Chigbu had accidentally been bashing his toes against anything he came close to since yesterday, being Afor, and up to the morning of the next day being Nkwo. Also, the left toes of Egemole had paid dearly in this unannounced competition.
In Amaide culture, one hits his or her left leg or its phalanges, accidentally against anything means, good news lies in wait. But the frequency at which Egemole hit his toes against things early this morning, any ofeke- naive person might think that it no longer portends what it used to be. He might as well conclude that his ancestors had come to either punish him or rip off his toes.
Such hard-hit sour toes could be so painful. He got lucky that most of the bashing was delivered on the bodies of the bereaved pussycat of his late mother and Akuigwe's dog, whose early morning criss-crossing and positioning always meant one thing. Empty stomach.
Their journey, like a planned hike, was swift, beyond the pains coming from the almost sour toes of Egemole. In no time, they were in Uga. At Ama Uga, Chigbu beckoned Egemole to accompany him to Obu Ekwulu to commune with his ancestors. So, they made a stop-over at the house of Akajiofor Uga named Amaju, and gifted him with a mouth-watering keg of palm wine from Amaide country.
''Anyi bu umu Ekwulu. Anyi si ka anyi rute uno, wee kelee ala, nna anyi Ekwulu, ndi mmuoo na ndi egede- we are the children of Ekwulu. We decided to come home, to appreciate the land, our father, Ekwulu, the spirits and our ancient forebears. Ma jukwazie ese maka odi n' iru- and to seek to know about the future'' Chigbu said while handing the keg over to him.
Amaju was happy to welcome them. He gave them chairs to sit in his obu as he continued thanking them. When his guests were comfortably seated, he went inside and brought kola nuts and alligator pepper to present to them. ''Akum, come and greet your husbands'', Amaju said, loudly to his wife, who was in the backyard of their house. She hastily cleaned up her hands, went out and exchanged greetings and pleasantries with the visitors and left.
''You are coming from Amaide, am I right?'' Amaju asked. ''How do you know?' Chigbu asked, jokingly. ''I have heard olu unu- your dialect. I am sure of that, but what I am not sure of is the village you are coming from. Whether from Ntu, or Ndi Ikpa'' Amaju said. This got them rather amused. ''Well, you are right. But we are from Igodo, Ntu village'' Chigbu replied.
Amaju, in joy, dropped his kola nut plate on the table, stood up and extended a round of handshakes again to Chigbu and his son, and started calling his son, Ozoigwe. In a few minutes, he went to the sit-out, greeted their visitors and sat next to his father.
''Nnaa, these are our brothers from Ntu Village'' Amaju said to his son. Ozoigwe smiled, stood up and had another round of handshakes with them. ''Nnonu- you are welcome'' he said.
After laughing out at the lighthearted insults that came in the course of the handshakes and introductions that followed, Amaju brought out nzu- kaolin, and added it to the kola nut plate, showed it to Ozoigwe and their visitors, and they all, one after the other asked him to proceed on the ritual of kola presentation. ''Gaa n' iru- proceed'' they said.
Amaju lifted his kola nut plate and called out Chukwu- God almighty, and brought it down to pray. After a brief prayer with the kaolin, he rubbed it on his body, extended it to his son. Ozoigwe did, and passed it to their visitors, who did equally the same. Amaju went on to continue with the remaining part of the ritual with the kola nut he held in his right hand.
When he was done making decrees and supplications, everybody responded Isee- amen in agreement. He went on to break the kola nut, poured their lobes inside the wooden plate, and took a few seconds to study their positions as they spread out to different corners of the plate. He smiled while acting as though he was fighting off dizziness, but he was not. It was how deep the study of the positions of kola nut can take an Igbo man who adores the potency of the unspoken words of kola nut, can go.
When he was done, he took alligator pepper and put it right behind his back, burst it open before he put it in the same place. He took out one piece of the kola nut cotyledon, and threw it outside while calling the Gods and his ancestors to come and take their share.
In a few seconds, he rejoined them, took a lobe, started munching, and beckoned on Ozoigwe to take the plate. ''Nnaa, take yours and give our brothers'' he said. Ozoigwe stood up, took one and put it inside his mouth and started munching while he went around sharing the rest with their distant brothers that had visited.
After Ozoigwe was done, he lowered his head and whispered something to him. Ozoigwe went inside the house. On returning, he rejoined them holding a keg of wine and four pieces of washed bamboo cups. In a few seconds, Akum came inside obu with a large plate of roasted yam, with a cheerful smile glowing on both her cheeks, with a smaller plate that contained spiced fresh palm oil.
''Umu Ekwulu, bikonu- the children of Ekwulu, please, we never had any information about you coming today. We are only at home today because it is Nkwo market day. We would have gone to farm by now. So, please, take us as you see us, and manage this to warm your mouths. You have come far. It's a long journey'' Amaju said as he directed his visitors to the food. They thanked them, before Amaju stood, and cut some little out of the roasted yam, dipped it inside the spicy palm oil and ate. After that, their visitors started eating.
He took a bamboo cup and took a little from the palm wine keg, said some ritualistic words before performing a libation with the palm wine, pouring it out, bit by bit. When he was done, he poured another inside the cup, and this time, he drank it before he asked his son to start sharing around.
''Mmaya nke a atoka- this wine is good'' Ozoigwe said as he tasted it. ''Yes, that's how their wine used to be. I missed Odumodu from Ndi Ikpa before they came to live in their maternal home, Egoli kindred, here in Uga. He had a very wonderful palm tree in front of his house those days. That palm tree produces honey, not palm wine'' Amaju responded. His words got everybody laughing and launched them into a lot of topics.
''Which Dibia do you want to visit? Because I know you can't come all the way from Amaide to Uga villa only to leave without afa- divination'' Amaju asked, inquisitively. ''I want to visit Ugwummuo in Umudei kindred'' Chigbu replied. ''Well, Ugwummuo is good, but Anyafurummuo is closer, and you will find what you want there. When you are done at Ugwummuo's place, have a stop-over at Anyafurumuo's house. One hand is not enough, especially when you don't meet Ugwummuo at home'' Amaju suggested while pointing at the thatch roof of Anyafurummuo's house. ''It's alright, I won't doubt you. We will go there, too'' Chigbu quipped, assuredly.
When they were done eating and drinking, Chigbu dramatically held his stomach with both his hands. ''My brothers, we know it is too small, we will host you better next time. Please, bear with us'' Amaju said. That got Chigbu and his son, Egemole, laughing out loud. ''Our bellies are full already'' Egemole said, laughingly, and everybody started laughing.
It was a whole round of chatting, before Chigbu thanked their hosts. ''We also want to commune with our ancestors at Obu Ekwulu before proceeding to afa. Please, we will go from there'' Chigbu said. ''That's very necessary, too'' Amaju responded, nodding his head.
While they were exchanging what looked like their last banters, a python crawled out of the bush, heading towards the sit-out where they were, but on sighting that there were guests, it turned and headed to the other side it was coming out from. Others looked unperturbed except Egemole, whose attention was captured by the larger-than-life-size of this creature. Like in Ndi Ikpa, they were not to be harmed by human beings as they equally don't attack them. ''That's huge, is it still a python?'' he asked, inquisitively. ''Yes, definitely, those of our ancestral land come in big sizes'' Chigbu replied, as he turned to admire the majestic movement of the snake into the bush.
Ozoigwe bent down beside where Amaju was seated, brought out their empty keg and gave it back to Egemole. ''Thank you so much for this wonderful visit to your ancient land. And special thanks for the sweet palm wine'' Amaju said, before the guests started walking out of the frontage of the house. ''Thank you'' Chigbu said.
However, it did not stop there. Amaju stood up and accompanied them to Obu Ekwulu, which was a few meters away from his. They were chatting, and cracking jokes as they were going.
When they got to the entry point of Obu Ekwulu, Amaju hissed and made some throaty sounds while Chigbu and Egemole stood behind him. He brought out a kola nut from his bag, raised it up and brought it down, all within a few seconds. He greeted the forces beyond the physical plane, announcing their presence, after which he invoked the spirit of their forebear, Ekwulu, whose descendants had come all the way from Igodo kindred, Ntu village, in Amaide country, to accord him his due respect.
''Chukwu ee, ekene m gi ozo- God almighty, I greet you once again
Aja ana ekene oo- the earth god, greet you
Ubochi nkwo ekene oo- nkwo day, I greet you
Ndi mmuo na ndi egede, ekene m- the spirits and the ancient people, I greet you
Ogwugwu ekene oo- Ogwugwu deity, greet you
Nna anyi Ekwulu ekene m gi- our father, Ekwulu, I greet you
Obu umu unu batalu ka fa kene unu- these are your children that returned to thank you
Ma yozikwanu dika osi akpa fa- And to seek from you what they need
Bikonu merenu fa ife oma- please, do good for them
Fa jikwanu Mmaya wee bia ije a- they visited with palm wine
Mu bu nna fa ugbazi nabatalu fa- I, who is now their father, welcomed them.
Asikwanu ife nwata bu miri n'isi wee na acho dikwanu ya nkpa- it is said that what a child searches under the rain is important to him.
Lenu oji fa ji wee bia- see the kola nut they came with
Lezikwanu mmaya fa ji wee bia- and see the wine they brought
Bikonu, zanu fa- please, answer them'' Amaju said, and everybody in unison said ''isee.''
He continued dropping the kola nut cuts and pouring libation, before ushering them inside Obu Ekwulu. When he had done what was needed of it, he turned back to take his leave. It was when he saw his son, Ozoigwe, who had just come in a few seconds after ushering their guests inside the Obu. ''Let's go back, I have put them through'' he quipped, as he placed his right hand on Ozoigwe's shoulder, and they started walking away, leaving their visitor to make their requests.
As their guests were positioning their minds for their intents under the roof of Obu Ekwulu, little showers of rain started dropping. Suddenly, a python crawled out from the opposite garden to the Obu and made a gentle wriggling into Obu Ekwulu.
When the python crawled in and noticed the mood of the people present, it wriggled further and coiled up at one of the edges of the hut, where a few lugs of wood were kept, close to where Chigbu and his son were seated. It superimposed its head on its coiled body, looking very attentive, as though it had come to hear what they had to say. Chigbu smiled, extended his right hand and caressed its head.
The python weaved its head gently on its huge spotted body, before it lowered its like the tamed head of a family pet, and within a few seconds, like magic, the rain stopped.
''This is Obu Ekwulu. Our ancestor, Ekwulu himself, was buried here some hundreds of years ago. He instructed his children to allow him to rest in his Obu. We call it Obi in Amaide country. This place became a rallying point for his children all over the world. Genuine requests made here are mostly granted. Your mother came here when we were finding it difficult to have a child. Ten months after she came here, we had your senior sister, Ikwuano.
''When you hear about Uga village, Dunuora village, Ntu village, Ndi Awom, who are now living in Ntu village, remember that they all, through their ancestors, once lived here. We are now seated with Ekwulu. This is his Obu. Generation after generation keeps maintaining it", Chigbu said, as his son's attention was divided between watching the gigantic python and responding to him. He brought out his kola nut, and they made their requests known to their ancestors before they left for afa-divination.
However, before they went into any afa dibia- diviner, they stopped at Ama village square to pick up two pieces of fallen Abosi tree leaves. The two picked one each, after which they proceeded to see a diviner called Anyafurummuo. His real name is Anya. Anyafurunnuo was a name his peers started calling him when he answered the call of his ancestors.
He was born ayari- with albinism. A man of many years, he was still very vocal and active as a young man in his fifties. He is from the kindred of Egoli, in Uga. He welcomed them and offered to give them kola nuts. ''Biko Anyafurummu, we ate kola nuts at Akajiofor Uga's house. Don't worry. Ubochi ozo anyi taa oji- let's eat it another day'' Chigbu please.
''Taa, mechie onu gi nwa Ekwulu- shut up the son of Ekwulu. I was told that you would be here as early as two days ago. And I was waiting to welcome you. Are you not Chigbu, the son of Ijeluwa, the son of Uboma, the son of Ikoroubo, and the son of Odiuko; or do you want me to continue?'' Anyafurummuo asked. This shocked his visitors.
It was strange for them to hear such an impeccable trace of their ancestral line-ups from a man who they had not seen before. ''You will eat kola nuts in my house'' Anyafurummuo said, and went inside and brought out some kola nuts. His visitors started laughing. ''I am not dead yet'' he continued, as he made it to his seat. That got Chigbu and his son laughing harder. Finally, he presented his kola nut, prayed and broke it, and they all ate. ''Thank you, Anyafurummuo'' Chigbu said, as Anyafurummuo started bringing out his tools from both sides of his chair, to his front.
''Today is a great day in your life'' Anyafurumuo said, pointing at Chigbu, who had now adjusted his body on his seat and paid more attention to him. ''You came into this world on a day like this. Of course, yes, Nkwo market day'' he continued, as they nodded their heads in affirmation. ''And on Nkwo day again, your ancestors chose to bless you with a beautiful daughter never seen before. Mmuo- the spirit that has already revealed herself. She came to reward Igodo for the love they showed their brothers of Ndi Ikpa. It chose to reward your father for the role he played during the construction of nkoro Uzowai- dug boundary of Uzowai. You have already renamed the land Uzonwane'' he continued.
Chigbu had remained shocked since, after hearing him call his name, so all his earlobes were up to hear more. ''You out of love, asked your young children to assist their brothers of Ndi Ikpa to help them to create Oke-ala- the boundary between your kindred and Ndi Ikpa. It was a show of love and a friendly thing to do. For this, Iyi Agada Omirima made a stopover at your house. It has also provided the water you should drink. The source stone of Iyi Agada Omirima has been lifted out and kept in the backyard of Igodo people. Don't worry, in due time, Iyi Agada Omirima will be through with its bathing and Igodo will have the best of it.
''Do not worry about the sound of any war for those who choose to live with it. I see a cloudy heaven hovering around some brothers out there, but then, who knows? They have bitter blood running years in their veins. The earth has decided to purge itself. The way I see it, only the waste will be seen lying as waste. When it does, the aroma of brotherhood will be among brothers'' Anyafurummuo said further before he paused.
''Odi mma, Anyafurummuo, anyi anugo ihe ikwuru, ma, ka m jukwa, ndu anyi odikwa ri- it's good, Anyafurummuo, we have heard you, but let me ask, is there any threat to our lives?'' Chigbu asked.
''Yes, there is life for both of you, but it took you this long to ask about it. Well, the joy of the arrival of your grandchild took center stage. Like I said, there is life for both of you and your family members. However, hold your ears, from onwa asa na afo a- seventh month of this year, you must curtail night journeys. If possible, stop it, till onwa iri- tent month'' Anyafurummuo replied.
Before Chigbu and his son were done seeking answers to their questions, it was already afternoon. They stood up to take their leave. They thanked Anyafurummuo. ''It's okay. Take care of your granddaughter. When you are coming next time, please don't forget to bring Amaide's palm wine for me. Since my late cousin, Odumodu, returned here with his family, nobody has brought us palm wine from Amaide stock'' Anyafurummuo said. Beseechingly.
''I know Odumodu, was it in this village he ran to?'' Chigbu asked. ''Yes, of course'' Anyafurummuo said, while pointing at his still high rising grave. ''That place was where he was buried. His mother was the first daughter of my late uncle; immediate elder brother to my father, from the same parents. He ran back home here some years ago. We welcomed him and gave him a piece of land to build a house to raise our grandchildren. After all, it all started in Ekwulu's house, here in Uga'' he continued, fighting off emotional turmoil to remain the man expected of him.
''Ndu bu isi, nwanne m- life comes first, my brother. I will find time to visit his family next time I come around. They were our wonderful neighbors before they joined you here'' Chigbu said. ''Odimma, lanu nke oma- it's okay, safe journey'' Anyafurummuo said, bidding them goodbye.
Visiting Ose stream has become a part of the life of the Amaide people who visited Uga. They had in their shared myth that it was the spirit of Ose stream that gave her daughter, Iyi Agada Omirima, out in marriage to Iyi Ogbudu- Ogbudu River. Ogbudu was a river where Iyi Agada Omirima, fondly called Iyi Agada among Amaide people, empties itself.
Thus, for those that held this myth strong, visiting Ose stream to them was like grandchildren visiting their grandfather. In some Igbo communities, they attributed human characteristics to some natural environmental features. Streams and rivers could be seen among the communities they appeared in as their custodians, seen in the light of so many things, especially mothers. This belief had helped them to win so many battles and challenges in life, and had fostered unity among them.
Water was a unifying force among Igbos. People that fetch from the same source of water always end up sharing some bond and hardly encourage war among themselves. Chigbu and his son went down to Ose and had an afternoon swimming before they embarked on their journey home.
Like magic again, immediately, Chigbu and his son, Egemole, stepped into their house in Igodo, in Ntu village, something happened, evoking memories that froze them in nostalgia. What greeted their backs was the return of seeming rain, which had appeared as though a special force of nature had held the rain in trust, above their horizon, since the head of a python was caressed in Uga.