By

Walter .I. Anierobi (Bsc. Hons. LL.B Hons in View)

How far would you have to travel in order to find interesting Igbo traditional stories, legends and folklores? Right here in Omor kingdom, there are many of such stories often told collectively during moonlight nights at the gathering of the people. Take sit and listen as I tell you one of the interesting stories.

Once upon a time in Omor Kingdom, there lived an uncommon giant among the people. Although Omor people use to be tall and nicely built by nature, Awa n’Ogboduma was much taller and can only be compared with Izaga masquerade in Omor culture. Particularly, it was said that he is from Agbaja village in Akanator quarter of Omor. Like Omalinze in Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, Awa n’Ogboduma was a cat as well as a pillar of strength because never was he defeated in fight and people were always afraid to engage him in a duel. Awa was widely known throughout the 20 villages and 4 quarters of Omor and beyond. As a young man of 30 years, he had broad shoulder with bushy but bald head. His narrow nose and beard gave him a very fierce look. When he walks, he often bounces on earth and the grounds would be shaking as if he would bounce on someone.

Awa n’Ogboduma was not a good man. He capitalizes on his size to instill fear in people so as to take their food forcefully. He is known even today as the laziest man ever lived despite his physical strength on the battle ground. Awa was an awkward man who uses his strength to substantiate his radicalism. He never went to farm due to laziness, he was bent on taking people’s belongings by force and everyone fears him more than terrifying night. In those days one of the elders narrated his encounter with Awa n’Ogboduma.

‘It was like the story of the burning furnace’, the elder said, ‘the night was cold unusually, only the voice of frogs and insects could be heard from far and near. It was also still and calm like the summer sea bereft of all human voice. Then, suddenly, the trees were moving in human forms, one step steadily such that everybody ran into their respective huts, waiting for the gods to either vindicate them or let them pass on since never was a tree caught to be moving. When the shadow got closer, behold it was Awa, n’Ogboduma the giant. He stood outside and stretched his hand into the hut where there were lots of foods. He brought out the pots, ate to his satisfaction as he finished all the foods and went away. The fear was that when someone complains, he would beat the hell out of the person’s life and still fulfill his mission’ He was widely known for it and he does it on a daily basis.

He was so bad that the entire community started seeking for solution to get rid of him. One day the whole village assembled and decided to know the strongest man in the village. They agreed that the whole youths should come out; that anyone who can carry a wooden house built on the person’s head throughout the whole village square should be honored as the strongest man. Awa volunteered for a wooden house to be built on his head. Immediately it was completed, they poured kerosene on it and lighted fire on it. Awa stood up with the flame which was sending excruciating pains down his spine, the smoke was suffocating him too. He screamed with high pitched voice in agony and started running. He pleaded for help to quench the fire but nobody was ready to help him. He ran to all the nearby streams but none was deep enough to reach to his head. He picked race again towards the Owushi waterfall until he got to Abo River where he died, after telling the villagers that “never again will scary giant terrify them”. Immediately he died, the sun which had flaunted its nakedness in the open glare of the village was slowly covered by thick cloud. The cloud was very heavy and darkness almost benighted the day. The whirlwind blew ceaselessly with a soft crackling sound as the grass and the leaves of the forest moved at every direction of the winds. Children were running in greet jubilee to baptize themselves with the expectable downpour of water. The mothers ran in and out for the danger of the cascades. They ran around with madness speed in loosed wrapper tied over their chest while their breasts dance to the rhythm of the breeze which was harshly genteel to human race. Frequently, the whirlwind blew dust across space and people covered their eyes to allow the tempest pass in great turmoil.

Heavy rain ensued eventually, accompanied by thunder and lightning which scared every single soul in the village. All the people that came for the build the wooden house on Awa n’ Ogboduma took to their heels and sought shelter in their various homes. The rain was so heavy that its droplets fell upon the zinc in an ice form. Omor people were panicking for they thought that it was the end of time. It rained all night and continued raining on the next day until the people could no longer tell what was happening. There came a great flood which stayed for weeks, the annual flooding today is a remembrance that Awa n’Ogboduma has gone for good and there will no longer be a terrifying giant in the village. Omor is home to many good tall people. Many anthropological native mystical story tellers said that the contemporary Ijele Masquerade was first started in remembrance of Awa n’ Ogboduma’ wooden house. 

Lessons:

• There is dignity in labour
• Hardwork does not kill rather it transports one to his destiny
• There is no power again in man’s physical strength; power belongs to the wise that make peace among people
• Society honours the diligent and not the strong who takes people’s property by force
• Be kind and have the right attitude so that you will succeed in life