The town hall was full to the brim and outside.
Perspirating,grim faces of men on shaking
heads,twisted by anger and hunger for revenge are
cupped in hands .At intervals,both hands are placed on
the head in silent agitation.Teeth gnash and knees
shake,everyone was either talking or gravely silent.
Revenge,they must get by justice or by jungle.The air
is thick with tension and impatience.
The elders, old men in red caps sit round the high table
which has been isolated to the extreme part of the
room,deliberating in hushed tones. Once,a displeased
elder will stand abruptly and protest his displeasure at
an opinion in a loud voice, occasionally hitting the table
with his walking stick in anger or emphasis and settling
back down in his chair.
Outside,the crowd is divided in groups of discussing
men. A group of young men were already doing a war
dance round the village square brandishing sharp
matchetes which catch the rays of the sun.From time to
time a brutal looking young man will detach from the
group to perform a collection of war acrobatics and
matchet display and the crowd will cheer. It is no
gathering for the faint hearted. Men are angry and it
seems as if it will surge through them at any moment
like water through a dam.
Back inside,the noise is deafening,sweat poured from
bodies.It is all getting to a crescendo.
Suddenly,a middle-aged man walks to the front and
confronts the elders,
'Kedu ihe di ihe a. Obu so uka ka anyi biara ebe ikpari,
ebe anyi noo na-eri nsi kporo nku?'
(What is going on here? Have we gathered here only to
talk while we feed on dry shit).
The crowd murmurs.
'Onye obia batara n'be anyi,nyoo nshi,tee anyi ya
n'iru,ana-aju ihe aga-eme ka aghari imejo ya!'
( A guest we welcomed has excreted in our house and
rubbed it on our faces and here we are deliberating on
what to do in order not offend him).
'Gbam!',the crowd supports.
'Taaa,tufiaaaaa!
(Hisses and spits)
Chukwu amakwe ihe ojo!'
(God forbid)
'Ka obuzi ekpere na obubu onu ndi uka ka anyi biara?
Odikwa egwu!!!'
(Or have we come to pray and fast,it's terrible).
He continues, 'it's an abomination that elder is around
and a pregnant goat gives birth in tether. I have said
said my piece,the rest is left for you'.
He makes a hand washing gesture towards the elders
and walks back inside. The crowd roars in approval. The
war dance chooses to make its entry into the hall at
that moment,chatting,
Nzogbu,nzogbu!
Enyimba,enyi!
Nzogbu!
Enyimba,enyi!
Nzogbu,nzogbu!
Enyimba,enyi!
Nzogbu!
Enyimba,enyi!
Nzogbue nwoke!
Enyimba!
Nzogbue nwanyi!
Enyimba,enyi!
Nzogbu!!!
The hall is crowd and countless shouts and bell rings
from the high table can calm the frenzied crowd.
The groups dances out of the door followed by the
crowd chatting and stamping their feet in rhythm.
'Let the fulani herdsmen go there way, WE WILL NOT EAT COWS DIPPED IN HUMAN BLOOD'.

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