Enugwu Ukwu town in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State could be said to derive its name from its geographical topography. It perches like a bird on top of a big hill, looking down on the earth.
The town is culturally buoyant, even as it has embraced modernity in all ramifications. Consider this: All over Enugwu Ukwu and beyond, pythons are like beautiful brides. They must not be hurt or killed. In fact, it is a taboo to do harm to pythons there. There are dire consequences for hurting the creature.


Daily Sun visited Enugwu Ugwu recently and had an encounter with Pa Francis Anisiobi, from Urunnebo village. He is a traditional doctor and chief priest of the Ngene deity, which owns the pythons.

Explaining why pythons are not killed in Enugwu Ukwu, the chief priest said: “Our forefathers came into the world and saw that pythons were not killed in this area because the pythons belonged to the shrine. And whoever killed it would be enveloped by problems. Whoever kills a python in Umunri as a whole will be required to do certain things to free himself from the disastrous consequences of the act. First, some native doctors will be consulted for divination, and he will be told what to do. He will organise burial rites for the python and bury it at Ajoagwa Arusi. The burial rites include bringing goat and chicken that will be taken to the shrine. After that, if the person is having problems, they will stop.”


What sort of problems could someone who kills a python have? His answer: “If he is a businessman, his business will start dwindling. He is a driver, he will continue to have accidents; he will not die but continue to battle difficulties. There is nothing that the person does that will be progressing. So, if he is conscious enough to make appropriate consultation, the cause of his misfortune will be revealed to him. He will go to the shrine with two native doctors for divination and he will be told what to do so that he can make progress. But where he refuses to do what he was asked to do, he will remain in problems.

It could be that if the person has a child, that child will die. It can affect many children. Maybe at that point, the person will do the needful. Organising burial rites for a python does not stop the offender from going to church or to belong to any society. It has been there since time immemorial, from the time of our forefathers. It is not a recent development.”

Does it mean that the reptiles are harmless? “It does not bite. It can even go and lie with children so that it can experience some heat. Some people will take it out with bare hands, telling it that the children are afraid. If it comes into a house, you just gently take it out. During the rainy season, it usually looks for a warm place. It could enter the kitchen if it is open. It does not bite.

I have not seen or heard about anybody bitten by a python in my village. It does bite anybody in Umunri as a whole. Even if you step on it, it would jump up and continue moving.”

Anisiobi said that it does not matter if the offender is a stranger; the consequences are same. “The person will experience problems. That is why we tell non-indigenes on time that we do not kill pythons. There was someone who unknowingly killed a python while working in his farm. He saw a snake and killed it and brought it out majestically.

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Come to my town ihiala n see how those python stroll around people compound like tourists...

Lalasticlala home town

Good morning beautiful padra, news reaching me is that your village is a safe haven for python and they cohabit with your villagers as if they're lovers. How true is that?

JasonScoolari:
Good morning beautiful padra, news reaching me is that your village is a safe haven for python and they cohabit with your villagers as if they're lovers. How true is that?

that's their culture and that's how it has been for ages

donprincebigt:

that's their culture and that's how it has been for ages

Wow, it seems you know them.

JasonScoolari:
Wow, it seems you know them.

power of research

donprincebigt:
power of research

That's cool Bro, thanks.

JasonScoolari:
Good morning beautiful padra, news reaching me is that your village is a safe haven for python and they cohabit with your villagers as if they're lovers. How true is that?

Good morning dear
Lol.. Please we have no business with python where I am from
How are you?

donprincebigt:

that's their culture and that's how it has been for ages

Who's culture? As if you know where I am from

Padra:

Good morning dear
Lol.. Please we have no business with python where I am from
How are you?

Who knows? Maybe you guys have business with Cobra and black mamba.


Doing great and you?

Padra:
Who's culture? As if you know where I am from

and if you're truly from there. why not shed more light into it. not castigating

JasonScoolari:
Who knows? Maybe you guys have business with Cobra and black mamba.


Doing great and you?

Lol.....I am not from that side

I am good dear

donprincebigt:

and if you're truly from there. why not shed more light into it. not castigating

No dear, I can't shed light on what I don't know it's not what my people do. I am not from that part of Anambra. Don't mind Jason

What an archaic culture.

Other communities have the same culture too.