CHAPTER ONE
DAUDU AND SERFA IN THE FARM
Wonders never cease! How did you do it? When did you come to the farm? Darkness has just disappeared ushering in the day and you farm this much. I must be dreaming! But if I am not, then you are a magician!
While he expresses surprise, Daudu was quiet and busy farming. When he discovered that Daudu had no interest in his conversation, he joined him in the farm. The two brothers went on, and on tilling the soil and forming well-structured ridges. While they were in they were in the process, they sang songs in their native language; everyone sang songs that pleased him.
Though, Daudu formed two halves at a time, he still moved faster than Serfa, his younger brother. At about 10:00am, they successfully completed four hectares of land which from a view looked like a corrugated iron sheet.
As the sun opens its arms to hug the earth, the two brothers were seated right under the mango tree in the arms of the fresh air and shed the mango tree provided. They would have continued farming but were invited by their mother; Mama Kuma, to eat before they continued. They were served with cooked yam with groundnut oil in calabashes. Before they ate, they washed their hands and also prayed to the gods to bless the food. “Aondo u abaver jua; Aondo u iyough kough, Aondo u icherge igber ha iveren sha kwagh yan wese.”
While they ate, they invited the passers-by. It was uncultured for the Tiv people to eat without inviting people to join them. They ate competitively till Daudu subsequently kept some pieces for Serfa. The moment Daudu was through with eating, Serfa shifted the calabashes to his own side and continued eating. Even though Serfa was thirsty, he waited until Daudu had taken some sip before he drank from the calabash. It was wrong for the young ones to drink first from the same cup before their elders, so he was satisfied that at least he did not allow his thirst to break this tradition.
When Serfa was through with the eating, they took about thirty minutes for rest and prepared to go back to the farm. As he was about to proceed to the farm, he hit the cutlass in his right hand on the mango tree leaving it wounded. Daudu who watched the scene in agony scolded him.
‘Why did you wound that tree? You are very ungrateful. You just hurt the same tree that provided a warm shade for you. How would you have felt if someone did that to you? Is it because trees don’t cry? I will beat you up if you try that nonsense next time.’
They planned farming more ridges than before but the scourging sun made the plans futile. They were compelled to leave the farm at noon.
Daudu Holds an Intimate Conversation with his Father
“Baba, why do you love having discussions with me in an open space?” asked Daudu.
“Walls have ears. You do not hold secret discussions within the confines of a building, there may be a spy listening to your discussions,” Baba replied.
As the conversation went on and on, Daudu requested to know why women were prohibited from eating eggs, and Baba turned from side to side and around him to make sure there was no female around them. In a slow but comprehensive voice Baba whispered to his son.
“Chickens lay eggs in the kitchen and women are the closest set of people to the chickens, and if you allow them to eat eggs, they will finish everything.”
Daudu who was anxious to hear his father answer him humorously told his father that he was shocked to death when his sister resisted temptation to go near eggs adding that she didn’t want to be barren. They two laughed for a few seconds before normalcy was restored.
Again, Daudu sought to know if the Imborvungu existed in real life or fantasy. Baba wouldn’t let the question lost in the air so he answered him again in a lower voice.
“The Imborvungu is real but cannot be seen by every mortal. That is why you can at any time open my box without you sighting it until I have opened your eyes to see in the spirit realm.”
Even though Daudu was not convinced with all that his father told him, he reluctantly nodded his head with satisfaction.
Daudu Attends a Night Meeting with his Father
Just at about 3:00am, Baba appeared at his usual place in his Ate. On his stern face, a smile of satisfaction of satisfaction suddenly appeared leaving a fine dimple. Then, he dipped his right hand in his native hand bag and brought out a small human-like figure, made some incantations and dropped it on the ground. Behold, the human-like figure suddenly metamorphosed into a complete human. It was the giant youthful looking Daudu that was magically changed into a small figure to be carried in a bag.
When the transfiguration was over, the curious Daudu sought to know why he never heard anyone’s name mentioned but rather names of diseases.
The father gently replied with all sense of willingness.
“It is only in the physical realm that we have names familiar to your understanding. Whenever we hold our meetings in the night we are named after diseases.”
Daudu asked again “Does it really make any sense being called by the name of a disease?”
“It certainly does. That was the main reason I sneaked with you to our like-minded meeting. If tomorrow I answer the inevitable call and you are sick, you will know who exactly is responsible for your predicament. After the kinsmen must have spoken about your ill health condition, and have agreed that you be healed; tell the person responsible for your sickness again what the kinsmen said and he will quickly free you from the sickness because you know his secret.” Baba replied.
The mbatsav cult held their meetings at the old hours of the day. Night meetings in Tiv land was a vital part of the culture. Serious matters concerning the village were discussed. They decided when somebody was worthy to die or live. The meeting was composed of only superhuman. It was never a group of ordinary people.
While Baba exposed these secrets to him, Daudu sat quietly listening like the audience to a thrilling performance. All that his father told him created a frightful atmosphere and images for him at that period and in his dreams when he finally slept.
Daudu Disappears
After a market day had gone by, in the early hours of the first day of the week, Daudu was nowhere to be found. On that cloudy morning when the dews were still in control of the sky, Daudu had met his father who was seated in a wooden chair with a chewing stick in his mouth, observing the rising of the sun from the east twice to know if he had called him but his father denied calling him. When he was back again the third time, it rang in Baba’s head that it could be adzov that called his son. Then he warned him never to either answer or obey their instructions.
His father’s warning fell into the abyss of futility when he heard another call. He suddenly became like a possessed fellow; walked like a mad man and ran like a cheetah. Before Baba could know what was going on, Daudu was a few kilometers away from his compound. He rushed after him like a dog to a rat with a loud shouting and asking for help. The youths who heard Baba’s voice quickly ran after Daudu. Those who were in front lacked the stamina to stop him as he could even knock down a tree at that point. Even though Baba used his magical powers to stop him, it proved abortive as the adzov in operation were more powerful than him.
When he got to the marsh where a rock was, Daudu stood confused facing the small hole under the rock. Those who were after him thought he had come to a full stop. He saw a group of people in the hole commanding him to join them. As he went nearer to the rock, he heard voices warmly welcoming him.
“You are welcome our beloved one. Fear not, you are in the right place.”
“Where are you taking me to?” Daudu asked.
I am sending you to rescue your people from chains in the spirit world. But before you get there you must pass through Torchi kingdom. You will go through a lot of pains and struggles on your way to Mede kingdom, your place of assignment. Do not give up under any circumstance. We will always be there for you.”
To everyone’s amazement, the giant Daudu entered a crab’s hole and disappeared from their sight.
When cries occupied the atmosphere, a frightening voice spoke through the rock which kept the ground vibrating like an earthquake.
“Cry not! Why should you cry when a prophecy has taken effect? He is a Savior. He has been called upon to save his people in the spirit world. And as soon as he finishes, he shall be back again, he shall be back! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! He shall be back! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!”
Then, the voice was no more and the atmosphere married a silent mood. Those who were present at the incident left the place sadly and told the news to every ear that wanted to hear.
