by Ayorinsola Obisanya
“How many times have I warned you not to let that paper or whatever you call it, turn you into a lazy man? Since this craziness of yours started, you’ve decided not to farm. Instead you have resorted to memorizing all manner of oyinbo words. Let me tell you, I won’t condone this stupidity. Look at Oyadipupo, the son of Oyagbemi, he’s younger than you in age but older than you in sense. At that age, he has two barns for yam storage but my son has nothing. Maybe when I stop your mother from giving you food, that sense of yours may be normal. It is unheard of, for a father to still be providing for a fully grown man like you.” Sangode said to his son.
“You this old man, God will forgive you for your ignorance.” Sangowale replied.
Sangode was angry, for his son had decided not to tread the path of his religion, which the Christian folk call, ‘’unrighteous’’ and ‘’satanic’’. None of his children had left the religion of his forebears, except Sangowole. He believed Sango, the god of his fathers, gave them long life and the wealth they got from farming. He turned around as he heard the now familiar sound of the megaphone. He stood up, worked to the right side of the compound and looked down the path, to those dishing out this public irritation of the ears. “Your people are coming again o, holy man of the holiest God.” Sangode spat at his son. “If you know say na me born you, commot from that seat first, because I know say your blood don dey boil as you hear them, but if you wan die then you fit follow them waka up and down with that book wey wan spoil your manhood.” He concluded, threatening his son.
The group of people appeared. They were led by four oyinbos including Ososanya, the interpreter and some villagers who decided to abandon their gods for the new God.
Praise the Lord all ye nations (Eyin Oluwa eyi orile ede gbogbo)
Praise him, all you people of the world (Ki gbogbo eniyan araye yin)
His mercy towards us is powerful (Anu re si wa lagbara)
The Lord’s faithfulness endures forever (Otito Oluwa duro titi lailai)
Praise the Lord (Eyin Oluwa)… They recited the hymn continuosly.
Meanwhile, at the Ogungbemi’s compound just down the road…
Ogungbemi’s son Ogunwole, sang the same hymn along with the evangelizing Christians, as he sat on the bench he shared with his father. The noise began to fade away, but Ogungbemi grew even angrier at his son, since he refused to stop singing and he thundered at him, “Will you keep quite? It is like you’ve run mad with this oyinbo people’s lie abi?” Just as he was finishing his tirade, Ogungbenro his cousin, ran into his compound – with a face that looked like death.
“Ha, you still siddon with this unrepentant boy of yours that has caused us a lot? Abi you too don join dem?’ he asked.
“Are you out of your mind?” Ogungbemi protested vehemently. “What happened? Talk to me? Is someone…”
“Please get me water,” Ogungbenro cut in. “Don’t send the devil beside you.”
“You are insane and truly out of your mind. My son is not a devil; even though, he’s a disobedient rascal”
‘See,’ Ogungbenro said and paused. ‘As I was coming here to ask how we were going to celebrate this year’s festival,” he continued. “My spirit just told me to greet the gods at the shrine. Getting there, I saw heads of humans gathered together and…’
Ogungbemi interrupted, “Go straight to the point, enough of this cool story.”
“In short the shrine is destroyed! But that’s not the worst part; all the shrines of the other gods are no more too!’ Ogungbenro exclaimed.
“Yee mo ku, mo ku, mo ku!” Ogungbemi cried. Sweat gathered on his forehead. His hands shivered, his lips shook seriously.
“Wait! Let me land.” Ogungbenro cut in again. “The most annoying thing is that, Ogunwole – your son, the Christian convert – gave the oyinbos’ clue on how to destroy the shrines of our village and this is the story of the demise of our gods.” He continued.
“Ha!” Ogungbemi exclaimed and panted. “Ogunwole has made sure Ogun jade.” he said, as he shed tears of life. He turned to address his son; he saw nothing. The boy must have gone for evangelism.
Bio:
Ayorinsola Obisanya communicates via
Curator, www.discussszone.org
Twitter: @fabobisanya
Email: obisanya@discusszone.org
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