Super Story: Olanma - Episode 1

[Mr. Babatunde]

EPISODE 1
In the beginning, there were no humans until the God of the heavens, Chukwu, in conglomeration with lesser gods, decided to create a new being called man. The earth was empty and plain; numerous water bodies sprawled all over the surface. The gods and the goddesses lived freely. They had built their homes in the water, in the forests, in the air and in the sky. But once man was created, everything changed.

Humans understood the importance of deities. They understood the importance of faith and worship. It wasn’t long before they all from every tribe took to worship their own gods. Some worship the gods of the air, some the gods of the forests, air and sky and some the gods of the water bodies. Of all these gods, the most powerful remained the god of the two faced river; Ezemiri. He was the most powerful entity and second in command only to Chukwu. He proved to be too proud and ambitious for Chukwu and was bannished.

Ezemiri’s water dried up and his worshippers fled. The curse upon the river god could only be broken when he surrendered his pride and fell in love with a priestess.

Now that his home was gone, Ezemiri and the goddesses loyal to him, still resided in a forest which was close to the dried up river; but no one could see them. No one could hear them. They all waited for the special day that the priestess would be born. She alone, could save them all. She would be a mediator, and plead on Ezemiri’s behalf.

The Ezemiri deity was worshiped by the Mmirim community. Though most of the community dwellers had rejected their old tradition for Christianity; a few still worshipped and sacrificed to this river god, but in secret.

Mmazi Jidenna was one of such men. He was the patriarch of the wealthiest family in Mmirim, the Ikenna family. Though he went to church like the rest, his heart couldn’t forsake the god of his ancestors.

Jidenna had only one brother, Dike. And Dike was married to the most beautiful maiden in the land; but there was just one problem. He had been silent on this issue for a long time, but he had to confront his brother.

Dike was at home sharpening his machete, preparing himself for the next hunt. Most times when there wasn’t any farming to do, Dike would hunt bush meat. He was the richest farmer and hunter in Mmirim. And he enjoyed what he was doing.

His lips were pressed together as he whistled. He was a happy and successful man. Though his precious wife, Adaugo hadn’t conceived since they got married, he didn’t mind. He was in love with a good woman, and that was all that mattered. He wasn’t the type of man to take a new wife or maltreat a woman because she couldn’t bear fruit. He was patient and kind. He was a good man.

“My darling, wouldn’t you like to take some rest? I made you something special to eat.” Adaugo sauntered out of the hut with two calabashes. The reddish waist beads that she wore, danced against her waist as she marched towards her husband.

Dike was a very handsome man. He was a man of character. And she could never stop loving him.

“I must go now that the sun is out. Many animals love to hunt now, and rest in the evening.” A smile curled on Dike’s lips as he stared at the light skinned woman standing next to him. Her small eyes were veiled by a canopy of thick lashes. Her brows were well carved and suited her oblong face. She had light brown eyes and red lips. Adaugo was perfect in all things.

Gently, she dropped the calabashes next to his feet. She was about to sit next to him on the bench, when she noticed her husband’s elder brother storming towards their compound. From the look on his face, Adaugo knew that Jidenna was upset about something. And she didn’t like it.

Already, he had invited her to his house once. Jidenna had asked her to offer some sacrifices to an ancient deity, whose name was forbidden in Mmirim. She was a Christian, and she couldn’t involve herself in fetish things. Even if she wanted to offer sacrifices, she would do it for other deities but not Ezemiri. For in his anger, he once set the whole village on fire.

“Mmazi…” she bowed her head in greeting as Jidenna arrived at the compound.
The man eyed her angrily and ignored her greeting.

“Brother, you do well to visit me. You just crossed my mind.” Dike smiled and rose to his feet. He was surprised to see his brother. Jidenna hardly visited. Dike could sense that something was wrong with him. He didn’t look excited to be there.

Jidenna bit his lip angrily and stared at his younger brother and Adaugo. These two were big fools. How could a man be satisfied and confident in a barren woman? His brother had been married for ten years, yet there wasn’t any case of miscarriage. Something was wrong, and he had come to help them.

“Is something wrong brother? Please have a seat and tell me what it is.” Dike tried to find out what was bothering Jidenna.

Suddenly, Jidenna snapped.

“You both are fools! Do you ever think of what the villagers are saying about you two? Do you ever think of having children and continuing your bloodline? I have come with a solution that you may not like. If you refuse to do this my way, I shall renounce you as my brother today.” Jidenna waved a hand over Dike’s face.

Tears stung Adaugo’s eyes as she watched Jidenna’s heated display. She fell on her knees and grabbed her husband’s brother.

“Please Mmazi, keep my husband out of this. Dike is a good man. I have asked him to take another wife many times, but he wouldn’t. God will bless us with our own child, just like he did for Abraham and Sarah in the bible.”

Jidenna guffawed and pushed her hands away.

“Keep your false God away from me. You have served him diligently for many years now. Why hasn’t he blessed you with a child? Your God is dead. It is time for us to ask Ezemiri for help.”
Dike was stunned. He hadn’t expected this from his brother. It was obvious that Jidenna had only been pretending in Church. His brother was one of those men, who secretly worshipped Ezemiri.
“If you are done, get out of my compound. If refusing to offer sacrifices to Ezemiri will break our relationship, so be it!” Dike was angry. How could his brother be this insensitive?
Jidenna was stung by Dike’s retort. His younger brother had just insulted him.

“I only tried to help you, but you have humiliated me in return. You cease to be my blood today…” with these words, Jidenna spun on his heels and walked out of Dike’s compound.



To be continued…

Source: Davina Diaries

[Mr. Babatunde]

EPISODE 2
Adaugo fell to the ground and threw her hands into the air. Tears mixed with sand; sweat mated with anguish. What crime had she committed? Everyone who heard this would blame her for not allowing her husband to take a second wife but she had advised Dike to do so.
“Get up Ada, I will never leave you. We are in this together.” Dike felt her pain. People never blamed a man for a woman’s barrenness. It was always the woman’s fault.

Though the quarrel had ended days ago, Jidenna’s love for Dike dissipated. In truth, Jidenna had always adored Adaugo, but she had eyes for Dike. Not only had Dike stolen the woman that he loved, he also insulted him before her. There was only one way to end this; he had to destroy Dike. He wouldn’t rest, until he accomplished his mission.

He would wait until midnight, before marching towards the great forest where Ezemiri resided. He would call upon the god of the two faced river to save him for this disgrace.

The day had ended quickly, as if Jidenna had forwarded it by himself. He had gone to the market to purchase some of the items that he would need. He had gotten seven white kola nuts; a white Billy goat and seven coconuts. He would offer them to Ezemiri before making his request.

When silence had eaten deep into the night; when the moon had crowned the sky with her beauty and the little stars began to wave; Jidenna knew that it was time to start his journey towards the great forest. His heart pounded against his chest. His blood boiled. He couldn’t wait to destroy Dike and take over his properties, including his wife. He couldn’t wait to have a taste of her silvery thighs. That woman had been made for him, but Dike had stolen her away. He would have her back.

So, at the dead of night, Jidenna left his compound and headed towards the great forest. Unknown to him, the god of the two faced river, had already seen him coming. Ezemiri, the god with seven eyes had sensed a human presence. The time for his rebirth and blessing was ripe.

He would wait until midnight, before marching towards the great forest where Ezemiri resided. He would call upon the god of the two faced river to save him for this disgrace.

The day had ended quickly, as if Jidenna had forwarded it by himself. He had gone to the market to purchase some of the items that he would need. He had gotten seven white kola nuts; a white Billy goat and seven coconuts. He would offer them to Ezemiri before making his request.

When silence had eaten deep into the night; when the moon had crowned the sky with her beauty and the little stars began to wave; Jidenna knew that it was time to start his journey towards the great forest. His heart pounded against his chest. His blood boiled. He couldn’t wait to destroy Dike and take over his properties, including his wife. He couldn’t wait to have a taste of her silvery thighs. That woman had been made for him, but Dike had stolen her away. He would have her back.

So, at the dead of night, Jidenna left his compound and headed towards the great forest. Unknown to him, the god of the two faced river, had already seen him coming. Ezemiri, the god with seven eyes had sensed a human presence. The time for his rebirth and blessing was ripe.

Though mortals could only see a cluster of tall Iroko trees that struggled with the domineering palm trees; only those with the gift of sight could see that an ancient water kingdom lay in this forest. It was the Kingdom of Ezemiri; the deity that was once revered by all.

The ground was soaked in clear running water. There was a huge palace in the middle of the little stream. It was forged out of the purest and earliest power of creation. The palace was made out of precious stones. Though the exterior was white; the interior was adorned with gold and jasper. And the floor of Ezemiri’s palace was decorated with diamond and sandstone.

An enormous black throne stood in the middle of the palace, with two smaller thrones next to it; these thrones belonged to the mermaid spirits, who were worshipped as goddesses. Ezemiri had created them when his powers to create were intact. The mermaids were his lovers, and he had them interchangeably. They bore him spirit children, who flourished the forest with their cries; which often came as the sound of owls. They weren’t fully gods. Only one woman could bear him, the child that he needed. She alone would break the curse that bound him to the forest.

The eldest mermaid, Kenia, five thousand years old was brown skinned. Her eyes were costly jewels and they could turn any man to stone, if they accidentlly saw her. She had the powers to transform into a serpent. She also had the power to get rid of her fins. But she couldn’t step out of the forest. She was limited in movement, as well as Ezemiri.

The second mermaid, Ala, was younger. She was just one thousand years old. She was worshipped as the goddess of fertility. And she was more beautiful than Kenia. She had favor in his eyes. Once the curse was broken, she alone would sit at Ezemiri’s side as queen.
The two goddesses had been swimming in the little stream, when they sensed the presence of a human.
“Who would dare to cross this forest at night?” Kenia whispered under her breath.

“Someone very stupid or confident.” Ala winked. She had the power to show herself to anyone that she pleased. Sometimes, she appeared to terrible me who treated their wives badly and scared them. Unlike Kenia and Ezemiri, she wasn’t bound to the forest. She was only bound to Ezemiri, but she swore never to leave his side.

As the goddesses were whispering, Ezemiri floated from his palace towards the spot where they swam. He had seen it all. He knew the root of this problem. His time for freedom had come.

“The human wants to offer sacrifices to me. He has been a loyal worshipper for some time now. I have no option but to grant his request.” He announced.

Kenia was the first to speak, “What request is that?” She got rid of her fins and stepped out of the stream.

He shrugged, “The man is in love with his brother’s wife. I have seen her. She is the fairest human I have ever seen. If I had my way, I will have her as well.”

Ala snorted, “Have her as well? You are not a deity of murder. You preserve men and give them life. You have bestowed your powers upon us; we make the barren fertile and the poor, wealthy. We are not the deities of fire and air. We don’t kill.” She warned. Already, the great God had cursed them. It wasn’t right to attract more curses.

Ezemiri laughed, Ala was scared of more curses. He read her mind easily.

“I do not owe Chukwu my loyalty. He was the one that exiled me and clipped my powers! I will do as I like…” His voice was loud and manifested as a thunder strike in the human world.

The goddesses quieted down. Ezemiri had a fiery temper. It wasn’t right to provoke him.
“So what do you plan to do? How does killing his brother help you?” Kenia sat on a piece of rock and began to comb her long hair.

He pulled in a deep breath, “Adaugo wants a child. You two will grant her wish.”

“Who is Adaugo?” Ala asked, but Ezemiri ignored her. Ala quickly read Kenia’s mind and realized that the woman in question, was the human’s sister-in-law.

“But she doesn’t worship us or offer sacrifices. Why would we consider her in our blessing?” Kenia asked.

Ezemiri was getting impatient.

“That doesn’t matter. Can’t you see the bigger plan? If you give her a child, there is a possibility for the child to be a priestess. When she grows, I will find her. That is the only way that I could ever be free from the curse. This is my chance.”

Ala and Kenia exchanged glares, “Why are you so sure that the child will be a priestess?”
The last and purest priestess that was born to the earth died two thousand years back. Those who communicated with gods and goddesses now, weren’t priestesses. They were simply channels. It was rare for a priestess to come to the earth; for she wielded great power and could destroy some lesser gods.

Ezemiri blinked and looked away.

“The last priestess was Olanma. And you fell in love with her, thinking that she would be the one to save you. She abandoned you when you needed her most.” Kenia dropped the comb and cast her eyes on Ezemiri.

Olanma had been the most attractive human to walk upon the face of the earth. She was tall and slender. Her long black hair was adorned with cowries. Her face glowed like the morning sun. It was her kind heart and her beautiful soul that had attracted Ezemiri to her.


To be continued…

Source: Davina Diaries

[Mr. Babatunde]

EPISODE 3
He had been strolling in the forest in his human form, when he had noticed a young maiden plucking some leaves from a bush. In that instant, he knew he would never get her out of his mind. Olanma had sensed someone watching her, when she turned, she found Ezemiri. Her heart stopped. That was how their love began, until she discovered that he wasn’t human.

“This time could be different. I have been bound to this forest for ten thousand years! I am tired! I want my freedom back. I want to rule this earth like I was meant to!” Ezemiri groaned.
The curse that Chukwu placed on him, could only be broken by a woman’s love. How long will it take before he found this woman?

“You have to be patient. We are all in this together.” Kenia advised.

“No, you both will grant Adaugo a child. Through that child, I could be free.” Ezemiri insisted.

“You can only be free if the child is a priestess. A mere mortal woman cannot break the curse.”

Ala cut in. A feeling of jealousy pierced her heart as she imagined another woman taking Ezemiri’s heart away from her.

When the god had fallen in love with Olanma, she had been very angry and jealous. Though nobody knew this, she still had access to the gods of fire and air, who were solely created for murder. With their help, she had killed the priestess untimely. Though Ezimiri was heartbroken when Olanma had died, Ala had been able to nurse his wounds. She wouldn’t let any woman take Ezemiri away from her.

“And what makes you think that Adaugo is not from a bloodline of priestesses?” Ezemiri asked. From the first time he set eyes on Adaugo in his vision, her flawless complexion had reminded him of his Olanma. Adaugo came from that bloodline, but she was only a channel. Olanma had existed five thousand years before her birth; Olanma was Adaugo’s female ancestor.
“Is she?” Kenia seemed surprised.

“Yes. She comes from Olanma’s bloodline. There is a possibility that the child you both will grant her, could be a priestess.” He smiled for the first time.

The goddesses were astonished. When Olanma had died, they had lost track of her family. This latest discovery didn’t sit well with Ala. She couldn’t harm Adaugo in anyway, else Ezemiri would become suspicious. She had no other option but to help him. But once the child had come of age, Ala planned to kill her, like she did Olamma.

The deities paused with their conversation as Jidenna neared the forest. Everything seemed normal as he marched briskly to offer his sacrifice, until he noticed several circular balls of light on tree leaves. He stiffened. Myth had it that, the presence of those circular light balls signified the presence of ancient spirits.

Jidenna was afraid for a moment. But when he remembered the need to teach his brother a lesson, he hastened towards the ancient forest. Luckily for him, the moon was generous with her light. She bestowed her radiance upon his path. He was able to locate a tree at the entrance of the dense forest. He tied the goat at once.

He dropped the baskets full of kola nuts and Coconuts beside the goat. When Jidenna was done, he moved away from the objects of his sacrifice and fell on his knees. With his hands stretched towards the forest, he began to pray to the god that his people had abandoned.

“Ezemiri, the great one; the python that dwells in the dark; the King of the seas; I have come to you. I have served you diligently, even when other forsook you. I have offered sacrifices and held you dear to my heart. Strike my younger brother down with thunder. Make him mad! Make his last days on earth sorrowful. When you do this, I shall sacrifice seven cows to you, great one.”

He hadn’t finished praying, when a soft wind caressed the trees around him. The dance of the breeze was followed by a loud thunder that almost shattered his ear drum. Soon, rain began to pelt from the sky. It was certain. His sacrifice had been accepted.
Joyfully, Jidenna rose to his feet and turned around.

“Thank you great one,” he whispered. His heart danced. He couldn’t believe his luck. Ezemiri was very much alive and he dwelt in the great forest. He couldn’t wait for his brother’s death to manifest. He would take over Dike’s wealth and Adaugo would become his wife.

The three deities that guarded the forest, Ezemiri, Keina and Ala watched the mortal as he strolled back to his home. Unknown to Jidenna, he had started something that would bring the prophecy of Ezemiri’s freedom to life.

“It is time for you two to grant Adaugo her heart desire,” Ezemiri turned to the two goddesses.
Keina and Ala were reluctant. Adaugo wasn’t their worshipper, so why waste their gift of life on her? They had no choice but to obey their creator for fear of being destroyed.

Ala was no longer bothered of a woman stealing Ezemiri’s love. Once the child was up to the age of maidenhood, she would strike her dead with a strange disease.

The two goddesses connected their hands together and stared at the sky. Lightning flashed and the earth beneath them began to tremble. It was time for them to bestow their gift of fertility to another mortal.

“Adaugo Ikenna!” They chanted three times, until the soul of the one that was being called, appeared in between them. She tied two wrapper pieces; one to shield her breast, while the other covered a portion of her thighs. Adaugo’s belly was bare as she stood in the middle of the goddesses.

Ezemiri looked away. They were carrying out a ritual. It was strictly for female spirits. He didn’t want to make the ritual impotent, by staring.

“Bring forth a seed. Bring forth blood and seed!” The goddesses both placed their hands on Adaugo’s belly. An orange glow started from Keina’s hand and was transferred to Ala’s, then Adaugo. A warm sensation spread through Adaugo’s belly as the goddesses continued chanting.

Soon, the warmth faded and was quickly replaced by a fiery sensation which burned all of her insides. The ritual had worked. The seed had been planted. And the soul of the woman that was summoned, faded into darkness.

“Arrhh!”

Adaugo screamed and twirled on the bed like a serpent. The sharp pain in her belly had awoken her. Tears streamed down her face. She had never experienced something like this.
“No, no…” her lips trembled.

Dike, who had been lying down next to her like a log of wood, jerked from his sleep and faced her. Never in his life, had he witnessed a woman’s reaction to pain. If he didn’t know well, he would say that Adaugo was in labor.

“What is it Ada? What ails you?” Dike tried to steady her, but keeping her in one place, only increased her pain.

“Pain!” Ada screamed and clutched tightly to her husband’s body.

“Are you seeing your blood moon?” Dike dared to ask.

“No!” Ada cried and shook her head.

Dike rose to his feet and grabbed a lamp. He had to call somebody to help him out, because he was completely lost.

“Stay still, I’ll get you help.” Dike rushed out of the hut, into the dark night.

Once her husband had stepped out of the house, Adaugo noticed something different. The pain was starting to subside gently; the fever that started on her skin vanished quickly. In place of the weakness that she felt, Adaugo felt great strength. She was able to rise from the bamboo bed and move towards the corner of the hut, where the earthen pot lay. Sweat travelled to the bride of her nose. She had never experienced this sort of thing before.

Hurriedly, she scooped some water with a calabash and gulped it down hurriedly. When she was done, she decided to wait for her husband’s return. Adaugo grabbed the dusty looking bible at the head of the bed and began to flip through the pages. Though she didn’t understand the words in the book, she knew where to find her favorite Psalm; Psalm 23.

She closed her eyes and pulled in a deep breath. Her mind was focused as her lips moved in prayer.

“The Lord is my shepherd…”

To be continued…

Source: Davina Diaries