Like a warrior

I was so ashamed after I was reminded by an ardent reader and mentor that I made no mention of Lokpanta tales in my summary of Lilea’s blog posted last week. How could I have forgotten my dear Lokpanta and my mission to put it on the map of the world? “I’m outraged that you said nothing of Lokpanta tales in your summary” were her exact words.

Now to make make up for my omission, I will share this story from my Lokpanta;

As a child I heard different stories of different tribes and how common black magic/jazz was in those places but never heard anything of that sort about Lokpa. I believe my parents kept us well away from such stories because they never believed in them and also wanted their children to stand firm in their Christian Faith.

I must say that they did a fantastic job; such things do not exist to us. I was already in the University when I met a witch doctor for the first time in Lokpanta and in my life. Father had become the traditional ruler, he had picked his chiefs and this very pleasant man was one of them. 

There was a meeting of chiefs and we were all at home to help mother prepare for the guests, there was a lot to be done. I remember wondering who the man was, smiling and walking towards mother as we sat near the firewood kitchen. I knew that he was one of the chiefs from the way he dressed, he exchanged pleasantries with mother and all of us who were with her and then went away to join the others in father’s obi.

He was quite charming and there was something distinguished about him, his Igbo was cooked and he added a few English words while he spoke. From the way he pronounced those words I knew that he was educated and I asked who he was. Trust my ever mischievous mother, “O dibia”(He is a native doctor) was her response and there was a chuckle in her voice so I could tell that she was joking.

I was surprised again when Ifeanyi confirmed what mother had said. Ifeanyi is my brother and he knows every single thing about Lokpanta. He knows my great great grand fathers’ and their brothers’ names and how Lokpanta came to be. He knows all the wars that Lokpanta had fought and won and the strategies they adopted during such wars, considering that there is no known history book on Lokpanta, I still wonder how he knows so much about my village. 

I struggled to come to terms with the fact that there was a witch doctor in the house who would eat from mother’s pot and plate. Had my parents become fettish? They had no business with a non believer. 

Ifeanyi saw my confusion and went on to tell me that the handsome man who they just told me was a “dibia” was not an ordinary native doctor; he was a witch doctor and also one of the most powerful in the country. Country? 

The surprises were just too many, I had just discovered that Lokpanta had a witch doctor only to be told that he held a rank in the association of witch doctors not just at the state but national level.

When I finally found my voice, I asked my brother what made the native doctor one of the most powerful witch doctors in Nigeria. It was as if mother and Ifeanyi were out to confuse me more on that day, Okwute (not the real name of the native doctor) had gone for a competition with other witch doctors at the Nigeria Witch doctors’ Rally ( I gave it this name) and then it was his turn to perform. 

He pulled down his robe and pulled out his anaconda. While all the spectators wondered what nudity had to do with winning a competition, Okwute started to pull his “nnabuenyi” harder and the more he pulled, the longer it became.

His third leg became so long that he wrapped it round his waist like four times to cover his nakedness; he looked like a warrior. When the show was over he went back to status quo and came first in the competition. 

After their meeting on that day with father, as Okwute walked towards us again to say good bye I couldn’t stop myself from staring at him below the waist and wondering if he had his love stick wrapped around his waist at that time.

Okwute (not real name) is now late. The circumstances that led to his death is a story I will share soon. May his soul rest in peace. Amen! 

Although this story has been corroborated by a lot of people especially an uncle who lives and breathes Lokpa, I still find it incredulous. In my family when we do not believe a story, we jokingly ask for a receipt and so I am still waiting for Ifeanyi to issue me a receipt for this particular story.