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God bless all Bekwarra sons and daughters who read

Titile: THE UNJUST USHIE

Chapter Two: The Arrival of King Ugaba.

As the sun rose over the peaceful village of Achiane, excitement filled the air like the scent of freshly baked Ikwan ikpachim. The villagers buzzed with anticipation as rumors spread of the impending arrival of their new ruler, Ushie Ugaba. The last king that died according to the tradition, he was buried exactly after 5 market days. The last king was the last Ushie Awia. These type of kings are very powerful, sincere and truthful to the throne and to the people. They rather die than to take bribe or see black and call it white.

Evil never casted it’s nets in Achiane autonomous village why because the last ushie was a man of his word. Many nicknamed him “Ushie Amia” because there was no ruler like him. Stories were told at the big iroko tree how a certain son came from the west with a charm and the moment he entered the gateway to the land from irifen Ijibor ( a community in Achine village) the charm he was bringing to torment the villagers was rendered powerless. Stories were also told how people from this kingdom would travel out even when accident occurred they will survive it. Their blood were not used for any sacrifice anywhere they are. This was possible because the leader who was to stand in a gap in the realm of the spirit for his people was truthful and sincere.

As the community bubbled with excitement as the funeral of the former king was successful and all rituals completed, the villagers now await a new king. Several rumours however has it that the new king was more of a political appointment from above (state level)and might not undergo the processes involved in crowning a king (awia)in Achiane village.

Now, let's talk about King Ugaba the incoming ushie. Picture this in your mind how he arrived at the coronation square. Ushie Ugaba arrived in Achiane village on a white horse dressed in a royal attire of the people. (A local fabric made of wool thread popularly called Ashoke in the west. A very expensive fabric for royal people wore by the likes of Mansa kanka musa of Mali). The attire with black red and white colours combine has significant meanings to the kingdom. Also with his cap made of Unicorn skin with cowries used in designing the outer part of the cap. He looked very expensive which spread in the minds of all that he was coming to represent himself and not the interest of the masses. Let's just say his majestic entrance was more of a wobbly stumble. His encourage were more of political class than Traditional class of chiefs. His entrance was luxurious and such has never been witnessed before.

As Ushie Ugaba made his grand (albeit slightly unsteady) entrance into the village square, the villagers greeted him with enthusiastic cheers and applause in their language “abuo ushie beshe, Ugaba eni wuo, Ushie ibe’ r’ukwun” meaning “welcome king, man of the people, king come with blessings” in their language.

Children waved homemade banners emblazoned with messages like "Welcome ushie!" and "We Promise Not to Steal Your Crown!" Fight for justice, don’t romance politicians”.

Age grade societies like aten imiki miki, aten Ibaggy, aten Igowon even aten ojiguru were beating their local musical instruments (uneribe, ogurugbo, aju, igbe, ichaka chaka) that produce beautiful melodies as the women all dressed in their uniforms dance the akita dance.

I won’t stop talking about King Ugaba dress to this occasion. Picture this: he was decked out in robes so elaborate they put a peacock's plumage to shame. Feathers, sequins, the whole nine yards. It was like a fashion show meets a medieval jousting tournament. But hey, who needs subtlety when you have a beautiful rich kingdom like Achiane to rule, right?

As Ushie Ugaba addressed the crowd, his booming voice echoed through the village square like a slightly off-key opera singer. He promised prosperity, progress. He promised interventions on dilapidated infrastructures in the kingdom. He promised no infrastructure no votes. Meaning when politicians comes for vote he won’t give his blessings unless he sees developments. He awake another hope on the masses as the society dreams of a prosperous reign to come.

The villagers of Achiane welcomed Ushie Ugaba with open arms, eager to see what changes his reign would bring. They showered him with gifts of freshly baked ikwan, handmade beads, crafted uyaà, local pots, local mats. Everyone was happy and the occasional awkward hug from overly enthusiastic grandmothers, crippled, deaf and dumb.

But little did they know, King Ugaba reign would be anything but ordinary. With his quirky personality (who knows if he was born through quicky). His questionable fashion choices, and penchant for grand entrances, he was sure to shake things up in the sleepy village of Achiane. And so, as the sun set on Ushie Ugaba’s first day in power, the stage was set for a hilariously unpredictable chapter in the history of Achiane village. Let the royal hijinks begin! As you will see in the next chapter.

(If you missed chapter one you can search it with the title on Google and read)

~ Ashiwere Ushie
Fictional Writer

THE UNJUST USHIE OF ACHI’ANE VILLAGE.

By Ushie Ashiwere

Chapter One: The Peaceful Village of Achiane

In the picturesque village of Achiane , nestled amidst rolling hills and lush greenery, peace reigned supreme. The village was a haven of tranquility, where the chirping of birds greeted the dawn and the gentle rustle of leaves whispered secrets to the wind. Achiane in their language means “face see”

The villagers of Achiane lived harmoniously, bound together by a sense of community and camaraderie. Neighbors greeted each other with warm smiles and hearty good morning such as owum’ma? Irite bé, ukulo bè etc. And strangers were welcomed with open arms. The land of Achiane shares boundaries with Utugwang, Tiv and Yala. They are loving and hospitable people who don’t look for trouble. The land of Achiane was so secured that Children played freely in the cobblestone streets, their laughter echoing through the narrow alleyways. Communities inter marry, festivals were held to celebrate bountiful harvest, festivals for choosing of wives for the unwu’ushie and other beautiful celebrations.

At the heart of the village stood a majestic Iroko tree, its branches stretching towards the sky like outstretched arms. Underneath its sprawling canopy, villagers gathered to share stories, swap gossip, and seek solace in each other's company. The women both young and old gather every Uchaga market day to make their hairs using local threads, while some peers who specialises in bead making and cultural fabric meet at the big iroko tree every ugbada. Don’t forget that gossip was another important fabric of discus most times but the gossips were for good. Elders known as ikum udiara also gather there secretly at night. Sacred activities that take place there when elders of the community gather is unusual with what the villagers see in the day. The Iroko tree was more than just a gathering place; it was a symbol of unity and strength, rooted deep in the history and traditions of Achiane autonomous village.

Life in Achiane was simple yet fulfilling. The villagers tended to their crops and tended to their livestock, their days filled with the rhythm of rural life. From the bustling marketplace to the tranquil fields, to the popular Aya river located at every corner of the village, there was a sense of contentment that permeated every corner of the village. It was loving and peaceful.

As the sun dipped below the horizon and painted the sky with hues of orange and pink, the villagers gathered in their humble cottages to share meals with loved ones. husband and the wife eating together, all the kids eating Swallow with Ufia anangkere soup together. The aroma of freshly made ufia anangkere mixed with bitterleaf wafted through the air, mingling with the sounds of laughter and conversation within. As they eat the father narrate folktales to them on how Achiane village fought and defeated The Tiv during irikoó war.

In Achiane, time seemed to stand still, and worries melted away like snowflakes in the springtime sun. It was a place where troubles were few and joys were many, a sanctuary from the chaos of the outside world. Very contended and appreciate all they have got from nature.

But little did the villagers know, their peaceful existence was about to be disrupted by the arrival of a new king. A ruler whose reign would test their bonds of friendship and challenge their notions of justice and fairness. As the sun set on another tranquil day in Achiane village, the stage was set for the unfolding drama that would grip the village and its inhabitants in the chapters to come.

(Modern realities in Ebua Agba land)

By ushie Ashiwere
Historian

HOW I OVERCOME STAMMERING: My True life Story

This is a true life story of myself that I hardly share but decided to make it public today to encourage you that no matter your condition there must be a way especially when you are surrounded by brothers and sisters that are positive.

I was born in Bekwarra to the family of Mr and Mrs Onyi Godwin Ushie. Am the fourth child in the family of eight (. My parents had to relocate to a place called Chanchanji I think currently in present day Taraba state. Even as a child I remembered that when we are entering Chanchanji there is a bridge made of Iron with a deep river below . These are memories I still remember even when I was 4years old. No wonder I was named Ashiwere.

In Chanchanji, we were only five (5) born into the family then with (3) men ahead of me and a younger sister called Hajia. So I was literary surrounded by battalions of soldiers.

It will interest you to know that I was a very Chronic stammerer . It was so severe that if I must talk I will have to either hit my foots so hard on the ground to enable free flow of speech from my mouth. If I don’t use my leg, I will use my hand to hit my self so hard before I can speak. It was indeed very severe. I was even named pastor because at that early stage I love preaching, I will gather my peers and be singing and mimicking men of God at that early stage. As a stammerer, it became more beautiful because many were not coming to listen to me but to laugh as the way I speak.

How did God intervened? Yes God did intervened by using my very brothers to stop me from my chronic stammering. My elder brother and my immediate elder brother were the tools God used. I never knew as I stammer they do take notice of me and were able to dictate where the problem was coming from. They noticed I hit my legs and my hand to enable me speak. So what they had to do will shock all of you.

Anytime they want me to speak, they will call me and ask me to say something maybe I will be asked to pronounced a word like “sugar” then I will start but would hit my foots to enable me pronounce the word. in the process of trying to hit my foot, one of my brother will press the foots to the ground, then I will be left with my hand to hit on my body. In the process of doing that, my other brother again will press down my two hands. Then I will start shaking my head to pronounce or say something then one will press my head to stay still. When all this is done I will now speak and flow well without me hitting myself or struggling to speak.

This continued for sometime until I overcome my chronic stammering of hitting my foot, legs, head before I can speak.

God is indeed merciful. Many of us have kids with this features but refuse to see beyond and conclude that all hope is lost. Stammering is a manipulation from the pit of hell. If only I was allowed to pass that early stage I would have become a very chronic stammerer for the rest of my life.

You can do it. Stammering are manipulation to stop people God has destined to be voice to the voiceless and voice to the vulnerable and I am seeing the evidence in my life today.

Ashiwere

THE COMPETITION BETWEEN UKPAH AND GAKEM COMMUNITY.

A drinking competition was organized between Ukpah and Gakem Community in Bekwarra Cross River State. The Ukpah community organized the drinking competition popularly known as "ipia Ebetuo".

So the Gakem people send a delegate to Ukpah who belongs to the Ajiguru age grade to go and confirm if the drinking competition will still hold.

When Aten Ajiguru from Gakem arrived Ukpah, the people of Ukpah brought 25 litres of the strongest drink in the community mixed with foreign gins and gave to the delegate as a kola.

The aten Ajiguru that was send from Gakem asked them " Can I test it"?
The Ukpah people said yes!! You can go ahead.

The Gakem delegate drank and finished the whole 25litres (1jar) of the strongest wine and said " This is okay, so where is the main drink"?

The people of Ukpah community became scared and shouted in Bekwarra language mafo mafo mafo. They asked him. "Are you among the competitors?

The delegate from Gakem nod his head and said " Noooo!! I did not qualify ".

The People of Ukpah community had to call off the competition immediately.

Modified by
USHIE SUNDAY A.

HOW COCA COLA (COKE) WAS INTRODUCED TO UKPAH IN BEKWARRA.

BY USHIE SUNDAY A. (Fiction)

Ukpah is one among the most populous ward in Bekwarra Local Government Area of Cross River State. The people are known for her good palm wine, good looking men and beautiful ladies and their quest for education.

However, the popular coca cola how it was introduced to Ukpah remain a magadamious stories.

"A beautiful Ukpah lady went to the river to fetch water and she saw this attractive looking coca cola at the bank of the river. At first she was afraid to touch it because it was glowing and shining like Ukpana (gold) she looked for a dry stick and touched it to be sure she won't disappear. Then she took it and put in her calabash and returned home happily without fetching water.

When she got home, she first showed it to her husband. The husband saw it and streamed that night shouting " Mbiri eeh mbiri eeh" Meaning abomination abomination. He ran out and called all the family within his kindred to come and see what the wife has done.

That evening the compound was silent as everyone was steering at the bottle of coca cola in the middle of them. They were amazed and terrified while others were happy. Some were contemplating what might be inside the bottle while some Said what is inside is a water of life and anyone who touches it or drink from it will never die.

As they think wide, one of the elder said he thinks this was a gift from their gods, while another elder by name Idang said this is a crop from the soil and another elder by name Okachi said this is a food from the sea.

Finally they asked the woman where she got it from she said from the bank of the river. One of the elder said in his language "mkang nang" Meaning I said it nodding his head filled with grey hairs.

The kindred finally agreed that since this is what this woman has brought upon them, she has to drink it to know if it's really what they think. As others refused she shouldn't drink the strange thing, the oldest elder finally gave his verdict that she should be forced to drink it or she would be punished.

The woman opened the drink after trying for several hours finally it was open and she used calabash (ikpete) to fetch it to drink. As she was about to drink it, her family and husband were crying and singing farewell songs as they thought she was going to die.

This was the song "Udimiyi ye tantan
- Ye' tantan ye tantan
- Abere eba na' ebene fuo
(go well my friend go well we shall meet again)

She drank it, brought down the calabash and smile, she drank again and did same and smile.. She said in her language "iyin kin' meaning is very sweet. When she called the husband to taste it he was still afraid but after he did he said " Ebetuo enibuo eheee!!! Meaning foreign drink!! That night the community celebrate this woman for being the first to introduce foreign drink to their community.

The following day the community donate money and took the family on a horse to a popular town called Abouchiche for them to take studio pictures showing the world what the gods has done.

Thank you very much.

I remain
USHIE SUNDAY A.