On the Path to Afikpo River

“Mama tell us another story” Ifeoma and I tugged at the hem of grandma’s wrapper like Oliver Twist. “Ok, this will be the last for tonight” Grandma said. “I will tell you two a story of a scene I witnessed on my way to Afikpo river long time ago when I was still a girl. It’s a story of two lovers; Chukwuka and Ada” she pauses for moment. “Guess who they are now?” Grandma asked us. “My ears are itching Grandma” Ifeoma said impatiently. “The Obi of Owa and his Alasi” Grandma said in a voice so tender and eyes glistening with memories as though she was unleashing some top secret.

 “A long time ago while walking through the path that led to Afikpo River on my way to the farm, I witnessed the inception of a love story that still lives” Grandma began. “Ada an ebony skinned girl in her prime was then our village belle. The meticulously knotted skimpy wrapper that she ties round her waist accentuates her curves. The beads she wears on her waist and ankles dances rhythmically whenever she moves her body that she carries with the agility of a tiger and with the pride of a peacock. The empty water pot she is carrying to the river sits perfectly as though it was glued to her head as she makes no effort to support it with her hand. ‘I don’t like the way Udo beats up my sisters’ Ada tells Chukwuka. ‘I have been warning him, but it seems obvious my warnings have been falling on deaf ears. Chisom came crying to me this morning just before I left for the river that Udo forcefully took from her the okpa mama gave to her’ Ada complains to Chukwuka. ‘He is fortunate he did not know me when I was a tom-boy, I would have left him with a missing tooth and a broken jaw not mindful he is a prince’. ‘I have always known you to be a mother hen that jealously guards her chicks. I will remind Udo when I get home to steer clear the Ikemefuna sisters to avoid the wrath of mother hen’. “Chukwuka takes a quick bow like a chivalric knight”. Grandma continued “They both kept stealing glances at each other. On getting to the cross road that leads to their various destination, they parted ways reluctantly. In a bid to steal a last glance, Ada turns her head and catches Chukwuka stealing a glance too. Looking away abruptly, her empty water pot falls on a log and shatters. Bending to gather the remains of her broken pot, Chukwuka came bending beside her to help out, their eyes lock in a passionate stare. Watching as a lone spectator, I knew the rest would be history”