SOMUANYIRO - Chapter 6

Yet another morning and I wake up to the awful sound, my sons have recently brought in a stray dog to the house and named him Nwakanti. It seems to me like this dog was always hungry at odd hours, or maybe the boys just don’t feed him during the day. I have tried unsuccessfully to get rid of the dog but it always comes back, I think my children actually go looking for it. Silly boys! Nwakanti kept at it, I believe the howl even got louder. I reluctantly pulled myself up from my bed and pick up the mpan’aka lamp I leave close to my door. As soon as I got outside my hut the dog ran to me and started barking.

“Alright, alright,” I said to Nwakanti “just follow me to the cooking shed so we can find something for you. Leftovers maybe, that’s if Ubaka hasn’t been the wiser.”

I rummaged through Chielo’s cooking shed in search of leftovers for the howling dog. This is a difficult task because Chielo never has any and Ubaka would rather eat all the food than allow room for leftovers; kama oga dulu n’ite ka o dulu n’afo. I found no leftover, so I ended up feeding Nwakanti some azu okpo dried fish I found in the nkata basket that hung above the fire place. Then I got some water from the near empty water pot and washed my face, hands and legs at the wash corner behind my obi. After which I hurried down to my father’s graveside, just behind my compound, with only Nwakanti for company.

When I got to the graveside I saw a silhouetted figure. My first reaction was to run away, the gods must be angry enough to pay me a physical visit. Then on a second though I decided to keep approaching, it may just be my father’s ghost who has come physically to talk with me. Then the figure stood up and I saw its small frame, I realised it was my wife Chielo. 

“Dim biko gba’alum,” she apologised, everyone in my household knows I don’t like to be interrupted when I go to spend time with my father. I approached her and she drew up a log for me to sit on, then she continued. “Nnam, I know how busy you would be today, being that it’s your pre-wedding feast today and also the day for the cleansing rites. I just wanted to have a little talk with you before the day becomes hectic.”

“Then go ahead Chielo, you have already gotten my attention and my time. What’s so important that you have to come here? You could not even wait for the day to brighten, or come to my room and have a private talk with me.” My tone was reproachful.

She was quiet for a while, probably trying to put her words in order. I really didn’t like this invasion of my private time. Then she began to speak. “I wish I could tell you not to go ahead with this marriage, but I guess am too late. Besides I was the one who told you to help my friend. Though I wish the help didn’t involve marrying her.”

“Nwanyi”, I responded, “I think you are just jealous. Although I must tell you that the reason I made this decision is not just because I wanted to help your friend, but also because I wanted to help my own friend, also because it is the right thing for me to do. I need another wife in this phase of my life.”

“But my husband, you are paying too much for something that is not your fault, you didn’t make Nwando pregnant, so I don’t see why she and her family have the right to fix the marriage before the yam festival or before you take up your new title.”

“Tufia!” I spat out a curse. “You are my wife and you, as well as every other person, are forbidden to speak such about me.”

“Nnanyi, am very sorry please forgive me, I spoke in error, but it was only to emphasis my reason for…” I cut her off; I was really upset with her.

“No matter your reason Chielo, I cannot believe you will speak to me in such manner. I will only attribute it to your jealousy and nothing else. You women are never satisfied with anything. I must warn you now Chielo, once Nwando moves in, I will not tolerate any form of feud between the both of you. So you must curb your jealousy and not let it control your actions.” By now my voice was a pitch higher than usual. I hardly speak in anger or raise my voice, so she must have understood how unhappy her words had made me. If my words were too subtle to express my unhappiness about her topic of discussion, am sure she could see it on my face just by looking at it. The sun was rising already; I had wasted my precious time with a jealous wife.

“Leave me in peace Chielo. Go and prepare yourself and wake the children.” I now spoke in my usual tone. I had to dismiss her; I have so much to do with my time this day. “Besides the umuada will be here soon, you need to receive them.”

“Ezigbo dim, I am very sorry,” she said in an attempt to smoothen my ego, “I know you’re a great man, it was stupid of me to have doubted at all that Nwando’s pregnancy wasn’t yours. I am only a woman, therefore unable to hide my jealous and argue with your sense of good judgement.” I gave her a pat on the back, a sign that all is back to normal as it should be. “I had a troubling dream,” she continued, “but we will talk about it some other time.” She stood up to leave.

“Don’t forget to wake Zamoku, he has to be ready to leave with me in a short time.“ I called after her. I had promised to take my youngest son along with me and the umunna for the morning palm wine presentation at Ezemmuo’s house.

After she left I sat down to think on the issue she had raised. Am I really paying so much for a woman, just for claiming I was responsible for her pregnancy? What a laugh! As if I could actually father a child if I tried. One thing just pleased me and kept me going; Omeka was responsible, he had told me himself. So I could go extra miles to make this woman my wife. I still have to pay her bride price, and also refund the bride price her previous husband had paid. I have not even mentioned paying for the taboo of impregnating a widow. Sacrifices had to be made to cleanse the entire village of my mistake, and spare us from impending death that came with such taboos.

All these made my precious Chielo unhappy, but I could tell it was nothing more than jealousy on her part. Come to think of it, my father had done so much more when I supposedly impregnated her. Chielo is from the famous Agbazikwe village where bride price di na ngalonu, very expensive, and their women are rarely married by men from other villages. She had come to my village as a war tribute, when she was barely twelve years old and was placed under the care of Ayiyora, the dreaded priestess of Ajala, the protector of ndi ogbenye, the less privileged.  I had, or rather my father had also paid for the rituals to cleanse the entire village of my taboo. Huge fines were placed and all cleared by my father. Chielo was betrothed to Gosife the old hunter, I also had to pay back his bride price and redeem his family of the shame because he was unable to claim her pregnancy. Biko kwanu! She had no right to complain as far as I see.

Yes! Even my father would not have had any reason not to be proud of me. I outdid myself at the feast; everyone in the village had been well fed, there was so much to eat and drink and take home afterwards. Dancers had performed, wrestlers had wrestled and we all had been merry, the elders had eaten their alligator pepper and bush meat, d youth had mingled and socialised, the children had played and listened to stories told by the old women. Yes! It had been a feast in the right sense, merriment after the cleansing rites.

The cleansing rite had been much different than it was when I married Chielo. This time it had been more routine and less people had attended, though the Ejiofor of all the clans had been there as mandated by custom. In Chielo’s time it had been somewhat scary and dramatic.  Ayiyora and her five male urchins danced around and burnt incense, they looked so stupid yet scary in a funny half naked way, Chielo and I were even stripped off and painted with a smelly mixture of whatever.  Ah! So much drama! 

I want for nothing at this stage of my life; all is well with the world. Chielo’s premonition can wait awhile, am sure it was nothing good. I looked forward to my igbankwu wine carrying ceremony and my title day. “Why attempt a fight the gods have already won for me?”

SOMUANYIRO - Chapter 5

I was a few meters away from the house yet I could perceive Chielo’s cooking. My only son, Ifeadi, and I were on our way back from my work shed. I could see that he was already getting excited over the aroma of the food. Well, me too. Chielo is the best cook I know, and I can see my son feels the same.

When we got to the compound I saw my two little girls playing with their cousins.  Chielo was in the kitchen shed preparing the evening meal and Zikaora, my first daughter, was pounding ede (coco yam) for her. I saw Omeka sitting under my favourite ube (pear) tree, helping himself to my freshly tapped ngwo (palm wine) and eating anu nshi (bush meat) soaked in pepper sauce. Ifeadi greeted him from afar and ran towards his mother’s cooking shed to inspect the food.

I called him back. “Nna please come and take my tools to my hut, I want to join my friend before he finishes my palm wine.” He quietly ran back, took my tools and continued to the kitchen shed.

“Nne ji si ike o.” I greeted Chielo, and she answered me “O Nna, daalu.”

Omeka greeted me when I got to the pear tree. “Nnoo nwokem, Welcome.” We did the customary hand shake for titled men, tap twice with the back of the hand and once with the front. I took a seat on the recliner beside him, washed my hands, dried it off on my cloth, and then I picked up a piece of the bush meat.

“I am surprised seeing you here at this time my good friend,” I started. “I remember we were supposed to meet this evening.”

“Ah!” Omeka said, and then he chuckled. “I take that as a compliment. You and I know you cannot get enough of me.”

“Well that is true, but I am certain we had a plan. All the same you are always welcomed to my home.” I replied. He had a sheepish worried look on his face as he smiled. “Omekannaya,” I said, “Tell me about the meeting you attended today.” He did this horrible head shake that I couldn’t understand. “Did something go wrong?”

“Hmm, Nna! Okwu nkaa yim na onu, the words are too heavy for me to say.” He replied as he did the head shake again. “The council meeting this morning was about Nwando.”

“Which Nwando is that?” I asked him as if I didn’t already know.

“Nwando Okwudili, our village Ochiahia’s (war general) daughter, Chielo’s friend.”

“Oh o! That Nwando.” He nodded. “What has she done, I thought her husband just died recently?”

“Exactly!” he exclaimed. He reached into his saddle bag and brought out his utaba (snuff) box, poured a small portion on the back of his left palm, and took it in through his nose. Then he passed it to me and I did the routine.

“Oh oh ya o!” I exclaimed immediately the snuff entered my nose. “Mbanu, Omeka, i dalu nkaa, you failed this one. This utaba is not fresh at all, it cannot be enjoyed. Last night I got fresh supply from Ogbenyealu, the snuff maker, specially made for me, but I can spare some don’t worry.” I called Ifeadi and asked him to get my snuff box from my hut. Omeka busied himself with a piece of bush meat, while I poured myself some palm wine.

He shook his head from side to side. “Nwado used to be one of the prettiest young maidens of our youth, do you remember?”

“Ehye nu, Omeka! Who can forget such beauty? Every young man wanted to marry her, but her father was a choosy man. I remember clearly, you were rejected twice.” We laughed at this point. “You know she and Chielo remained close all these years.”

“Mmn, I know” Omeka nodded.

Soon the snuff arrived and we had some, Omeka commented on how good it was. I quickly drew his digressing mind back to the conversation we were having.

“Alu! How can that be?” I asked stupidly after he had told me the gist of the meeting. “Nwado’s husband just recently passed away, so how can she be pregnant? It isn’t up to the mandatory one year of mourning.”

Omeka and shrugged, as if to say he too had no idea, “Amaghim o. To make matters worse, she has refused to name the father of the unborn child.” Omeka continued. “The elders decided that the best solution is to visit with Ugodilinwa the priestess of Asanla. She is can help see things Nwando has decided to keep secret.”

Knowing that Chielo would be eavesdropping, he leaned towards me and whispered in my ear. “I suspect Chielo knows something about all these, and you must find out what you can from her.” I nodded in agreement.

I secretly hope Chielo wasn’t in the know. If this case is taken seriously she may be called to Asanla shrine to swear an oath, and I didn’t want that for her.

“What is the worst that could happen?” I asked him. “What will they do to her if no one claims the pregnancy?”

Omeka shook his head. “Custom demands that she be sent to the osu (outcast) community. Our people don’t accept bastard children especially from a widow who is still in mourning. She is quite lucky in this situation you know. If she wasn’t pregnant and she was caught with a lover she would have been thrown into the evil forest. But as the gods would have it, our community does not believe in killing innocent unborn children.”

“Hmmn, will Chielo get into any trouble if it turns out she knows something and refuses to say?”

“I don’t know about that my brother; however, you must find out what she knows and decide what to do with the knowledge.” I nodded in response. “Let me quickly finish up my palm wine and bush meat, I have some things to do at home, I just thought I should come see you before going home.”

Long after Omekannaya had departed, I was still troubled by Nwando’s issue. I feared for Chielo’s safety. I know Nwando is her closest friend, and it is very likely that she knows who the father of the child is. For the elders in council to her taken the matter all the way to Asanla, Chielo may be called to swear before the god. If it was an ordinary case of adultery, the elders would have passed it on to the otu omu, the women council, who would have severely punished the adulterer, but no, it had to be Nwando, the widow in mourning. I shook my head.

Then it hit me. Omekannaya! I realised I was more afraid that the father could be Omeka. Why else would he rush to me immediately after the meeting? Could he be in trouble? He had a very troubled look on his face while we talked about Nwando, and I know he has always had an eye for beautiful women. He wasn’t a dog, but it is quite unfortunate, he has a reputation amongst the women.

He is currently married to two women, and who knows, now his father is dead and he has inherited another title, he may add another wife. Other than Chielo, Omeka is also an ikonwanna to Iloani, the old widow Akuakanwa’s wife. An ikonwanna a man who is chosen to impregnate women who were married to other men, (like Akuakanwa who refused to return to her father’s house after her husband death, but has married a wife to bear children in his name) or an okenwanyi, (a man like me).  He is also my companion, my di nwanna.

That night I decided to visit my father’s grave side, I find that I always return with a restful mind whenever I go there. Chielo waylaid me immediately I walked past the kitchen.

“You have to help Nwando.” She went straight to the point. “You have to promise to help her, she is my friend.”

“Chielo,” I pulled my ear as I spoke, “I hope you don’t know anything about Nwando’s predicament?”

“Ah! Nnanyi, I know nothing about it oh.” She lifted her hands to the skies, “I swear by the gods, akam di ocha, my hands are clean.”

I looked at her and nodded. “So tell me, why you want me to help her, I don’t even have a say in issues like that and you know it. I can only be heard through the men in my umunna, and they will not easily bend to help Nwando.”

“I know that dim, but I just want you to intercede within your power. Don’t let them throw her into the evil forest, please I beg you.”

“Nwanyi, don’t be afraid. She’s a pregnant woman, and you know it will be a taboo to do that to her. I believe she will be married off to an osu if the worse comes to worst.”

“Hian! Olisaaju, God fordid, Nnanyi.  Nwando was good to me; she was the only one that accepted me in this village when I was first brought here.”

“I remember my wife. I will tell Omekannaya to speak on her behalf should the need arise, but Chielo don’t forget, her fate is being decided by the gods, we may not be able to help her, so if u know anything about it speak now.” I warned her.

“Yes, I understand, but I swear, I don’t know anything about it. I just want you to promise to do your best should the need arise.”

“I will my dear, don’t worry, I will do my best.”

I left her and continued on my way. I returned to my hut some hours later, still high on the good feeling that I have spoken with my father. I met Echidime in my hut when I got there, am not surprised, I have been expecting her. I even have something to speak with her about.

She greeted me. “Nnanyi nnoo.” She stood up and gave me a side hug.

“Ehen Echi, I have been expecting you. Please sit down.” I sat down beside her.

“What is on your mind my brother? I hope you had a good visit with our father’s spirit?” she asked

“Of course I did, I always do. You go ahead and speak first my dear, but I am sure we have the same thing on our minds.”

“Like every other person in this village, I heard about the proceedings of today’s council meeting.” She began. “Then I suddenly had an idea that I am sure our father would have approved.”

I had a wide smile on my face. Finally Echidime is showing signs of good reasoning. Our father would certainly have approved and urged me to do exactly what I think Echi had on mind. I had just had a similar conversation with his spirit. But first I have to listen to her.

“Go on, Echi am listening.” I urged her.

“My brother, you see, since I heard about her predicament I have been in thought. Then I realised that your Chi always works in double as you claim.” We shared a light laughter at her last sentence. Echi doesn’t mince words.

She continued. “My brother, this is really a blessing in disguise. I have been pressuring you to marry Ukaamaka, the pretty young Ekufelem girl, not knowing that she is not the one the gods want you to marry in the umunna.”

“Let me finish your thoughts for you my dear sister.” I cut in. “I had this same discussion with the spirit of our father a few minutes ago. My Chi has killed two birds with one stone for me. Last week, I was greatly troubled about this whole marriage issue, but when I visited the osu dibia, he told me not to fight the situation, that it will work out just fine according to my akalaka (destiny).” She nodded in agreement.

“It turns out that Nwando is of the Ekufelem umunna, so we are not breaking the betrothal you and our umunna made on my behalf by changing the woman in question. Besides, when I marry her and claim the pregnancy, I will only be saving them from shame.”

“Ehye, ezi okwu my brother, true talk. This change comes with an assurance, a child is already here, such a bonus. So mustn’t waste any time in making your claim before another man becomes the wiser.” She concluded.

“Yes, I know so. My first duty tomorrow is to go to Ukaama’s house and inform him, and then we would gather the available members of our Umunna and head to the Ekufelem compound.” She nodded. “Go now and send in Chielo, I must tell her what I decided, I owe her that much.”

“Okay nnanyi, I will do just that. Sleep well. I will also get the support of our umuada (women born into a lineage) and inyeme di (women married into a lineage).”

With this she left my hut. I was already consumed in thoughts. Deep down in me I knew Omeka was responsible for Nwando’s predicament. Otherwise I would never have agreed to marry a pregnant woman for the second time around. First, Chielo the war sacrifice. Now, Nwando, the mourning widow. I don’t mind, as long as I can help Omeka.

SOMUANYIRO - Chapter 4

In my state of oblivion I could hear the sound of my wife’s voice. I woke up and hastily ran outside my hut to find out what was going on. I suspect she must have been sleepwalking. She does that a lot and sometimes gets into trouble with Echidime and her children.

Sometimes during these sleepwalking episodes, she is in a trance like state, oblivious to everything around her. When she returns to consciousness she would claim she had been to the future or the past. She tells absurd tales that rarely come to pass, though I always take her seriously, or so I claim.

As soon as I got outside I ran to Echidime’s hut. I found her and her older son Ubaka arguing with my wife.

“Ubaka, ngwa stop that!” I screamed at him. “Now find your way into your mother’s hut.”

“Nnanyi its Chielo that started it,” my wife made an attempt to slap him, his mother came to his defence and pushed Chielo.

“Afu go num, I have seen.” I spoke up “Echii so this is how you teach your children to treat their Chielo, you don’t even show any respect for my presence.”

“My brother that is not true, my children are respectful.” She said. “It is your wife who has issues with us.” She turned to her son, “Ubaka, ngwa, do what your uncle said, go inside quickly, osiso, and apologise for your disrespect”

The boy grumbled and walked away, no one heard his apologies.

I offered Chielo my hand and helped her up. “Nne ndo o, sorry my dear.”  I said.

“As for you Echii, I never want a repeat of this incidence. You know very well that she has issues with sleeping, why do you always pick a fight about it.”

“My brother this time she came to me oo, my sons and I were sleeping when she suddenly came in and started accusing me of causing the down fall of your household by bringing an evil woman into the family.” She pointed at Chielo, “Ask her, she will tell you.”

I turned to my wife, “Nne, explain yourself. Has Echi said the truth? Did you go asking for trouble?”

 “Dim, my husband” she falls to her knees. My sister starts laughing

“Kunye oto nwany” I said, “Stand up woman.” She ignored me and continued kneeling.

“I can't say if she spoke the truth or not. I do not even remember walking into her hut or accusing her as she said I did. The first thing I remember was when Ubaka poured water on me. Then they started screaming and accusing me of saying things. Dim, Ubaka has no respect for me. He poured water on me and talked back at me while his mother watched and applauded. If you had not come out, am sure they would have beaten me to a pulp.”

I turned to my sister, “Echi, tell Ubaka to see me first thing tomorrow as soon as I get done with my morning routine.” She nodded. “As for you, I have warned you several times, when you disrespect my wife, you do the same to me. If you are tired of living in my household you can move in with any other member of our umunna. Or better still go back to your husband’s house. If Chielo comes to you in her sleep again, come quickly and call me, do not engage her in a fight. I will not tolerate any more of these. I nugo, have u heard?”

“A nugo mu, I have heard” she responded. “May I go inside?” she asked.” I want to get some more sleep. Ego and I are going to the nkwozo early morning market at first light.”

I replied “You may go and do sleep well, Chielo will not disturb your sleep anymore.” She smiled and walked away. I turned to my wife, who by now was seating on the ground and looking sober. “Chielo Kunye oto.” I said. She stood up on her own.

“Ezi dim, my good husband, I am very sorry. I don’t know how to control this thing. This time around I don’t even know what happened or where I have been to. Please forgive me.” She pleaded.

“Walk with me” I said. She followed me and we walked to my hut, got in and sat down. “I want to believe you this time Chielo, but it is hard.” I looked at her; she was hugging herself and trying not to cry. “What Echidime said makes me think that you are jealous. I know you do not want me to marry another woman, and neither do I, but you don’t have to go into Echii’s hut and fight her. I have explained to you that she’s only looking out for my interest.”

“Dim, I understand but I am not jealous. Why will I want to hinder your progress? I know how your status will increase in the society if you marry the Ekufelem girl. My husband, if what she said is true, then we should be wary, she may have your interest at heart but the result will turn out bad.”

“Nne I know, trust me. I don’t want to marry another wife. Imagine the way she and Echi will gang up against you and the children.”

“Dim, that’s not even the problem. I fear that this may turn out worse than what we see. Your sister is troublesome even when she does not mean to be.”

I nodded. Chielo is right; I should be careful and make adequate consultations before making any decision. I robbed her back, as I spoke.

“Nne you need to go to bed now and get some sleep, so the children don’t look for you in case they wake up.”  She nodded in response. “I will look into the matter, and you have to promise me one thing.”

“Anything you want me to, my husband, I promise to do my best.”

“Fine, then you must try to control our sleeping problem. These fights must not happen again. You hear me?” she nodded. “Good, now go get some sleep. You will be the first to know when I have made my decision about marrying a new wife. I nu go? Don’t worry yourself about it anymore.”

After Chielo’s departure, it was difficult for me to go back to sleep. My head was full of thoughts. If I don’t marry this girl I will lose face in the society. Echidime had already gone ahead with the umunna to put a word out for me. I don’t know what to do with my sister, and I honestly don’t want this marriage, though I need it for societal recognition and advancement.

What would my father have me do?  He would have said “Why attempt a fight the gods have already won for me?” But how does that help me in this situation. He made me understand that the gods are always working in my favour. So no matter what happens or what decision I take, I know I will be victorious.

I have the chi of two people after all, I have nothing to fear. If my luck fails me, the other one won’t, it’s been there all along, unused. “Why attempt a fight the gods have already won for me?” 

I know what to do. I must visit the Osu dibia at first light. I have to find out what the gods have in store for me concerning this issue.

SOMUANYIRO - CHAPTER 3

A few weeks after my little sister Echdime was born, my father had series of meetings with our umunna. On the last meeting day I was called in. I clearly remember my mother’s unhappy face when Ugorji, my father’s brother came to take me away from her unu.

As I walked into the obi where they were gathered, I could feel their stares piecing my skin. For a short moment I got scared. I must have done something wrong to be called to the meeting. Maybe they found out that I have been eating the food meant for my Chi every morning.

Looking at my father, I see the pride in his eyes. This restored my confidence, I know I have done nothing wrong and no one knows my secret yet. I have a brilliant smile plastered on my face as I go around greeting the umunna, with the customary side hugs. After this I sat beside my father and he put his right arm around me.

Ibeakwuzie, my father’s cousin, stood up to address us, though his little speech was clearly for my benefit.

 “We have all heard what Olujubem has said, and we have also deliberated on the issue. After some fact findings and consultations, we have agreed to wholly support our brother to any extent. As it is, Uzolue our ezemmuo has set a date for the ritual.”

His speech went on and on, listing the materials needed for the rituals and what each person was to contribute in show of support.

I could feel fear creeping up my body again, but when I looked up to my father, I found reassurance. Then I heard Ibeakwuzie mention my name.

“Olujubem and his daughter will go into the forests of our ancestors with Uzolue and stay there with him for four market days, until the gods accept the sacrifice. The rest of us will be waiting in the village, to celebrate and kill the sacrificial cow when you emerge successfully.”

This whole ritual and sacrifice talk was beginning to overwhelm me, so I had to speak up in my own defense.

“But Nnanyi” I drown my fears and interrupt him. “No one asked me if this is what I want for myself.”

As a woman and a young child I had no right speaking in this gathering; my presence alone was a mere privilege, so i was surprised when i got smiles and nods of approval rather than a serious caution. My father seized this moment to speak in pride. 

“You can all see the reason why I made my decision.” He looked around the obi for approval. “She is sharp and never afraid. As young as she is, she knows when to speak for herself and make decisions. These are qualities every man wants for a son, I too deserve to have one. While I wait for the gods to bless me with more children, I am proud to make her the first of all my sons and with the help of the gods this will come to pass.”

Unfortunately my father never had more sons; neither did he have more children. I went through with the rituals and became my father’s son. I was made a man in the eyes of the society, which means I could no longer play the roles of a woman. I can never bear children of my own; marry a man, cook meals, or dress like a woman.

I accepted these conditions and so much more because my father said so, and I must make him proud no matter what. He and I are kindred spirits; therefore I was unable to refuse him anything.

When I became his son, I became his confidant. I got to know the deepest secrets that burdened him. I found out that for so many reasons I owe him my life, he gave up so much for me. How hard could it be for me to make him proud even beyond his imaginations? After all my life is peculiar.

Growing up, this burden my father passed on to me has not stopped me from living my mark in the society, though I am a threat to some of the foundations of our beliefs and the secret surrounding my bath is a sacrilege in itself. So far I have never divulged it to another.

As far as I know, other than me, only three others know this secret; my parents and our newly departed ezemmuo Uzolue, and they are all dead. I plan to die and be buried with it. “Onye kwelu chi ya ekwelu, my god approves whatever I approve.”

SOMUANYIRO - CHAPTER 2

I was almost four years old when I noticed that my mother Aniogo was having a protruding stomach, I instantly became very curious. Upon my incessant probing, I was told that she had a child growing inside of her, and I could not imagine what that meant.

My mother was the epitome of beauty in my eyes. She looked so much like an unmarried maiden; very slender, with glowing skin that she polished often with ude aki, scented oil. It was hard to believe that she has ever had a child.

My father told me that she gave birth to a set of twins before me, but he had quickly done away with them that very night before the evil could spread through the village. Multiple births are seen as an evil act, permitted only for animals, therefore when it happens to humans they are thrown into the evil forests and left to die by which ever fate the gods assigned to them.

One hot afternoon, my father and I returned from the bush after picking herbs, to find the umuada (kindred women) busying about the compound. I could hear my mother’s voice as she screamed. I looked at my father; rather than running to my mother’s unu to find out what was going on, he walked towards his obi, the lounge; he had a worried, yet happy look on his face. I got troubled.

“Nna, father, what is going on here? What is wrong with my mother and why won’t you run in to help her” I asked him.

My father smiled at me, “Your mother is screaming in the voice of her ancestral mothers. She will be fine, don’t worry about it.”

This made me more confused. I started running to my mother’s unu, but my father caught hold of my hand. Some umuada told him to let me go, that it was never too early to learn my duties as a woman. Reluctantly he let go off my hand, and I ran in as fast as my thin legs let me.

What I saw with my eyes was nothing I ever imagined I would see. A child’s bloody head had gotten stuck between my mother’s legs, and it was screaming too. There was blood everywhere around her. Two women held her legs apart, another two held her hands. Orjiugo, my father’s sister was enchanting and blowing incense, while the other women chanted songs I could not understand.

Despite the obvious pains I knew my mother was passing through, she gave me a strained smile when I looked at her face. I smiled back at her and left the room to wait outside with my father and the rest of his friends and family that had come by.

That evening, my father took me to his sister’s house to sleep. On the way there he explained to me that what I saw was my mother bringing out the child that was growing in her. But he was unable explain further, when I asked him how this child had gotten inside her in the first place.

This child grew up to be my younger sister Echidime, who doesn’t like me much, but believes she is entitled to half of all I own, including my wife.

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Echidime has been married three times, twice to men from other villages, the last time to an old widower from our village, yet she always found a reason to return to our father’s house. She has had five children shared between her first two husbands. Now she leaves in my home with her last two children, mischievous boys they were.

Echidime never agreed with my wife and picked a fight over every little thing. She refuses to cook meals and expects to eat; neither she nor her sons help out in the up keep of my household. She wants to have a say in the way I run my family. She believes that my wife is incapable of giving me as much children as I should have, and constantly told me that I need to marry a second wife.

“Nwannem nwoke, my brother” she would say, “you know our father had problems performing his duties correctly as a man.  He was unable to give our mother more children after me.”

In her insolence she must have forgotten that her birth nearly killed our mother Aniogo, and that our father was a great man irrespective of his inability to have more children. Yet I listened to her.

"He was too stubborn and refused to marry more wives after the last two left him. You must not be like that too. Oke nwoke k'ibu, you are a great man."

She softly touched my left shoulder as she talked. 

“You, my brother, were the pride of his life. You cannot fail him now. You must keep proving to him that you were worth the sacrifices.” She says this with a sheepish smile on her face.

Like most married women, my sister wears an ogodo, a cotton cloth, wrapped around her chest. Her body is saggy as a result of child birth, but she doesn't help matters by eating too much.

“Echii” that is what I call her. “You know I have always lived up to father’s expectations. I have never and will never sway from it.

“Mba nu, no!” she continues “You have been doing well, you are wealthy and well respected in the village, but it is not enough. You need to have more children. Your wife has bad blood. She cannot have the right amount. Don’t forget that she is nothing but a war acquisition, who knows the kind of family she came from before our people captured her.”

She constantly tugs at her wrapper as she talks, maybe to make sure it doesn't fall off, or just a habit, am not sure.

“Echii,” I spoke softly. “I will not have you talk about my wife that way. If and when I need more children, I know what to do.” 

I have found that raising my voice at my sister is fruitless, so I don't stress myself, not even when am very angry at her.

“Kam nu nti, let me hear word” she says. “We both know that is not what you can do. If your wife was smart enough she would have had more.”

“I am the man in this house; you do not have the right to speak to me that way. Why don’t you go back to one of your husbands and run his house hold. This is the last time we will have a discussion of this sort.”

“Nna” she cajoles me. “I do not mean to run your household. I just have your interests at hand. The four children you have are not enough. I have found you a beautiful girl from the Ekufulem family.”

She stands up, looks around the obi, as to be sure no one else can hear, then she whispers in my ear “a maiden for that matter.” She sits down and smiles at me.

"I plan to go with the umunna to marry her for you soon, I just need your approval. Trust me my brother, she is of good blood."

I fully understand all that she has said; truth be told, I am not angry at her. I couldn't be angry at her. She isn't the first to mention that I need another wife and more children. But of what use are they to me.

If I marry another woman, she would go to another man to bear children with. When she does this, I wouldn't love the children enough because of their paternity. I couldn't imagine mixing up my beloved children with another and allowing them to grow up together.

I am in love with the father of my children and I loved my wife, I also know my wife loves the father of our children. This is the only reason why I don’t want more another wife and I can never explain this to anyone. After all I a man, how do I explain being in love with another man.

“Echidime I have heard you, thank you for your concern. I will put it into consideration and let you know when I have made up my mind. You can leave now.” 

As she left she had a frown on her face. We both knew I wasn't going to do any of it. I also prayed she wouldn't take any action that will make me unhappy.