A few hours later after they had gone to sleep, chickens started making crows. A new day had been born. It was followed by the chirping of chicks and ants. Everybody came out, one after the other, to exchange morning greetings except Adaure and her mother, Daa Achikwu, who were still inside.
Egemole made haste, washed his face and headed to his wife's hut. He was amazed to see Daa Achikwu babysitting Olamma while Adaure was sleeping. ''Ogo m, kedu ka imere- my in-law, how do you?'' he asked. Daa Achikwu smiled, looking at him. ''Nwa m, adi m nno mma- my son, I am indeed very well'' Daa Achikwu replied, happily. ''Ihikwara ura nke oma- did you sleep well?'' Egemole asked. ''Ee, awn m, ahaghim ndina chiefo- yes my son, I did not turn till this morning. Ihe a imere dim nno ahu mma- that thing you did worked well on my body'' Daa Achikwu responded, laughingly. ''Ekele diri Chukwu- thanks to God. Nwa gi nwanyi; ohikwara, nuke a oka no na ura- your daughter; did she sleep that she is still sleeping?'' Egemole asked.
''Amaghikwa m, maka ozugboa ikpagharasiri m ka ji n' oku, ura e wee buru m- I don't know because immediately after you finished turning me around like roasted yam tubers on fire, sleep took over me'' Daa Achikwu replied, humorously. That got them laughing. ''Odi mma, isacha onu ututu, e nye gi ogwu gi- that's good, when you are done washing your mouth, you take your medication'' Egemole said, as he walked outside to meet his father at the front of his hut, washing his face.
''How is she feeling this morning?'' Chigbu asked his son, Egemole. She is very much better. I even met her babysitting Olamma. That woman is a strong woman'' Egemole responded. They both laughed. ''You don't need to doubt it. During her heydays, she was the only woman blacksmith in the whole of Amaide country'' Chigbu said. ''I see it on her body. She is strong'' Egemole quipped. Chigbu stood up and went inside Adaure's hut to see Daa Achi, as she was also fondly called by most people, to see how she was fairing.
In minutes, he came out and sat on his wooden chair, opened his kola bag he had kept beside his seat. He brought out a yellowish kola nut and gave it to Egemole to get it washed for the morning declaration ritual. Egemole took it and went to the backyard, washed it and brought it along with it efere oji- kola nut serving plate. ''Papa, have it'' he said while handing them over to his father. He received the plate and waited till Egemole sat down for a few seconds. ''Nnaa, Oji abiala- son, here is kola nut'' he said, while showing him the plate.
Egemole stood up, walked closer to his father and touched the plate. ''Gaa n' iru, papa- go on, father'' he said. Chigbu nodded his head in acceptance before he raised the plate up before heaven, brought it down and began to give thanks to the spirits and make declarations.
Eke kere uwa ekele oo- the creator of the universe, I thank you
Imela na ndu nke inyere anyi- thank you for life you have given us
Ikweghi ka any nwua, ikweghi ka anyi fue- you did not allow us to die, you did not allow us to vanish.
Ekele oo, ekelee oo- thanks, thanks
Anyi kelere gi na nnaputa inaputara ogo anyi nwanyi, uyaa- we thank you for your deliverance over the life of our in-law, yesterday.
Anyi huru na ututu a ka uyaa mma- we found out this morning that it's better than yesterday.
Ndewo, Ndewo. Asi m, o ga eji ukwu o jiri bia wee laa- thanks, thanks. I say she will leave healthy the way she came.
Na ndu, na ahu isike- Alive and in sound health
Ihe obula bu ogwu nke e nyere ya, biko mee ka oluo olu na ahu ya nke oma- every medication given to her, please, make it work well on her
Nke a ka anyi na ario- this we ask
Ee, opupu na mbata anyi tata ka anyi tinyere gi na aka- yes, our going out and coming in we put in your hands.
Tata bu Nkwo. Ka nkwo kwotara anyi ndu- today is Nkwo market day. May it bring us life.
Ma kwopuru anyi onwu eru eru- and, remove untimely death from among us
Anyi yoro si oo, iyi atana, azu anwuna- we ask that the water should not dry, and the fishes should also not die.
Odiri nwoke, diri nwanyi mma- may it favor both men and women.
Ihe akuku na ihe e nwe e nwe ruo anyi aka tata- may good fortune reach our hands today.
Ikere oji, waa ya, jiko ya, si anyi taa- you created the kolanut, split it, put all the pieces back together and ordered us to eat it.
Ngwa bia taa na ogbe ka anyi taa na ibe- now, come and eat the whole, so we can eat the pieces.
Wee tata ndu na ahu isike, na oga niru- so from it, we eat life, sound health, and prosperity.
Ihe ndia ka anyi na ario na isi mmadu mile, tata- we ask for all these on behalf of all, today
Ekele m unu, Chi m na Onye Uwam bu Chigbu- I thank you my guardian angel and my reincarnated soul, Chigbu
Nnam bu Ohakaenyi, Nnanna m bu Ozoemenamu- my father, Ohakaenyi, my grandfather, Ozoemanamu
Enem Ogwugwu- Enem Ogwugwu [a deity]
Eke, Orie, Afor na Nkwo- four Igbo market days [Igbo four-days-a-week calendar, also addressed as deities]
Mereberenu anyi ihe oma- do good things for us
Ajana be Nna m, Ndi Mmuo na Ndi Egede- the earth god of my fathers [represented by the soil], the gods and ancient people
Ajana Ikwu Nnem, akpokue m unu- the earth god of my mother's side, I call on you
Dunu anyi ije tata ka o wee dabara anyi- lead us today so it shall be well with us.
Chi na onyeuwa, nwam, Egemole, dunu ya ije tata- the guardian angel and the reincarnated soul of my son, Egemole, lead him today.
Asi m, otua ka oga adi- I say they will happen as decreed
Isee- Amen'' Chigbu decreed
''Isee'' Egemole responded in agreement. ''Nno Nnam, Nno Ichie Ogbuehi- welcome my father, welcome chief Ogbuehi'' he continued as his father started breaking the kolanut.
Among the Igbos, it was their belief that whosoever that was seen praying was on a journey of request, from God, the Gods and his ancestors. Thus, when he is done praying, it is believed that he has come back to the physical world to share the grant of his request with people around him. Those are the people who would share in the breaking of the kola, those who would partake in the sharing of the kola and, of course, those who would participate in the eating of the kola nut.
It was their belief also that he had returned from his journey and any reasonable Igbo man around owed him that gesture of welcoming him back. And it was another time to massage the pride of those who were titled men. And for those who were not yet titled men but the people who reincarnated them were titled men when they were alive, they had the opportunity also to be welcomed back after prayer with such title names they were known by when they were alive. It was a thing of pride and also an opportunity to keep people abreast with their rooted culture. Kolanut goes that far and beyond.
After breaking the kola nut, he poured the cotyledons back onto the plate and counted them. They were four cotyledons. He took a few seconds to study the meanings as they positioned themselves on the plate. When he was done, he took a cotyledon out, walked to the edge of his house's sit-out, and threw it away, on the ground. ''Ndi mmuo na Ndi Egede werenu oji- the spirits and the ancient people, take kolanut'' he said.
He came back, sat down on his chair, and cut the remaining three, each one, into two. When he was done, he extended the plate to Egemole to take his. Egemole stood up, and walked closer. He took the plate from his father's hand, took one cut of the kolanut and started munching along with alligator pepper, before he kept the plate back on the table. ''Thank you, papa'' he said, turned and went back to his chair.
After a few minutes, Chigbu signaled him to take the remaining kolanut cuts to his mother-in-law and others who were still inside. ''Gaa nye ha oji ka ha gbapu ututu- go and give them kolanut to brighten up their day'' he said. Egemole took the plate, went in and did as he was told. All took kolanut cuts, including Akuigwe, who doesn't like the taste of kolanut.
In Igbo Culture, you don't ordinarily refuse kolanut brought to you after decree ritual. Especially early morning proclamation. Even if you don't like kolanut like Akuigwe, you would either take it and keep it anywhere of your choice, or just take a bite and do away with the rest, anyhow you can, or you touch the plate and offer word of thanks.
Some would touch the plate, and at the same time touch their forehead or chest with the same right hand. You don't pick the kolanut with your left hand or touch its plate with your left hand, even if you are a left-handed person.
It is their belief that reasonable people don't reject blessings received from the gods, which morning kola represents among the Igbos.