The Oba was just rounding up his meeting with his chiefs when Akinlabi got to the palace. Brimming with excitement, he approached the guards and said,

"I want to see Kabiyesi."

Akinlabi is a very popular figure in the village, even among the guards. The guards parted ways as he came in through both the first gate and the second gate. With a lightning speed he hurriedly rushed into the palace to tell the Oba the news of his baby. With much glee, Akinlabi started prostrating from thirty yards to the throne, much to the amazement of the Oba, and somewhat amusement to some of the chiefs. With a loud voice he did paid his homage,

"Kabiyesi, Oba Orimogunje. K'ade o pe lori, ki bata o pe lese, k'ase o pe lenu. May you live longer than your fathers. May your enemies wax old and worthless like a rag. Oba Orimogunje, second-in-command to the gods, thee I greet."

With a subtle-yet-composed voice, the Oba replied,

"To what do I owe this pleasant visit from my dear son Akinlabi, the son of my late friend Akingbola? Arise, the Oba greets thee."

Akinlabi responded, "My lord, the gods smiled on me today. My ancestors brought their eternal blessings, and my father, Akingbola, filled my heart with joy."

"Enough of the parables my son! What joy befell thee today that almost rendered you a lunatic?" The Oba asked.

"My lord, today I bid goodbyes to the company of the childless. Now I join the network of the fatherhood. My wife, Awele, has been delivered of a baby girl this morning." Akinlabi replied.

The Oba arose from his throne, raised Akinlabi to his feet, embraced him and said,

"Congratulations my son. May the gods be with your child. May she become the mother of all mothers."

All the chiefs sounded in one rapturous accord,

"Ase."

After this, the Oba beckoned on two of his guards, whispered into their ears and made way to his throne. While the chiefs interrogated Akinlabi, the guards returned with sacks of money, two he-goats and a fine aso oke. Oba Orimogunje cleared his voice, beckoned on Akinlabi and said,

"My son, I promised myself the day your father Akingbola died that, I will always take care of you and look out for you; one of which is your unhindered entry into the palace, a privilege every other subject has in this village, except my chiefs. Besides, I have always seen you as one of my sons. So, here is my little gift in honour of your first child. They shall be delivered directly to your compound this very hour."

After those words, Oba Orimogunje gestured to the guards, and soon, they left the palace for Akinlabi's house. Not knowing what to say, Akinlabi prostrated on the floor thanking the Oba. This goes on for several minutes until the Oba asked him to stop and go home. Rising up from the floor, Akinlabi, with enormous joy on his face, left the palace amidst singing and dancing all by himself.

IGBOBUNMI

Akinlabi felt no need to hurry home. His wife is in company of good and trusted maids he reasoned. The name of his favourite maid is Igbobunmi, the girl he brought home from the forest during one of his night hunting. Akinlabi was on his way home after a rather frustrating hunt when he saw a baby wrapped in leaves by the road side. At first he was terrified and asked what kind of a woman would leave her child here all alone by herself in this thick forest. Later, the thought that the mother might have been attacked by a wild animal began to creep into his crowded mind. At first, he taught of walking away from the baby. But as fate would have it, suddenly, as if a magnet was drawing him closer to the baby, he turned around. When looked at his left and right, and no sign that someone might have dropped the baby there, he picked up the baby and left for home. That day made it exactly eighteen years since Igbobunmi has been faithfully serving Akinlabi. She has grown to become a beautiful damsel worthy of the richest man in Kilanko Village as wife. So adorable was Igbobunmi that Ogunmola, one of Akinlabi closest friends, asked for her hand in marriage from Akinlabi while they play aayo olopon (a common game) together. But Akinlabi, trying to play a father role, declined Ogunmola's request and instead, suggested he go to other reputable families of Kilanko Village to find himself a bride. As these thoughts rumbled on, He thought about the kind of gift befitting Igbobunmi, especially on this unique day of her life.

"Should I get her a new aso oke or beads? She has been very obedient and truthful since the day she began to talk. She has been a good maid to my wife Awele too. She deserved something huge."

While these thoughts rumbled in Akinlabi's head, looking at his hands, he noticed that the bead on his left hand was missing. For a moment he thought he had misplaced it during the rescue of Bolatito from those rapists but suddenly, he remembered he gave it to Bolatito purposefully as a seal to confirm the promise of his return to her house after leaving the palace. As if someone was cooking nearby, Akinlabi lifted up his head and inhaled deeply as if he could smell the aroma from Bolatito's meal. Like a vehicle whose break failed, Akinlabi galloped through the bushy road en route Bolatito's house. Though it is getting dark, he wouldn't mind returning home late because, first, he had promised Bolatito of his presence with a seal as proof. Second, Akinlabi is a man of his word; whatever he promised, he will do, he won't rest until it is done and third, the fear of missing Bolatito's delicacies spurred him on to continue his way to Bolatito's house. Again, marching along the bushy pathways, he remembered the last time he ate from the same plate with Bolatito; it's always fun and enjoyable. While they were eating on one particular day, Bolatito purposefully served only one meat for both of them, wanting to test Akinlabi sharing heart. To her amazement, Akinlabi galloped the pounded yam, left the only meat untouched, washed his hands and reached for the palm wine placed beside him. Impressed by Akinlabi's generous heart, Bolatito went inside and brought additional three pieces of meat for Akinlabi alone,

"I have enough meat in the pot Akinlabi. I purposely served us one to test if, perhaps, you're going to eat it all alone or share it with me. But to my surprise, you left it completely for me. That's a good heart. So, as a reward, I brought three more pieces of meat."

Akinlabi smiled as he walked along the bush through the dark. He felt proud that night as he was treated like a king by Bolatito. He was even afforded a well decorated room to pass the night. Akinlabi overheard the conversation between Bolatito and her mother as she reported his generous and kind gesture, even at meal. So, the thought of eating again, after a long time with Bolatito filled his head as he navigates his way to her house. Akinlabi was half-way Bolatito's house when, suddenly, out of nowhere, a wild animal jumped in front of him. "A lioness?" Akinlabi exclaimed! But before he could decide whether to confront the lion or to take to his heels, the lioness pounced on him and overpowered him.

Akinlabi ran as fast as he could to the palace. But while on his way, he heard a shout from a nearby hut. Part of him asked him to keep running but his feet remained stocked to the ground as the shout becomes louder...and scarier! Where is this noise coming from? What is happening? Akinlabi asked himself as he moved closer to the direction from whence the shout comes. As he gets even closer, the shout becomes louder and the voice clearer. "It's a lady...why is she screaming? What's wrong with her?" In a moment of silence and focus, Akinlabi could decipher the voice of the lady, "This is Bolatito's voice for sure." Why's she here? "What's wrong with her?" Like stealth, Akinlabi made his way to the hut, piped through the window and saw two men - Ajani and Malaolu, the notorious rapists of Kilanko Village trying to rape Bolatito! Like a raged bull, Akinlabi jumped in through the window, sized Malaolu through the neck as if he would prise his head off his body with his bare hands while Ajani ran away - not without a stiff struggle with one of Akinlabi's leg. After several minutes of pleading by Bolatito, Akinlabi let go of his hand from Malaolu's neck, almost half dead as he could hardly breathe due to the force of the grip from Akinlabi. Feeling satisfied, Akinlabi left the hut, holding Bolatito by the hand.

"How did you end up here? Thank the gods I got here on time. You would have been messed up by those good-for-nothing rapists."

Like someone who had just been saved from the lion's paw, Bolatito muttered,

"I was in the farm trying to collect some vegetables and tomatoes when, suddenly, those two men sized me from behind and forcefully carried me here. I thank the gods you came in at the nick of time. Those men are evil you know."

"Just be very careful next time." Akinlabi grunted.

After walking her away from the surroundings of the attempted rape on her, Bolatito assured Akinlabi that she can get herself home and thus asked Akinlabi where he was coming from when he heard her scream from the hut.

"I was on my way to the palace." Akinlabi retorted.

"The palace? What is going on? Is everything alright? How is Awele your wife?"

"Careful the amount of questions you ask woman. You're talking to someone's husband you know...and a father too." Akinlabi replied with a glowing face and boastful heart while raising his shoulders so high.

"Oh really? Congratulations! I'm happy for you. How did you fare: a man or a girl?" Bolatito asked expectantly.

"Well, I believed a coup was carried out under my roof because of my wife's pregnancy. The powers that be and - looking sternly at Bolatito - people like you won't allow me have a man for my first child but either ways, I am a happy and a proud father." Akinlabi submitted with a glowing smile written all over his face.

"A girl? The mighty Akinlabi of Kilanko Village could only make a girl? Wonders!"

(Bolatito busted into some derisory laugh much to the anger of Akinlabi).

"If this is what I get from saving you from the claws of rapist few minutes ago then, I shall never help you anymore." Akinlabi exploded while he made his way again to the palace.

"I didn't mean it that way Akinlabi. Please forgive me. It's just that..." (Akinlabi cuts-in)

"It's just like what? Should I throw away my child just because she's girl?"

"No. See, I am really sorry. I shouldn't have said that. Please forgive me. Just to put things right, and, owing to the fact that you just saved me from a horrible scenario, how about your favourite meal with a cold palm wine later tonight in our house? My father just brought some bush meat from his hunting this morning." Bolatito teased.

"Are you serious? You know I don't joke with my favourite meal. Are you sure about this?" Akinlabi inquired.

"Trust me on this one. You only have to confirm your willingness to come." Bolatito confidently replied.

"Alright. As a proof of my willingness to come, take my left hand bead with you. At least this will convince you that I am willing to come."

Akinlabi removed his bead off his left hand and handed it over to Bolatito.

"Are you satisfied now?" He asked.

"Yes, I am satisfied. See you later then."

Akinlabi and Bolatito parted ways as they head towards different direction: Bolatito to her house and Akinlabi to the palace.

As one whose salary was just doubled, Akinlabi ran faster than he did before he was halted by Bolatito's shout earlier. The good news of his wife being delivered of his first child and the delicacies awaiting him at Bolatito's house were the catalyst enhancing his sudden increase in speed. While he ran, Akinlabi reminisced his childhood days in Bolatito's house. After the day's job on the farm, Akinlabi and his father would make their way to Bolatito's house where they will be served, first with a cold fresh water from the clay pot behind the door while Bolatito's mother, Abike, is always busy pounding some yams while Adisa, Bolatito's father, a palm wine tapper, is busy collecting some palm wine from the big calabash in his courtyard. As the men discussed general issues as they await Abike's food, Bolatito and Akinlabi resort to helping out Abike with her cooking. Fresh vegetable (efo tete), snails, dried fish, ponmo, crayfish and some bush meat were some of the items that made up Abike's delicious soup. After much ado, the food was served much to the delight of Akinlabi, whose stomach has been rumbling and rioting as the aroma from the pot filled the air. The men were served together while the children - Bolatito and Akinlabi - ate from same place too. It was a memorable meal that day such that, even after the death of Akinlabi's father, Akinlabi is always fond of visiting Bolatito's house to help himself with the delicacies served. This memory sent a shivering feeling down Akinlabi's spine as he raced to the palace.

The palace of Oba Orimogunje is a spectacular edifice built upon the rocky part of the village. History had it that the palace was built some two hundred years ago, within two months, by some approximately two thousand slaves. There are over a hundred guards within and without the palace, both serving and protecting the Oba. Slaves are also present in their numbers, whose only job is to regularly clean the palace. The slaves are headed by Awelewa, a beauty queen, charged with the responsibility of beautifying the palace from time to time due to the frequent festivities of the Oba. At the first gate of the palace are thirty guards; they are the first to welcome any guest seeking the Oba and also, to defend the Oba in times of any invasion or riot. Forty guards are at the second gate. They serve as a back-up to the guards at the first gate should they need helping hands in times of civil unrest. The rest of the guards are scattered within the palace and around the Oba for maximum protection. The front yard of the palace is surrounded by trees, whose falling leafs are picked by the ever busy guards who are constantly on patrol. The trees play a house to the birds that wake the Oba up every morning with their melodious and coherent sounds - just like in heaven. There are over fifty rooms within the palace, whose walls are decorated with gold. The throne of the Oba was made of pure gold in Iludaade, The Land of Gold, conquered by the first Oba of Kilanko Village, Oba Arogunyo, and the great-grandfather of Oba Orimogunje. Iludaade has thus, since its conquest, become a source of uninterrupted supply of gold to the people of Kilanko Village. At the back of the palace is an artificial pool, constructed from the spring coming out of the mountain on the outskirts of the palace. Over fifty cows are killed on daily basis to cater for the feeding of the Oba and his subjects. The palace is something else at night. Beside every tree are two torch-sticks each, giving illumination to the whole palace - even to the gates. The lights are so bright that you can hardly see your shadow while you move. The experience in the palace is so great that even criminals preferred to serve as slaves in the palace to paying the relatively low fine asked of them.

More updates soon.

A full nine month has passed. Awele, the priced-jewel of Kilanko Village, married to Akinlabi, a renowned farmer and hunter, is expecting her first child. So glorious was the day she was solemnized: kings, chiefs, merchants and the highly influential from far and nearby villages graced the occasion. So much to drink and eat, variety of songs and dancing steps were on parade to make the solemnization one to remember for generations.

Akinlabi, known for his hard-work and relentlessness, has been preparing for this day: he would work on his farm daily alongside some hired labourers (almost eight acres of land in measurement), plant various climate friendly fruit crops and tuber crops and dash straight to the market for sale of his farm produces whenever they are harvested. Akinlabi's farm produces are the most soughted after in Ayegbami Community Market because of their freshness, relatively low prices and his customer friendly gestures. So many a times has these cause various uproars and envy from other farmers but in all, Akinlabi has come out clean and vindicated. To complement his farming know-how, Akinlabi also indulges himself in animal hunting. So skillful and successful was his hunting that, with the aid of his well-positioned traps and ever-ready locally made barrel, on one single hunt, Akinlabi killed three antelopes, two kangaroos and four grasshoppers!

Aside his farming and hunting successes, Akinlabi is a lover of music. Hanging on the wall of his room is an ancient talking drum passed unto him by his father, Akingbola. Akingbola, in his days, was a fantastic and talented drummer. No ceremony would be regarded as fun-packed if Akingbola didn't play. His playing skills didn't go unnoticed by the king of the time, Oba Orimogunje. On one of Orimogunje's festivities, Akingbola played so well that the Oba handed one of his beautiful daughters, Omolabake, to Akingbola to wife. So good was Akingbola with his drumming skills that other neighbouring villages do invite him for child's dedications, house warming, chieftaincy coronation and so on. It was this same drum that Akinlabi also plays whenever there is an occasion - be it far or near.

Awele on her part is a pretty young damsel, full of life and buzzing with excitement. Her hair so black like the back of every compound's cooking pot. Her eyes perfectly set on her skull such that your heart can't but melt if your eyes meet with hers. Her set of teeth is as white as snow and her mammalian glands scream daily for life. She's got the touch of elegance and style, whatever she does becomes the trend among the village girls - her dress, walking steps and her dancing steps. The latter is one thing that made her outshine every other girl, who has successfully imitated her way of life - some for obsession while others purely out of jealousy.

It's an understatement to say that she was the best dancer there is in Kilanko Village. She, despite her tender age, has spearheaded so many dancing groups' competitions with so many trophies and awards as testimony. It was on one of her dancing competitions that Akinlabi saw her...and immediately fell in love, not without stiff competitions though from other famous and wealthy men who were also trying to make their presence known to the jewel. It was Akinlabi's physical appearance and his deep-rich baritone voice however, that got Awele's attention...and affection. Akinlabi is ebony-skinned, tall, massively built, and strong and, surprisingly, humble. It's also a well-known fact that majority of all the young damsels of Kilanko Village wants Akinlabi to be their husband. To go with all these mouth-watering attributes, Akinlabi is everyone's favourite: an exemplary son to the mothers and the favourite of the old fathers of the land. To Awele, Akinlabi is the kind of man every girl should have: a man so hardworking, famous, honourable and humble. And to whet her appetite, Akinlabi would come out every night with his drum, go to Awele's compound and starts praising Awele's beauty. So irresistible was the feeling that Awele would sneak out of her compound to go meet Akinlabi under the blissful moon every night. This continued until they eventually tied the knot, much to the joy and fulfillment of dream to Awele.

Awele was about her normal morning chores when, suddenly, the grip of the baby within becomes unbearable. "I think it is time" was a scream from one of the maids of Awele, who rushed out for to call Mama Eewe, a renowned midwife, known for her expertise at child delivery. In fact, Mama Eewe has become the most trusted midwife in the whole of the land as she'd helped delivered virtually all of Oba Orimogunje's princes and princesses. Quickly, Mama Eewe came along with her apparatus and some maids to help during the child delivery. Like a wild fire, news that Awele is labouring has gotten to Akinlabi, who, uncharacteristically, was hanging out with his friends that day playing aayo olopon. At the point of victory, Akinlabi abandoned his game and dashed home to see his wife give birth to his first child. Soon, Akinlabi's voice was heard thirty meters away from home, screaming with a voice mixed with both joy and uncertainty:

"I'm going to be a father...my wife is labouring...I'm going to be a father."

This shout of excitement attracted hundreds of villagers, who accompanied him home while some carried him shoulder-high singing and dancing in anticipation of the unborn child,

"Baba ikoko kaabo, se daada lo de, a ti n reti re, kaabo."

The villagers continued this melodious symphony until they arrive Akinlabi's Compound, where people were seen anticipating the expectant cry of a baby. The tension was so high that Akinlabi himself lost all wit to fear and despair as all he could see was the never-ending movement of maids from one position to another with various materials with them - some with clothes, others with oil and still others with soaps and water. At this point, various thoughts begin to crawl into his mind. Just last week, Omolara, the wife of Ajadi, Akinlabi's friend, died at child birth, along with the baby. Also, Agbeke, a childhood friend of Awele, also died at child birth, though her baby survived. Aside this child mortality fear, Akinlabi also thought about the amount of money already spent on preparation and invitations. The tragic feeling of losing a baby gripped his heart as Awele's labour lingers still, almost two hours. Little by little, Akinlabi began to think about the girls he would have married instead of Awele: Amope, the daughter of his father's friend - a tall-dark-sizzling damsel who at that time, was every guy's favourite; Adebimpe, the charming daughter of the wealthiest man in Kilanko Village, raised in opulence and splendour, she particularly took special interest in Akinlabi as she often summon him to make grace her occasion whenever there is one and Bolatito, the girl she grew up with. Out these three girls, it was Bolatito that struck much feeling of regret into Akinlabi heart as they lived closely to each other's house while they were younger, would go to the stream together, eat together and would help each other out with home chores. The closeness was so strong that people made a proverb out of them. To assure someone of your presence, just say, "I am as close to you as Bolatito to Akinlabi." To say the least, it was a little bit of surprise and shock when Akinlabi married Awele instead of Bolatito, the whole village thought both Bolatito and Akinlabi were destined to marry each other. "Why didn't I marry Bolatito?" Akinlabi thought within himself. "She would have been a perfect wife since she's been part of my life until the day I married Awele."

Before Akinlabi could give an answer to his question, the cry of a baby, disrupted his long lost thoughts. Like an accuser who had just been discharged and acquitted by the judge, Akinlabi escaped from his captivating thoughts, came back to his senses while his ears, all stretched out, and could hear the cry of a baby. Within a jiffy, the villagers resumed their jubilant dance that was disrupted earlier by the deafening silence they met at Akinlabi's compound. Again Akinlabi was lifted shoulder high as the people resumed their chorus,

"Baba ikoko kaabo, se daada lo de, a ti n reti re, kaabo."

In a lost soliloquy, Akinlabi said, "That's the cry of my baby...I am father...Awele has given birth." The feeling of finally becoming a father erupted in Akinlabi's confused mind, his joy knows no bound. As the villagers moved him closer to the room whence his wife Awele was delivered of her child, tears of joy suddenly filled Akinlabi's eyes, his body shivering and wobbling as he edged closer to the door post. Mama Eewe, sensing Akinlabi's sluggishness, moved closer to him, patted him on his back and led him to where his wife and beautiful daughter were resting. To create a joyful feeling and obviate the silence Akinlabi brought in, Mama Eewe taunt Akinlabi saying, "With all your sheer power and strength, your wife is stronger than you. It's a girl Akinlabi, a very beautiful and adorable baby girl." Suddenly the joy in the room resurrected, Odewale and Ogunmola - close friends of Akinlabi, started singing while the midwife and her maids dance as they watch Akinlabi approach his wife and baby, who was beautifully wrapped in white linen beside her mother.

Not knowing what to say, Akinlabi just knelt beside the bed on which his wife and child were laid. Awele, reading the unspeakable joy on her husband's face broke the silence,

"Akinlabi mi, olowo ori, baale mi, ololufe mi, oko mi."

Akinlabi replied with a cracked voice of neither whispering nor talking loud,

"Awele mi, ayo mi, eni-bi-okan mi, ore mi, adu-maa-dan mi, orekelewa mi, o ku ori-iire ti ojo oni. Wa diiru, wa diigba fun mi: okunrin abiro, obinrin abiye..."

Before Akinlabi could finish his exchange of romantic words with Awele, the baby, sensing she was being left out of the conversation cuts in with a very loud cry that those forty meters away could hear her cry. Quickly, Awele attends to her while Akinlabi - now brimming with joy and excitement - with his friends, went out of the room in the company of the non-stop songs and dancing by the villagers and well-wishers.

Akinlabi, in a friendly gesture, asked the jubilant villagers to bring down their voices as he makes his way into one of other rooms in his compound only to emerge almost immediately with three sacks of monies in his hands; much to the delight of the villagers who increased their voices in praises of Akinlabi while craning their necks for to see what he is going to do with those sacks of monies. Like a triumphant conqueror, Akinlabi opened up the sacks, hoisted them, and flung them in the air and started dancing - along with his friends - ecstatically to the melodious song rendered by the villagers. While he was so engrossed in dancing and merriment, like the strike of a lightning thunder, the need to inform the Oba struck him. Slowly, he began to remove his feet off the pedal of dance he has so immersed himself in, beckoned to his friends, whispered some words and left for the palace.