Category: IKENGA

IKENGA
Ikenga- Episode 11

Theme: (The Demon I Saw)

By Praise Chidera Obiora 

I stood up when I saw a woman who was bent towards the floor, limping in my direction with a long
brown stick held in her hands. From the distance, I could see that she was clad in a blue wrapper
which was wrapped around her chest. Her long white hair was uncovered. I could see the gray
hairs on her head which looked like that of the white rabbit.
She limped towards me just the way grandmother limped. Her left hand was folded behind her,
just the same way grand mother folds her hands when ever she walked.
“Ikenga. Do not give her the bitter kola. That is not me.” She spoke with a shaking voice.
I turned towards the naked old woman who was laying on the floor in a pull of blood. The same
woman I had also thought to be my grandmother. She was staring at me with so much concern on her face. I was confused. I was standing in between two grandmothers that looked very much
alike. They looked exactly like twin sisters.
“What is happening here? Who are you? Tell me.” I shouted at the old woman clad in cloths.
“Ikenga who did this to you? What trouble have you gotten yourself into. Who has wounded you
this way? Why do you hold a shield and a sword Ikenga?”
The old woman who looked rather concerned about my wounds, approached with her hands wide
opened.
“Halt. Stop. Do not come any further. Who are you?” I thundered loudly.
“Ikenga, are you so blind that you cannot recognize your own grand mother? When you left the
house this morning, I was worried. I saw you sneak out of the house like a thief. I had to follow you
behind. But you walked faster than me and I could not keep up.”
“I returned back home and waited for you to return. But I did not see you. I asked the little children
to go in search of you but everyone of them returned carrying a tired face and the same news.”
“When it was noon, I cooked us Yam and oil and waited for you to return. When I did not see you,
I became worried and came out in search of my grandson.”
“Ikenga, I have searched so many houses. I have visited so many farmlands. I have searched so
many bushes and called out your name a thousand times.
“While I walked pass this bush, thick darkness fell upon the village suddenly. I heard the thunder
strike. and then I heard a strange voice that spoke. The gods must be angry, Ikenga.
“I was still standing at the bush when the gods made me to hear and recognize your voice from
this bush. You were shouting like an angry man. Ikenga what are you doing here? Who is that
woman that lay wounded beside you? Who has wounded you this way?” She asked in confusion.
“Kill her Ikenga. Kill her. She is not your grand mother, I am your grandmother.” The old woman on
the floor spoke and coughed. She lifted her hands to nurse the wounds on her neck, and coughed
again.
I turned angrily towards the old woman clad in cloths and spoke authoritatively.
“Prove to me you are my grand mother. Show me or I shall slay your throat. Or are you another
demon sent to me?” I screamed with my sword pointed directly at her face.
“Ikenga. When everyone abandoned you in the rain that fell at noon, I picked you up. When
everyone thought of killing you, I saved your life. I have fed with my own breast milk to keep you
alive. I have raised you like my own child. I sacrificed everything to see you happy.”
“Ikenga, when the cold came at night I was there to cover you with my cloth. When danger struck
at night and you screamed and cried out, I was there to shield you from it. When your belly
groaned in hunger, I sacrificed my food for you, and ate bitter kola instead.”
“On your behalf Ikenga, I fought the wolf that chased you at night. I wounded my right leg in the
process, and now I limp for the rest of my life. I fought a fight that you got yourself into as a result
of your own stubbornness.”
“Ikenga, I have given you everything that a mother will give a child. I have made you the man that
you are now. You are no longer a child. You are now eighteen years old. You are now strong,
wise, and bold. But today you lift your sword and shield upon my face?” She pointed her left hands
in my direction.
She stopped and shook her head. This was definitely grand mother. Her words had touched my
heart and pierced my soul. I knelt down on my knees and called out in a soft whisper.
“Grandmother…..”
Grand mother limped towards me and held me by my shoulders. She pulled me close to her – the
exact way she had always done when I cried. She touched the blood on my face and felt the
wounds on my neck with her hands.
“Grand mother I have disobeyed your instructions and eaten from the Igbuala mangoes. Now I see
demons – the same demons Ijeoma had seen. I Have fought six demons and the seventh one
stands behind you with seven whips of fire.”
“Where is the seventh demon Ikenga?”
“Grand mother, you have not eaten the Igbuala mangoes, so you cannot see it. I only can see
them. It stands behind you.”
Grandmother dropped her walking stick and knelt down in front of me. She bent my head towards
her shoulders and robbed my back.
“Grandmother, I killed a demon and it changed into you. That is the demon over there.” I pointed.
I turned with my eyes but could no longer see the wounded naked old woman that had taken the
face of grandmother. I let go of grandmother and crawled towards the spot she had laid down. I was stunned when I discovered that the blood on the floor where she had laid on, had
disappeared along with her.
When I turned back to look at grandmother, I saw the sixth demon with ten giant eyes, and legs
like the tail of a fish, and hands like the fins of a shark. It was the same demon that had
disappeared when I had killed the fifth demon. It was definitely the same demon that had turned
into grandmother to deceive me.
“Grandmother, run!” I screamed in terror.
To be continued…

IKENGA
Ikenga- Episode 5

Theme: (The Demon I Saw)

By Praise Chidera Obiora 


A flash of lightning followed almost immediately, causing thick darkness. The eyes of the tiny
scorpions flashed like lighted touches running in my direction. I turned and ran as fast as I could. I
searched with my eyes for the nearest tree I could climb. I turned to my left and sighted the Kola
nut tree I had passed earlier on. My only hope of survival depended on that tree. It was the only
hiding place I had.
Six tiny scorpions which had successfully climbed my cloths, landed random stings on my back
and ears. I shouted in terror and winced in great pain. With my hands, I dusted them off my cloths
and increased my steps faster towards the Kola nut tree.
I was running and panting in great fear. I ran like a man chased by ten lions. The fearful sight of
the scorpions had increased my adrenaline. My legs quickened as I ran like a horse.
Little had I gotten to the tree when I lifted my legs and jumped like an aragutan on one of the
branches of Kola nut tree.
The branch I had stepped foot on, made a creaking sound. I grabbed on to another which was
above my head and held on to it. I watched from above as the tiny scorpions lifted their tails and
clasped their hungry claws in disappointment.
I felt their rage. The creaking sound from their incessant clasping of their claws, sounded like the
raining of Ice blocks on a metal zinc. I used the palm of my hands to close my both ears as the
noice became louder. I tried to find a perfect branch to place my both legs, while I kept a stern eye
on the hungry creatures.
With the way I stared at them, it felt to me like I could see every single one of them. They didn’t
make an attempt to climb the tree. I really did not know if they could even climb the tree.
It felt like the gathering of soldiers. They had surrounded the whole tree and made the floor look
like a carpet of scorpions.
I heaved a sigh and sat down on one of the thick branches. Immediately, I remembered the tree
with the seven headed snakes. I remembered how it had slowly turned soft while I leaned on it. I
used my hands to feel the kola nut tree just to make sure it was still hard and was not turning into
yet another snake.
In my heart, I silently prayed that the tree remained as it were. I prayed that it was just an ordinary
kolanut tree, and not another trap set by the gods.
“Let all this be a dream. Let me be dreaming.” I prayed as I looked down at the creatures.
I lifted my eyes to find the biggest of them all- it was the first tiny scorpion I had seen- the very
first scorpion that had grown into a giant scorpion.
It seemed to have been the mother of all the other tiny scorpions that surrounded the tree. This
creature was two times bigger than the kolanut tree l was resting on.
My fear arose again. I watched keenly as it approached slowly. It looked like one which was not in
a hurry to hunt me. It walked like a king and didn’t run like the rest of the other scorpions.
Aside the red set of tongue in the claws of this creature, I saw the tail erupt with hot fire that shined
from the distance. It had horns which was planted at its jaws like an elephant. I saw its its eyes shine brighter than the tiny scorpions. It approached the tree and stood still. I noticed its ten giant
legs stand firm like that of an iroko tree.
It sniffed with its nose like a woman who had received red roses from her husband. I felt its breath
blow the leaves of the kolanut tree. The creature sneezed and the tiny scorpions scampered
behind it in fear. The tree bent backwards and my hands slipped of the branch I was holding on to.
I screamed and quickly grabbed on to another branch. This time, I held it tightly with my both
hands. The giant scorpion sneezed a second time causing the tree to curve backwards once
more.
Just like an explosion of gunpowder, a loud sound reverbrated in my ears. I turned towards the
creature to find its body crashed to the floor, with its ten legs widely spread open. The creature
seemed to have fallen asleep or probably collapsed.
Its fall raised dust which filled the air like smoke. The clouds covering the bright sun melted, giving
way to the bright sun. The thick darkeness disappeared instantly. The sun flashed its light upon
my face. The tiny scorpions had mysteriously disappeared with the dust.
I watched with my both eyes as the fire from the tail of the giant scorpion, spread and consumed
its own body. The giant scorpion turned into ashes and was blown away into thin air.
I jumped down from the Kola nut tree happily. On the floor, I could see kolanuts which had fallen
down from the tree during the giant sneeze of the creature. I bent down and picked just a single
piece of Kolanut.
“You must be a lucky child. You are very lucky to have escaped the Second demon sent to you.”
Amara voice echoed in my ears.
I quickly buried the kolanuts in my pockets and turned in search of her.
“Where are you? Why can’t I see your face any more? Why are you hiding from me?” I asked.
Amara let out a great laugh.
“Ikengaaa… Only those who eat the sweet red Igbuala mango are capable of seeing what the
gods see. The powers from the Igbuala mangoes are fading off from your eyes Ikenga.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“You threw away your mangoes Ikenga. Without the red Igbuala mangoes, you will not be able to
see me. And that means you will not be able to see the five demons that await you. Poor Ikenga,
you shall die a miserable death now.”
“But my grandmother never mentioned anything about the powers from the Igbula mangoes fading
off. Why did mine fade off. Why didn’t Ijeoma eyes not fade off when she ate hers.”
“You mean the god mother of beauty?”
“Yes.”
“My mother Ijeoma had been feeding on the red Igbuala mangoes for a very long time Ikenga. She
slowly metamorphosed into a god after consuming so many red Igbuala mangoes in nine months.”
“In your own case, this is the first time of you eating the Igbuala mangoes. You shall only be able
to see two set of demons per mango.”
I quickly thought about the three red Igbuala mangoes I had thrown in the bush. I calculated
carefully. The three red Igbuala mangoes were enough for me to see the five demons that awaited
me.
Ijeoma was right. Without the red Igbuala mangoes, I stood no chance. I was going to look like a
blind warrior going to war with men who can see clearly with both eyes. I was actually going to die
a miserable death.
I quickly turned and ran back. I was heading for the three mangoes. I was heading back to pick the
only thing that guaranteed my spiritual eyes to see the demons.
As I ran fast like a wounded lion, I prayed fervently in my heart that the mangoes were still going to
be there by the time I arrive.
To be continued….

IKENGA
Ikenga- Episode 5

Theme: (The Demon I Saw)

By Praise Chidera Obiora 


A flash of lightning followed almost immediately, causing thick darkness. The eyes of the tiny
scorpions flashed like lighted touches running in my direction. I turned and ran as fast as I could. I
searched with my eyes for the nearest tree I could climb. I turned to my left and sighted the Kola
nut tree I had passed earlier on. My only hope of survival depended on that tree. It was the only
hiding place I had.
Six tiny scorpions which had successfully climbed my cloths, landed random stings on my back
and ears. I shouted in terror and winced in great pain. With my hands, I dusted them off my cloths
and increased my steps faster towards the Kola nut tree.
I was running and panting in great fear. I ran like a man chased by ten lions. The fearful sight of
the scorpions had increased my adrenaline. My legs quickened as I ran like a horse.
Little had I gotten to the tree when I lifted my legs and jumped like an aragutan on one of the
branches of Kola nut tree.
The branch I had stepped foot on, made a creaking sound. I grabbed on to another which was
above my head and held on to it. I watched from above as the tiny scorpions lifted their tails and
clasped their hungry claws in disappointment.
I felt their rage. The creaking sound from their incessant clasping of their claws, sounded like the
raining of Ice blocks on a metal zinc. I used the palm of my hands to close my both ears as the
noice became louder. I tried to find a perfect branch to place my both legs, while I kept a stern eye
on the hungry creatures.
With the way I stared at them, it felt to me like I could see every single one of them. They didn’t
make an attempt to climb the tree. I really did not know if they could even climb the tree.
It felt like the gathering of soldiers. They had surrounded the whole tree and made the floor look
like a carpet of scorpions.
I heaved a sigh and sat down on one of the thick branches. Immediately, I remembered the tree
with the seven headed snakes. I remembered how it had slowly turned soft while I leaned on it. I
used my hands to feel the kola nut tree just to make sure it was still hard and was not turning into
yet another snake.
In my heart, I silently prayed that the tree remained as it were. I prayed that it was just an ordinary
kolanut tree, and not another trap set by the gods.
“Let all this be a dream. Let me be dreaming.” I prayed as I looked down at the creatures.
I lifted my eyes to find the biggest of them all- it was the first tiny scorpion I had seen- the very
first scorpion that had grown into a giant scorpion.
It seemed to have been the mother of all the other tiny scorpions that surrounded the tree. This
creature was two times bigger than the kolanut tree l was resting on.
My fear arose again. I watched keenly as it approached slowly. It looked like one which was not in
a hurry to hunt me. It walked like a king and didn’t run like the rest of the other scorpions.
Aside the red set of tongue in the claws of this creature, I saw the tail erupt with hot fire that shined
from the distance. It had horns which was planted at its jaws like an elephant. I saw its its eyes shine brighter than the tiny scorpions. It approached the tree and stood still. I noticed its ten giant
legs stand firm like that of an iroko tree.
It sniffed with its nose like a woman who had received red roses from her husband. I felt its breath
blow the leaves of the kolanut tree. The creature sneezed and the tiny scorpions scampered
behind it in fear. The tree bent backwards and my hands slipped of the branch I was holding on to.
I screamed and quickly grabbed on to another branch. This time, I held it tightly with my both
hands. The giant scorpion sneezed a second time causing the tree to curve backwards once
more.
Just like an explosion of gunpowder, a loud sound reverbrated in my ears. I turned towards the
creature to find its body crashed to the floor, with its ten legs widely spread open. The creature
seemed to have fallen asleep or probably collapsed.
Its fall raised dust which filled the air like smoke. The clouds covering the bright sun melted, giving
way to the bright sun. The thick darkeness disappeared instantly. The sun flashed its light upon
my face. The tiny scorpions had mysteriously disappeared with the dust.
I watched with my both eyes as the fire from the tail of the giant scorpion, spread and consumed
its own body. The giant scorpion turned into ashes and was blown away into thin air.
I jumped down from the Kola nut tree happily. On the floor, I could see kolanuts which had fallen
down from the tree during the giant sneeze of the creature. I bent down and picked just a single
piece of Kolanut.
“You must be a lucky child. You are very lucky to have escaped the Second demon sent to you.”
Amara voice echoed in my ears.
I quickly buried the kolanuts in my pockets and turned in search of her.
“Where are you? Why can’t I see your face any more? Why are you hiding from me?” I asked.
Amara let out a great laugh.
“Ikengaaa… Only those who eat the sweet red Igbuala mango are capable of seeing what the
gods see. The powers from the Igbuala mangoes are fading off from your eyes Ikenga.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“You threw away your mangoes Ikenga. Without the red Igbuala mangoes, you will not be able to
see me. And that means you will not be able to see the five demons that await you. Poor Ikenga,
you shall die a miserable death now.”
“But my grandmother never mentioned anything about the powers from the Igbula mangoes fading
off. Why did mine fade off. Why didn’t Ijeoma eyes not fade off when she ate hers.”
“You mean the god mother of beauty?”
“Yes.”
“My mother Ijeoma had been feeding on the red Igbuala mangoes for a very long time Ikenga. She
slowly metamorphosed into a god after consuming so many red Igbuala mangoes in nine months.”
“In your own case, this is the first time of you eating the Igbuala mangoes. You shall only be able
to see two set of demons per mango.”
I quickly thought about the three red Igbuala mangoes I had thrown in the bush. I calculated
carefully. The three red Igbuala mangoes were enough for me to see the five demons that awaited
me.
Ijeoma was right. Without the red Igbuala mangoes, I stood no chance. I was going to look like a
blind warrior going to war with men who can see clearly with both eyes. I was actually going to die
a miserable death.
I quickly turned and ran back. I was heading for the three mangoes. I was heading back to pick the
only thing that guaranteed my spiritual eyes to see the demons.
As I ran fast like a wounded lion, I prayed fervently in my heart that the mangoes were still going to
be there by the time I arrive.
To be continued….

IKENGA
Ikenga- Episode 4

Theme: (The Demon I Saw)

By Praise Chidera Obiora 

I staggered backward and came crashing down to the floor like a fallen Udara tree. I stared at
Amara piercingly in the eyes. I could feel my pulse beat very fast. The sweat on my forehead was
triggered by the sudden fear I felt.
“No please, take back the mangoes. Tell Agundaobi to take back his mangoes. I do not want any
more. I just want to go home. I want to go home to the arms of my poor grandmother. She must be
worried about me now. It is already noon and I am not yet back home. Please let me go. Forgive
me.” I pleaded with my hands raised high.
Amara kept staring at me. She never said a word or replied me.
I stood up and ran away from her, leaving my three red Igbuala mangoes behind. I was bent on getting back home as fast as possible. When I do get home, I was going to pull off every cloth I
had on me and run straight to the shower to take my bath, there after, I shall remain inside the
house for days without going out.
Just yesterday, I had fetched enough water from the stream to last us seven market days.
Grandma had bought food just yesterday too. My stay indoors was going to be guaranteed.
I got tired of running and soon started walking. I was literarily staggering like a drunk man
intoxicated by palmwine. The short cut had soon became a long walk. Despite my fast run and fast
walk, I still could not see the end of the bush path. It seemed to me like I was on a long journey
through the wilderness.
I turned left and sighted the kola nut tree. It was there in a distance. I stopped and stared at it. This
was my first time of seeing a cola nut tree with my own eyes. It was not as tall as the coconut
trees. It was exactly the size of the mango trees and the apple tree that were planted in the farms
of villagers, and road paths in Agugu.
At that moment, I thought of grandma. I remembered how she took her kola nuts as her favourite
companion and her greatest muse.
Grandma had once told me “Give me kola nuts and you would be making me the happiest woman
on earth.”
“Give me kolanuts and I shall tell you the sweetest stories you want to hear.”
She said a child who offers Kolanut to his elders, also increases his own life span, because such
an elder will spend the rest of their days chewing the kolanut and praying that the gods preserve
them.
I still remember the first kolanuts I bought her. It was on a market day. I had gone to buy tubers of
yams in the market and had sighted this woman with a tray of kola. I stopped to buy grandma
some kolanuts. I knew she was going to love them.
When I got home and handed it over to her. Grandma smiled. She planted a deep kiss on my
forehead and laid her hands on my head.
“Ehennnn. This is how a child should behave. This is what a child should give to his parents. A
child who buys sweets for his parents shortens their life span, because he feeds them with sugar.
But one who buys kola wants his parents to live long, and they will definitely live long.”
That day, grandma blessed me with both hands. I watched as she broke the kola in two and threw
half in her mouth while she put in the other half in her breast wear.
I thought of grandma and how disappointed she will be with me, when she finds out that I had
eaten from the Igbuala mango tree – the same mangoes she had warned me not to eat from.
With my hands on my waist, I kicked a big stone and turned to continue my journey.
“Do you really think you will get home after all you have done.?”
I turned in search of the voice that spoke. I had recognized that voice. It was that of Amara the
daughter of Agundoabi the god of love and beauty.
“Where are you? Why are you following me?” I thundered in fear.
“Too sad you cannot see me any more.”
“But why? Show me your face Amara.”
“I am a god remember? I am the only daughter of Agundaobi the god of love and beauty.chat
MartinMartino on zero eight one eighty thirty fourteen twenty one to be added to his WhatsApp
group. I am a spirit and not human.”
“But you were human few minutes back. I saw you. I felt your feet touch the floor. I saw the
bushes give way as you walked through it. I felt your soft hands on my shoulders. You are a
human and not a spirit.”
“Well yes. Somehow I look like a human and I am also a spirit. That is because the gods look like
humans, but can’t be seen. The gods created every human that walks upon the surface of the
earth to look exactly like them.”
“But he never gave them powers to rule the world. Because humans are greedy, selfish and
thieves. Humans are like grasshoppers. All they do is destroy what the gods have created.”
I heaved a sigh.
“Why do you call us greedy and selfish? I am not greedy, neither am I selfish.”
“Will you keep quite.” Amara’s voice thundered in my ears.
“Over two hundred mango trees planted and provided to you by the gods, yet just one mango tree-
one mango tree you were asked not to touch, you still went your way to have it.”
“You did not only have one to eat, but you made sure you plucked four and filled up your pockets  like a stingy thief. Are you not a selfish human? Are you not?”
“But humans are not as perfect as the gods. I was tempted. We are created to fall into
temptations. Even the gods themselves fell into temptation by dating a beautiful human. That
shows even the gods make mistakes.”
“Will you keep quiet Ikenga. I will roast your mouth with fire for the words you have just spoken.
Are you trying to mock my father? Ikenga do you want to make a jest of my own father?”
“No. I am just saying. We are not perfect. I fell a victim to the beauty of the fruit. I admired it
instead of looking away from it.”
“I could not stop admiring those red ripe mangoes, just the same way I couldn’t stop looking into
your beautiful eyes when you emerged behind me.”
“I couldn’t get myself to run away from you. I had never seen such beauty as yours. It was like
it….”
“Keep quiet you human with a sweet tongue.” Amara roared loudly.
“Speak to me no more. You think you can woo me with your sweet words?”
I felt Amara voice rise in anger. I bowed my head to the floor and buried my knees to the grass.
“I am only a human who saw true beauty and appreciated it. The least I ask for now is forgiveness
from the gods. Please forgive me. I have long let go of the mangoes. I am no longer with them.
Please let the gods forgive me for this I have committed.” I pleaded.
I felt my eyes being soaked with tears. I felt my throat suddenly dry.
“Ikenga, the gods only forgives the sins of those who did not know that they have sinned. When
the gods warn and you disobey their instructions despite their warning, you shall be punished.”
“Now Ikenga, you must face your second demon.”
“Nooooooo!” I shouted with every strength in the fibres of my body.
I saw a scorpion emerge from the bushes onto the path way. It stood in front of me, glaring at my
feet and pointing its telson in my direction Its stinger lifted high above its head. I lifted my legs to
smash the scorpions head, when suddenly a thunder struck. I heard a rushing sound like ants
moving through the bushes. It sounded like a bunch of bees flying in my direction. Soon, I saw
many more scorpions of black, white and brown rush out of the bush.
The scorpion which was standing in front of me, suddenly grew tall with long legs. Its tail was as
long as a rope. It was thick and bigger than my both hands.
In its eyes I could see fury. I saw its claws grow bigger in size. Inside of claws was a big red
tongue with two edges. I followed with my eyes piercingly fixed on this giant scorpion, as I saw its
legs grow thicker and its body become fatter.
The Tiny scorpions which were over three thousand, rushed in my direction like a broken pipe of
water.
My tried to move my feet but it couldn’t be moved. I found myself glued to where I was standing.
“Agundaobi forgive me.” Were the three words that left my lips in whispers.
To be continued…