Episode 15 - Blind Desire

I trailed them to the village square wearing black all through and covering myself with a black cloak.

I stood under a big tree a little distance from the village square. I saw aunt Chime sit together with some women and they were discussing. Papa went to some men and while papa tried to put up a hardened look, their faces were filled with sympathy. What was going on?

A trumpet was heard as our great igwe, Igwe Okala alighted from the big elephant he rode on. A black sleek hummer jeep drove into the village square and Henna’s father, Ifeanyi, Kainene and Henna’s mother, madam Grace, the sauciest woman in the village…her mouth was like a razor and everyone who had an encounter with her actually had an experience to share about how they spent most of the night weeping and thinking of their lives.

Henna’s father – Chief Ekwueme sat beside the igwe as the onowu – next in command while madam Grace sat beside the lolo (Igwe’s wife) who sat under another canopy where the other women sat, including aunt Chime.

Not too long after, some men dressed in black with leaves between their lips trooped into the square.

Then i sighted mama….oh mama..being dragged like a thief..she was naked from head to toe with her hair scraped.

My hands flew to my mouth as my heart pounded furiously against my chest…no! No! Mama hadnt committed adultery…she would never do that. This was all a setup…

I remembered Mama telling us that women who were caught committing adultery were usually stripped naked and dragged to the village square after some days when the council finally decides on the matter.

She lowered her face in shame as women started shouting…throwing insults on her. I saw aunt Chime stand up from her chair and spat on her face.

Mama just lowered her head so i couldnt tell her facial expression….i looked at Henna’s mother and her face was frowned in disgust as she stood up clapping her hands, i heard her screaming ‘akuna kuna ten naira…ashawo hundred kobo…money for hand back for ground…ikpu kobo!’ She clapped in mockery. 

Tears ran down my cheeks…mama had really disappointed me…how and why would she commit adultery? My own mama…the woman whom i looked up to in every aspect of my life…my role model…
No wonder papa took me away from her, i should have thought…in Umueke, whenever a woman is caught committing adultery, her children are immediately taken faraway from her as it is believed that the women possessed their children -especially their daughters with the spirit of adultery and they become prostitutes before and after they get married.

I wondered who the man she committed adultery with was…but my question was soon ordered when uncle Ejike was dragged to the market square.

My hands flew to my mouth…uncle Ejike was papa’s best friend, infact he was the only friend papa ever had. They usually spent hours at the backyard of our house, smoking pipe, drinking palmwine and talking about politics both in the village and in the country as a whole.

Yes…i always noticed the lustful look uncle Ejike always gave mama whenever he was around and mama would always smile at him. How long had their relationship been going on? I wondered.

By this time, the Igwe had ordered for silence and everywhere was silence, the onowu, Henna’s father called papa out and was saying something to papa…i did not hear so i went closer to the market square and mixed with the crowd.

ONOWU – Elder George Maduemezie, look at your wife…

Papa looked at mama as ordered.

ONOWU – Do you think you can ever forgive her for the crime she has committed?

Papa shook his head ‘never!’

The crowd roared and the Onowu had to call for silence again.

ONOWU – You can never forget the evil she has committed and take her back as your wife and mother of your kids? This is your last chance to save her.

PAPA – I will not and can never forgive an adulterous woman like her.

GBAM – The crowd chorused.

It was like everyone was against my mother…no one was trying to support and understand her predicament at all.

ONOWU – You have one last thing to say to her before we carry on with the ritual?

PAPA – Yes (he faced mama) Woman, you are a disgrace and you’ve brought shame into my household…marrying is something i will live to regret for as long as we live. I married you a nonvirgin…but yet i protected you…

The crowd roared in surprise again…even i was surprised.

PAPA – After the nite of our wedding, when i discovered you were not a fresh blood, i killed a coat and sprinkled it on the white cloth given to me by adas of our land…just so you will be saved the shame and humiliation……Chimezie warned me not to marry you but because i truly loved you with all my heart…i didnt listen to her…now see the shame and disgrace you’ve brought upon yourself…despite having covered up your uncleaness and shame…you exposed yourself again by sleeping with my best friend on our matrimonial bed..and i wonder how

And i wonder how long this has been going on…on my matrimonial bed! With my own friend…you’re a disgrace to womanhood and you’re very lucky your children arent here to see the kind of woman they have for a mother.

The crowd roared again..

The venom with which papa spoke exposed so many emotions and feelings he would have tried to hide. He loved mama, yes, it was evident in his voice…but he never showed it to her. He never treated her with love and he seized every opportunity he could to remind her of the favour he did for her by marrying her to save her dying mother and ended up giving her series of beatings sometimes, locking her up in a room.

He never treated mama with love and respect so i actually dont blame her…she was a woman and she had feelings and desires to be loved and cherished for and maybe uncle Ejike was the only one who provided her that love

Tbc