and me too, she said she was only trying to be a good mother and she is happy i made a good choice. My reply sure made everyone laugh,
   ''I am sure the choice is also favorable to you too mum because you got yourself yet another wealthy son in law and i am happy it isn't your choice, that your choice Omereoha is really an ugly man and i would have died before the wedding day as i wouldn't have been able to stand him''. 
  Everyone laughed.....

THE END!
Ifunanya Ononiwu (c) 2016