Prologue
7 years ago
It was a dark night; there were no stars, no moon. It was as if the earth is one big orb of darkness. Everything was still, no breeze, and it seemed everyone was holding their breaths. "I have a bad feeling tonight, it is eerily quiet. I have a feeling that is making my body crawl." Someone muttered, breaking the heavy silence and then all of a sudden, everything's come back to normal; the breeze was blowing and the chirps of night insects could be heard, but there were still no moon or stars in the sky.
"Even I have the same feeling but everything feels right again." Another said.
All of a sudden, a piercing scream broke out in the middle of the night, a shrill sound and then everything was quiet.
"Who is that? I know something bad will happen I just knew it." The first person said with urgent certainty. "Whose voice is that?"
"The voice of the widow," was the reply. "She's su?ered enough in her life, I wish nothing too dire has happened to her."
"We should go to her hut." They stood up. "I still have a bad feeling, it's as if something is breathing down my neck, trying to tell me something but I am too scared to listen to the voice."
The other sigh, "You’ve always been a strange one. Come on, let's go find out what caused that painful noise."
Dara dragged her feet along with the others, but she just couldn’t shake o? the eerie feeling that someone or something is breathing down her neck. Something touched her and she shrieked in terror.
“Calm down,” Fola hissed and raised her hands up to indicate she wasn’t trying to hurt her. “Why did you scream like that? One would think you saw a ghost with how loud you screamed.” She chastised but Dara could care less what anyone thought about her for being scared, besides being scared is not an o?ense.
“You startled me,” finally her breathing has come back to normal and her heartbeat slowed down. “Why did you have to sneak on me like that and in the dark?” She shook her head in bewilderment.
Fola just shrugged, “you’ve always been a weird one.” She sighed.
As desperately as Dara wanted to tell her to stop referring to her as being weird, she knew now is not the time and it’s not as if Fola would listen to her anyway. The others were way ahead of them but they can see them as they all walked solemnly to the widow’s house.
“She’s a witch you know,” Fola announced and stopped walking abruptly, turning to look at Dara. She clucked her tongue and stared hard at Dara so much that the latter squirmed in discomfort. “It is better if you do not go to her tonight, a great calamity would be avoided if you stay away from her. You are too young for that burden.” She was talking to herself because Dara had no slightest idea what her friend was talking about. Fola circled her as she talked, “you are the perfect vessel but it will give you nothing but
guilt, pain and dread. You shouldn’t take that gift,” she reached out swiftly and grabbed her arm in her bony ones. “Stay away from the widow.” She appealed in a mournful tone.
Now this is getting out of hands and Dara is feeling scared now. She snatched her arm away from Fola and took a shaky step back. “You are the weird one,” she managed to say with a shaky voice. “If you’re trying to scare me it won’t work.” She didn’t bother to wait for a response before she turned and fled.
Fola watched the fleeing figure and shook her head in sympathy. “If only she would listen to me and stay put she would have escaped that misfortune, but she didn’t bother to listen to me and is waking straight into a trap that would only bring her pain and sorrow for the rest of her days.
What is it with humans and disobedience?” She wondered. “I can’t do anything to help you this time around Dara and I am really sorry for that.” She stood still for a few minutes before turning her back to the path and headed to the village stream.
CHAPTER ONE
The villagers trooped to the rickety hut at the outskirts of town occupied by a withered old woman who had su?ered numerous tragedies in her extended years on earth. According to stories told about the old woman, she got married when she was a teenager as was the custom during that time. Her parents had married her o? to a man older than her father, a rickety old man who had di?iculty standing up. She had protested the marriage and went as far as to attempt to elope with her heartthrob, a poor blacksmith but before her plan could come into fruition she was thwarted and then locked inside for days until she agreed to marry the old man.
The day of her wedding dawned gloomy which suited the mood of the reluctant bride perfectly. Her parents kept an eye on her in case she get it in her head again to make a desperate attempt to flee away from home. It is not that her parents were being cruel, rather it is a very common practice at that time to have one’s infant daughter betrothed to a much older man, this is partially because of the fact that girl child are few and each father wants his
daughter to marry a man who he believes will take good care of his daughter. Let’s not forget giving out one’s daughter to one’s friend in order to strengthen one’s relationship. Her situation fell in the third category.
Sometimes back, her parents had di?iculty in giving birth to a child, and after parading herbalists’ houses in their village and the neighbouring villages, going as far as traveling to the north for a solution, none of the children exceeds nine months before dying. Fed up with his numerous abiku children, her father poured out his feelings about his inability to give birth to a child that will stay with him until his old age, and the friend promised him a solution. There and then, a pact was made, if he is successful and the child lives, if it is a girl he will marry her and if it is a boy he will marry from the kindhearted friend’s family. It was a girl and she was named Kokumo.
Everyone knew she was the child that has been coming every time to her parents without staying in order to torment them and she was marked the final time because it is the belief in the spiritual realm that once she
is marked she refuses to be acceptable to them. Sacrifices were made, appellations were made and finally she had no choice than to stay.
At this point, everyone in the village knew about the vow between the two friends and it was even before Kokumo learned how to walk that she had been betrothed to the elderly man.
Kokumo on her part as she grew up knew him as her father’s friend who is always nice to her. She realised at a small age that whatever she wanted and her parents refused her she only need to ask him and she will get it. He always called her his little bride but she thought he was joking. The shocking realisation came on her fifteenth birthday when her parents called her, sat her down and told her he is her future husband and it is about time she gets ready to marry him. She was given two years to prepare but she met the blacksmith before her preparation period elapses.
Kokumo had been thinking of getting rid of her husband and she decided to employ the help of her lover,
the blacksmith; however it was unknown to her that her father was keeping tabs on her after her first attempt to run o?. Plans were made and she was in for a surprise.
On the day she was supposed to meet Sokoti, she left the house with her clay pot as she told her mother she was going to the stream to fetch water for household use.
Usually she goes with her friends as the stream is far from her house and it is really boring to walk alone to and fro the stream. On that particular day, she decided to go alone but of course she had no intention of going to the stream, because if her plans worked she would be away from the village in a matter of hours.
Kokumo’s father and two of the village youths were lying in wait for her and as she sneaked up into the smithy’s shop she was pounced upon and carried amidst curses, pleas, threats and wild gyrating movements. She was carted back to her father’s residence and locked into a room. Her wedding date was fixed for the third day after which happened to be the market day. Her mother brought in one of her friends to help Kokumo plait her hair and she made sure to be in the room with them if at all she decided
to make any more escape attempts, she didn’t, because at this time she has become a sullen bride to be.
On her wedding day she was enrobed in ofi, the traditional attire suitable for marriage at that time and her husband who helped himself to the venue with a walking stick was dressed in aran and although the material is an expensive one, it still could not do anything to improve the appearance of the old man. In fact, nothing done on that day met the approval of the new bride as she sat with a sullen look and a deep furrow in her brows, waiting for the ceremony to end.
After the completion of the marriage rites and Kokumo was expected by all and sundry present at the occasion to shed the infamous ekun iyawo, many must admit to being disappointed because the bride’s eyes were devoid of tears, rather she stared ahead unseeing and they could only sigh in resignation.
Ekun Iyawo is one of the rites of marriage whereby the bride is expected to express her sorrow at leaving her parents’ house for a stranger’s home. This is often
accompanied by tears on the bride’s mother part as the father will feel too proud to cry, at least not in public. However, this particular bride is having none of that and the onlookers felt disappointed.
It is time to take the new bride to her husband’s house, but of course members of both the bride and groom’s family already went ahead of the wedding party to the groom’s house in preparation of receiving the new bride. A bowl of water has been kept waiting for Kokumo and she only need to arrive before she is fully taken into the house.
The bridal party could be heard approaching, and despite the bride’s sullenness, her negative spirit could not damper others and they broke out in di?erent songs to accompany the bride.
As soon as Kokumo stood in front of her new home, she was stopped at the doorstep and one of the women in the groom’s family bent down to wash Kokumo’s bare feet in the bowl of water. This is part of the marriage rites and it
is supposed to ensure she brings good luck into her new home.
While the feet washing ritual is going on, the wedding guests kept singing.
Finally, Kokumo could step into the house amidst cheers and all began their wait for the next rite. This is not really a rite, but it is the most important aspect of a marriage, a test to determine the virtue of the new bride. Earlier that day, a plain white cloth has been produced and kept in a calabash. This is to serve as a symbol for the virtue of the bride. It is time for the next stage of marriage; the consummation.
While the bride and groom were left alone in their chamber, the wedding guests including family, friends and the villagers all waited with bated breaths for the outcome of the consummation rite. While many are positive of Kokumo’s chastity, few could not help but doubt and this is in regards to her behaviour of late, especially since the whole village knew she is not in support of the marriage.
Many assured themselves that Kokumo might have lost her chastity to the blacksmith just to spite her new husband.
When it comes to the chastity test, it is a very powerful as well as the most important of the marriage rites as it has the ability of not just ruining the bride, shaming the groom, but ruining the whole family as a whole, especially that of the bride. In cases whereby the bride is found out to have been defiled prior to her wedding day, apart from the fact that she has succeeded in making a mockery of herself and her whole family, her family will be forced to return back everything that was paid as bride price right from the moment the groom had started courting her. Of course such woman have no hope of ever getting married because no man in the village will be brazen enough to associate himself with her or her family, so she will definitely become a spinster till her old age. Also, she will be ostracised from society and will probably end up living as a hermit throughout her days.
There are di?erent ways of announcing the result of the consummation rite. In Kokumo’s case, a white cloth has been produced. This means that the groom must present a
white cloth stained by the woman’s virginal blood to prove her innocence to the whole village. In other cases, a calabash of palm wine might be produced and if the bride is found chaste a full calabash of palm wine will be sent to her family, if not, a half full calabash containing the palm wine will be sent to her family. This means that the daughter given to them is ‘half’ and not complete because virginity is a great tool. Imagine the shame the whole family will have to bear if such were to be sent to them. Due to the significance attached to the consummation rite, the villagers waited with curiousity.
After what felt to all as an eternity, the groom who has exchanged his expensive aran for a pair of ofi trousers came out of the house with the covered calabash in his hand. He knew what they all are waiting for but he decided to keep them in suspense before revealing what is in the calabash, either a soiled cloth or a white cloth and for the good of the bride it had better be soiled.
The groom had a strained look on his face and this gave room for speculation on the onlookers’ minds as they all attempted to give meaning to what his look could mean.
After what felt like hours, he gently removed the lid from the calabash and brought out the cloth which he raised in the air for all to see and screams of jubilation rented the air; Kokumo had passed the chastity test.
CHAPTER TWO
There is no iota of doubt in the minds of the villagers that Kokumo is a reluctant bride, and for days, weeks even, into her marital status, the sullen bride became the talk of the whole village. Kokumo knew this but she was not bothered because in her mind she strongly believed that if she cannot derive any modicum of joy from this sham of a marriage, then neither will her aged husband. Such was the thoughts of the forced bride but of course neither her husband nor parents are just going to sit by and watch her humiliate then in front of the whole village. For indeed it is a huge embarrassment to have such an un-filial daughter in an age where daughters are supposed to live by the wishes of their parents and then the husband once they have been successfully married o?.
Kokumo’s insolence is a cause for concern and the new groom paid his friend now turned in-law a very much needed visit.
“It is true that I am an old man nearing my grave.” He started gravely. “It is also true that I have little when it comes to worldly possessions although I will never call
myself a pauper as I still have the ability to take care of myself and my family. However, there is something great that I have and will do whatever it takes to ensure its safety, and that’s my name. My name is my dignity, the very essence of what and who I am and I will never let anyone drag that precious name of mine through the mud.”
It’s not a surprise that at this time Kokumo’s father was squirming in his seat as he being an elder himself knew exactly what his friend was getting at. He can’t even blame the man because he cherished his own name too, but what to do when one’s daughter is adamant about soiling one’s reputation and ruining one’s name?
Alade sighed and twisted his cap in his hands as he bore the foreboding expression of his friend. “I am not a child and I won’t pretend that I don’t know the real reason you are here to pay me a visit.” He bowed his head in dejection. “I have been worried about this issue too because I can’t pretend that I have not been hearing the whispers of the villagers about my family and yours and it is all because of my daughter. I am deeply ashamed of myself for raising such an ingrate for a daughter and all I
can do right now is apologise to you and at the same time assure you that I personally will make sure that Kokumo knows who owns her now.” He stated with certainty. “I only ask you for a few days to set this matter to right because I know that a good name is more precious than gold.”
Ajani was satisfied by this speech and he agreed to hand over the resolution of the problem to his in-law for the time being. After refusing the repeated o?er of a sumptuous meal, he headed back to his house and his sullen bride.
Alade called his wife as soon as he was alone and started ranting. It is a common thing for mothers to be blamed for the wrongdoings of their children, as it is said that a good child belongs to the father and the bad apple or black sheep belongs to the mother. Right now, Kokumo despite being the only child belongs solely to her mother because she is the cause of heartache for her father.
“Ajihun, I have told you countless of times that I will never engage nor involve myself in anything that will tarnish the image I have carefully built for years. I was
born in this village, in fact my forefathers were one of the founders of this village and I will not let your daughter shame me out of this village. Tell me, can a good name be bought in the market?” At the wife’s vigorous shake of her head in negativity, he continued, “talk to that child of yours to stop shaming us all by her pigheadedness or else I will disown her and then send you back to your father’s house.” Satisfied with his little speech, he stormed out of the house.
How Kokumo’s behaviour had to do with the parents’ separation was a mystery for Ajihun, but she shrugged it o? and instead decided to focus on bringing her daughter back to order to avoid disaster for them all.
And so it was that the next morning found Ajihun on her way to her daughter’s house. The day happened to be a market day and she greeted her fellow women as they all hurried to the market square with their wares clutched on their heads. Many of them had their children carry loads and loads of garri, elubo (yam flour), and melon for sale. The market is every five days and no one needs to tell the other what to do on such days.
Ajihun herself is famous for being a yam seller, and although she ought to be on her way to the market right now, employing help of the neighbours' children to help her carry the tubers to her stall in the market, but what she is going to do this morning is much more important than her own work. She would go to the market after leaving Kokumo's place, but she needed to see her daughter first.
Kokumo greeted her mother warmly, glad to see a beloved face after weeks of being shackled to the man older than her father she had been forced to marry.
“I am so happy to see you Mother,” she couldn’t hide her joy as she ushered her mother into her chambers. “What would you like to eat? Just name it and I will prepare it for you as soon as possible.”
Kokumo realised her mother was silent throughout her litany, and she turned to look at the older woman who sat down on a wooden stool, her lips pressed together as if struggling with herself about opening her mouth. She knew her mother enough to detect that there is something horribly amiss, there is something bothering her.
She sat down at her mother’s feet. “Won’t you tell me what is wrong with you mother?” she beseeched. “I am so happy to see you but it appears you do not share my sentiments. Won’t you tell me what is wrong?” she insisted tearfully.
Ajihun sighed. “Indeed something is wrong with me and only you can solve my problem.” She began. “It is not a secret to the whole village that you are unhappy with your marriage, but do believe me that everything your father and I did was for you Kokumo.
Do you think I do not know that he is older than your father? Do you honestly believed I would be so cruel as to deny you your heart desires and shackle you to an old man when there are few women of your peers who are lucky enough to marry younger men? We made a promise to him and we have to honour our words. He was the one who saved you when we had all but lost hope on you. I thought you would die and leave me a barren once more but he came and brought a solution to help keep you alive. Tell
me, is there a parent who would turn a blind eye to that?” Ajihun shook her head, “only a bad parent will do that.”
She reached for her daughter’s hands and clutched them in her rough ones. “You are my heartbeat and the sole reason for my existence, don’t be a source of sorrow to me.” The tears are falling now. “Your husband came to report you about your attitude towards him and how it is ruining his reputation. I know you don’t want this but it has happened already and the best thing you can do is make the most of it. Once you have your own child you will understand all this and the child will give you comfort, comfort you cannot get from the father.” Her grip was firmer now, to indicate her express wish. “Promise me you won’t put your father and me to shame. Promise me you will submit to your husband and perform the duties of a wife.”
One can always tell that the approach Ajihun used on her daughter is emotional blackmail, if the daughter knew of this she didn’t give any indication or say a word; rather
she knelt at her mother’s feet, hid her face in her laps and cried.
Kokumo cried for everything she had lost; her freedom, her dreams and her lover. Never in her life had she imagined she would be married o? to such an elderly man, especially one she regarded as a father figure when she was growing up. To Kokumo this is a great betrayal and she just needed someone to vent her anger on, and who else than her husband? As much as she would love to frustrate the old man for agreeing to marry her, she would cut o? her arm than put her parents to disgrace. She has always been a filial child and it is not easy to change that attribute now, especially when she is confronted by her mother in this manner.
She raised her head and implored her mother to look at her. “I promise that I will never be a source of sorrow, disgrace or embarrassment for you and my father. I will do my possible best to put up with my new life and I won’t trouble anyone anymore.” Now everyone who knew
Kokumo will testify that she is a woman of her words and would never fail to fulfill a promise.
And so it was that after that emotional encounter with Ajihun, Kokumo indeed turned a new leaf and accepted her lot in life but of course that is just the beginning of the end.
CHAPTER THREE
Six months into Kokumo’s marriage, there was no sign of her conceiving. The villagers have made it their business to keep dates of a marriage and dates of the moment the bride is suspected of being pregnant. One should not find it shocking or surprising that there are some people; men and women alike who are gifted with the ability of telling a day old pregnancy and they are always right. Therefore, lots of people have their eyes on Kokumo and what made her case fascinating was the known fact that she was vehemently against the marriage. Although they are all privy to her altered (for good) behaviour towards her husband, they need a genuine proof to indicate her change of heart. Noteworthy is the fact that pregnancy cannot be hidden.
Six months passed, and another in its wake, yet Kokumo had nothing to show. By this time, a rumour has been circulating in the village that she is barren. Some even go as far as to suspect that her familial spirits are responsible for her inability to conceive. Yet, another group is of the opinion that she simply took after her mother. None of them is right.
Kokumo's husband summoned her one day. “I am tired of being the village's laughing stock,” he began. “We have been married for twelve moons now and still there is nothing to show for it. I married you with the express belief that you are strong enough to produce strapping male issues for me, but what do I get in turn? An empty barrel.
I am giving you the grace of two moons to fix your problems; else, I will throw you out of my house.” He declared his verdict and dismissed her.
Kokumo is now faced with a dilemma. Leaving her husband's house is no longer an option, not after the promise she had made to her mother, but everyone knows that for a marriage to be regarded as successful, one must show something that came forth from it and that thing is a child. In the earlier days of her marriage, the inability to conceive had been on her part because she had refused to have any marital relations with her spouse but now that she had accepted her sad lot in life, things are not working out as she had expected. She had thought that a child would be
her relief in this farce of a marriage but even the gods are against her in this.
Kokumo turned to her mother for solution.
One night, Ajihun woke her husband from sleep and after much grumbling and complaints, he sat up to listen to what could be so dire as to make his wife disturb his sleep.
“I don’t know what you want to say that can’t wait till morning,” he murmured sleepily. “I have toiled all day in the farm and when it is time for me to rest before getting up as early as the first cock crow to head to the farm and start my monotonous existence again, you suddenly have something to say.”
Ajihun did not reply to Alade and simply waited patiently until he was wide awake.
“I am sorry for disturbing your sleep, but our fathers told us that matters that should be discussed during the day ought not to be discussed at night, and that which is befitting for the night's discourse should not be discussed
in the morning.” She began. “What I want to discuss with you is about our daughter Kokumo.”
That got Alade's attention and he listened with rapt attention. “What about her? Is she causing problems for her husband again? I told you to have a word with her the other time. Why is she behaving like this after so many months of her marriage?” He shook his head in contemplation.
“That is another matter my husband, what is before us is crucial than her attitude in her new home. She already promised to change for the better and I have observed this change in her.” There is nothing more pleasing to parents than to have children who listen to them.
“She came here this evening when you were out with your friends at the palm wine seller's hut and told me that her husband has given her an ultimatum.”
“Ultimatum? Why would he give her an ultimatum?” Alade asked in confusion. If indeed Kokumo has turned a new life and is going after her marital life with gusto then
her husband need not worry about anything anymore. What happened that he is giving her an ultimatum?
Ajihun sighed. “It is about her inability to conceive. He gave her two months to do that or he would send her out of his house.”
There was silence for a few moments. Both of them knew the importance attached to procreation in a marriage and after being childless for many years and having to accept the insults and ridiculous remarks from their family and those considered as friends, they have an idea of what is to come.
“You don’t think she will be like us, like me?” Ajihun managed to voice out her fears.
Alade gulped and looked away from his wife's imploring look. “That is ridiculous,” he tried for nonchalance. “Of course she wouldn’t. She just got married few months ago,” he said defensively. “If not for the circumstances surrounding her birth and eventual stay on earth do you think I would consent to give my precious daughter to a man older than her own father? I have
su?ered a lot in my life with our initial barrenness and then those children we lost.” He shook his head in sorrow as he thought about the loss he had to bear all those years ago.
“Our gods couldn’t be so cruel as to make Kokumo experience what we did.”
Ajihun gave a deep breath. “I can’t sit still and let Kokumo be thrown out of her husband’s house and for our sakes I wish to believe her inability to conceive is nothing but a slight delay and not a sign of barrenness. Do you think her kindred spirits might be at work?” This last part was voiced in a scared whisper.
Alade already thought about this possibility but he doesn’t want his wife getting worked up over it. “Of course not,” he stated with assurance. “We did all we were directed to do in order to separate her from the spirit world. She wouldn’t still be alive if she were to have any form of relationship with them.” For my sake I hope this is true, he said to himself.
“I am taking her to Yeye Osun tomorrow morning. If only Baba Fadipe was still alive this would have been much
easier.” Baba Fadipe was the one they went to years ago and who performed the rituals needed to keep Kokumo tied to the earthly realm and he was the one to break her ties with the spiritual realm. Until the day the old man went to meet his ancestors, Kokumo despised him but this was expected by all because she blamed him for his interference. Kokumo's parents however were forever grateful to the man who Kokumo's husband had taken them to.
Alade nodded in acceptance. “That is a good step to take. It is common knowledge that those Osun Priestesses are helpful when it comes to fertility.”
“That’s my belief and I will not rest until I have found a solution to this problem.”
After this conversation, the couple bid each other goodnight but none of them were able to sleep as their thoughts were full of the events of the past and each was scared that history might be repeating itself. They both had their eyes wide opened until the break of dawn.
CHAPTER FOUR
The next day, Ajihun's face was the first her daughter saw. She hurried her up and despite Kokumo's assertions that it is too early to pay the priestess a visit, her mother would not hear of it. She even refused the o?er of a breakfast and Kokumo had no choice than to follow her.
The Priestess’ home is in the outskirts of town and a short distance from the Eeru river. Like other rivers, there is a myth surrounding Eeru river. It is said that this river is known for its fertility. This fact was verified by the White Men when they came with their equipment to turn the river into a dam. With their telescopic instruments, they saw that a woman who is no doubt the river goddess herself is seated with thousands of children around her. If these children are humans or mermaids or fishes, no one knows. What is certain is that the White Men fled when they saw this and the river was left in peace.
People have claimed to see this creature; the river goddess and each have his or her own tale to tell regarding it. What is common about their tales is that the river
goddess is fair in complexion, have many breasts that covered her whole body, her hair is black as midnight, long and shiny and her lower part is that of a fish. This is the generally accepted description of the goddess.
One notable thing about this river is the degree of coldness of the water. For modern day people, a drink of Eeru water is synonymous to a drink of chilled water taken from the fridge. No one drinks Eeru water and catches any form of disease or illness from it, not even typhoid. However, the goddess frowns on anyone who catches any of the fishes of that river. It is common knowledge that no matter how many hours you cook the fish it will never get cooked and you have no choice than to return it back to the river after o?ering certain sacrifices to beg for forgiveness. This is not a superstition, many have tried it and the fish never gets cooked. Also, one must not catch the fishes from the river and take them to the market for sales. It won’t get cooked.
The river goddess is known for giving out children to as many who wanted so them so far you are ready to pay
the price. Therefore, Ajihun and Kokumo are on their way to beg Eeru for a child through the intervention of her devout worshipper Yeye Omiyinka popularly known as Yeye Osun.
The household was just stirring and preparing for the day when Ajihun and her daughter arrived. Some maidens are sweeping the compound with palm fronds while some could be seen with clay pots snugly tucked under their armpits. They are going to the stream.
The numerous ladies attending Yeye Osun are genuine prove in the power of the river goddess. These ladies were children the goddess had bestowed on desperate women who cried to her for the fruit of the womb. However, these women must be ready to pay a price in order to keep the child with them for a long time. It is common knowledge that such children do not live long. In order to avert this, most mothers give up the child to the goddess by letting her stay in the service of the Priestess who is the representative of the marine spirit. This is to ensure the
goddess is happy enough with the parents that she won’t take back her child.
Telling one of the ladies who serves as an attendant of their intent to see the Priestess, they were told to wait.
The two waited for what felt like ages and were soon joined by others who came to see the aged woman. After what felt like an eternity, they heard the jingles of anklets and they knew Yeye Osun is in the vicinity.
One would think that as early as they came to her compound they would catch her indoors, however, the woman was coming from the direction of the stream. She had on a white wrapper which left her shoulders and arms bare, bracelets and anklets adorned her bony wrists and ankles and they make a clinging noise whenever she moves. Her hair is plaited with white cowries adorning the ends of her braids. She has a white sta? she carries around and a short white baton. As usual she went to pay her obeisance to the goddess and is just coming back to face humans.
The women in the compound bowed as the woman approached, her bare feet barely making a sound.
“The goddess be with you.” She greeted.
“Ase,” they all chorused.
Since Ajihun and Kokumo were the first to arrive, they were summoned in first.
They followed the young girl who was dressed in white like all the other ladies and they had to wait for a moment before they were allowed into the shrine.
Before Ajihun could regale tales of what brought them there that fateful morning, the woman dipped the rod into a small pot of water. “Your daughter is not barren.” She stated in a surprisingly clear voice for someone who looked so ancient. “I see children surrounding her; however, she must be extremely patient.” She was quiet for a while as she fell in a trance. She shook her head in pity. “If you do not learn how to be patient,” this was directed at Kokumo. “You will lose everything you hold dear. Patience is the key.”
She dismissed them afterwards.
“Are you sure this woman is not fake?” Kokumo grumbled on the way home.
Ajihun looked at her daughter in alarm, moments before she gave her a resounding knock on the head which the latter winced at as she rubbed her head with the heel of her right palm.
“How dare you talk about her like that? Don’t you know that woman is second to the goddess? You mustn’t utter such words.” She stated firmly while glancing around furtively in fear. She hoped no one heard the blasphemous words that came out of Kokumo’s mouth.
“I am pleased by the outcome. She a?irmed what I have always known, that no child of mine will be barren. We only need to be patient and everything will be alright.”
Kokumo sighed. “I am not against being patient; rather, I am more concerned about what my husband will do. I told you he gave me an ultimatum.”
That is something that has been bothering Ajihun but what can she do when the Priestess told them to be patient? “I will discuss the outcome of today’s outing with your father and I know he will find a way to discuss it with him. Everything will be alright my child, there’s no cause for alarm.”
What the two of them know but could not say was that Kokumo's husband does not have the luxury of time on his side. However, impatience would spell doom.
CHAPTER FIVE
Kokumo went with her mother to the latter’s stall in the market. To be honest, Ajihun likes it anytime her daughter accompanies her to the market because there is no greater luck charm than her daughter. Kokumo cannot sit in your stall for a minute without a customer coming to patronise you.
This has been both a source of joy and despair for the mother. Every market days, the village women are always looking for Kokumo to either be the first person they encounter that morning (sadly for them her mother only benefits from this, but they did not despair), or she be the first person that buys something from them. In fact, they go as far as giving her money with which to buy whatever it is they are selling. For those that are lucky to see her in the market on the few days she comes with her mother, they begged her mother to release her to them for some minutes. In this manner, the girl is passed round the stalls and the end result of this parade is lots and lots of gifts, sweets and sometimes money.
Ajihun decided to put an end to this when a friend of hers told her she should be wary of the other women and that they will suck Kokumo dry of her glory if care is not taken. With this new mindset, Ajihun kept her daughter indoors. She later realised that the friend wanted Kokumo all to herself as she is always finding excuse for the girl to come see her whenever she is going to the market. She would send her daughter to call Kokumo who she will give money to buy Shea butter with and that’s the end. When Ajihun found out about this, she let her daughter have free rein.
Kokumo has always been a special child and everyone in the village knows this. There are some people who do not like her; these are the ones who always find faults in others except themselves. Most people just know her as the miracle child of the Alade family.
Kokumo have a little problem. Her name already denotes that she is one of those abiku children, but some annoying people call her names like aja, kukoyi just to spite her. All in all, she is an adored child in the village.
When Kokumo got home few hours later, she was accosted by her husband. “Where have you been all day? Do you think you can just walk out of this house without seeking and gaining my permission?”
Kokumo just kept quiet. What is she supposed to tell her husband?
“Have you gone deaf?”
“I went to see the Priestess,” she snapped back. “You told me to go and find a solution to my supposed barrenness and I have done so.”
“Oh, you should have said that earlier.” He accused. “What did she tell you?”
“She told me to be patient.”
He gave her a dubious look. “Are you sure that was what she said? Did you even bother to go there because I was told that you were seen at the market.”
Kokumo was tempted to give him a befitting reply, but she resisted the urge. “Mother took me to her this morning
and she told me to be patient. She said I am not barren.”
Adisa sighed. “One must not disobey the orders of the goddess. I will exercise patience.”
CHAPTER SIX
It’s been three years after Kokumo’s marriage, yet she has not conceived let alone become a mother. All e?orts to the contrary has proven to be futile. There are talks about her all over the village and Kokumo herself find it di?icult to walk out because of the whispers and pointing of fingers. Her parents called her, her husband’s family are frustrating her and she has been to di?erent witch doctors, yet no solution could be found.
One night, Adisa entered his wife’s chamber and woke her up. “Get up little bride, I want to talk to you.”
Kokumo has just been abruptly woken up from a deep slumber and she found it hard to concentrate on what he is saying. “What is it all about?”
“I believe you know what I want to discuss.”
Kokumo does know what he has in mind. She sat up and tighten her wrapper on her chest.
“I have thought a lot about this and I believe it is high time I come clear to you about this.” Alani began.
Kokumo could tell he looks disturbed. “Words cannot be too big for mouth to speak. Whatever it is that is disturbing you I am here to listen and o?er advice to the best of my knowledge.”
Alani nodded appreciatively. “You have always been a smart girl and that is one of the qualities that di?erentiates you from all the other girls in the village.
For the past three years, we have been looking for a child but I must deceive you no more. I have thought about it and I have gotten a perfect solution. I want to tell you something, however you must promise me that you will never reveal this secret to anyone. The day you do so will be your last day on earth.”
Kokumo gasped, her eyes suddenly clear from any remnant of sleep. “What kind of deadly secret is that?”
Alani stood up and started pacing the small room. “I have to take precautions. You women have a loose tongue and can’t be trusted with a secret. In order to allay my fears and to save myself from shame and humiliation, you
must promise me that what I am about to tell you will never be revealed to anyone, not even your mother.”
Kokumo felt uncomfortable. She might be young but she is not stupid and she knew one shouldn’t easily agree into any form of oath with anyone, especially when you don’t want know what you are giving in to.”
“I can’t make a promise when I don’t know what I am agreeing to.”
“You must promise me before I say anything.” Alani insisted.
“Okay then, I promise I won’t repeat anything you tell me this night to anyone.”
Alani stopped his pacing and went to his wife’s bedside, standing over her. “I know the reason why you have not been able to conceive. I su?ered from a sickness when I was very young and proper treatment was not rendered in the care of the illness and it a?ected me.” He started wringing his hands nervously. “It a?ected me and the result was sterility.”
There was a dead silence as the two stared at each other for what felt like ages.
“Sterility? This…what you are trying to tell me is that you cannot bear a child?” Kokumo asked in shock as she stared at her husband as if she was seeing him for the first time. “How could you do this to my parents? How could you do this to me?”
“Keep your voice down Kokumo.” He chastised. “It is the dead of night and you must know that your voice will go a long distance. Therefore you must speak quietly.” He suggested.
Kokumo sco?ed. “You want me to keep quiet when you have succeeded in ruining my life? When you know you have this problem why did you bother to get married to me? What’s the essence of getting married when you can never father a child? What was the need to get married to a young girl and ruin her life forever? How dare you do this to me?” She yelled.
“I did what I thought was right. Your parents are thankful to me for what I did for them and getting you to
marry me is the normal thing to do in that kind of situation. It was the normal thing to do, I was supposed to make that kind of o?er and it must be accepted by your parents.” He explained as he returned to his pacing.
“I have found a perfect solution.” He stopped and turned back to her. “What has happened has happened and there is no use crying over spilt milk. Since the two of us has agreed to keep this a secret between the two of us, there would be no problem. There is someone else that knew about this and I have gotten his consent before coming to you.”
“His consent? What are you talking about?”
He placed a hand on her shoulder. “Relax little bride and hear me out. The person I am talking about is my younger brother. I have a proposition for you.” He pressed on her shoulder when he saw she wanted to say something. “This will be known only to the three of us.
I cannot father a child but my brother can, therefore, I have employed his services into doing for me what I cannot
do. My younger brother will be the biological father of my children and you must not tell anyone about this.”
Kokumo shot up in fury. “What kind of ridiculous proposition is that? That is an abomination and never done.” She insisted. “I will never do something as despicable as that.”
Alani waved her o?. “It is not an abomination, it has been in existence for a long time and there is nothing special about it.”
“If you think there is nothing special about it why don’t you go out there and tell the whole world what you are trying to get your younger brother to do for you.” She retorted saucily. “This kind of thing only happens after a woman loses her husband and is passed to a male in the family. It does not happen during his lifetime. What you are getting me to do is an abomination.”
“Remember that you promised me,” he threatened while pointing a finger at her.
Kokumo knocked away his finger. “Don’t you dare point a finger at me like a petulant child. I will never agree to such an odious proposition and I will not honour such promise.”
“If you breathe a word of this to anyone you will die.”
“You do not scare me and I do not remember making an oath that I won’t say a word about it. I only made a promise, I did not swear an oath.”
Alani laughed. “Do you take me for a fool? You honestly believed that I would tell you something as sensitive as that without taking necessary precautions about you keeping it to yourself only? You think you merely promised?” He dipped his hand inside his pocket and removed a cow horn wrapped in a red cloth and dotted with cowries.
He extended the horn to her. “Everything you said in here was witnessed by this horn. You have no other choice than to do exactly as you have said. You have committed to an oath and you must abide by it.”
Just like that Kokumo found herself in a tight corner, what is she to do? If she opens her mouth she will lose her life and if she agrees to this ridiculous business she will be committing a great sin. What is she to do?