Disappearing African Tales
The act of tales telling is disappearing in many African Homes and so are the tales. Western civilization is gradually wiping out one of the most fascinating things we enjoyed in our youthful days of inexperience and even as we grew older.
Back in the days I use to meditate on the tales I have been told and oftentimes, I wish that time stood still for me to witness them firsthand. Unfortunately, time has never stood still, but with my imagination, I have oftentimes been able to turn back the hands of time just to live those moments again.
My late grandmother often says,
“There is no people without some legends, myths or folktales, and whatever we choose to believe or call them doesn’t matter. What matters most is that the tales are passed down from generation to generation to educate and guide the people about certain occurrences, experiences and why some certain ways of life have been adopted.”
I am starting with the tale that fascinates me the most. I am not saving it for the last, and I am quite sure it will cause you goose bumps.
The sacred Anambra Snake, popularly called Eke, is "The Python".
I do not know about today but it has always been a “Grave Taboo” to kill Eke (a snake perceived and HIGHLY taken to be divine) in many parts of Anambra State.
Eke is a deity, a “god” and should be preserved and respected by everyone (strangers, visitors and natives) in all Anambra communities where they exist. Typical examples of such communities are Okija, Ihiala and Uli.
From personal encounters, Eke is a wonder. It’s a nonvenomous snake with a glowing beautiful skin (mostly with two or more skin colours). Very gentle, harmless and always seeking warm places. It is also known for its elegant crawling style. OMG! Did I just give a snake those attributes? Hell yea, I did.
With my over five years stay in Anambra state, and in my visitations, never have I heard of someone that has been attacked or bitten by this snake. However, during my stay, a day never passes by without me experiencing the snake myself or hearing a thing or two about it.
The snake is known for first crawling into people's homes, and then into their bedrooms, after which it lies side by side with them, especially while they are fast asleep. Remember it seeks warm places and the human body is warm. It is also known for crawling into the kitchen and lying close to your cooking pot and stoves in search of warmth.
Like I earlier said, and from personal experiences, the snake is not harmful and it’s very friendly even to strangers. When you come in contact with it, unlike other snakes, it does not flee or activate its defense mechanism; rather, it elegantly crawls or glides towards you.
It is a taboo to attack Eke, let alone kill it. Thus, if you are irritated by one, simply call a member of the community to come and take it away.
Eke moves freely in many communities in Anambra State. They have road rights too so always be watchful when you drive and if you spot one crossing the road, give it time to cross or help it to the other side if you are in a hurry.
A Legend has it that, the snake played a vital role in protecting the Anambra people and the Biafran soldiers during the Nigeria/Biafra Civil war of 1967 to 1970. The tale is widely told to children and visitors, of how the snakes attacked, killed and chased Nigerian soldiers out of many Anambra communities. This legend which was widely reported by many communities in the region went viral, which led to the personification of the snake with both human and divine characteristics in those communities.
This tale is of an Igbo origin.
In Igbo dialect, “Anunu-Nkiti-Ebe” means “Ordinary Birds don’t Perch”.
A long time ago, there was this legend about a certain primitive and isolated village in one of the Eastern states in Nigeria, with a dead but living mystical tree, popularly called “Anunu Nkiti Ebe”, standing tall at the edge of the village shrine and very visible from the seven hills surrounding the village.
The tree, which was always presumed dead at sight was still living. It had no life yet it was surrounded by life (fertile soil and green plants), it had no leaves and never sprouted any, it had no fruit and never grew any, it had a fixed number of strange looking branches that never fell or withered. The tree practically had no life, yet it was living; living in the sense that it never withered nor showed any sign of withering, yet it mysteriously spewed some seeds (The Ebe Seed) about half the size of a golf ball. Death was just a metaphor for the Anunu Nkiti Ebe tree. Today, the seed nuts are still called the Ebe seed and they are becoming almost impossible to come by.
The Ebe seeds are discharged from certain holes on the tree, the seventh day after the New Year outing of their twelve feet masquerade. A masquerade widely known and feared for its mystical performances, one of which is rising from an impossible box that is about two feet high and four feet wide. Legends have it that the village solely held the secrets to masquerading at the time, and that all other masquerades in Nigeria and environs emanated from the village.
In fact, a saying goes thus, “Real masquerade act is impossible without the Anunu-Nkiti-Ebe Seed”.
Seekers of the seed (usually witch doctors) have often reported that the seed has mystical powers capable of putting witches, demons and evil spirits at bay. Thus, witch doctors were always seen roaming around the tree seven days after the masquerade’s outing in search of the seed nuts, which men without mystical powers wouldn’t dare.
One very important mention about the bizarre tree is that, it was an abode strictly for VULTURES as no other type of bird was ever seen or reportedly known to perch on it except vultures. This is where it got its name from ‘Anunu-Nkiti-Ebe’. Moreso, the vultures were also strictly know to perch and stare towards the east side of the village and were never seen or reported to have done otherwise. Men sought to unravel the mystery but couldn't, unfortunately, the vultures couldn't help as all they did was stare. The secret was all theirs and the mystery never solved.
In Africa, the vulture is not seen as an ordinary bird, but as an evil creature, especially because of its weird looks and the fact that it feeds on carcass.
Legends also have it that those who sell the seed die mysteriously after seven days. So if you happen to get one from a witch doctor, do not buy or sell it as it is only meant to be gifted.
The Ogbono Tree/Fruit (Bush Mango Tree) and why it is forbidden by the people.
Have you ever wondered why the Asaba people of Delta State, Nigeria; don’t eat bush mango or prepare one of Nigerian’s most favourite delicacies called Ogbono soup with the seed of the bush mango fruit? Have you ever asked why they forbid it?
Well, the legend goes like this; the ogbono tree is just by the river bank, not standing tall at an angle of ninety degree, but slant, at about an angle of seventy five degree towards the river. Therefore, according to the common, universal and well known laws of physics, the leaves, when shed and fruits when ripe are supposed to drop into the river. However, beyond human comprehension and violating all laws of motion ever known by man, the leaves and fruits mysteriously falls to the bank of the river.
Yes, I am twice as much as thrilled as you are and I am asking the same question too… How is this even possible? Visit the Asaba Shrine.
This made the Asaba people to forbid the fruit, and a shrine was then set up around the tree where people go to seek solutions from the river goddess or pay homage to her. In the past, it was a taboo to sell Ogbono in any of Asaba markets and many Asaba natives are still spellbound to that taboo.
I hope you enjoyed the tales. Thank you!
Authored by me and can also be read here.