Chapter 1



"My son is dead. Nwa m nwoke naani anwuola- my only son is dead", the cries of Uju, the third wife of the Igwe of Umu-Igodo pierced the day. Her co-wives were beside her, consoling her about the death of her only son.


Not long, a man was seen carrying a boy of seventeen years old in his arms going towards the direction of the Igwe's Palace, behind him are the villagers of Umu-Igodo who troop in groups as they made their way to the Igwe's Palace.


The people of Umu-Igodo had been known as a cursed village, they were being curse by their ancestors. Everyday that passes, a living being must sleep with the dead. The land had long forgotten the taste of joy and happiness, it was now plague with darkness and sorrows, that was what they only remembered. Everyday the villagers live in fear, they don't know who will be the next. And so they prayed to their gods, Amadioha, but their pleads always fell on deaf ears.


Igwe Omenika of Umu-Igodo with his elders sat down to discuss about what is happening and what had befall the Igwe's family.

"Igwe on the behalf of the elders and myself, please accept our condolence" Mazi Okeke, the Onowu said.

"My elders I thank you all". Igwe Omenika reply soberly

"Igwe, things are getting out of hand for us in Umu-Igodo. We have to do something now". Mazi Okoro said

"Yes I know, but who will help us to remove the curse placed upon our ancestors which is affecting us today?" The Igwe asked

Before any one would say anything, the man who was carrying the dead body of the young boy came in and drop the body at the feet of the King.

"Igwe, another one is gone Igwe. A day before yesterday it was Ugala son. Yesterday it was Izaga whose daughter died at childbirth, and today my son followed. Everyday people are dying in this village, there is no day that passes that you won't hear a cry of a villager. Igwe we are all tried. It is either you bring back my son or you will bury both me and my son here and now". Odum said.

"Igwe not only him will you bury, but all of us together". A woman said and the villagers that has now gathered in the Igwe's Palace all echoes

"Yes".

"People of Umu-Igodo please be patient with us, we are surely going to get to the root of our predicament". Mazi Okeke said to the villagers.

"Mazi Okeke, this is not a new song to us, we all are going to stay here till our problems is been solved". Odum said and the villagers agreed. They all sat down on the bare ground.

The Igwe sadly shakes his head.

"I think we should call IGODO, the oldest and wisest man in this village to tell us what to do", Mazi Ikenga spoke out.


IGODO was a old man who had lived for a long time that many had forgotten that he existed. He was often seen by the villagers as a mad man who lives all alone in a hut that was old itself.

"You are right, we have no other option, let us send for IGODO maybe he will know why we are being punished for a crime committed by our fore fathers", Mazi Okeke said after a minute of thought.

The Igwe then told three of his guards to go to IGODO'S hut and escort the old man back.

The three guards went out to carry out their orders.


Not long afterward they soon emerged with the old man into the Igwe's Palace. Everyone including the Igwe stood up and greated the old man, some shifting away so that they won't be touched by Igodo.

Igodo sat down on the ground in front of the Igwe and the elders on his raffle mat he had placed. He looked sadly at the dead child laying beside the Igwe's feet. When he had adjusted himself well he addresses them all.

"I know why I am here", he began to the bewilderment of them all. "The course of our predicament starts from this very place. Something which I could have prevented if I had know who's son he was".

"We don't understand you wise one. This curse we all are facing now were caused by our ancestors. Something we the generations today don't know how it all started. Umu-Igodo have been suffering from this curse for as long we can remember. Wise one, I have know you when I was barely three years of age till now you are still the same. We don't know how old you are, but we believe you might have a knowledge to our predicament. Please Igodo help us, we all are dying one after the other". Igwe Omenika pleaded to the old man.

"Hmm, Igwe" Igodo sigh then continued. "There is a story behind this curse Umu-Igodo is suffering from. Let me tell you a story..." a cough stopped him from continuing. The old man continued when the cough had subside. "No one knows what had really brought the curse, no one knows expect me".


"Please wise one, tell us how we came to generate this deadly curse from our ancestors". Omenika said eagerly.

"Four hundred years ago it all happened right here, where we all are sitting. A child of Amadioha was brought to your great, great, great, great, great grandfather........"


Generations Ago

"Igwe I am innocent of this accusation being placed on me". Cried Ikemefuna as the palace guards held him down. He pleaded, but his plead fell on the deaf ears of the King and elders.

"I have nothing else to say to you Ikemefuna. You brought this upon your self when you decided to steal my Ofor. Tradition is tradition and there is no two ways about it. You must die". The Igwe of Umu-Igodo said showing no remorse.

Ikemefuna cried out the more.

Ikemefuna, an orphan which the gods, Amadioha had blessed turning him from a beggar to a wealthy man and started on he had five big barns of yams to his name, four plot of lands which he had planted Maize, cassava, yams etc. He was not only rich but good at heart. He had always help some of the villagers, he was loved by everyone. But unfortunately for him, not everyone loves him as he had always thought. Some group of jealous friends planned and they stole the Ofor from the Igwe's Palace with the help of the Igwe's personal guard and hid it in Kemefuna's hut. The guard went ahead and told the Igwe, when he couldn't find his Ofor. They were Seven in numbers including the personal guard to the Igwe that had carried out the dirty plan. He told the Igwe where he had seen the Ofor and who he thinks stole it. Earlier on, Ikemefuna had paid a homage to the Igwe, he had brought with him the best tubers of yams to the Igwe. The Igwe quickly summon up his three of his best warriors to go and search the hut of Ikemefuna. The Ofor was found hidden in an earthen pot in one of his yam barns, it was the guard who was among those that conspire to kill Ikemefuna that found it there, after all he was the one who had planted it in there in the first place.

They beat him all the way to the Igwe's Palace with the Ofor tied on him. He pleaded but no, no one cared to listened.

No one knows he was much innocent no one but the Seven culprits who were behind it.

"Igwe, I swear on the graves of my dead parents I did not steal your Ofor. I am innocent Igwe. The gods are my witness, I did not steal the Ofor". Ikemefuna tried his best to tell the Igwe of his innocent, but the Igwe did pay any attention to the young man in front of him rather he turned to the warriors who had brought him in and told them in a cold voice.

"Take him to Dike at once. Tell him what this man did, he knows what to do with the thief".

The tradition of Umu-Igodo was a scared one, that even a day old child knows of. If anyone was caught stealing he or she would be put to death immediately. But in this case Ikemefuna situation is far more worse. If anyone was caught with the Ofor he or she will be cut limb by limbs starting from the toes of the said person after that, they will be pounded on a scared Mortal that was dedicated to the gods of the land. After which his body will be burnt to ashes and finally his ashes will be throw into the evil forest.


And this was to be done to Ikemefuna who the igwe had believed he stole the Ofor.

Ikemefuna cries of plead filled the air as he was lead away to Dike. The seven who had being the brain to what was happening to Ikemefuna where rejoicing in their hearts.


Ikemefuna cried

Ikemefuna begged

Ikemefuna pleaded

But no one paid any attention on him.

The people who had felt pity for him and strongly believed that he was innocent was those he had helped. They were afraid the Igwe will put them to death if they plead on the behalf of Ikemefuna. So they kept quite.


Ikemefuna was dragged on the bushy path which lead to Dike's as they took him to where he would be slaughtered.

Dike had been waiting for them, he was sharpening his sword, he knew of their coming and was preparing.

Ikemefuna tried and worn out, blood pouring out of his wounds the warriors had afflicted on him, his voice hoarse as he used his last strength to look in the sky.

"You kill an innocent man!
You kill an innocent man!!!
But remember when the father comes for the son
Be prepared to answer
The blood you spill today shall cry for vengeance and none will be left out.
Amadioha! Amadioha!!! You alone knows I am innocent of what I am been accused of.
I place a curse upon this village,

Death will be their morning song
Tears will flow like a river
As they have afflicted me with pains so shall you afflict them with pains
Umu-Igodo and its generations shall know no peace
They will cry, beg, plead but no one will lift up the curse
I placed the curse on Dike only when he dies shall the curse be lifted
As I have spoken
Amadioha has spoken".


Ikemefuna said to the hearings of the warriors and Dike and gave up the ghost.

Dike was terrify as such a thing had never happen in all his whole years of living. People that were brought in here didn't die, rather he would be the one who will kill them while they are still breathing. This case was different, which means something. Dike stare at the warriors shaking his head sadly, "What happened here now shows that Ikemefuna is innocent. You all know that these had never happened before. The three of you will carry his body to the evil forest and buried it there, no one should say a word to anyone". Dike said and they all swore never to reveal what had happened to Ikemefuna.

"Amadioha knows that I innocent". Dike said looking up at the sky fearing at words Ikemefuna spoke out before he died.

They all went into the evil forest, Dike was with them. As they dug a part of the ground from the mouth of the evil forest, all were concentrating on digging the grave. After they have dug enough for the body to enter the ground they turned to take Ikemefuna's cold body and lay it inside, but to their surprise they couldn't find the body. They searched and searched around their environment but still yet they couldn't find the body. They gave up and journeyed back to the Village.

The 3 warriors all lied and told the Igwe that Dike had killed Ikemefuna as in the most gruesome way.

After Ikemefuna's death, things started happening mysteriously in the village. Fowls, and their crops started dying one after the other. The seven who had plotted Ikemefuna's death all died mysteriously and in the most painful ways. Those three warriors that had dragged Ikemefuna were not left out, they all died in a strange manner.

Dike was the cursed itself and he alone carries the curse. Throughout the four hundred years, Dike live. He can't be killed no matter how hard he tried to kill himself, he was immune to everything and sadly he watches as everything and everyone he knows dies as the new generations were born.


The curse manifest.

He couldn't do anything.

DIKE IGODO couldn't help the innocent people that were dying.

To Be Continued..

Chapter 2


Everyone was quite as Igodo finished his story.


The Igwe cleared his throat and asked "Igodo, there has to be a way you can die. Tell us, is there no other way you can be killed?"



"In all my years of living, I had given up on death". Igodo replied.


"Igodo, there has to be a way. There has to be something that will put an end to you. I beg you, please to tell us. Umu-Igodo people are dying day by day. There has to be a way to lift up this curse". Odum pleaded.

"My only answer to you all is, since Ikemefuna is a child of Amadioha, then only Amadioha can kill me". Igodo explained, then he slowly stood up to his feet with the help of a guard and made his way out of the crowd.

The people of Umu-Igodo watched as Igodo left their presence and approaching his hut.


In state of... they all left one after the other to their various home.


Odum has no other option than to carry up his son and left the Igwe with a message. "I will sure get to the root of this. I will bring an end to this curse placed on us by this Ikemefuna. I Odum Ahamuefula will surely remove this curse from Umu-Igodo".



Odum then left the presence of the Igwe to bury his son.


**************************************

Odum after burying his son later that evening went straight to Igodo's hut. He saw the old man sitting down on his old raffle mat as he was staring at the moon without interest. He greeted Igodo and sat down on the bare ground, facing Igodo.


"Wise one", Odum began, "Please there has to be a way to stop this curse. Look around you and you will see as the people of Umu-Igodo are dying. Something in my gut tells me you alone carries the answers to our question, tell me what to do my father". Odum said.


"Father? No one has called me that in years. My son, you are right. There is a way out, but the consequence are grave".


"Then tell me, I am willing to risk it all and save the lives of the innocent people of Umu-Igodo. Tell my father what we must do to break the curse".


"Like I have told you and the villagers earlier on, the only way to break this curse is to kill me". Igodo said.


"Yes, but you told us that there is nothing that can kill you". Odum replied.


"Indeed I said so. I will tell where you can get what you will use to kill me, but first let me tell you another story and you have to listen very carefully to what I am about to say".


"I will my father".


The words 'My Father' made a smile to grow at the old lips of Igodo. He hasn't heard such a word in a long time.


"When I realize that I was the course of Umu-Igodo predicament I decided to look for a solution and my search led me to Okike, a dibia who had fought with the nine spirits of Oku and lived to tell the tales. I traveled through many villages and forest in search of Okike and eventually I found him by luck, you see my son one thing about Okike is, he never stays in one place for long. Well, luckily for me I found him......."



*Generations Ago*


Dike Igodo found the man he had been looking for in the great forest of the ancestors. Earlier on, he had met an old man on his way, Dike Igodo helped the old man to carry his raffle mats and bag, unknown to him the old man was the great Okike in disguise. After walking for a while, the old man pretended to be tired and asked for a stop. Dike didn't complain, rather he cleared some part of the bush where the old man will sit, he was about to put the raffle mat on the ground but the old man wave it away.


"Don't worry my son, I have a better way". The old man said and waved his arm on the air, suddenly two wooden stools appeared right in front of Dike.


Dike was shocked and stared at the old man in awe.


"Who are you?" Dike asked the old man.


"I am known as Okike. And I know why you are in search of me. You can sit down on the other stool".

Dike quickly had his seat and stared at Okike, the great dibia.


"I have been watching you ever seen you set you foot on this ancestor's forest. I decided to come to you. I know what brought you to me". Okike spoke his mind.


"Great one, please tell me how to break the curse placed on me by Ikemefuna?" Dike hurriedly asked.

"Ikemefuna said that only when you die will the curse be lifted, but you and I know that you can't die".


"That is why I need the answers to know what can kill me. I am tried of hearing the cries of Umu-Igodo everyday. I am tired of seeing little children dying. I am tired of seeing our young women turning into a widow. I am tired of seeing mothers watching their sons and daughters die. The great one, please tell me what I must do to stop all this".


"Seven days, they will journey into the ancient forest of the living-dead and come back with the knife of Amadioha. When Ikemefuna died, you and those warriors took his dead body to the evil forest you couldn't find his body, right?"


Dike was speechless, how did the old man know what had happened that faithful day. "Yes great one, we couldn't find his body".


"You see, Amadioha took his body to the ancient forest of the living-dead and transformed Ikemefuna's body into the knife and only that knife can kill you".


"But great one, there is one thing I don't understand". Dike poured out his confusion.


"And what is it my son?" Okike asked, he knew what Dike was about to asked.


"You said, seven days they will journey into the ancient forest of the living-dead. Who are they? Does it mean I can't go in search of the knife myself?" Dike asked trying to understand.


"You won't be the one to go and bring back the knife, Amadioha had already chosen who will go but, they're yet to be born.


"What did you mean by they are not yet born? Does it mean they are not in our time?" Dike asked again.


"The chosen ones are not yet been given birth to. They are the children of Amadioha and you can't go and bring the kinife, they will be the one to do so". Okike said.


"But When and how will I know when they are in the world?" Dike asked.


"You don't need to know my son, they will come to you when its time and when they do, bring the Seven people here".


"Here? Why great one?"


"I will be waiting for them to fortify them for the journey ahead. The road to where Ikemefuna body lay is far dangerous, I can see it".


"Okay, so how long will I wait for them?" Dike asked.


"I can't answer you. All I will say is this, the curse was placed by a child of Amadioha and only a child of Amadioha can bring back the knife. The seven children of Amadioha will come for you, I don't know how but that is what I see".


"But how will I find you if I bring them here?"


"Find me?" Okike laughed "I will come to you. Don't worry about finding me". No sooner had the words left his mouth he vanished into thin air.


Dike thanked Okike and began his journey back to Umu-Igodo.


He waited and waited for the children of the gods to come. But none came.



At first he saw himself aging and thought that he would die of old age, but alas he was wronged.


A hundred years passed, then two, then, three and lastly the fourth. He felt it. The seven children of Amadioha had been born.


He then await for them to come and strangely enough one of them came to him, Odum.


******************************


Odum heaved a sigh as Igodo finished his story.


"But, where are the remaining six? Will they come?" Odum asked. He was prepared to go to the ancient forest of the dead only him if it was possible.


"I don't know, I am afraid we are going to wait for them. Okike told me that they would come for me and for once I did not doubt his word. The way you came to meet me is the same way the remaining six will come. Just have a little patient child of Amadioha".


"I have heard you my father. I will be on my way now, but I will come and check on you in the morning". Odum told Igodo.


Igodo watches as Odum left.



******************************



In another village, Umu-Dike inhabitant had all gone to sleep expect for one as she silently made her way out of the outskirts of the village.


Uzodinma had heard a voice telling her to go to Umu-Igodo village.


Uzodinma at a very tender age had the gift of seeing things that are about to happen. The villagers gave her all sorts of names, some called her a witch while some said that she was practicing magic. But for Uzodinma she knew she was gifted.


Uzodinma had once met with Amadioha in her dreams. The god then told her she will be needed in Umu-Igodo soon.


When she woke up and told her parents, they believed her and went to appease the deity to see if he can change his mind towards their daughter, but they were wronged. No one can change the ways of a god.




Soon enough she left her village and started her journey into Umu-Igodo. Amadioha had shown her the road that leads to Umu-Igodo's village.


*************** ***********



Dike Igodo opened his eyes, someone had woken him up from his sleep.


He saw a strange lady staring at him. He had fallen asleep outside his hut.


"Are you Igodo?" The lady asked


"Yes I am Igodo and what is your name my child?"


"I am Uzodinma, I came from the neighbouring village. I was told to come here that I will find you here". Uzodinma said.


"Who told you and if you are not from this village how did you know my name?" Igodo asked.


"Amadioha told me everything I need to know. He told me to come here that I will find you here".


"May Amadioha be praised", Igodo said and continued "Then you know why you are here?"


"Yes". That was Uzodinma short reply.



"You will stay here till you all are completed". Igodo said and pointed into the hut "You can go in".


Uzodinma thanked Igodo and left his presence going towards the hut. For now this will be her new home for as long as the mission last.

To Be Continued...

complete the story.......I av been following

Chapter 3




Two males made their way out of their hut, one hut was facing the other. One of them was carrying a bow and a arrow, from the look of things they were about to go for a hunt. Ikenna and Ikenga, both were twins. They were born and brought up in Ogunme village. Ikenga was a very skilled fighter, who had wrestled with all the whole young men of his age in a wrestling ground and had always won. He had never be defeated in a wrestling ground before. He was muscular and has a great height. His twin brother, Ikenna was the opposite. Ikenna a very slim young man was good with arrows, he was known to the people as a hunter who had never missed his target before, what surprises the villagers the most was how he was able to catch bigger games, like lions, tigers, antelopes etc, while their other hunters came home with nothing and sometimes they came with a bush meat or grasshopper if the gods of the land had remember to bless them that day.

Ikenna and Ikenga are not your typical kind of twins, they are unusual. Apart from his strength, Ikenga had the ability to see anything that was far. His ability had always made him know where the games are and will then inform his brother, Ikenna. Apart from that, he was a very skilled fighter. Ikenna on the other hand was very good in shooting arrows. When he shoots, no matter how far that animal is, it will be hit. His arrow shoot can go as far as into the evil forest that was close to their village and sometimes his arrows had always come back to him. The two brothers had always use their gifts to help each other.


When Ikenna and Ikenga came out from their respectively huts. Their parents had died when they were still young and since then they had been the one taking care of themselves. They were preparing to go out for their usual hunt when Ikenna told Ikenga of his dream he had.

"Nga, enwera m nro unyaahu-I have a dream yesterday night".


"A dream? What did you see this time?" Ikenga asked his twin.

"I saw ourselves running through a thick forest. There were some unknown people who were with us. I couldn't make up their faces, but I keep on hearing Umu-Igodo from their mouths and that we have to come and join them". Ikenna explained his dream.

"Umu-Igodo? I don't think I have heard of such a village that bears that name before". Ikenga said

"Me too. But I am very sure they need our help".

"I see, you know that your dreams had always come to pass". Ikenga sigh and then continued "We are not going for any hunting today. Rather we are going to search for the village that bears that name". Ikenga concluded and they went inside their huts to change their clothes.
They soon emerged from their huts with some wrappers tied securely around Ikenga's shoulder.

"How do we go from here? We have never been to Umu-Igodo village before so how are we going to locate that place?" Ikenga asked his twin brother.

"Nga, I don't know how we are going to locate there but I thing I am sure of is, Amadioha will lead us there". Ikenna replied.

Having make sure that their huts were securely locked they walked out of their compound, locking the bamboo fence tightly and began their journey in search of Umu-Igodo.



******************************


Odum had woken up early to the quietness of his compound. He vividly remembered how he had lost his wife who had died immediately when she had given birth to his son. And after struggling for (17) seventeen years to train his son, he died. How could Amadiha been so wicked.


"Amadioha if you had known that my son will not reach the age where he'd be call a man then why did you give him to me at the first place?" Odum soliloquy to himself.

Not too long, a robust woman she was beautiful and dark in complexion walked into Odum compound and met him talking to himself.

"Odum, gini mere I na agwa onwe gi okwu?- Odum, why are you talking to yourself? O bu na agwaghi m gi ka ighara ichegbu onwe gi?- Have I not told you not to worry about your dead son? Amadioha our great god will give you children, biko ebezina". The woman consoled Odum.

"I know that Obidiya, I am just thinking when our lives will be better". Odum heaved a sigh and then continued, "Any way, what had brought you to my home early this morning. I hope you and your husband are not fighting again?" Odum asked the woman now know as Obidiya.

"Yes, I came to beg you to come and help me to remove the iroko tree that fell across our farm land. I have sent people earlier to carry the tree from our farm, but they couldn't and so I decided to seek you". Obidiya explained why she had come that early.

"Okay Obidiya, is it that farm land that is in Nkpor side?" Odum asked

"Yes, exactly that one".

"Be going, I will be there soon".


"How much cowries am I going to pay you?" Obidiya asked.

"Obidiya you have come again. I don't need your money and beside you have been there for me since I lost my wife and my son. You don't have to pay me any money inugo". Odum said.

"Odum, you are truly a man with a good heart. Thank you, let me be going".

Obidiya thanked him again and left for her place.

Soon Odum was walking towards the direction of Nkpor where Obidiya's farm land was. When he got there, he saw a big Iroko tree and without sweat lifted the big iroko tree with one of his hand, carried it out of Obidiya's farm land and dumped it in the forest.


He use that opportunity to check on Igodo.

******************************

Igodo and Uzodinma sat down and they were eating the roasted yam Uzodinma had roasted for them when Odum came to meet them.

He was surprised to see a beautiful stranger eating and laughing with Igodo. Igodo was the first to noticed him. Uzodinma followed Igodo's eye and it landed on Odum that was some distance away from them. Igodo smiled and turned to look at Uzodinma.

"You were right, Odum is here as you have told me. Truly you are really gifted and I hope your gift will guide you all as you journeyed to the land of the dead".

Uzodinma gave out a charming smile when Igodo praised her gift, back in her village her gift was regarded as witchcraft.

Odum soon joined them and asked Igodo who the young lady was.

"Oh, she is one of the children of Amadioha". Igodo told Odum

"Oh, you mean to say a lady is among the choosen ones?" Dike asked surprised.

"Yes, the ways of the gods are different from the ways of we mere mortals. She is a gifted seer. Come and join us".


"Thank you my father", Dike said and took a piece of yam and ate it. After he had finished eating the yam he had took, he stood up and addressed them. " I only came to check on you to see how you are faring". Odum said

"Oh, you did well my son. Don't worry about me, I am being taken care of by Uzodinma here".

"Okay. I will be on my way now though I will be back this evening to check on you. Thanks for the fod". Odum said and left them for his hut.


******************************


Ikenga and Ikenna had walked for a long time without knowing where they were actually heading too. They decided to asked anyone they will meet on their way. They hadn't walk far when they met a woman, she had a basket full of yams to the brim on her head.

"Good day mama, please we are going to Umu-igodo village and we don't know where the village is. Do you know the way we can follow to get to Umu-Igodo?" Ikenna asked politely.

"Yes my sons, you see that bush part?" The woman said pointing at a narrow road. "Follow that road and do not branch anywhere, it will lead you and your twin brother to Umu-Igodo village".

"Thank you mama". Ikenga said and they started walking towards the bushy part the woman had told them to take. The woman walked a few pace and disappeared into thin air.

After walking for a while, Ikenna stop his brother and asked him. "Nga, come to think of it, how did that woman know that we are twin?"

"Maybe we had told her earlier on". Ikenga replied.

"Well you may be right". Ikenna agreed with his twin and they walked in silence going to Umu-Igodo.

Unknown to them, the woman they had met was a spirit sent by Amadioha to show them the short cut that will lead to -Umu-Igodo village and the road they had followed will lead them directly to Igodo's home.


******************************





The whole people of Amaeze troop to Ojadike's hut, including the Igwe of Amaeze.

Ojadike had started playing his flute, and many of the villagers were already there eagerly to wait for his beautiful song. As soon as Ojadike saw that the Igwe had sat down, he pauses in his flute playing and after a while started singing.


Igbo version

Onye di ka eze anyi
Ndi Amaeze na asopuru
Eze anyi niile huru gi n'anya
Eze anyi nwere obi olaedo
Nke ahu nwere ike iga leta ndi nki ti di ka m
Ndi Amaeze ekele gi niile
Anyi nile ga-ebi n'udo, ahuike di mma ma na-enwe oganihu mgbe niile
Aha m bu OJadike
Nwa mgbei nke huru egwu n'anya
Eze na ndi Amaeze m na ekele gi ozo

English version

Who is like the king
The people of Amaeze respect him
Our king we all love you
Our king has the heart of gold
That can even visit a commoner like me
The people of Amaeze I greet you all
We all are going to live in peace, good health and always be prosperous
My name is Ojadike
A orphan who loves music
The king and the people of Amaeze I greet you all once again.


The igwe was so pleased with his song and gave him a bag full of cowries and left. He had always felt better whenever he hears Ojadike music. The villagers started leaving Ojadike hut one after the other till it remains Ojadike.


Ojadike a orphan who had lost his parents to a brief illness that had claimed their lifes has the gift of playing flute and songs. Once he had start, his music can melt a cold heart. The villagers had always believed that his songs where given by Amadioha.

When he had lost his parents, the Igwe decided to take care of Ojadike. He was very young when his parents died so the Igwe took him in as one of his sons. Ojadike was so grateful to the Igwe that no day that passes he won't sing for the Igwe. Soon the villagers got to know about his songs and from their he started becoming popular amongst the people. Years later when he had reached the age of men the Igwe gave him a portion of his land and build him a hut like that of his children, after all he was also his son.

Many villagers have heard so much of Ojadike and they always troop in groups to hear his songs every morning.


His fame gradually came to light when a Lion who had been terrorising the people of Amaeze was killed by him with his music.

He was very young then when he had used his music to tame the Lion and brought the wild animal to where the trap that was set for the it. The Lion was so pleased with the music that he had followed Ojadike and unknowingly walked into the trap and was immediately killed by the hunters.

The villagers then named him 'Ojadike, god of Music'

That was how his name Ojadike was spread and people from the neighbouring villages came to Amaeze to see the young boy who had tame the Lion.


After he was alone in his hut, the people had left him to continue their daily works at their various homes, he was left alone.

However his mind wasn't at peace, he had been having these strange dreams of recent. In that dream a old man who had appeared to him had told him to go to Umu-Igodo village and look for a man that bears Igodo that they need his help.

He had woken up to think why he was told to go to that cursed village. Who doesn't know the story of Umu-Igodo and how the curse came to be.


At first when he had the first dream, he had thought that it was just a normal dream but when it became continuously he knew it wasn't a normal dream but a message.

The old man had always pleaded with him that he was needed.

He was needed?

He decided to go to Umu-Igodo to look for Igodo.

After, having his bath and had packed some of his clothes he set out to the Igwe's Palace to tell him of his journey.

"My son", the Igwe began after Ojadike had informed him where he had intended to go "I won't stop you from your journey. But you have to promise me that once you had rendered your help to Umu-Igodo, you have to come back to me safe and sound".

"I will father", Ojadike said and bowed to him before leaving Igwe's presence.

As he walked, he brought out his flute and started playing it. He knew the road that leads to Umu-Igodo and went through it, playing his flute. The birds flying in the air had to perch from tree to tree following his music. Even the trees swayed at the sound of his music.



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It was noon when Odum came to Igodo. After he had greeted the old man, he sat down on the mat Uzodinma had sat on. Hardly had he sit down when Uzodinma announces.

"We are going to have some visitors tonight. I can't really see their faces, but they will soon be here



No sooner had she utter the words, they heard some foot steps coming towards their hut.

Igodo smiled, he knew them. Amadioha children are gradually becoming complete.

To Be Continued......