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THE ACTS OF WITCHES
THE ACTS OF WITCHES CHAPTER 3 "Ewo! Gbe ebo yen sile ti o ba fe s'ofo emi e ni ojiji!" One of the witches screamed as I was about to drop the ebo. My hands became shaky as the igba Almost dropped. I was already half bent, close to the ground. I paused and bent my head in fear. I had looked around to be sure no one was there. So, where could those women had come from?
By raphwrites2 months ago in Fiction
THE ACTS OF WITCHES
CHAPTER 4 I dropped the igba and ran as fast as my legs could carry me. I got home at about past 2pm. It was only my mother and booda Tunji that were at home. I knocked for over thirty minutes but no one opened. So, I had to sit at the entrance and slept off. Suddenly, I heard a strange cackle and opened my eyes. I saw a very big and strange bird flying into the compound. It flew straight to the back of the house. I followed but lost sight of it. The back door was opened, so I entered through it. I hadn't the slightest idea that the door could be opened as I locked it myself before leaving the house. I walked straight to my brother's room to check his state of health. Maami was there sitting close to him. She was sobbing. I moved to the other side of the bed quietly and sat adjacent my mother. "Nibo lo ji lo ni oru? Mo lo si ibusun e, mi o de ri e?" Maami asked. I couldn't say a word because I was tired and feeling sleepy. I switched on the torch light of my phone, raised my heard so I could just shake my head in response to my mother's question. As soon as I torched the light in her face, I screamed and collapsed. I woke up in the morning with maami sitting close to me weeping profusely. "Se mo wa fe padanu omo meji leekan na? Leyin ti mo ti padanu omo mejo? Iru adanwo wo wa leleyi?" "Am I going to loss two children at a time? After losing eight in the past? What sort of temptation is this?" She said repeatedly" I laid there staring into her face. Whether I should pity a mother who had lost eight children and on the verge of losing the remaining two, or, to ask her questions on how I fainted? Or, should I just tell neighbours what made me collapsed? "Awon agba lo so wipe, ki n se oun gbogbo ti oju ri ni enu n so" Maami said, looking sternly into my eyes. I was gripped by a sudden shock. Dumbfounded for minutes. I turned my face away from hers as she continued sobbing. Then I immediately drifted into deep thought. What could that adage mean? "Kini mo ri ti o ye ki n so?" E bami bi Iya labake!
By raphwrites2 months ago in Fiction
THE ACTS OF WITCHES
I carry booda Tunji, moving sluggishly to the main road to get a cab that would take us to Ibadan. It was almost dark. So, it could be difficult to get a bus at the park if we had to get to the park first. *************************************************** Earlier, I had taken booda Tunji to a white garment church where I was told that our problem was as a result of our mother's involvement in witchcraft. Again, it was laughable as we had the best mother. Iya Labake was an epitome of a good mother. Abiyamo tooto. She was protective. Vicious in fighting for her children. And above all, she ensured we got the best of everything she could afford. But, my mother was the most unlucky mother I knew. She had buried eight out of the ten children she had. My dad had also died, leaving behind my mother, booda Tunji and I. The strange thing about the demise of my other siblings is that they all died from the same ailment. All incurable. None of them lived above forty years old. The last of my sibling that died was rushed back to the village when he was about concluding his Msc program. He died few days after. With all these my mother passed through, I couldn't fathom the revelation of her being a witch. I never believed a mother could kill or cause the death of her own child. I was lost in my thought while we traveled back to Ibadan. But one thing remained firm in my heart; booda Tunji must not die. "Booda mi o gbodo ku" I repeatedly whispered to myself. Three days later, I went back to the Ifa priest with the items he had asked me to buy. He prepared the ebo, gave me instructions, then i went back to Ibadan. I was instructed to drop the ebo at a T-junction close to our family house at exactly twelve mid night. It must be dropped at a time everyone must have gone to sleep because it is forbidden for anyone else to see the ebo before it is dropped. I followed the instructions to the later. At exactly twelve midnight, I got to the T-junction and as I was about to drop the ebo, I heard a loud voice. In fact, it was a combined voices of three aged women Calling out to me.
By raphwrites2 months ago in Fiction
THE ACTS OF WITCHES
My journey into the witchcraft coven wasn't coincidental. I deliberately meandered into my unbelievable after an encounter with three witches. Prior to making that ill-fated journey back to Nigeria, I had loathed the believe in African tradition. The mere mention of witchcraft was amusing as I never believed there was such thing as witchcraft. I was well educated. An erudite scholar. Why should I believe in such tale for illiterates? ********************************************* The sound of the opele was a strange noise permeating into my ears. It was as annoying as the haggard looking Ifa priest who was consulting a god I didn't believe existed. But I had to sit there, stone cold listening to his incantations. I had come to Nigeria to be with my only brother who had been stricken with an ailment which defied all medical diagnosis and medications. So, I was advised to seek the help of an Ifa priest in a remote village in Osun state. "Ifa ni ki n so fun yin wipe, e o gbe ebo lo si orita meta ni ago mejila oru" The Ifa priest said to me as he continued his incantations. His words angered me greatly, but I had to accede to them because I can't watch my only sibling who sponsored my education to the UK die like that. I was bent on doing anything to ensure he stayed alive. "Baba, e s'eto ebo na ki n se oun tio ye ki n se. E ma je ki egbon mi ku. Mi o ni elomi ni ile aiye yi" I said in desperation. I looked at my brother lying almost lifeless. His bones were visible. I felt so much pity for him and wished I could do as much to bring him back to good health. Booda Tunji managed to turn his head and let out a boyish smile. He had overhead my conversation with the Ifa priest and was pleased with my resolve to save his life. "Booda mi, e o ni ku. Mo n'igbagbo pe e ma pada je eso ilakaka yin pelu iye ati alaafia" I assured him while I raised him so we could make our way out of the shrine. I was to get all the materials needed for the. sacrifice and prepare myself too. We were asked to return after three days with the items which was to be used to make the ebo before I would carry it to a T-junction to drop and my brother would be well again.
By raphwrites2 months ago in Fiction
THE VIGIL
It was a dark and stormy night when my best friend and I decided to sneak out of our house and join the vigil that was held in our village. We had heard that there would be many girls from other villages attending, and we wanted to impress them with our city manners and clothes.
By raphwrites2 months ago in Fiction