The Untold Might of Akwai Deity (A Flash Fiction) By Izunna Okafor)

It was incredible as we, the villagers watched Obummuo the Chief priest set the Holy Book ablaze. Nobody knew Akwai deity could be such powerful. Although, history told great of his deeds.

"But Fr. Edeh should've waited for the outcome and the resolution of the Ndichie's meeting, having been told often that the Agbo Akwai originally belonged to Akwai; and every historical mind in Umuezeala knew this," these I reasoned aloud, forming a tattle clique.

I could still recall grandpa once said Umuezeala gave the missionaries the land to build church, because the God in whose name they ab initio arrived proved to be more powerful than Akwai, as they cured and delivered all who Akwai bounded, and also undertook the highest adventure no living or dead had dare taken in Umuezeala, by wading into Awkai shrine, clearing and burning the dreaded Agbo Akwai, and building church thereon.

"If it were when Fr. Bona was here, this wouldn't have ended this way; because he didn't mess around with young girls and Holy Sisters like Fr . Edeh," Nwakaego opined shrouding at the duel.

"Nne ehh, this really shocked me. Didn't I tell you the man was becoming emptier, and his anointing bidding farewell, from that day he started acting like Bingo?" another villager, Iloak? rhetorically asked, drawing closer.

"You must have noticed that he cannot call down anointing anymore during crusade, having messed his prayerful strength with our girls on that foam Chief Ezulu donated," he added, kidnapping other listeners' attentions.

Fr. Edeh was defeated by Obummuo, the Chief Priest of Akwai deity in a dramatic power conquest which ensued after his series of attempt to explore further into land which hitherto belonged to Akwai. The land, Agbo Akwai, had no clear boundary with another sylvan land belonging to Obummuo, who Fr. Edeh had always threatened to publicly disgrace, curse or kill with God's name and power. 

In the oral history, Grandpa also told me that Akwai shrine, a thatchy mud house at the center of the Agbo Akwai forest was demolished to powder by the missionaries, led by Fr. Bonachristus, as sanctioned by the Igwe and Ndichie. However, he confidentially revealed that prior to the destruction, Obummuo and few others heathens conspired and smuggled out the real Akwa? symbol called Okika — a mannequin-like carved wood with an arcane ornamental staff in his hand. The arcane staff, according to him, had seven fingers, which represented the seven villages of ?m?ezeala. These were hidden at Obummuo's house.

"Let's first hurry to Igwe's palace and catch up with the latest, as they must have started judgement by now," This I said, increasing my pace, while they followed.

"I said it initially that Christianity is a scam, but our forefathers never listened," Iweka, a highly dreaded diabolic villager said.

Gazing antipodally into Igwe Omenka's eye balls, he questioned:
"How can he prove he's a man of God, when he's screwing unremorsefully with our sackless girls, committing all forms of sacrileges and taboos, throwing people's respect and title to dog, condemning our culture and traditions, and more ruefully, dragging people's land with them; a stranger for the matter!"

"Doesn't his God have principles, or respect humanity, Igwe?" 
 
"This man must be shown the way out of this land, because we're tired of this foreign religion that does no good to us than serving as asylum for men to perpetrate evil. Anyi ga-abuzi okenye no n'ulo ma ewu amuo n'ogbu, Igwe?" Ezeanyika added, at the well-attended gathering.

Some itinerant villagers also alleged seeing Fr. Edeh over times in a far away land tiptoeing to Okwu Shrine, from where they suspected he usually brought the magic water he used for miracles in those early days when his manhood was still holy. 

After sifting the notions and reactions of the people and Ndichie, the newly coronated Igwe Omenka publicly pronounced ostracism on Fr. Edeh and a consummate and indefinite ban on church activities. He re-introduced idolatry as the sole religious practice in Umuezeala, with Akwai, as the supreme deity.
 
Next morning, we all hastened to markets for white cocks, in response to Obummuos declaration that land cleansing and appeasement ritual would be performed in the next Nkwor market day.

"So this is how we've gone back again to this idolatry that cost the life of my only sister, when ten virgins were needed for sacrifice?" I cried out, remembering my only sister, Uju.

"Yes? who's that?" I muttered out, as I sobbingly woke up, having ignored several knocks earlier.

Lo and behold, it was Fr. Edeh. He had come to wake me for the Morning Mass. The congregation was already seated, while a Mass Server hurried straight to the tower to ring the last bell.

Actually I was the church's Chatechcist, and Fr. Edeh, the  Parish Priest I work under. 
It was all but a mere dream.

 

About the Author:

Izunna Okafor is a Nigerian novelist, poet, journalist, essayist, publicist, administrator and an Igbo Language Activist who hails from Ebenator in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
He writes both in Igbo and English Languages, and has published enormously in both languages.

Izunna, a graduate of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, has won over 25 literary and journalism awards, has some published books to his credit, in addition to hundreds of online publications, which cut across Journalism and Creative Writing.

Invite your friends to come and read this story >>
Comments motivate writers to write more. Please kindly drop one

Latest African Short Stories ↓

See All Short Stories →

African Story Community

EbonyStory.com is the best place to read and share fresh interesting African stories online. Starting from Romance stories, Adventure stories, Action stories, Spiritual stories, Horror stories and many more. All our stories are free and no signup required to start reading. We have wonderful writers that are ever ready to give you the latest interesting stories with moral lessons to keep you smiling all day.

The quality of our stories together with the simplicity of our platform makes us one of the best in Africa. Our stories are written inform of Story Book ( Novels ), Short Story and Poem

You can subscribe for our story update via: Facebook, Whatsapp, Twitter, Instagram

If you have any complain email [email protected] or call +2349021037057