THE CURSED SORCERER

The cursed sorcerer

Once upon a time, lived in Cameroon, Africa a couple who wished of having kids. Mrs Mubang had a housemaid who was living in the same house as her. She did not know anything about her. This housemaid was a fairy.

The day when Mrs Mubang got pregnant came. She was very happy. Bi, the fairy was also very happy. But she predicted the future of everybody. In the village, there was a sorcerer who was living far away from Mrs Mubang's house. She was a cursed sorcerer. The day for Mrs Mubang to give brith to her kids arrived. Mr Mubang called the midwife and she came. She helped Mrs Mubang to give birth to her child. Guess what!!! She gave birth to a beautiful daughter.

Nindum the sorcerer was worried about herself. She was asking herself everyday: Why am I not pretty? I want to be pretty so I can dance one day with a handsome man in the village? Not far away from Nindum's house lived in a hut a man named Awo . Awo was a predictor and an adviser. He knew everything about people's problems and everything about solutions to their problems.

Nindum thought of him. She went to him and told her story: "Awo , I have a problem with my face. I am a lady who wants to be pretty. I want to have a handsome man in my life. Do you know what I can do with my problems. I heard that you are a predictor, and an adviser. What should I do?

Awo answered: "Nindum, the only way to be pretty is to steal the face of one of the prettiest ladies in the village. When I read the cards I see that far away in the village, there is a girl, a very pretty girl who was born and she had a good future. I do not know the rest of her future. But she is the prettiest girl for now in the village. And she is the only person you can steal her face. But you cannot now because I do not see the most handsome man when I read the cards. It is better to wait that this girl turns on eighteen to take possession of her face.

Mrs Mubang's daughter name was Nafoin. Nafoin grew up and became a beautiful girl. She was going to the school not far away from her house. She was ten years old. She had a lot of friends at school and was happy to do well at school.

Mrs Mubang was taking care of her daughter. She was pregnant and had a baby. She had a boy. They called him Foinmbam. Foinmbam grew up and went to school. He started elementary school, then went to middle school where he could meet his sister at break time when they have snacks. He was really smart and careful. He was protecting his sister all the time and walking with her each time when they finish school on the way home.

He was working hard at school and was taking advice from his sister who was helping him with his schoolwork. Mrs Mubang liked to cook good food for her kids and her husband. She used to cook chin chin which is a type of cookie. Actually chin chin is crunchy and sweet. It is a popular snack in black African countries. It has different names in some other black african countries but it is the same thing. She was also cooking meat pie, fish pie and sometimes puff puff. Today; she made rice and stew with chicken for the whole family.

When time for dinner came, she says "everybody come to the table": She put the food on the table and everybody was around the table praying.

Mr Mubang was the one leading the prayer. After it, they started eating. They had fruits for desert. They were different types of fruits such as mangoes, pineapple, bananas. Mrs Mubang brought pineapples for the entire family to eat.

After dinner, Nanfoin and Foinmbam went to their rooms and started doing their homeworks, then studying for their examinations.

Years were gone, and Nafoin grew and became more beautiful than before. She did not change at all. Her brother Foinmbam was in high school now, and Nafoin was ready to move from the village to the city. Nindum the sorcerer went to the predictor and asked him: "Predictor, predictor" please can you tell me what is happening to Nafoin? Where can I try to catch her and take possession of her face. Awo, the predictor responded: I understand what you are asking? But if you are really looking to switch your face with Nafoin's face, you need to find a handsome man since you are looking for a man who can find you attractive, and who is attractive to you.

Nafoin went to Bamenda, a small city of Cameroon not far away from Ndop. She was happy to live in a different place than her family. She was working in this beautiful city, and the money that she earned was her pocket money. She was living at her aunt's house. She was happy to do the tasks that her aunt was asking her to do. In the restaurant, where she was working there was a new employee who came to be hired. He was handsome, tall. When he met Nafoin, he was attracted to her. He thought that was the woman that he needed. He wanted to get to know her. When he was washing the dishes in the dishwasher, he heard someone calling the name of the lady that he liked.

When it was free time, Bong the handsome man who liked her called her name: "Nanfoin, Nanfoin!! She was seated on the chair taking her lunch. She turned her back and answered him.

"Yes, Yes!!". What do you want?

He answered: I want to get to know you. Can we become friends?

"Of course" answered her.

He introduced himself at her. And, they started talking together about why they live in the city and they work at the restaurant.

"What brought you here Bong?" asked Nanfoin.

" I am here because I am going to school and I want to get a job for my needs. I lived long time ago in the city. I am from here.

"And what about you"? I am here because I am living with my aunt and also because I am going to school. I also need this job for the same reason as you."

Since Nanfoin and Bong got to know each other and worked at the same place, they fell in love and had a love relationship. The sorcerer was in the city. She knew that Nanfoin was living there because of the predictor and she also knew that she has a lover who is really handsome. She found that was the time to play her game to steak Nanfoin's face and had a love relationship with the handsome man that the predictor talked to her about. She had a magic broomstick that helped her to fly and even to hide herself so nobody can find her. She disguised herself into an old lady. And, then she went to the restaurant where Nanfoin was working. She faked that she was coming to drink something. Nanfoin was already there working. She called her and asked her: "Excuse me young lady can I have a cup of coffee to drink please?"

Nanfoin came and served her. The sorcerer spent her time to drink her coffee and when she finished, she put the coins on the table. These coins that she put on the table were dangerous coins. They itch the skin of the person until the person loses his appearance the following day. Unluckily, Nanfoin was the same person who came and took the mysterious coins

When she took them and put them in the basket where the money should be kept. She was itching her hand badly. She decided to go back home, because she was not feeling good.

In the village, the fairy Bi told everything that was happening to Nanfoin's mother. She told her that something bad was happening to her daughter, and that the sorcerer successfully deceived her

Everybody decided to go to Nanfoin's rescue. Nanfoin itched all the night when she was sleeping at her aunt's house and did not know what was happening to her. It took the whole night for her face to disappear and be switched into the cursed sorcerer's face. The next day, Nanfoin found out that something bad happened to her: She went to the mirror and saw that her face was the exact same face as the sorcerer. She screamed in the entire house and her aunt came to see what was happening.

"What is really happpening to this child"? said her aunt when she heard her screaming.

When she entered the bathroom, and saw Nanfoin's face, she also screamed. She was surprised. But she could definitely know that is really her niece Nanfoin because of her face. She was also shocked because of the story that Nanfoin told her. She decided to calm down Nanfoin and look for someone from the village who can find a solution for the problem.

In the night, Nanfoin's family arrived to Bamenda. They were waiting for a taxi to take them to Auntie Ntein who is Mr Akoni's sister. Mr Akoni is Nanfoin's father. He knew very well his sister's house. He came to Bamenda several times to visit her. The taxi took them to her house and they all dropped down. He paid the taxi driver and their aunt came and opened the door for them to enter her house.

Auntie Ntein also told her brother that she was surprised that she sees her niece with an old lady's face. She also says that she wishes her to find back her real face. This night, Ntein cooked a big dinner for everybody who was in the house.

She made fried dodo which can be called "fried plantains". She also made some salad, for entree. She made all types of food for the entire family. You could see cassava sticks, n'dole, yams, sweet potatoes, and foofoo. Everybody ate and Auntie Ntein kept the leftover of the food in the fridge for the next day.

It was night, and it was time to sleep. Everybody left to go to bed. Auntie N'tein reserved two rooms for her niece family. Tomorrow morning, the whole family packed their luggages, and had breakfast before going back to the village. They wanted to take their daughter Nanfoin to help her to find back her face. While the whole family was worrying about their daughter's appearance, the sorcerer met Bong at the restaurant. He greeted her, and talked to her. "Please Nanfoin can you give me a bottle of coke from the fridge". I will pay. She gave him the bottle of coke and he asked her how was her day. The sorcerer had a old lady voice. She answered:" I was in my house the entire day, and I was happy to stay there. Bong doubted that Nanfoin had a problem with her voice. He was so surprised because of the way she talks. He asked her: "Nanfoin why are you talking this way?" Do you have something wrong with your voice. "You are talking like an old lady". The sorcerer was ashamed of herself and replied: " Bong I have a problem with my voice and I am not feeling good then she left." The entire Mubang family was in the village talking to the predictor. "Predictor, says Mr Mubang" "What can be done to cure my daughter's face"? The predictor answered: " You need to take any coins said the predictor to Nindum, and add this scratching powder to it, so she will be scratching all night and you will find your appearance. Nanfoin had some coins in her pocket. She gave it to the predictor, and he added the scratching powder then told her not to touch them. He put the coins in a small bag and advised Nanfoin to wear gloves while holding the bag.

Nindum was in her house with an angry face. She was talking to herself and said: " I will never go to the party that is due in town so I can dance with Bong". The whole family packed again their luggage and paid for the shuttle to go back to Bamenda. They were five in the car: Nanfoin, her parents, her brother, and the housemaid. They left to go back and they arrived quickly home. Auntie N'tein received them and let them in her house. She made some food for them. She cooked black beans with fried plantains that they also called dodo, and fried fish. Everybody ate and after dinner they were watching the television. Nanfoin called Bong and told him the entire story. She warned him not to approach the sorcerer and told him that she will be coming to the restaurant with the bag of coins that the predicter gave her. she also told him that she needs his help. "Give these coins to the sorcerer" said Nanfoin to him. This will be a way for them to find her appearance. The night was long; everybody preferred to be awake. The whole family slept at midnight and slept the whole night until late morning. Everybody woke up around 10:am or 12:am later the next day. Nanfoin had her idea in her mind. She was convinced that it will work. While Nanfoin was thinking of her idea, the sorcerer was somewhere in the city thinking of what she can do to attract Bong. She understood that it is too late to switch voice with Nanfoin because she will easily find out who she is since she took her appearance. She decided to make Bong believe that she is Nanfoin although her voice changed. At 2:PM, Nanfoin came to Bong's house and told him her idea that she had to find her appearance. She needed his help, and told him that he could approach the sorcerer just for the subterfuge that she invented. She gave him the bag of coins that was given to her and asked him to give as a gift to the sorcerer. He told her: "I am sure the sorcerer will doubt about something." " She will ask me why am I giving her this bag of coins." Nanfoin answered: " Do not worry". "The sorcerer is so dumb that she will not bother you." If she bothers you, just find a way to get rid of her by telling her that you are feeling bad for her and you are giving her this bag of coins because she is poor and she has no money to survive."

Bong understood very well the instructions and decided to do what Nanfoin asked him to do. After that, she left to go back home. Her aunti N'tein was warming on the gaz cooker the food that has been in the fridge. What she was warming was okra sauce with foofoo. This is what her siblings will be eating today. The sorcerer did not want to be a looser. She came back to Bong and asked him if he could give her a glass of juice for free. He offered her a glass of juice no matter he will have to pay her out of his pocket. She was drinking and talking to him. She told him a story that she lost her voice and does not know how to get back to it. He was not saying anything and was faking believing her story. After the conversation, he gave her the bag of coins that Nanfoin asked him to give to the sorcerer. The sorcerer asked him what was in there, and he told her: "You will find yourself". She felt like there were coins inside. she was happy about the money that he gave her and say thank you without any worries. When she opened the bag of coins and touched some coins she starting scratching and was really displeased to scratch her body around many people in the street. She went back to the hunted house that she build with magic in the city. She was not happy to scratch herself all the day. She did not what was happening. Nanfoin called Bong, and he told her that he did what she asked him to do.

She was happy and was sure that she will find her appearance. The entire day, the sorcerer was scratching. Since, she could not do anything about scratching, she went to her room and slept to avoid scratching her body the entire day.

In Auntie N'tein's house, people were packing to go back to the village. Auntie N'tein was invited to come with them. She was really happy to come there because it has been many years that she has not visited her brother. They went to the supermarket after packing their bags. Nanfoin bought some clothes with her job's money. This is the money that she saved when she was still working at the restaurant. Her aunt gave her some souvenirs as well. The shopping was long. Nanfoin's father was with her mother shopping in another section of the main market. Bamenda's main market was the biggest main market in the city. Nanfoin had what she wanted. She was happy about her trouser, her nice shirt and her nice dress that she bought. They were really cheap; maybe because they were in sales this is why.

After shopping everybody was back at home at 5:PM. She had dinner with her aunt. They were eating ripe plantains with n'dole. This is a cameroonian dish whose the sauce is made with green bitterleaves mixed up with the peanut butter. Nanfoin's parents and brother were back at 10:PM in the evening. They might have gone to one of their friend's house. Everybody was sleeping deeply. The sorcerer found back her ugly face and Nanfoin was in her cute face that she had before. Morning came, Nanfoin was the first person to wake up. Everybody was still sleeping. She went to the mirror to see how she looks and found out that she is back at her normal face. She was really happy about her subterfuge working. She decided to wait that everybody is awake before showing them her face and how she looks now.

When everybody got up. Her auntie saw her face and screamed Hallelujah my daughter. Happy to see that you are back to your normal face!

The family decided to celebrate a party. Mrs Mubang and Mr Mubang have had their suitcases packed to go back to the village. Auntie N'tein also packed hers. She wanted to go with the entire family for one week and then come back to her house after her break in the village.

They asked someone to drive a big car to the village. They had money to pay him. Bong also came to accompany Nanfoin. He also had his bags ready. He was going in the same car as Nanfoin and her family. He was coming with them for a reason because he had relatives in the village that he wanted to see. Auntie N'tein locked her house and they all went to the car, put their bags inside the car and sat inside the vehicle.

The distance was not really long. They reached N'dop pretty soon. N'dop is the name of the village. When Nindum saw in the mirror that she came back to her ugly face. She was crazy. She was really mad and her madness transformed her forever into a bat and then she flew through the window. There was a big party made by the chief of the village to wish welcome to the Mubang family. Nanfoin danced the entire night of the party with her lover.

The end