The day I was flogged by a masquerade eeh, ahụrụ m ndị mmụọ nwere isi asaa.
I was that inquisitive second year undergraduate student of the University of Nigeria Nsụka. I had began to write for some publishing companies in Nigeria and made small money to buy lady's
I was that inquisitive second year undergraduate student of the University of Nigeria Nsụka. I had began to write for some publishing companies in Nigeria and made small money to buy lady's
tuke tuke motorcycle. I remembered going to Obolo Afọ to buy the motorcycle then.
Why did I buy the motorcycle?
To tour all the Nsụka, everywhere; know how they do things, their culture and what have you. I know Igboetiti very well, Obolo Afọ and its environs, Enugwu-Ezike
Why did I buy the motorcycle?
To tour all the Nsụka, everywhere; know how they do things, their culture and what have you. I know Igboetiti very well, Obolo Afọ and its environs, Enugwu-Ezike
(Ụmụogbo, Ụmụopu, Ogrute, Ikpuịga, Amechala, Inyi, etc); Ovoko (Ụmụjiọha, Ulunya, Ụmụmgbabe, Amechara, Amegụ, etc); Opi Egụ and Opi Ụnọ, Imilike Egụ and Imilike Ụnọ, Iheaka and Iheakpụ, Ịbagwa Aka na Ịbagwa Anị, Edem Enu and Edem Anị, Okpuje,
Ede Ọbala, Ọbụkpa, etc.
I rode to Amechala Enugwu-Ezike one day to drink palm wine. I understudied the cultures of palm wine here and the rituals behind them. Nothing concerned this with my curriculum in the university.
I rode to Amechala Enugwu-Ezike one day to drink palm wine. I understudied the cultures of palm wine here and the rituals behind them. Nothing concerned this with my curriculum in the university.
While lectures were going on, I would be in different places researching and building myself. I don't believe in classroom. Everything in classroom is like Lagos-Badagry expressway. Straight road. The same thing. The same route. The same lecture note: year to year.
The same "according to Nkwagụ 1935".
I told myself, why can't I go and see for myself? Why always quoting people? What if Nkwagụ 1935 was wrong? What is the recent research?
My erente motorcycle took me to many places. I attended many traditional marriage ceremonies uninvited
I told myself, why can't I go and see for myself? Why always quoting people? What if Nkwagụ 1935 was wrong? What is the recent research?
My erente motorcycle took me to many places. I attended many traditional marriage ceremonies uninvited
Burials uninvited. I was just there to observe and see things for myself not to drag food and drink. How do they do it? Why is it different from another people's culture whereas we are all ndị Igbo?
I learnt about "Ishi eshu asaa" as one of the requirements for marriage in
I learnt about "Ishi eshu asaa" as one of the requirements for marriage in
some parts of Nsụka, especially Enugwu-Ezike Ọba. I knew that "eshu" is "ehi"—cow. Could this be 7 heads of cow? I inquired to learn it's palm wine. There is a certain keg called "ishi eshu", you are expected to carry 7 of it, filled with palmwine. Very big keg,
almost as the green gallon used to carry kaịkaị.
One day, I was going to Ovoko through Ọbụkpa. My mission was to meet an old man and friend of mine nicknamed Alhaji in Ụmụjiọha to tell me stories about his traverse in the north and Igbo land before the war. He was blind.
One day, I was going to Ovoko through Ọbụkpa. My mission was to meet an old man and friend of mine nicknamed Alhaji in Ụmụjiọha to tell me stories about his traverse in the north and Igbo land before the war. He was blind.
He loved seeing me around. Whenever he heard my voice he would rush out from his room. His two wives knew me and always appreciate my visit. The man had begged me to marry from Nsụka. He could arrange woman for me. This is to show you how much he loved me.
I have this kind of person in every community I have visited in Igbo land.
Let me not digress...
On my way to Ovoko, I have met different mmọnwụ and dropped ₦10 naira until it remained the money I would use to buy fuel. If I touch this money,
Let me not digress...
On my way to Ovoko, I have met different mmọnwụ and dropped ₦10 naira until it remained the money I would use to buy fuel. If I touch this money,
it means I would kpụọ motorcycle m n'aka lawa. So I had to maintain.
Just as the police occupied Ọnịcha-Owere and Owere-Isiokpo, Rivers State—every meter, extorting money from people, that's the same way Oriọkpa and Akatakpa (masquerades) blocked road, collecting money
Just as the police occupied Ọnịcha-Owere and Owere-Isiokpo, Rivers State—every meter, extorting money from people, that's the same way Oriọkpa and Akatakpa (masquerades) blocked road, collecting money
from people.
I was exhausted with cash. The one in my pocket, heavens can fall for all I care, it's not my business maka na isi mbe, anụ adịghị ya.
I was approaching Ashua Owere Ọbụkpa, speeding enough, one mmọnwụ from nowhere came out and stood in the middle of the road
I was exhausted with cash. The one in my pocket, heavens can fall for all I care, it's not my business maka na isi mbe, anụ adịghị ya.
I was approaching Ashua Owere Ọbụkpa, speeding enough, one mmọnwụ from nowhere came out and stood in the middle of the road
with a cane taller than palm tree. The cane has white beards. Ọ gbara afụ ọnụ white. The veins on the cane stood out like that of a man using ụdọ to kpụọ ehi. Nobody told me to slow down.
I slowed down.
I slowed down.
He held cutlass with one hand and the ụtarị gbara afụ ọnụ on the other hand.
He said I should give him money. Which money? O nwere nke i nyere m ka m nye gị?
I was trying to tell him that I had given all I had on me to his members, next, I saw a standing tree.
He said I should give him money. Which money? O nwere nke i nyere m ka m nye gị?
I was trying to tell him that I had given all I had on me to his members, next, I saw a standing tree.
Nkwụ, standing erect. I sagged my glasses resting it on my nose before I realised that it was the cane.
Next, something formed a circle around my waist.
Another belt?
But I had belt already. I didn't order for second belt. If I did, it's too quick to arrive.
Next, something formed a circle around my waist.
Another belt?
But I had belt already. I didn't order for second belt. If I did, it's too quick to arrive.
The delivery man is fast.
The long cane had already circulated my waist. The mmọnwụ drew it back, raised it again. I didn't know whether it was my head, or leg, or hand that first landed on the ground, I left my bike and ran as fast as my leg could carry me.
The long cane had already circulated my waist. The mmọnwụ drew it back, raised it again. I didn't know whether it was my head, or leg, or hand that first landed on the ground, I left my bike and ran as fast as my leg could carry me.
As I ran a bit distance, I paused, mmọnwụ paused, my erente motorcycle paused; all of us paused.
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