Years ago, I went to buy something at the market. In the market, there was this beautiful woman whose left foot was turned upside down. How I wan take explain am now!
As in, that side wey she dey match for ground dey up while the upper side dey for ground. The woman was about 32/33 years. She went to buy tomato from an older woman's shed. To every ones surprise, the younger woman started leaving the shed when she saw whom the older one was. The older woman followed her, insulting and calling her names.The younger woman no just mind am, she suffry dey go her own. Me wey don buy wetin I wan buy finish waited behind to watch drama. people were trying to know what was happening, but none of them said anything. So, we followed them.
The older woman followed her till she got to where she wanted to board a bus. When they got there, other passengers refused her from entering the bus telling her to settle the older woman before she can board the bus.
"Make I talk? Asked the younger woman.
"Talk na! Evil Child! Make you open your yansh make everybody see. The older woman blurted.
That was when we discovered that the younger woman was an "Ogbanje".The older woman gave birth to her 3times and she died. The fourth time, the woman twisted her foot. I guess that was the reason she didn't go back to her.
Everyone held their head!
"Shey una don hear wetin una wan hear"? Asked the younger woman. Una go allow me enter motor go house now?
Now, what is Ogbanje!
Ogbanje is what the Igbo believe to be a wicked child. This child is born, then dies in infancy, and then enters his mother's womb to be born again.This belief caused dead babies to be mutilated to try and stop the wicked child from returning.
IN Things Fall Apart. Okonkwo's wife Ekwefi lost nine of her children and the medicine man told Okonkwo it was because of an ogbanje. Finally Ezinma is born to Ekwefi, and Ezinma lives although she goes through periods of illness. After digging out her Iyi-Uwa.
This story helps to reveal some of the tribal culture and belief. It also shows us a very human side to Okonkwo and Ekwefi as they struggle with the loss of so many children and Ezinne's illnesses
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Have seen countless of them, if it does not exist, how do you explain this? How do you explain a lady who was born with one side of her face burnt. When asked, she said she was an ogbanje, that was why her first mother poured hot water on one side of her face when she kept coming and going.How do you explain a girl born with hairs all over her armpit and private part? If I continue telling you things I've seen concerning Ogbanje, una go say Jassy don dey lie. So, I will stop here for now.I've seen and I believe that there are many Ogbanje in this world.If you believe, let's hear your experience.
