OJADILI (The Mystery Boy) Written by Erasmus Ugochukwu Okafor

OJADILI (The mystery boy) Written by Erasmus Ugochukwu Okafor

*PROLOGUE*

In the ancient kingdom of Umuabani, it was forbidden for anyone to talk to Ojadili because it was widely believed that he killed his parents with strange Otanchala powder (a strange powder believed to belong to the spirits). He was excommunicated because of this, but not banished outrightly because there was no strong evidence yet backing the alleged claims.

Even though the deity remained silent to this, it was widely believed that Ezeani Dibia (The old diviner) made the right call by suggesting that Ojadili be excommunicated and not banished.

The king of Umuabani, in a bid to avoid angering the gods, reserved every nkwo market day (the fourth market day in Igbo land) for Ojadili to do whatever business he has in the stream, market or anywhere. But unfortunately for Ojadili, he was pampered by his parents before their deaths, so he couldn’t even do anything other than depending on people to survive. But how could he survive if the people he depends on aren’t there to make life easy for him due to his status as the excommunicated young boy of twenty-two years?

Ojadili, a very handsome boy has the gift of vision and understanding the language of the forest and rivers but he couldn’t harness the potential because his parents never believed in him. He was always seen threatening to harm his parents if they don’t allow him to follow his dreams; though it was out of anger and not that he meant his words. For this reason, when his parents died mysteriously, it was believed that Ojadili killed them; hence, the judgement passed against him.

The house became so lonely for Ojadili, making him see himself as someone who’s banished in the land. He couldn’t just go to anyone for help except on nkwo market day, but unfortunately, on the aforementioned market day, no one is seen in the market, so he kept starving and languishing in solitude.

OJADILI (The Mystery Boy) Episode 1

**The wrong judgement**

On that particular day, the gentle Nduru (doves) that always coo on the trees near his compound woke Ojadili up that morning. He realised that it was nkwo day. He got up from yet another scary dream that keeps repeating itself. He heaved a sigh of relief believing that it was just a mere dream.

Nkwo market day that was meant to bring hope for him ends up being a nightmare for Ojadili because it’s always the day that reminds him of whom he is and why his existence had become a fiasco.

Ojadili got up from that bed made of bamboo sticks that keeps making him uncomfortable, sighed repeatedly, and took up his atu osisi (chewing stick) to brush for the morning. He shrugged when he remembered the inevitable loneliness that will always linger in his life which never seized because if he goes to the market, he will find nothing but emptiness, hence, none to buy from.

Ojadili wore his animal-skinned sandals, went to the clay pot, and scooped some water to wash his face. He was surprised that the water was filled again as it used to be without evening knowing how it happens. Whenever Ojadili wakes up, his water is always filled which was a mystery he couldn’t solve.

It was almost two years of his ex-communication in Umuabani but the jar of water keeps getting filled on its own without Ojadili fetching it. It was strange indeed but Ojadili had to brush and go to nkwo market to spend some sorrowful moments like he used to do; crying to the gods that seemed to have abandoned him.

Ojadili opened the door quietly and began to wash his face to remove the dry rheum in his eyes. After that, he put the chewing stick in his mouth and began to brush his teeth as he chewed and swallowed a part of the medicinal stem he was rushing with. Looking up at the sky, tears of sorrows filled his eyes, making his feet stuck to the ground as numbness overtook him.

As he fought to drive away from the tears, he felt as if there was someone beside him, so he swerved to see but didn’t see anyone. He went around the compound and found no one. It was scary but he was beginning to get used to such feelings.

“Time for me to go to the market and the stream but who am I going to see or meet there?” Ojadili soliloquised in a teary and sonorous tone, “for long, I have been living this way even when I’ve done nothing bad. But, did I kill my parents?” he asked feeling confused about the whole thing, “It could be possible that I did, because I woke up having the Otanchala powder with me, and I even dreamt of the powder the previous night.

Am I possessed by strange spirits? What’s happening to you, Ojadili, the son of Amaraegbu? I think it’s time to visit Ubommiri River to ask the gods what’s happening to me. And if they do not answer, I will drown myself in it and end this lonely life for once. I’m tired. How can I be isolated unto myself for all these years? Am I a beast or a god?” his questions returned to his bosom without having an answer to them.

Ojadili rinsed his mouth with the water, went back into the room, and got his bag made of animal skin. He collected two heads of kola and began to head to the Ubommiri River.

As Ojadili walked along the pathways in the village, people avoided him because they believe he was cursed, making the young man feel so dejected as he trod on the road to the stream.

The cawing of the crows made it all seem that a bad omen was around the corner. The ominous sounds kept droning in his head as he made his ear and mind impervious to the mockeries and reactions from the villagers, even from his erstwhile close friends that used to benefit from his gift of dreams.

Getting to the River, there was no one there as usual because it’s a day set aside for only him to be visiting the river- a rare privilege, but because of the love that King Uzoemena had for Ojadili’s dad, he didn’t banish him but allowed him access to the stream and market on nkwo days.

“Just like always. Ije uwam oo (My life journey)” Ojadili murmured and went to the shore, opened the bag threw one of the kolas into the bush. He brought out the second one and broke the kola nut into four pieces. He threw the first one into the river and said: “Eke ututu, this is for you,” He threw the second one and said: “Orie ehihie, this is for you,” He took the third one and threw into Ubommiri river, and said:

“Afor mgbede, receive my sacrifice of sorrows,” He then took the last one representing nkwo, got closer to the stream, entered, and stooped until the water reached his chest. He then and voiced as he watched his reflection in the water: “Nkwo abani, take this as my sacrifice becomes complete for you to receive my soul as I journey into the unknown afterlife. Since the gods have been silent on my case and never wanted to reveal to me what is going wrong with me, now I want to end it all.

I murdered my parents with the sacred but strange powder of the spirits, without even having a clue on how I did that. For this, take my soul as a punishment for killing the same lovely parents that gave life to me. Nwa biara uwa anaa (a child born into the world is dying)”

After saying this, he sorrowfully lowered his head in the river, seized his breath, and waited for death to come as he sank deep into the depth of Ubommiri River.

As Ojadili remained there in the bottom of the river without even struggling to be freed, he inadvertently entered into a deep trance. In the trance, he saw his parents smiling at him and waving their hands as if they wanted to welcome him to the afterlife.

At a point, their smiles turned to sadness. Ojadili looked further to understand what was going on but he didn’t get it, so he went closer to them to ask them questions about their deaths that came as a shock to him but their sadness suddenly turned to anger, making them disappear before him.

Ojadili was startled at this point, so he suddenly got up and swam out of the water since he didn’t die as he expected.

Raising his head above the water level, Ojadili realised that he was still in the river, but this time, the entire environment changed, making him feel that he may not be in the same Ubommiri where he attempted suicide.

Looking around, he saw many maidens bathing as they chanted some strange songs sounding like either war songs or ritual incantations, so he became afraid because the entire girls were naked as they bathed and danced in the river while some ashore danced too.

Ojadili just realised that and it’s a taboo in Umuabani for a man to come to a stream when the ladies are taking their bath. He tried to hide but they already saw him, making incessant wails to ensue.

The maidens are scampered for safety as they used their hands and any available cloth to cover their nakedness. Their cries attracted the attention of the village guards, making them rush to know why the maidens were crying for help.

Ojadili tried to run away but met the guards on the pathway as they approached. They suddenly captured him while he struggled for escape but being that the heavy hands of the guards got him bound, he couldn’t escape the shackles but submitted to fate.

“Today is Nkwo market day, and Igwe Ozoemena gave me the privilege to visit Ubommiri River,” Ojadili yelled but they didn’t even understand him, making some of them to laugh at him.

“Who is Igwe Ozoemena, you wretch!” one of the unsmiling guards snarled at him.

It became obvious to Ojadili that the guards weren’t Umuabani guards because of their strange way of dressing. He couldn’t even recognise any face there, making him wonder if he was still in Umuabani village where he hails from.

“Who are you, people?” Ojadili wailed in anguish but the guards never listened to him but dragged him along as the march trudged on to a location alien to him. “I am from Umuabani clan, and I’m permitted to visit the stream in nkwo market day, that’s why…”

“Shut up, young man,” Another guard hollered in a stringent tone, “maidens are considered the goddesses once they are in the Mmirimma River to bath on Eke market days. So you just committed a sacrilege because the tri-monthly sacrifice to our Chi (the gods) is rendered null and void, and we’ll be losing a fortune due to this, therefore…”

“Otili, will you stop explaining to this stranger let’s head to the palace,” The second guard scolded, “The confused man seems to be lost or pretending to be lost, because, handsome men like this one love women a lot. He came to Mmirimma to peep at the girls and enjoy seeing their naked bodies. I guess this is the end of his treachery,”

Ojadili couldn’t understand why Otili mentioned that it was Eke market day because the last time he checked, it was meant to be Nkwo market day. In the entire Igbo land, all market days are the same;

there can’t be an eke market in one village while there is nkwo in another. It was obvious that it wasn’t nkwo market day anymore. The confused young man simply chose to resign to fate, making him not utter a word anymore until they get to the palace for him to explain himself to the king or whoever would be presiding over his judgement.

It was as if the news travelled faster making the entire villagers gather in numbers as they followed behind while Ojadili was being dragged to the palace. They all had Omu leave (Palm frond) with them as they followed the captives and the captor chanting some victorious and sorrowful songs.

Getting to the palace, the king was there already having a meeting with his cabinet, making the King and cabinets to shudder on seeing the crowd.

They couldn’t understand what was going on, so the palace guards went ahead and stopped them to avoid mobbing the king.

“Follow me,” Ikenta, the palace chief guard said to the village guards that held Ojadili firmly.

Getting closer to the Obi (the throne), they forced Ojadili to kneel before the king as the tradition demands.

“Igwe Obiajulu birikwe (king Obiajulu, live long),” Okonta, one the village guards said in reverence to the king with a sign of curtsy, “this man was caught in Mmirimma River peeping at the girls while…”

“I didn’t look ooo,” Ojadili interjected, making him get a heavy whip on his back that made him shut up. He lowered his voice fearfully as he avoided the second whip, and then said: “But I was trying to explain myself to…”

“Shut up, young man!” Ichie Odumeje, the Onowu (the kingmaker) shouted on Ojadili, “This village is Amirioma village, and we respect the king, especially when you’re being accused. Listen until you’re told to speak,”

Ojadili wanted to apologise but felt that it wasn’t necessary because his words would be used against him, so he kept quiet.

“Young man,” The tall black king called looking intently at him while Ojadili the shy boy tried to avoid that battle of looks, “Look into my eyes and tell me why you went to the stream to peer at the maidens when the sacrifice of cleansing is going on,”

There was grave silence as the people waited to hear what Ojadili would say.

After a while of trying to get himself composed for answers, Ojadili said: “I am from Umuabani village. I was accused of killing my parents, but truly, I have no explanation for that, so…”

“Hey, young man!” Ichie Odumeje shouted at Ojadili, “The king asked you why you were peeping at the maidens in Mmirimma village and not what happened in your village,”

The king brandished his hand in the air, making Ichie Odumeje be calm. “Allow the young man to tell us everything because it would help us know how to handle his case. You have a name, son?” the king asked as he lowered his gaze and balanced his crown on his head.

“Igweeee,” Ojadili greeted and bowed to the king, making him have their audience, “I am from Umabani Village. My name is Ojadili Amaraegbu. I was excommunicated in my village…”

The people began to shout immediately he said he was excommunicated, making some of them to move a bit away from him because they believed that a cursed male could be in their midst.

“Go on, we’re listening,” The king said and ordered the people to remain silent.

“I was accused of killing my parents but there is no evidence yet,” Ojadili continued, “I was excommunicated but the king in his mercy, allowed me to be visiting the stream and the market only on nkwo market days. I decided to take my life in the Ubommiri River of Umuabani village when I felt that my life has become a waste of breath.

I tried to drown myself in the river in my village but woke up in the Mmirimma River. I don’t know how I got there or what brought me there but this is the truth. I have nothing else to add to it so that it wouldn’t be lies,”

People were perplexed making them have mixed feelings about his story. The king kept his eyes fixed on the boy but couldn’t wrap his head around such a story.

Ichie Odumeje began to clap scornfully for the boy as he snorts in the process feeling amazed at Ojadili’s professionalism as someone who could easily fabricate a story just to escape judgement. “This boy must be a blatant liar,” He said disdainfully and shook his head disapprovingly, “But that doesn’t make him innocent of his guilt. Does it, my people?” he asked facing the crowd.

“Nooooo!” they chorused unanimously brandishing their weapons as if they wanted to use it to lynch the poor boy.

The king tried going closer to Ojadili but he was advised not to do that but he still went to the boy, held him by the jaws, raised his face, and observed him closely.

After close observation, he said: “The boy is saying the truth but our hands are tied,”

The people’s voices towered in the background as arguments ensued amongst them concerning the observation aired by the king. Some believed that the Igwe could be right while some didn’t, leading to prolonged noise among them. It took the efforts of the guards and the elders to calm the people down.

“Igweee,” Ichie Akilika said and came forward when the noise had crept away in their midst. To the king’s ear, he whispered: “but the chief priest isn’t here yet. You may need the counsel of your cabinets or the chief priest before declaring him innocent,”

“We have an issue here!” The king echoed to the hearing of the people, “For this boy to be excommunicated in his village, he may be guilty as charged. Even if we choose to set him free, he has already committed a sacrilege against the land of Amirioma, therefore, he’d be sacrificed to cleanse the land, which is traditional,”

Hearing that promulgation made Ojadili burst into tears because he couldn’t imagine why the gods of their lands would drown him in oblivion, and then take him to a strange land to die. At least he would have died in his country home and be buried there than ending his life in an evil forest.

“But it was unwittingly done!” Ojadili cried out, making few conscientious ones feel piteous while the hardhearted ones booed him and clamoured for his execution, “I can’t explain what happened to me, but all I can say is that the gods should be consulted in my case to…”

“Shut up, young man,” Ichie Odumeje blurted, “are you now wiser than the king that just revealed that no one who had distorted the ritual process or seen the nakedness of the maidens should be sacrificed for cleansing?”

“Noooo” a voice in the crowd roared.

“If you’re found guilty by common sense, how then are you seeking the consent of the gods?” Odumeje continued, “Don’t you think that the gods would be angry if we consult them; because we have already erred and have to do anything within our powers to please them? I think this boy’s punishment should be doubled. The foolish grasshopper ends up in the gizzard of a bird. Yuck!” he gnarled.

“The foolishness of the gods is better than the wisdom of men,” Ojadili voiced angrily in tears, “But if they are asleep, let the wishes of men come to fruition,”

“Okwu ka ikwuru nwam (You have said wisely)” Akaaka, one of the oldest men in the village murmured from his sitting position and remained calm.

Amid the noise, the king heard Akaaka’s murmur but his hands were tied because it had never been heard that someone who was found guilty of such sacrilege was freed.

“In this land,” The king continued as he looked into Ojadili’s eyes, “Once you see the nakedness of the maidens during Iwucha-ala (land cleansing) rituals, you’re automatically condemned. I’m sure that the guards that caught you weren’t even close to the River because it’s a taboo for them to behold the nakedness of the maidens chosen for this cleansing.

There is no way I can spare your life even though I pity you already. In your eyes, I see a boy struggling to find the explanation to the mystery that has surrounded his life lately but I can’t go against the tradition of Amirioma just to please you or allow the voices of pity to dominate justice. I’d be stripped of my title if I dare allow you go, so all I can say is that when you die, may the gods that allowed you enter into this life dilemma receive your soul,”

The people began to cheer and roar as the judgement was passed, making Ojadili know that there was no way for him to escape what just came before him. He knew that he just met a good and kindhearted king but due to the circumstances he explained, he wouldn’t live long to tap from his wisdom and benevolence.

In that dispiritedness, he fell on his face and began to cry. He wasn’t crying for mercy because there was none imminent but he was crying out of regrets because he never achieved anything in life but just moving from one problem to another which has finally cost him his life.

“Prepare him for sacrifice at the altar of Obiakpo, the god of black thunder,” Ichie Akilika said and shook his head in pity for the young man, “The gods of your land sent you to our land to accomplish the judgement and execution they couldn’t carry out. This shows that truly, you killed your parents…”

Ojadili wanted to contest or refute that statement, making Ichie Akilika pause to listen to his defence but the young man simply shook his head as his heart pulsated in anguish and sorrow while his lips fell apart, leaving him agape.

“Killing unjustly is a taboo in our land and beyond, but this boy killed his parents,” Ichie Odumeje barked, and then turned to the king who was sorrowfully looking at Ojadili and said: “May his blood wash away our shame and make our Chi receive our sacrifice which has already be altered by this boy. After his death, we may need to seek the mercy of the gods to allow us to have the second cleansing at Mmirimma River,”

The king shook disapprovingly and hissed. “But that has never happened before,” The Igwe Obiajulu reminded him, “I must say that we’re not sure of what is going to be the fate of Amirioma people because; for the chief priest to be absent even after the great Ikoro (large wooden gong) was sounded, there is a big problem in the land and we may not come out of it so soon.

I expected him to be the one to head this judgement but when the gods decide to be quiet out of anger, the only way for us to please them is by sacrificing the cause of the doom. The boy cannot escape this if we must have peace with our Chi,”

“The great king Obiajulu has spoken,” Ikenta the palace chief guard said and dragged Ojadili up, “Let’s bind him and take him to Obiakpo shrine for the rest of the sacrifice,”

As they were about to leave, they were surprised to see a hooded man who couldn’t be identified as he approached, making the entire people shudder out of shock. There were speculations because no one could identify the visitor, even King Obiajulu was taken aback, making the guards veil him in case the hooded man in leopard-skinned attire tries to attack them.

OJADILI
#OpraDre

To be continued…