Tear Drops: Part 1

By Gideon C. Mekwunye

This is the story of a family and how they survived lifes perils. Chiwinke, the protagonist and the first son of Chimebele, was determined to succeed in life by bringing all his brothers to study and succeed in America in order to get his parents permanently out of poverty. Despite all the obstacles, calamities, trials, and tribulations that befell him in life, he kept his humor until he triumphed with the help of his god.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Aug 13, 2014
• ISBN: 9781499057195

Gideon C. Mekwunye

My name is Gideon C. Mekwunye, born in 1951 in the City of Lagos, Nigeria, in West Africa, to Mr. Stephen C. Mekwunye and Mrs. Alice Igwe Mekwunye. As a vivacious young man and the first son out of a family of eight surviving children, I knew from youth the task ahead and understood that life would not be a bed of roses for me and that I have a big job in getting the family out of poverty. Education was of utmost importance. But the family got there with only the help of God. In school, many of my teachers have deduced from my writings that I need to write a book. But my concerns were first to graduate from college than telling stories. So at the time of completing this book, I’m very grateful to the Almighty that some of my dreams so far have been met by managing to graduate in biochemistry, music, and culinary arts. I hope those who read my book find courage and hope and never give up at any point in time. For only the strong survives.

Book preview

Copyright © 2014 by Gideon C Mekwunye.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2014948508

ISBN:          Hardcover          978-1-4990-5717-1

                   Softcover            978-1-4990-5718-8

                   eBook                  978-1-4990-5719-5

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 07/30/2014

Xlibris LLC

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

663014

Contents

Dedication

Gideon C Mekwunye The 2nd

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

DEAR READERS

IN THIS BOOK, TEAR DROPS, THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH SHALL BE TOLD. HISTORY WOULD HAVE BEEN HISTORY IF ONLY THE TRUTH WAS TOLD AS IT HAPPENED, AND NOT STAINED WITH UNTRUTH AND HALF-TRUTH NOT EVEN FOR ANY STINKING REASON OF AGGRANDIZING AND EULOGIZING SELF, OR FOR A SENSELESS APPELLATION AND COGNOMEN. ONLY THE TRUTH SHALL SET YOU FREE.

HOWEVER, I MUST WARN YOU IN ADVANCE THAT ANY OF THE OFFENSIVE LANGUAGES USED IN THIS BOOK ARE NOT MINE, I AM ONLY THE NARRATOR. I HAVE CHOSEN TO SPEAK IN SIMPLE AFRO-ANGLO-AMERICAN ENGLISH. ALL NAMES IN THIS BOOK ARE CONSIDERED FICTITIOUS

READERS, IT’S MY PLEASURE TO SHARE THIS EXCITING AND TRUE LIVE STORY WITH YOU AND THE WORLD AND HENCEFORTH, PROMISE TO BE YOURS ALWAYS.

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to my son Gideon C. Mekwunye the 2nd and my daughter Chidozi Eguwaatunam Mekwunye and the entire members of Mekwunye’s family. With special thanks and appreciation to my late father Stephen C. Mekwunye who passed away in surgery in United States of America, and my great uncle, Charles Okafor Mekwunye his elder brother, who passed away four years earlier in Nigeria. Both were great storytellers. Charles was born in 1910, and Stephen was born in 1914. They both died at the age of 84. Blessed be my dear mother, who struggled through life’s perils with my father for fifty years until death did they path. At the inception of this book, and an undergraduate student of Biochemistry and Music at California State University Hayward, my mother, Alice Igwe Mekwunye is still privileged to be among the living. She still remains the oasis of our lives barren desert, the force behind success, and our chisel of destiny. Blessed is she amongst great women.

I would be amiss if I did not mention my friends in Nigeria and America who have always stood by me. People like Mary Cannon in New York City who have assisted me by paying my air ticket to the United States of America in the 70’s, paid some school fees in college in the late 80’s and thus satisfied the beginning of my educational accomplishments. I do pray that Jehovah; the judge of all the earth shower his endless blessings on Mary Cannon and all my well-wishers.

Finally, it’s my earnest prayers that the soul of those who have passed away rest in perfect peace awaiting resurrection, (John 11: 25-26 ‘The Holy Bible’), whilst those still living be blessed with longevity of life, in Jesus name, Amen.

GIDEON C MEKWUNYE THE 2ND

Dear son,

In this epistle, I want you to remember that I love you dearly, and would always, even in death and in spirit. As the beginning of my generative powers, I have given your soul to the care and keeping of the Almighty God Jehovah that where I did not succeed, may you and your sister succeed. And where I did not thrive, may you both excel. You must fear no man and idolize nobody. It is only the true God and his son Jesus that you must fear by developing the gem of virtue in you thereby conquering that of vice. Do not become part of this sinful and adulterous generation filled with perverted degenerates. You must be courageous firm and bold in doing the will of him that owns us, Jehovah of hosts. Do not let trifles triumph you, you must always triumph trifles. Lick no woman’s butt for the devil uses many women a lot, most times to destroy a man. So has it been from the beginning and to this day, and is still the bane of many mighty men. Refuse being pushed around by anybody, have a goal and map out your life and always think about the future. You must possess the qualities of a leader which are: love, compassion, kindness, knowledge, and foresight, and discernment, good judgment in order to render justice, strength, balance, reasonableness, humility, courage, unselfishness and self control.

When the time comes for you to marry, use discernment, and seek the beauty within that is God fearing and remember the devil is beautiful. Beauty is cheap; it is temporary and pretty soon will vanish. Respect women, always remember that God made them for us, they are ours to stay; and we will always be theirs.

Do not reveal the secret part of your heart to any woman, for they will always use it against you, causing you irreparable harm. It is part of their weakness. Many cannot keep your secret but can only keep theirs. It is better to deal with them with understanding. Men have their weaknesses too for no man born of a woman is ever perfect, but in all, patience and self-control is essential in all things. Never hit your wife because you think you are physically stronger. It’s a weakness on the part of men who do so. There should be no room for violence. When venom in unpleasant saying starts oozing out of her mouth and the things she says burns like fire in your bones, Son! Walk away quickly! However, when she does hit you out of emotion let your chest and your shoulders provide solace. If she slaps you to spite you, just walk away and do not yield to the devil. A woman does not have the same physical strength as a man. There are better ways of recalling a senseless immature woman to her senses. If a woman loves you desperately, and she is blessed with pleasant behavior, you must love her twice as much. And if you in turn love a woman and she does not, please let her go. Do not influence any woman with money or material things, for you will not have a wife but a gold digger. ‘Easy come easy go’. The worst pretenders on earth are among women. There is no love or pleasure in a woman who is a habitual fighter; she probably has a psychological problem. The longevity of a man is based on the type of wife he has. ‘Marry only in the Lord’. Even in the Lord, must you be so careful, for not everyone shouting Lord, Lord, is in the Lord, for the Lord may not be in the shouter but the Devil. There are many Devil incarnates, wolfs in sheep covering, out to constantly do evil for their thoughts are evil.

You must be educated, albeit it’s expensive, illiteracy and ignorance is worse. Couple your education with a trade if you can. When you fall, rise and move on and never worry about what people say or think. They have their own problems to solve. The downfall of a man will never be the end of his life.

Witnessing your birth on November 27th 1995 at Highland Hospital in Oakland by 2:55 a.m. was flabbergasting. It did not only demonstrate the mystery of God’s Supernatural powers; but the amazing order in the procreative ability endowed man, in his genetic powers; and that brands his ‘Almightiness’ as the greatest of all designers. You were a perfect replica.

Show love and respect to your mother who caused your birth at all times, for that is also pleasing to the Lord. Make sure that you give financial assistance. How can you as a man among the living watch your mother suffer? She must be first in your life, because she will never abandon you like any wife. And even if she does as some have, the Almighty God Jehovah will not. A wife and a mother are two different things. You cannot abandon one for the other. Keep equilibrium.

Keep an eye on your sister whilst she keeps hers on you. Show love for one another and stand for each other in all things. Even when she is married; still keep an eye on her.

And now listen to me carefully, because you were born in America does not mean that you should forget your roots, the land of your ancestors. Nigeria is where the Mekwunye’s family came from, in a village situated after Umunede and Igbodo called Onitsha-Ugbo or Onicha-Ugbo, (Isiekpe Quarters) in Delta State. You must take possession of your inheritance. It is a curse to allow your father’s possession encroached on by infidels.

Your paternal and maternal families are enormous. Here in United States you have your Uncle Emmanuel with his wife and three children. Next is your uncle E with his wife and son. Lastly are your uncle P and his three children. In Nigeria, you have David and his two children, Paul and Pricilla. Next, is Anna and children, Regina and children and Deborah or Ifeanyi and children. So, you can see how large your family is, find them and get to know everyone and all those I did not mention; including all the people in your mother’s family. Your grandpa died at Highland Hospital during surgery on the 6th of June 1998. But grandma will be with us for a long time.

The genealogy of the family on your paternal side begins like this: Omofor was the father of Mekwunye, who had four children; Okafor Mekwunye and Chimebele Mekwunye are the men in the family whilst Titi and Obiajulu or Comfort is women. Okafor had one daughter called Adaeke; (deceased) and Chimebele had ten children but eight survived. Amongst Chimebele’s children is Gideon Chiwinke Mekwunye your father, Chukwuka or Chika his younger brother, followed by Anna or Nwanne. Next are Chino, who is the same as your Uncle Emmanuel, then Kamenuwa and Ifeanyi (women) and finally are your uncle EE and PP. Titi died childless but was the most loving in that she took us as her children and so was not childless. Comfort was married to Mr. Jideowon and had many children, among who are Chinye, Titi, Obiajulu, Tata, Joseph the medical doctor, Josephine and Chima etc.

The story on your maternal side goes like this: Wewe had seven children. Alexander or Egbede as his first son next is Adire who was the same like Titi. She was the first daughter followed by Oduje, Mary, and Igwe or Alice your grandmother whom you are privileged to see every day from your youth. Their mother ended her productive powers with two men who were Golden and John Wewe. At this time of writing, the only person alive in the Wewe’s family is your grandma Alice Igwe Mekwunye.

Chiwinke take to heart the things I have told you and let the spirit of Jehovah possess you, only then will you abound in knowledge and wisdom. It would have been so nice if we can do as we please in this world but unfortunately life is not that way. The words of our elders are words of wisdom.

Eternal Love from your Dad. Gideon C Mekwunye

Chapter One

Omofor was a valiant man, fearless and charismatic. When he walks down the street, he was always admired and greeted ‘Dalu Nwa Odogwu’ with a bow of the head showing respect. Every group, clan and quarters had a peculiar kind of greeting, which had a historical background. Since his father’s quarters were Isiekpe Ogbe-akwu in Onicha Ugbo, his greeting was ‘Abi’ and the constant response was ‘Dalu Nwa Odogwu.’ This was a special greeting for the warrior clan, which means ‘Thank you Son of a valiant man and warrior.’ The villagers enjoyed their adobe houses with thatch roof made out of palm branches. At a distance a foreigner might disparage its appearance, but stepping inside soon exposes him to a cool and clean, serene atmosphere devoid of scorching sun. Africans are masters of their environment. Omofor felt the time was ripe for him to gather his children to inculcate in them the history of their roots. He had four children after a successful marriage of native law and custom. His wife called NNE was petit and pretty and was later made the chief of all the women in the village and was also looked up to with respect. Her duties among other things were to recall the younger women to their senses when they misbehaved, and also educate them on what is an acceptable norm in the village. However, she became pregnant and gave birth to twins, a double blessing that was regarded as bad omen in those primitive days. She was asked to abandon her twins in ‘AJO OFIA’ (Bad woods) where they were left to cry to death. What a tragedy. When a woman is pregnant in those days a cock is strangled and flung or waved around her head and her neck to ward off the evil omen of giving birth to twins. She is made to repeat words like ‘May I not give birth to twins that will bring us bad omen.’ This type of ignorance was common among many tribes who would sometimes banish a woman and her twins to the woods. It’s appalling to see what belief, in idolatry and superstition can lead to. As news of the abolishment of slave trade spread all over Africa, so did the news of the abolishment of twins killing and mother banishment, immolation and senseless rituals. One of the pioneers who vehemently opposed such barbaric behavior in Nigeria was Mary Slessor serving under her majesty the queen of England. She was very strong and effective in Calabar, where she was based. She was a dedicated devoted nurse who served Calabar in the southern part of Nigeria and other surrounding Efik speaking tribes for many years before she died. These barbaric practices stopped gradually as more missionaries encroached on the continent of Africa. The Yoruba’s a tribe in the western part of Nigeria adored their twins and would only make certain sacrifices and later take them along the road to beg and in that manner fulfill certain superstitious requirements. Anyhow, NNE became pregnant again and gave birth to a bouncing baby boy in 1910. On the eight day the child was circumcised, as is the custom from biblical times. A Special day was set aside for naming ceremony. In those days the villagers think it’s unnecessary to record birthdays, perhaps, the notion of record keeping never occurred to them. A child’s birth was remembered by any of the market days or special events, such as yam festival, burial or death of an important personality. The four market days were called Afor, Nkwo, Eke and Olie. On the naming ceremony day every member of Omofor’s family gathered and rejoiced. He was in his best mood. He sang and danced. The women and the children danced by shaking their body from the waist up in an energetic forward and backward thrust. The kola-nut was divided and shared. There was plenty of palm-wine nicknamed ‘un-tampered with.’ They drank and thanked God. Omofor made a speech thanking God for blessing and starting his generation with a baby boy. Since the birth of twins was a bad omen, it was never recalled but rather completely erased from memory. He poured libations thanking his ancestors and approached a tree under which are pieces of irons and placed kola-nut, corn seeds, and palm oil as sacrifice to ‘Idigun’ the god of iron. This is part of the West African Traditional Religion. The belief that the Almighty is too great and too fearful to approach, so, it is easier to approach him through lesser gods.

Everyone sat down and there was silence as they watched the oldest man struggling to stand up with his walking stick. He stood up and leaned forward like he had osteoporosis, he greeted everyone and the naming ceremony began. ‘Which of the market days was he born?’ He questioned with an aging voice. Omofor answered with enthusiasm, ‘Afor!’ ‘Okafor shall be his name’ said the oldest man whose name is Ifeosameh and which means ‘what God has done.’ Okafor therefore means a male child born on Afor market day. Adafor would be appropriate for a female child. ‘So be it;’ responded Omofor. So be it responded his wife NNE also. Other members gave their names, but Okafor stuck. Four years later NNE gave birth to another son and named him Chimebele, which means ‘God have mercy.’ She was in that mood. She loved him dearly for she thought he looked more handsome and was her replica. The next two were girls whom they named Titi (Young pretty maiden) and Comfort. Both were also four years apart. They were pretty. At sundown Omofor dexterously kept his hunting and war weapons on a handmade bamboo table, he had cleaned and sharpened them all morning placing them in the sun. This is my antique of long ago. He murmured. Okafor! He called with a strong voice and a giant-rat in hiding jumped out. He must not call twice for his voice was a match to his strength. He had a hairy broad chest and was muscular and sturdy. He was five feet six inches tall. Like a hungry dog with searching eyes Okafor shot out from his hiding. Yes Paaapa, stammered he. Where is your brother Chimebele? Papa asked. He is playing with Okeke; Mr. Ifeosameh’s Son. Go and get him! Yes Sir! And up the walls Okafor climbed like a monitor lizard and screamed Chimebele! What is it Okafor?!

Chimebele questioned with anger as if Okafor almost gave him a coronary occlusion. Papa wants us! Okafor said at the top of his voice. Like a leopard he leaped from the other side of the burnt brick wall and dropped in like a cat. Boy! He was good. As the boys gathered, the girls knew without been asked that their presence was necessary.

Beholding the girls, Omofor asked Titi who is also nicknamed Ada (first daughter) if his ‘Ozu’ is still remaining in the calabash. Ozu is palm wine tapped from a felled palm tree. It is said to be stronger than that tapped from a standing palm. Yes Papa, Titi replied running quickly to get it, she need not wait for Papa to say, go and get it, and the girls understood him as the boys. But papa is quite tender with his girls. The palm wine arrived in a calabash along with a cleaned carved cow horn. NNE their mother knew something was going on and decided to approach the scene. Humorously she asked if her Dear Husband was going to enjoy the ‘Ozu’ alone. No Nkem, (Mine) he replied affectionately; there is enough for us. The children can only salivate. It will be gross indiscipline if they even have the nerve to ask. They can only steal and drink in hiding but never before their father. They cannot with a left hand accept or offer anything to an older person. They also cannot be seen eating with it, because it is used to clean the butt, and could have contracted bacteria from excrement. Comfort took the cow horn from her elder sister, let me be part of the team, she says, He is my father too. She sounded a little jealous of her since she enjoys privileges as the Ada. Titi smiled. Comfort poured the wine in the cow horn for her father, then, her mother in her own cup. Everyone had his or her special utensil that must not be tampered with. Lifting the cow horn up to the heavens Omofor thanked Olisa, (another name for the Almighty God of the Universe) and poured just a little to the ground to appease the spirits, who might be thirsting for a sip. He now stands assured that nothing will take the wine from him. Half the palm wine in the horn was gulped down. The boys smiled as they heard quakes sounding through their father’s esophagus. His sternocleido mastoid vibrated in syncopation. With what seems like ATP (Adenosine triphosphate) now in his system, the man with vital force said: ‘sit down my children;’ and he began telling them stories that is passed on by fathers from generation to generation.

Our great fathers came from the Benin Empire. Benin Empire was a strong empire and if they had weapons like Europeans, the British army would have been no match. He related instances of how the villagers kept images in strategic positions in the woods and the British army shut at those images mistaken them for humans. Hearing that, the boys laughed heartily, he never thought of it as humorous, but thinking of it, he bursts into laughter, and so did his wife. Everyone laughed heartily. Foolish, foolish, foolish, he said three times for emphasis and resumed his speech. But we were no match because they had guns and we had spears and machetes. What were they looking for? Okafor asked. Raw materials replied their father. They knew the continent was rich in many things and their strategy was to suppress and conquer the continent and declare it their Vassal State. And then what follows Papa? Chimebele asks. Our natural and mineral resources become theirs. They will then come with big ships and rob us off our gold, diamond, oil, and many of our valuables. Thieves! Titi and Comfort booed in Unison. Papa continued. Rumors had it that aside from Britain, there were other countries such as France, Germany, Dutch people and the Potoki’s, meaning the Portuguese scrambling for natural resources in the Continent of Africa. After all these scrambling, slavery was heard of around the country and most of the victims were the Yoruba’s who lived around the coasts and island of Lagos and Badagry It was easier for them because they stationed ships in the open seas and came to the shore with specially designed canoe. Papa! Interrupted Comfort, is that why when you get angry you’ll say that if it was those days you would have sold us into slavery? Would you Papa? ‘No way’! He answered, ‘that is below the family’s infra-dignitatem’, and expressed further that that was just an expression of anger. Giving an analogy, he said, observe intently the proverbial hen, doesn’t it step on its chicks"? ‘Yes it does.’ They replied in unison. ‘But do the chicks die from its steps’? No! They all answered in unison.

They got the message. ‘Expressions of anger does not kill a child, it is intended to discipline’. After this short interception, he proceeded to talk about useless people, devil incarnates who for selfish reasons stole people’s children and sold them in the slave market. He also spoke of certain rebels who abused their powers of office, such as evil chiefs exchanging guns, bullets, gold and diamonds for slaves and would lead them through the woods to meet the white slave drivers and masters. They all hissed in disgust at hearing that. Papa took another sip. He had placed the wine on a standing bamboo specially buried for the wine horn. Continuing his story with diligence as their eyes were stamped on him with uninterrupted attention, he said, afterwards there was rumor that slavery was abolished. Pretty soon more white people start showing up in the name of religion asking us to stop worshiping idols, animal sacrifices and twins killing. They call us idol worshipers and said that God has a son his name is Jesus and that Jesus will destroy idol worshipers. I did like their preaching but not their ways, because they are tricksters. They create agreement and form treaties but do not honor or follow it. They lie so much like the Devil and call it diplomacy. How can they bring gun on one hand and the Bible on the other; does that make sense? There was silence. ‘That to me is inept and incongruous.’ Omofor concluded. The children felt reaped off. But it is good that they created school for us. Continuing his lecture, he said; however, it’s rather annoying to see the Roman Catholic Church buy a very big land on old Asaba Road. Only God knows what they are acquiring those lands for. ‘Well, our school is on the land.’ Okafor said, True that’s a benefit remarked Papa. But what I cannot tell in the future is if I would have money to send to you boys to secondary school. As for the girls, all they need is a husband when they grow up. No man wants to waste his money sending girls to school. With a good husband, the girls are covered. Cutting off his speech without been rude Chimebele says, Papa! Okafor and I are planning to go to Lagos City when we pass our standard six examinations. He meant when they graduate from elementary school. That’s okay; you can both check it out when you become men. And by the way, your initiation into the boy’s clan is next week, you must not forget. Yes Sir! They both answered happily. Looking at his wife who has been silent a while wondering what a great storyteller he was, she has been with him for sixteen years. Nkem! He calls; ‘I’m hungry O!’ I’m too, my fine husband. She replied. Getting up immediately and heading towards the kitchen which was built separately against the brick wall; all the girls joined her quickly; they are all now in an excited state. Turning to the boys who wanted to hear more, he said, let’s take a break. We will continue after dinner. But little did he know that at that Moment he had awoken the history telling gene in the boys. The boys got up and matched towards the living room. He became thirsty for water and shouts ‘Onye no nso?’ (Who’s near?!) Chimebele answered I’m near! Get me some water child. Chimebele got him some water. He drank in his usual style. He had run out of ATP but will soon replace it at dinner. He only hoped that the boys would not make it a habit requesting for stories as entertainment every night. But he was wrong. Yes, the boys would prefer that he makes it a habit.

Dinner was now ready, and everyone congregated in the room, Papa had his meal separately. He washed his hands sitting down by his dinner table. His wife presented a bowl of pounded yam and egusi cum bitter leaf sauce, smoked gazelle as bush meat, snails, smoked fish, dried shrimps, mushrooms, aromatic spices and a herb root called ‘Osumada’ whose aroma can be smelled forty poles away. Delicately he Carved out a little piece from the pounded yam about the size of parrot seed, deep it in the sauce and threw it outside the door. He has appeased the spirits. Anyhow, Mama fed her children. They must all eat in one bowl as a symbol of unity. Meat was shared after meal and divided according to seniority. Everyone had a dinner of pounded yam and bitter leaf, egusi sauce with the same ingredients and condiments. The children ate like wolfs. Mama kept supplying more pounded yam and the sauce until their appetites was satisfied. The girls cleared the dishes and the boys washed their hand and thanked Olisa. Turning to their father, they said, ‘thank sir’ and to their mother, ‘thank you Mama’. It was a way to show their appreciation for their father the provider and their mother the cook and complement. As for Papa, he ate slowly; he wasn’t expected to get indigestion. After eating to his satisfaction, he called Comfort to bring him another fresh water to wash his hands. Comfort did. He washed his hand and got up and thanked the creator of all things. It’s now Mama’s turn to eat. She took the left over from her husband; it was enough for her. She ate without disturbance.

Okafor approached his father and said we are ready Papa, when you are ready. I’m ready. Papa said. The enzymes in his stomach now have what to eat. Remind me children, where did I stop? You stopped at where you mentioned that The Roman Catholic Church bought big lands. Chimebele said. I remember Father Bore my friend who named Obiajulu (which means the heart is calm) Comfort; and since then Comfort stuck. Your mother thought it was special because white man named her daughter. Comfort laughed at what she just heard from her daddy and said, I like it Baba a. Yeah right, expressed Papa in sarcasm. Nevertheless, let us forget about white people and concentrate on our people and how we came from the Benin Empire. He paused for few minutes, gaining Momentum! He began a story that will take them into the night. Children, due to antagonism and family squabbles, families lived like nomads and could move from one place to the other with the intention of farming and settling down. A man is considered rich when he has many wives and what does a harem of women produce? Many children! They exclaimed laughing. Fortunately, my father never married more than one wife; and I don’t intend to, except if your mother carries her sacrifices beyond the altar’s. It was said that Ezechimeh (which means the King of Chimeh) came from Benin and settled down in our village. He had four sons, which were Onicha-Ugbo the first son, Onicha-Olona the second son, Onitsha across the Niger was the third son, and Isele-Ukwu, that is only few miles away from us, was the fourth son. All the children looking at each other, said, We didn’t know we were all brothers and sisters. Yes we are. Omofor confirmed. Because of disagreement and constant fights, it was ‘to your tents O Israel.’ NNE intercepted, saying, Baba tell them about the fight of Onicha-Ugbo and Isele-Ukwu. Yes darling. Children this was a display of power in sorcery. Magic powers and wizardry brought from Benin. Isele-Ukwu was taunting Onicha-Ugbo and the two most powerful men in sorcery met at a designated area and the villagers from both sides attended. God, it was wild. The Isele-Ukwu man pointed his fingers at the coconut tree and commanded a branch to fall off and it did. In return our man said let fire burst out on the same coconut tree and there was an inferno. Onicha-Ugbo said you are the baby in the family, how dare you insult your elder brother, have you lost your senses? You have no more respect. I would rather advice you to leave now and go home before disaster sets in. After saying that the Isele-Ukwu man struck him on the shoulder with omen, and he fell down. Everyone was scared thinking that was it. Surprisingly he leaped up like a Tiger and screamed impossible! In anger he pointed his fingers at his opponent knees and cast his spell on him and he fell down flat on his stomach for five minutes, he knew he would rise again, he waited for him patiently. Rising up to his feet, he said you are just joking you don’t know whom you are playing with, you have mistaken medicinal concoction for vegetable, you will soon find out I’m not that baby you know. After boasting, behold, on both sides, were the assembly of all the witches and wizards in the village. They looked weird and different. Any normal person could tell that they were possessed if not demonized. They felt powers they said, hence their presence. We were all scared. My God I saw wonders. The witches and the wizards can only watch and would not interfere by rules. But in the name of our ancestors the two men went wild. They were causing rain, fire, thunder and lightning. They invoked swarm of bees on one another and called fire on them. Snakes of all sorts were commanded to attack each other, but they were all killed by sorcery. All sorts of stuff went on and the villagers were too scared and wanted it to end. Isele-Ukwu then cast Onicha-Ugbo a spell and gave him a final blow when he struck him hard on the head. He fell backwards and hit the floor with his medulla oblongata. It was a hard hit because he was shaking on the ground like someone struck by epilepsy. In anger he took a giant leap into space, landing on the ground, he looked like Orangutan. His whole body shook in paroxysm and gyration, giving his opponent one last look, he said: ‘you will never come again.’ He stretched his two hands in anger towards him with incantation, and behold; the Isele-Ukwu man, beyond what is normal, took a leap into space, hit the ground, got up hit the ground again, and did it one more time, and his belly opened and his stomach along with intestines poured out. All the people cried and screamed. The women ran away from the sight crying and screaming as they ran with hands on their heads saying they have never seen anything like this before; brothers fighting and killing each other. The Isele-Ukwu witches and wizards left, saying, that the remains belong to Onicha-Ugbo by rules. Arrangement was made for the body to be carried to the Obi (A village king) by the witches and wizards of Onicha-Ugbo. And as they were carrying his remains along the road to the Obi’s palace; a woman who saw his penis and scrotum exclaimed; ‘Oh what a fine penis!’ ‘What! Isn’t that forbidden?’ Titi asked. Yes it is. ‘That is a sacrilege!’ NNE said from her seat in the corner. ‘The only sacrifice that will atone for such sacrilege will either be a cow or a goat. It’s no joke.’ Exactly! Omofor confirms. Nonetheless, as I was saying before you all politely interrupted, they seized and took along this basket mouthed woman to the Obi’s palace where the elders sat immediately on her case. She begged and cried for forgiveness and promised never to say such thing or the like again in her entire life. So, she was fined a whole goat for such loose conduct. What she said became the talk of the town. What did they do with the remains of the dead body?" Chimebele asked. I think they buried it in (Ajo Ofia) the woods of the spirits. Papa replied. ‘Where in the world is that?’ Comfort asks. ‘Oh you don’t want to know and we all don’t want to know. And I hope you all don’t have nightmares tonight. Children isn’t it time to sleep, we must wake up early tomorrow in other to begin digging the yams. The yam festival is approaching and the barn must be filled.’ On that note Omofor terminated his story and bid everyone ‘kachifo’ meaning good night. They responded in like manner; ‘kachifo Papa, and kachifo Mama’ and disappeared into their separate rooms.

Chapter Two

Okafor was sixteen years old and Chimebele twelve in 1926. They graduated from school and were Standard six diploma holders. Their plan among other things was to further their education in Lagos. In Nigeria, British school system was adopted since they colonized the country. There was no discrimination of age in the classrooms. It was like a higher institution of learning where both old and young could attend. The desire to learn how to read and write was a rat race. While the western world was beginning to advance in science, some Africans viewed Europeans as evil spirits, witches and wizards, because of their inventive abilities to manufacture not only guns and cannons but also cars and electricity. They believed that studying the language and behavior of the Europeans would help discover their hidden secret. Nevertheless, the two brothers communicated very well in English and were good at mathematics and calligraphy. In fact, a standard six holder of their period could be compared to a high school graduate of today. They read extensively and thus widened their mental horizon. They became self-made as time went by.

Regardless of the fact that the Africans understood that one of the reasons the missionaries established schools were not only to educate the masses but also to convert them to their religion. Okafor and Chimebele embraced Catholicism. Okafor was not too serious about his faith, but Chimebele was when he became a server in the Catholic Church. Okafor thought it foolish to forsake the West African Traditional Religion for Catholicism. And besides he thought that the teachings of one going to heaven and hell-fire was not only ridiculous but also a crime in using God’s name to deceive people. And what is more he does not want to be in heaven where there’s no palatable meals such as, pounded yam and egusi bitter- leaf sauce, bush meat like bush hog, antelopes, gazelles, monkeys, grass-cutters and crocodile meat which are delicacies. He also made a joke of the inconsistency of the teaching about ‘Our Lord’s Prayers’ hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come. ‘How can they teach that and at the same time tell us when we die we will all go to heaven, when the kingdom comes who will it come to? Is it to the goats? Who will take care of the animals? Why not say ‘thy kingdoms go’! We will meet you in heaven.’ He amuses Chimebele when he sounds impious. Jocularly Chimebele said, Stay home Okafor you lack faith.

After been initiated Okafor and Chimebele were placed in the boys group according to their ages. They can now join the others in performing community service, learn how to hunt, fight and wrestle. The next day was the group wrestling and you are giving an opponent to wrestle with. Okafor needs to learn the art of wrestling for they threw him down many times in his group. That did not embarrass him. There was always room for improvement. His height militated against him. He was four feet tall. Chimebele was about four feet and six inches. He wasn’t too tall either but was strong like a bull. When his group wrestled he beat everyone, and gained respect.

It was now mature men’s group; they were not prized fighters but entertainers. The men’s group was from thirty years of age and above. Excitement increased when the air was filled with rhythm from the heavy percussion. Set of congas and big burnt clay pot that sounded like drums, and which added base to the music; gongs, bottles and a special flute called Opi, were also part of the instruments. The villagers gathered when they heard music, and the slapping of the conga, they knew it was wrestling time. The wrestling began and one man threw his opponent down but was rather uncomfortable with his opponent’s method of wrestling. Although he was thrown down he locked his leg around his partner’s neck, choking him and saying, ‘he that holds a man on the ground also holds himself; true, is the saying but I’m adding to that saying today, that the man down can also hold the man on the top.’ There was an outburst of laughter when the man on the top cried Chidumebi! (God lives with me) Do you want to kill me?! Chidumebi apologized and unlocked his leg quickly. The audience laughed heartily. They were busy laughing when they heard a brouhaha advancing towards the wrestling arena, and their attention was diverted. Two women were contending. They were cursing themselves and calling each other names. Their mouth ran like faucet. You are free to express your anger whichever way you want in the African community. Yet verbal war and certain things uttered have limit. You must accept responsibility when you exceed your bounds or say the forbidden. These women accused each other of being witches, and such accusations are taking seriously for nobody wants to be looked at as a witch. They continued saying unpleasant things to each other, and thus attracted the attention of the musicians, the crowd and the wrestlers. Ngozi (Blessing) accused Ifeoma (something beautiful) of eating children. Ifeoma became so angry and started crying because all eyes were on her. Besides, her worries were what if the crowd believed her. NNE Omofor stepped in into the arena and said, Shame on you women you are all a disgrace to your husbands for washing your linen in the street. Both of you are just too eloquent; we must see the Oshineh (wizard, Seer, and medicine man) to find out who the real witch is. The fighters agreed in shame and took a forward march. This was a delight to the entertainment-starving crowd. They followed suit. It was time for drama.

As the crowd marched on, Okafor and Chimebele related the story their father told them about the Oshineh. Okafor told how the elders for a week searched for him and declared him dead. After fasting for seven days and seven nights he was seen coming out of the woods of the spirits eating food from a burnt clay bowl, inviting everyone in the street to join him in eating the meal that was prepared for him by the spirits. No way! Okafor’s little group responded. Chimebele continued his story by telling them how the Oshineh got home and started speaking in tongues and how he climbed bare hand the hundred feet giant Orji tree (Mahogany tree) to the top and sat there talking for fifteen minutes before coming down. Amazing isn’t it? He is really a toughie. Pointing at the Oshineh’s compound Chimebele said look! That’s the Oshineh. He is dancing. What is amusing him?

The Oshineh asked the crowd to come into his compound as they gathered around, he said, I know what you are all here for; but speak NNE there’s word in your mouth.’ ‘These women are a disgrace; they called each other witch. So we want to find out who the real witch is.’ The wizard picked up his gong and started beating and dancing, singing: ‘any one that plants a little yam will reap a little yam, but anyone that gives a big yam head to the ground will reap a big yam. He stopped singing and went to his clay pot filled with his kind of water and fetched a bowl and gave the two women to drink. Ifeoma drank and went to sit down. She was very calm and quiet. She was therefore not a witch. The Oshineh himself confirmed it; `she is not a witch! But when Ngozi took her portion, she immediately started running around in circles like a lunatic, then like a headless chicken and then gyrated fancifully like a ballet dancer. She untied her loin cloth, hence, exposing her nakedness. How can she be that pretty yet a witch remarked the crowd? She was a figure eight, light skin with sexy eyes. She stuck her fingers in her vagina and sucked it and began serious dancing. She got stylish by mounting a few fancy steps with her arms up like an eagle ready to fly. She seems to be hearing music from the spirit world; because there was no music heard by the crowd. But she was definitely dancing to a rhythm for nobody played drums. She stopped dancing abruptly and confession ensued. I’m the one that’s the witch; I have taken many people to the mystic world to eat. It was Obiageli (She came to eat, enjoy) and I that killed Nkechi’s (That which belongs to God) twins. How fortunate that Obiageli was not in the crowd, they would have twisted her neck and would have thrown her out to the center. She continued telling the crowd about known people that died and she accepted responsibility. A Man in his sixties asked from the crowd. How do you fly to this meeting of yours?" In reply Ngozi said: ‘I always cut the banana branch and get a dog to be my pilot.’ After confessing all the evil she had done, she then pleaded for mercy as she discerned that the crowd was planning on pelting her with stone. She now turned to the Oshineh and begged him to remove the witchcraft in her that she got it from a very delicious meal cooked for her in Warri, a town in Delta State of Nigeria. Honoring her pleads for mercy, The Oshineh gave her another portion, which she drank and vomited scorpion, worms and a small bottle gourd with other substances that created a nauseating sight. The crowd dispersed when she bent over in a ‘touch your toe’ position and excrement shut out of her anus. She collapsed and the wizard carried her into his shrine and thus, ends the drama for that day.

Later in years Ngozi became famous for curing many ailments in little children, pregnant women and such things as migraine headache, madness and epilepsy and stomach disorders. In a nutshell, she became a great herbalist and was no more a witch.

The Obi of the village heard these things and was rather disturbed about the disgrace it brings to his village. He decided to put an end to it. A town crier was sent to gather all the elders of the village. The elders arrived and the meeting was held. A day was set aside for a secret meeting with all the witches and wizards in the village. This assignment of gathering the witches was incumbent on the wizards.

The whole village was in panic when they heard the rumors that there was going to be a secret meeting of the witches and wizards. Okafor and Chimebele his brother swore that they would spy on them by putting a burrow on the Obi’s palace adobe wall. Everywhere was a ghost town when the D-Day