ADAOBI (HISTORICAL TALE) 2
HISTORY
GODDESS: For more than a year now, I have showered and blessed the children of your village with the fruit of labor, I’ve made your community the envy of the neighboring villages, your barns are overfilled with yams, your silos and storage facilities are all filled with one foodstuff or the other, your farmers are rich beyond their imaginations, your little ones are healthy and your women are the most beautiful.
PRIEST: That’s true, Mother of waters.
GODDESS: Ever since the day your people came to plead for my assistance and gave me their offerings, I’ve not received as much offering from them. Two families refused to give an offering and they would suffer dearly for it.
PRIEST: What would you have me do?
GODDESS: I desire an offering of blood. From this day onward, every family from your village would give to me an offering of a live cock every 3 market days. Any family that refuse or fails to do this, I would bring ruins and pain upon that family.
PRIEST: Your words are well noted.
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Later that evening in the palace…
PRINCE: (Sighs) if that is what she wishes, we the people of Idemili would do as she says. (Calls out to the town crier) Tell the whole village to gather in front of my palace first thing tomorrow morning; I have an important message to pass unto them. (To the Priest) Thanks for the message; you came be on your way now. (He looks closer at the Priest’s facial expression and notices something different) High priest, is anything the matter?
PRIEST: it’s nothing serious my prince.
PRINCE: Are you sure?
PRIEST: The Mother of waters said 2 families didn’t give an offering that day, but we know of just one. Do you have any idea which family is the second?
PRINCE: 2 families? I am not aware of that. The only person who didn’t give an offering was Chief Okafor and his family. Is that what is bothering you? High chief priest?
PRIEST: (Heaves a deep breath) When I was just a little boy, my grandfather used to tell me stories of old about the history of this village. He told me quite a lot of stories before his demise but there is one particular story which is related to the Mother Of Waters.
PRINCE: I’m all ears.
PRIEST: Many centuries ago, Nwanyi Mmiri went by the name Adaeze, she was the prettiest girl in the whole village. Her beauty was known and envied by all, men from far and wide would travel to Idemili just to gaze at her beauty and ask for her in marriage. Even the king wished to have her as a wife, but the fact the tradition restricted the king from having 2 wives prevented him from taking her in as his wife…
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The next day, Ebuka went as early as possible to see Chief Okafor. Unlike the other men of the village who were farmers, Ebuka was a bush clearer, he doesn’t harvest or make much money like the rest, all he does for a living is clear bushes and weeds and get paid. His father was the first man in the village to go to the city, he returned many years later in his old age with a single book, western shoes and torn clothes. People in the village believed wealth is made in the city, and this made many of them eager to travel, but after the return of Ebuka’s father, many of them were discouraged.
CHIEF: How may I help you
EBUKA: Good morning sir, my name is…
CHIEF: Who doesn’t know the only son of Mr. Andrew in this little town? I never asked who you are. I asked how I may help you. Pardon my manners, please come inside and have a seat. (Calling out to his daughter) Adaobi, get our visitor a glass a wine!
EBUKA: There’s actually no need for that sir. I’m actually here out of curiosity to verify certain suspicions I’m having regarding Nwanyi Mmiri, the Goddess of the river bank.
CHIEF: (Stares at him for a while) Your farms are producing large bountiful harvests, your livestock are getting fatter by the day, your pockets are overfilled with cowries, your storage are saving more than they are created to carry. Why then are you concerned or curious about the one who is making all these happen?
EBUKA: It is True the village is flourishing more than it has ever been, it is true our farmers are richer every day, but, you aren’t included and you aren’t bothered as well. I came to inquire why you didn’t give an offering like the other villagers; I came to inquire why you choose to endure this starvation when you know what to do in order to share in the prosperity of the other…
(Adaobi enters the sitting room with a glass of wine as instructed by her father a few minutes ago; she placed it on the little stool close to where Ebuka sat. Looked at his face as she bowed to greet, they eyes met and stayed fixed on each other until her father broke the connection.)
CHIEF: You were saying something…
EBUKA: Yes, sorry. Uhm, I said uhm…
CHIEF: (Cuts in) It’s OK. Every man who pays me a visit tends to get carried away by the beauty of my daughter. She is my only child, her mother, my precious wife died bringing her into this world. She looks just like her mother.
EBUKA: I’m so sorry for your loss sir.
CHIEF: Thank you, but that was many years ago. If I am correct, you came here to inquire why I refused to participate in the offering suggested by the prince to stop the suffering of the villagers.
EBUKA: Yes sir.
CHIEF: I’ve heard of sort of scary and wild stories regarding the mother of waters when I was just a kid, our great grand fathers would call us to gather round a born fire every night when the moonlight was at its peak, and they would tell us stories about the history of our village, tales of adventures and tales meant to serve as a warning. (He paused for a while and looked at Ebuka, to be sure he was following, and then he called on Adaobi to come join them.) Whenever I want to tell stories of old, I tend to make sure every human around is present so they would listen and carry the legacy along.
When Adaobi was seated, he continued…
CHIEF: 28 years ago, I was nobody, I lived from hand to mouth, and feeding on a daily basis was difficult. My father and mother were killed while on the farm by a wild animal. All my friends and relatives deserted me; they all left me to die of starvation. While begging for alms one weekend, I met an old friend of mine in a joint; he invited me over to join him on the table.
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OKAFOR: Okeke, is this you?
OKEKE: Of course it is me. Where have you been? I heard about what happened to your parents months ago, how are you coping?
OKAFOR: I’m managing, I’ve just been trying to make a living since then, but things are really very hard.
OKEKE: That’s true. Please join me on the table. (To the bartender) please get a bottle of wine for my good old friend here. So how have you been coping with the hardship in this town?
OKAFOR: To be honest with you, things haven’t been easy; I’ve been living from hand to mouth ever since my mum and dad passed away. My relatives claimed his possessions and there was nothing I could do to fight back.
The bartender shows up with the wine, pops it open and pours them 2 cups.
OKEKE: How much is my bill?
BARTENDER: Including this last bottle, your bill is 36,000.
OKEKE: (He brings out his wallet, counts 40,000 and hands it over to her.) keep the change.
BARTENDER: Thank you sir.
OKAFOR: Did you just dash her 4,000 just like that?
OKEKE: Yes, anything wrong with that?
OKAFOR: (Goes on his knees, ignoring the other customers in the bar staring at him) Okeke, please, help me out? For the past one month, I haven’t been able to eat good food, I go from hut to hut pleading for alms. I would…
OKEKE: (Pulls up him from his knees) C’mon, stop this. You’re embarrassing yourself. I am here now, everything would be fine. I was once like you until I met Nwanyi Mmiri. She is the responsible for this man I am right now. She gave me all I have right now. All I need do is give her a little offering every month.
OKAFOR: Nwanyi Mmiri, the goddess by the river bank?
OKEKE: Exactly.
OKAFOR: The same woman our great grand fathers told us stories about? The wicked goddess who is never contented and full of pride?
OKEKE: Yes. Just like you, I was scared of her, but when things got worse for me, I had no other option but to seek her assistance. When I met her, she wasn’t as bad as our great grand fathers made her out to be. If only you would obey her, you’ll be fine.
OKAFOR: I can’t. I can’t go to Nwanyi Mmiri for any sort of help. I’d rather die than seek for her assistance. Our great grand fathers made it very clear to us, she cannot be trusted. She gives with the right hand and collects with the left. There is no good in her.
OKEKE: There is no good in her, yet, here I am living life to its fullest. You say there is no good in here, yet, here you are kneeling before me, a young man just like you. Okafor, wake up! Its time for you to stop believing those fake tales our forefathers passed down unto us.
OKAFOR: I can’t and I won’t. Like I said earlier, I’d rather die than seek for a form of assistance from Nwanyi Mmiri.
OKEKE: Alright. Suit yourself then. That’s the only way I can help you, by telling you the source of my livelihood. The rest is up to you.
PRIEST: That’s true, Mother of waters.
GODDESS: Ever since the day your people came to plead for my assistance and gave me their offerings, I’ve not received as much offering from them. Two families refused to give an offering and they would suffer dearly for it.
PRIEST: What would you have me do?
GODDESS: I desire an offering of blood. From this day onward, every family from your village would give to me an offering of a live cock every 3 market days. Any family that refuse or fails to do this, I would bring ruins and pain upon that family.
PRIEST: Your words are well noted.
--------------------------
Later that evening in the palace…
PRINCE: (Sighs) if that is what she wishes, we the people of Idemili would do as she says. (Calls out to the town crier) Tell the whole village to gather in front of my palace first thing tomorrow morning; I have an important message to pass unto them. (To the Priest) Thanks for the message; you came be on your way now. (He looks closer at the Priest’s facial expression and notices something different) High priest, is anything the matter?
PRIEST: it’s nothing serious my prince.
PRINCE: Are you sure?
PRIEST: The Mother of waters said 2 families didn’t give an offering that day, but we know of just one. Do you have any idea which family is the second?
PRINCE: 2 families? I am not aware of that. The only person who didn’t give an offering was Chief Okafor and his family. Is that what is bothering you? High chief priest?
PRIEST: (Heaves a deep breath) When I was just a little boy, my grandfather used to tell me stories of old about the history of this village. He told me quite a lot of stories before his demise but there is one particular story which is related to the Mother Of Waters.
PRINCE: I’m all ears.
PRIEST: Many centuries ago, Nwanyi Mmiri went by the name Adaeze, she was the prettiest girl in the whole village. Her beauty was known and envied by all, men from far and wide would travel to Idemili just to gaze at her beauty and ask for her in marriage. Even the king wished to have her as a wife, but the fact the tradition restricted the king from having 2 wives prevented him from taking her in as his wife…
--------------------------------
The next day, Ebuka went as early as possible to see Chief Okafor. Unlike the other men of the village who were farmers, Ebuka was a bush clearer, he doesn’t harvest or make much money like the rest, all he does for a living is clear bushes and weeds and get paid. His father was the first man in the village to go to the city, he returned many years later in his old age with a single book, western shoes and torn clothes. People in the village believed wealth is made in the city, and this made many of them eager to travel, but after the return of Ebuka’s father, many of them were discouraged.
CHIEF: How may I help you
EBUKA: Good morning sir, my name is…
CHIEF: Who doesn’t know the only son of Mr. Andrew in this little town? I never asked who you are. I asked how I may help you. Pardon my manners, please come inside and have a seat. (Calling out to his daughter) Adaobi, get our visitor a glass a wine!
EBUKA: There’s actually no need for that sir. I’m actually here out of curiosity to verify certain suspicions I’m having regarding Nwanyi Mmiri, the Goddess of the river bank.
CHIEF: (Stares at him for a while) Your farms are producing large bountiful harvests, your livestock are getting fatter by the day, your pockets are overfilled with cowries, your storage are saving more than they are created to carry. Why then are you concerned or curious about the one who is making all these happen?
EBUKA: It is True the village is flourishing more than it has ever been, it is true our farmers are richer every day, but, you aren’t included and you aren’t bothered as well. I came to inquire why you didn’t give an offering like the other villagers; I came to inquire why you choose to endure this starvation when you know what to do in order to share in the prosperity of the other…
(Adaobi enters the sitting room with a glass of wine as instructed by her father a few minutes ago; she placed it on the little stool close to where Ebuka sat. Looked at his face as she bowed to greet, they eyes met and stayed fixed on each other until her father broke the connection.)
CHIEF: You were saying something…
EBUKA: Yes, sorry. Uhm, I said uhm…
CHIEF: (Cuts in) It’s OK. Every man who pays me a visit tends to get carried away by the beauty of my daughter. She is my only child, her mother, my precious wife died bringing her into this world. She looks just like her mother.
EBUKA: I’m so sorry for your loss sir.
CHIEF: Thank you, but that was many years ago. If I am correct, you came here to inquire why I refused to participate in the offering suggested by the prince to stop the suffering of the villagers.
EBUKA: Yes sir.
CHIEF: I’ve heard of sort of scary and wild stories regarding the mother of waters when I was just a kid, our great grand fathers would call us to gather round a born fire every night when the moonlight was at its peak, and they would tell us stories about the history of our village, tales of adventures and tales meant to serve as a warning. (He paused for a while and looked at Ebuka, to be sure he was following, and then he called on Adaobi to come join them.) Whenever I want to tell stories of old, I tend to make sure every human around is present so they would listen and carry the legacy along.
When Adaobi was seated, he continued…
CHIEF: 28 years ago, I was nobody, I lived from hand to mouth, and feeding on a daily basis was difficult. My father and mother were killed while on the farm by a wild animal. All my friends and relatives deserted me; they all left me to die of starvation. While begging for alms one weekend, I met an old friend of mine in a joint; he invited me over to join him on the table.
-------------------------------
OKAFOR: Okeke, is this you?
OKEKE: Of course it is me. Where have you been? I heard about what happened to your parents months ago, how are you coping?
OKAFOR: I’m managing, I’ve just been trying to make a living since then, but things are really very hard.
OKEKE: That’s true. Please join me on the table. (To the bartender) please get a bottle of wine for my good old friend here. So how have you been coping with the hardship in this town?
OKAFOR: To be honest with you, things haven’t been easy; I’ve been living from hand to mouth ever since my mum and dad passed away. My relatives claimed his possessions and there was nothing I could do to fight back.
The bartender shows up with the wine, pops it open and pours them 2 cups.
OKEKE: How much is my bill?
BARTENDER: Including this last bottle, your bill is 36,000.
OKEKE: (He brings out his wallet, counts 40,000 and hands it over to her.) keep the change.
BARTENDER: Thank you sir.
OKAFOR: Did you just dash her 4,000 just like that?
OKEKE: Yes, anything wrong with that?
OKAFOR: (Goes on his knees, ignoring the other customers in the bar staring at him) Okeke, please, help me out? For the past one month, I haven’t been able to eat good food, I go from hut to hut pleading for alms. I would…
OKEKE: (Pulls up him from his knees) C’mon, stop this. You’re embarrassing yourself. I am here now, everything would be fine. I was once like you until I met Nwanyi Mmiri. She is the responsible for this man I am right now. She gave me all I have right now. All I need do is give her a little offering every month.
OKAFOR: Nwanyi Mmiri, the goddess by the river bank?
OKEKE: Exactly.
OKAFOR: The same woman our great grand fathers told us stories about? The wicked goddess who is never contented and full of pride?
OKEKE: Yes. Just like you, I was scared of her, but when things got worse for me, I had no other option but to seek her assistance. When I met her, she wasn’t as bad as our great grand fathers made her out to be. If only you would obey her, you’ll be fine.
OKAFOR: I can’t. I can’t go to Nwanyi Mmiri for any sort of help. I’d rather die than seek for her assistance. Our great grand fathers made it very clear to us, she cannot be trusted. She gives with the right hand and collects with the left. There is no good in her.
OKEKE: There is no good in her, yet, here I am living life to its fullest. You say there is no good in here, yet, here you are kneeling before me, a young man just like you. Okafor, wake up! Its time for you to stop believing those fake tales our forefathers passed down unto us.
OKAFOR: I can’t and I won’t. Like I said earlier, I’d rather die than seek for a form of assistance from Nwanyi Mmiri.
OKEKE: Alright. Suit yourself then. That’s the only way I can help you, by telling you the source of my livelihood. The rest is up to you.
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