THE TWO HOUSE WIVES
Folktales from Igbo land
Written and told by
Mazi Michael Ngozi Osuji
Tell; +2348033865418
Email; Osujimichael60@gmail.com
Once of upon a time, there were two women who lived together in the same house as co-house wives. These two women were married to one man. The first woman was named Elenchi, while the second was called Nwọbịara .
Elenchi and Nwọbịara were both nursing mothers. They were nursing new born babies of same ages. Meanwhile, there was farmine in the land. Food and food products were in critical short supply in all the lands. There was drought over the previous year which made farming and food production impossible. So, there was hunger in the land and people were beginning to die of hunger and starvation.
One day, Nwọbịara , the second wife went to Elenchi , and said to her, "bring your baby let us cook and eat, and I will bring mine for us to cook and eat instead of us to stay here and die of hunger". And , Elenchi , in trusting the words of Nwọbịara , complied. So, she brought her baby which the two women cooked and ate together
After eating Elenchi's baby , It was the turn of Nwọbiara to bring her own baby for the two women to cook and eat. But surprisingly to Elenchi, Nwọbịara had hidden her own baby, instead of bringing her for them to cook and eat as agreed.
" Bring your baby let us cook and eat as agreed ", said Elenchi to her cheating mate, Nwọbịara . She felt badly cheated. Elenchi , was visibly devastated and she felt deceived. She started to cry, wailing and complaining to every living tree in sight. She never complained to any man or woman but trees. According to her, she could no longer trust man.
The first tree she complained to was the oil palm tree, known as 'Nkwụ'. By going to the palm tree, she sobbed, wept bitterly about how her co-house wife, whom she trusted, deceived her to the point of betrayal.
Then, she wept and said to the Palm tree,
"Nkwụ lee ! Nkwụ lee ! Ama m kwe !
Nkwụ lee ! Nkwụ lee ! Ama m kwe !
Ị hụna ịhe nwụnye di mere nwụnye di: Ama m kwe !
Ejikwara m ogu oh; Ama m kwe !
Ọmụmụ m di m n'obi; Ama m kwe !
The above folk songs when translated means;
" Oh! Palm tree! Oh! Palm tree! I won't consent!
Oh! Palm tree! Oh! Palm tree! I won't consent
Have you seen the evil done by a woman to a fellow woman? I won't consent!
It is very appalling to me! I won't consent!
My baby on my mind. I won't consent!"
The oil palm tree replied her and said, " in as much as I condemned the evil done to you by your co-house wife, and pity your situation, I must blame you for trusting a fellow woman who is naturally in competition with you in the same marriage; I don't think I can be of help to you in your present circumstances, but you can try my neighboring tree, the palm wine tree".
Then, the bereaved woman went to the palm wine tree, known as 'Ngwọ' , determined to get solace, crying and weeping her sorrowful heart out, she complained and sang;
"Ngwọ lee ! Ngwọ lee ! Ama m kwe !
Ngwọ lee ! Ngwọ lee ! Ama m kwe !
Ị hụna ịhe nwụnye di mere nwụnye di ? Ama m kwe !
Ejikwara m ogu oh ! Ama m kwe !
Ọmụmụ m dị m n'obi . Ama m kwe !"
The palm wine tree, replied her and said to her, "in as much as I condemned the evil done by a woman to a fellow woman, and pity your sorrowful situation, I blame you for trusting a woman with the life of your baby. The palm wine tree advised her to seek her revenge with the great iroko tree known as, ' Ọjị', because she did not have what it takes to help her miserable situation.
Determined to get justice, and corresponding answer to her pitiable situation, Elenchi went to the Iroko tree, known as 'Ọjị' to seek redress over the evil done to her by her marriage mate. By weeping, sobbing and wailing Elenchi went to the Iroko tree, complaining, saying;
"Ọjị lee ! Ọjị lee ! Ama m kwe !
Ọji lee ! Ọji lee ! Ama m kwe !
Ị hụna ịhe nwụnye di mere nwụnye di: Ama m kwe !
Ejikwara m ogu oh ! Ama m kwe !
Ọmụmụ m dị m n'obi ! Ama m kwe !
The Iroko tree said to her, " in as much as I condemned the evil done to you by your co-house wife, and pity your painful situation, I blame you for trusting a fellow woman who is naturally in competition with you in the same marriage". The Iroko tree further said to her, "in spite of my height and huge size, as the tallest tree in the jungle, I cannot help you but I know a man who can. His name is Chukwu. He is the only one who has answers to every questions and solutions to every problems. He lives beyond the Hills, residing across the valleys, and above the mighty rivers and mountains.
Elenchi was resolute, and determined to get answers to her complaints and revenge to the evil done to her by her co- house wife.
One day, Elenchi , made up her mind to travel to Chukwu. After crossing many valleys, sailing across many waters and rivers, climbing hills and mountains, she arrived at Chukwu, feeling exhausted but hopeful. So she cried to Chukwu;
"Chukwu lee ! Chukwu lee! Ama m kwe !
Chukwu lee ! Chukwu lee ! Ama m kwe !
Ị hụna ịhe nwụnye di mere nwụnye di , Ama m kwe !
E jikwara m ogu oh ! Ama m kwe !
Ọmụmụ m di m n'obi ! Ama m kwe !"
Chukwu saw her heart, and mirroring into her miserable conditions, decided to show her pity due to her determination and resoluteness coupled with her grave innocence. So Chukwu went to his store full of many babies and out of the abundance of babies, gave her three bouncing babies comprised of two baby boys and one baby girl. That was how Elenchi got her revenge.
Chakpii wọọ ! ! . End of story.
Note; The culture of a man is like his shadows, no man can run away from his shadows
This is your code: 5613
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