Rich in atmosphere and beautifully placing animals in human situations...

The City Heroes and other Stories from the Heart of Africa by Omoruyi Uwuigiaren.

Work in Progress: “Linda Castro” from the Pretty Woman by Omoruyi Uwuigiaren

One beautiful morning, there was no power supply and the very thought of it makes me feel sick. As I fought gallantly to grab hold of my miserable soul, a lady who had been in a man’s life, and had been bruised long enough to know that life is in phases and men are in sizes, stumbled into my office. By the time she was within my reach, sweat was pouring off her. I thought she had just come out of a pool and wanted to help herself to a clean towel.  I offered her a hand towel, which was my only benefit from a previously turbulent relationship with a woman who thought humbling a man would earn her a trophy.

There are dark people who take advantage of the weak. Once they smell blood, they go for the kill. The meal is stretched and made to go through the hole of a needle. I was a victim who rode on the back of a poor judgment. I thought I was a protagonist and the show was all about me. Painfully, my victory only existed in the fabric of my imagination. You can take advantage of people, especially a troubled mind, and they won’t care. Because they are blinded by their truckload of misfortune, they become mentally weak. A man who is ignorant is deficient.  So in order to survive public life, it is in our best interest to hide our imperfections.

She was terror and our romantic escapade illustrates the need for better grasp of this ever changing world. She took my dignity and served it to her bald vultures. She wore the trousers. The woman was given free rein and it leaves me with short quick movements from side to side or up and down until she pulled out the plug and the water drained away. She was in control of the monument between my legs and she responded tremendously to my breathtaking strokes. I could not resist her charm and the tenderness of her lips made me quiver at her feet. I could not resist her because she has a very savoury reputation that was taller than the pair of legs that carried me. She was strong and I was weak. Don’t cry for me. This is not a spell. She is only a woman who knew how to bring a man to his knees. She rode me in my weakness and pounded me as if there was no tomorrow. It was pleasure to bleed in her secret place and under her shadow were riches that only existed in the fabrics of my imagination. She always wanted to see me bleed and have her face covered in my own blood. Until death snatched her, she remained my strength.

Now, in my office was a woman that reminded me of the past. She reluctantly took the hand towel. She pulled the seat at the other side of the table and sank into it. She came for business. It was tough because she had no underwear to cover and support her breasts. This was reckless and my eyes betrayed me. They made me vulnerable and exposed my weakness to a woman that I was seeing for the first time. My large innocent eyes were properly entertained. Beauty is not cheap. It comes with a price!

She was elegant and her face shone like the rising sun. A man, whatever estate he occupies in this bizarre world, is trapped in a woman’s world to his untimely end or victory. I love nature. Life gives you everything including uncertainties but in the humble path of nature are hope and assurance. She was a gift from the gods and she knew that her beauty had swept me off my miserable feet.

“I guess you are Larry?”

“Yes, oh yes!” I nodded my head almost a million times.

There was silence momentarily. She swallowed hard and her eyes travelled round my office. I could hardly tell what was happening in her mind. Apparently, satisfied with what she had seen so far, she breathed deeply and then returned her gaze to me. Our eyes met as her face broke into a gap toothed smile. “I have read some of your books. You are a prolific writer,” she said and nodded gently.

“Thank you,” an exaggerated smile paraded my face. “What can I offer you?”

“Nothing! I want to do business with you. I am a book distributor,” she said. Chewing her lower lips, she threw out a question, “Do you treat people kindly?”

“Ah,” I chuckled and sat up. “I am not an angel but it all depends on what you want. “First, I don’t understand what you mean by treating people kindly.”

“As you know,” she leaned forward; exposing her breasts and it caused a commotion between my legs. “A woman needs attention…”

I interjected. “Everybody needs attention. However, we expect our workers to adhere to the company’s rules and regulations. We are a family here but we have limits.”

“That’s fine. You are a nice man, Larry. She glanced at her wrist watch and asked, “Can I use your rest room?”

“Yes, you can.” I pointed at the direction. She placed my hand towel on the table and slowly rose to her feet. I believe she knew what she was doing. It appears she was leading me into a trap and I was too weak to resist. If I was asked to place on a scale what I had gone through staring at the balls on her chest, they would break the scale. As she made for the door, I tried to avoid eye contact. What relevance does that mean when I was already burning inside of me?

She tried to open the door but it was locked. “Larry, the door is locked.” Her voice was as soft as a whisper.

“Oh! Sorry. I forgot that I locked it yesterday,” I remarked. I jumped to my feet and brought out the key to the door from my pocket. And then I approached her to open the door. As I got nearer, my elbow brushed her nipple and she let go a moan that filled the air.

She croaked, “Don’t get me in the mood Larry…”

I turned to her and we looked at one another in the eyes. “I am sorry. I did not mean to touch you.”

She shook her head slowly. “You got it all wrong, Larry. You just lied. You could not get your eyes off my breasts. Press the right button if you need me. Don’t burn!” She held my hands and moved them gently to her nipples. Her big tits were firm like precious stones. As I squeezed them gently, she moaned and fell on me. My guest was all over me as I managed to open the door to the rest room. We quietly entered and secured the door.

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Her interest in me was purely sexual. We kissed as if we were a match made in heaven. Before I could blink, she pinned me to the wall and squeezed my balls until I elicited an agonized cry. In the pain was the fantasy that a man would wish he gets from his own because I was in paradise led by a woman who knew her job. She broke me and revealed my lust. I was turgid and she was winning. Slowly she went down and gently pulled my pants down. As my trousers hung loosely to my waist, my temple was invaded by the wetness of her lips. She worked me tenderly. She landed every single blow with precision until I walked into fantasy land. I was trapped in the realm and could not escape from the reality that my temple was under siege. As she pulled slowly back and forth, my phone rang….

San Francisco REVIEW OF BOOKS: 'The City Heroes and Other Stories from the Heart of Africa' by Omoruyi Uwuigiaren

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‘My favorite meal is a roasted bird and two slices of bread plus a cup of lemon tea.’

African author Omoruyi Uwuigiaren was born and grew up in Ojo, Lagos, Nigeria, Africa. As a young adult, he attended school for Mass Communications. Ruyi (his nickname) soon discovered his talent for the arts included drawing cartoons and writing children's books. Ruyi currently lives in his hometown where he writes for children in his authentic African style. He has published two books to date – THE ADVENTURES OF NIHU and now THE CITY OF HEROES AND OTHER STORIES FROM THE HEART OF AFRICA.

Not only does Ruyi write well, but he also is a very gifted illustrator. He divides his book into six stories - The City Heroes, The Jungle Ants, The Country Boy, Stranger on the Farm, and Baby Thomas and Blaize and the Master of Enchantment. Each story is unique in storyline but each story reflects the atmosphere of Nigeria.

From the title story sample the following: ‘The night was a dead as a doornail and Lady Tranquility took her seat in the neighborhood. Dag, a frustrated cat in the pool of old age, had nothing better to do than lie on the rooftop of a bungalow that was begging for renovation. The cat gazed at the beautiful earth that spread before him as if it were a balance sheet under the nose of a shrewd accountant. Dag was not alone . Other cats that had also known misfortune lay around the old cat like a pasture clothed with flocks. Dag cleared his throat and said, ‘I have no passion for living anymore. How can we exist without offending?’ ‘That is for the next world!’ said Fred as he scratched his hindquarter. Raising his head and yawning, Pork said, ‘It is impossible to walk through life without enemies. It may be better to live in isolation. But I have yet to see an isolated man who is happy.’ Dag sighed as if the hands of impossibility had challenged his. ‘Did I tell you my master has not fed me for two nights?’ he asked his friends. ‘No, but I have heard that bedtime story before,’ said Pork as he sighed and turned away. “I will never forget what that old man did to me,’ said Dag as he shook hi s head. ‘I have never seen you in this mood,’ said Pork. ‘Tell us, what did he do to you?’ ‘Three nights ago I chased a rat in his kitchen. The little devil disappeared into a hole in the wall, which was near my master’s sop pot. I wanted to leave the kitchen, but I knew that as soon as I’d gone, the rat would come out of the hole and devour the sop. So I stayed back to keep vigil over the old man’s meal and possibly snuff the life out of the foolish rat if he ventured out of hiding. As I lay silently in the corner, hoping I would take care of the unfortunate sol of the opportunity presented itself, I heard a squeak and was not disappointed when I raised my head and saw the rat. It was heading towards the sop pot on the table. Seeing that the rat was too close to the pot, I pounced.’ Etc

Rich in atmosphere and beautifully placing animals in human situations, Ruyi proves he has a talent in both writing and illustrating books for both children and adults. He is a refreshing new voice! Short book full of joy! 

Editor's note: This review has been published with the permission of Grady Harp. 

Book Review: ‘My favorite meal is a roasted bird and two slices of bread plus a cup of lemon tea.’

African author Omoruyi Uwuigiaren was born and grew up in Ojo, Lagos, Nigeria, Africa. As a young adult, he attended school for Mass Communications. Ruyi (his nickname) soon discovered his talent for the arts included drawing cartoons and writing children's books. Ruyi currently lives in his hometown where he writes for children in his authentic African style. He has published two books to date – THE ADVENTURES OF NIHU and now THE CITY OF HEROES AND OTHER STORIES FROM THE HEART OF AFRICA.

Not only does Ruyi write well, but he also is a very gifted illustrator. He divides his book into six stories - The City Heroes, The Jungle Ants, The Country Boy, Stranger on the Farm, and Baby Thomas and Blaize and the Master of Enchantment. Each story is unique in storyline but each story reflects the atmosphere of Nigeria.

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From the title story sample the following: ‘The night was a dead as a doornail and Lady Tranquility took her seat in the neighborhood. Dag, a frustrated cat in the pool of old age, had nothing better to do than lie on the rooftop of a bungalow that was begging for renovation. The cat gazed at the beautiful earth that spread before him as if it were a balance sheet under the nose of a shrewd accountant. Dag was not alone . Other cats that had also known misfortune lay around the old cat like a pasture clothed with flocks. Dag cleared his throat and said, ‘I have no passion for living anymore. How can we exist without offending?’ ‘That is for the next world!’ said Fred as he scratched his hindquarter. Raising his head and yawning, Pork said, ‘It is impossible to walk through life without enemies. It may be better to live in isolation. But I have yet to see an isolated man who is happy.’ Dag sighed as if the hands of impossibility had challenged his. ‘Did I tell you my master has not fed me for two nights?’ he asked his friends. ‘No, but I have heard that bedtime story before,’ said Pork as he sighed and turned away. “I will never forget what that old man did to me,’ said Dag as he shook hi s head. ‘I have never seen you in this mood,’ said Pork. ‘Tell us, what did he do to you?’ ‘Three nights ago I chased a rat in his kitchen. The little devil disappeared into a hole in the wall, which was near my master’s sop pot. I wanted to leave the kitchen, but I knew that as soon as I’d gone, the rat would come out of the hole and devour the sop. So I stayed back to keep vigil over the old man’s meal and possibly snuff the life out of the foolish rat if he ventured out of hiding. As I lay silently in the corner, hoping I would take care of the unfortunate sol of the opportunity presented itself, I heard a squeak and was not disappointed when I raised my head and saw the rat. It was heading towards the sop pot on the table. Seeing that the rat was too close to the pot, I pounced.’ Etc

Rich in atmosphere and beautifully placing animals in human situations, Ruyi proves he has a talent in both writing and illustrating books for both children and adults. He is a refreshing new voice! Short book full of joy! 

--Grady Harp.

SPECIAL SONG TITLED "ANSWER MY PRAYER" BY ONE AND ONLY BEN JOSSY

ENJOY NICE SONG FROM THE GOSPEL SINGER, MUSIC PRODUCER AND CINEMATOGRAPHER, BEN JOSSY!

FLINZ

Dag and the other cats made their way down the silent street in an effort to find the second course of their dinner. Unconcerned, they strolled down Maxwell Street, the home of Flinz, a notorious cat who was feared by the entire feline population of the city. It was rumored that Flinz’s breath could kill a dove!
Maxwell Street lay in the belly of discomfort, and its ugliness was there for all eyes to see. The streetlights were dim; they had seen better days. The buildings, too, were swimming in the pool of old age and begging for renovation. Parts of the old street were overrun with rats and mice—meals that poor Dag and friends would normally have found promising but tonight lay beyond their reach and strength. 
The cats were tired from their long walk, so they rested a short distance from a shopping mall, which housed the finest buildings on the old street. But just as they settled down, Flinz emerged from behind a cracked old fence and stole past Dag and the others. He dashed into the mall, almost unnoticed, to commit what had earned him the nickname ‘the notorious cat’. After a few minutes inside the mall, Flinz found some groceries on a shelf and lost his balance trying to reach the food. Blaize was the first to be alerted. “What’s that?” he asked with a grimace.

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Dag raised his head and glanced about. “I don’t know.” His voice revealed his caution.
Fred cleared his throat and said, “It could be a thief!” He exchange glances with the others.
“You may be right,” said Blaize. “Let’s go see who the criminal is,” he suggested, and faced the mall with a good speed. The other cats followed, flinging glances in every direction to make sure that no one was on their trail. As soon as they got to the mall, Blaize signaled his friends to stop. Before they could blink, Blaize climbed up to one of the half-open windows and peered inside. There was Flinz, feasting on the groceries! A ray of anger flushed over Blaize’s face. Returning to his friends, he reported, “We have an enemy in there!”
“Who?” Dag probed, simpering.
“It’s Flinz!” Blaize replied. 
“Who is Flinz?” asked Pork.
“Flinz lives on the street that leads to the train station. It is said that he once ate an animal that had been sacrificed by humans, and is now immersed in a pool of misfortune. After losing his fine attributes, he withdrew from public life and became a terror to the people.”
“What a pity. Life is no bed of roses!” Dag said, and turned to go.
“No! We must fight him!” Blaize proclaimed. “The wicked soul killed my brother after they had a heated argument over a piece of meat in the market square. And I have vowed to avenge my brother’s death. There is no better time to do so than this beautiful night. Then my brother’s death will have had a purpose!”
Dag now recalled the sad story. “Yes, I remember. Wasn’t it the cat you told me about that lived in the train station?”
“Yes!” Blaize responded. “And that was four days ago.”
Then Pork offered a jewel of advice: “You’d best forget about Flinz and mind your business. I don’t think vengeance is the way to handle this issue.”
Blaize reacted, “Check my face and read my lips, and you will see that nothing can stop me tonight, Pork. My brother cannot have died for nothing!”
“Pork is right,” Dag interjected. “We came here to find a befitting meal for the night, not to battle. Don’t allow this issue into your head, my friend.” The elderly cat pulled Blaize to his side.
Blaize shoved him off. “You don’t know how it hurts to lose a brother. My brother was my best friend and was everything to me.” Tears gathered in his eyes as Blaize moved away. Before Dag and the other cats could make a move, Blaize had disappeared through the window and was received by the treachery inside the mall.
There was a momentary silence as Blaize advanced to the corner where Flinz was having a one-cat party. Red with rage, Blaize shouted, “You are a wicked soul, and your madness ends today!”
Raising his head, Flinz cleared his throat as a queer look paraded over his face, “Why call me such a name on a cold night, my poor friend?”
“I see that you have forgotten that you killed my brother!”
Flinz pushed his meal to one side, and tried to recall who the fellow was, but he could not remember. So he fixed his gaze on Blaize: “I have no memory for an ugly past. Maybe my mind is playing tricks on me. Who exactly is your brother?” 
“Don’t tell me that you have forgotten the fellow you slew at the market square some months ago!”
“Oh, yes… Now I remember. But it is one of those things. Brother killing brother and so forth,” Flinz replied unrepentantly and went back to his meal.
“I have vowed to avenge my brother’s death.”
After swallowing a lump, Flinz replied, “You don’t have to announce it. Let your actions speak for you. But I will advise you to refrain from vengeance, because it is not in our power to take life.”
“But you killed my brother!”
“Yes. But I never wanted to. He refused to let me have my way. And that was why I sent him to the silent world. Now, please go away. Sometimes I lose my temper and find myself going against my nature in circumstance such as this one.”
“No! I refuse to leave!” The arched back and bristling fur demonstrated Blaize’s aggression; his tail was confidently upright and his rear stood firm, while the front of his body retreated and his fur stood straight up to make him look bigger than he actually was. He was certainly ready to give Flinz a good fight.
Flinz chuckled. “So you want to fight me? Do not add your death to this tragedy, my friend. Leave here!” Flinz ordered. He crouched low, not ready to submit, with chin tucked in, ears turned to show their backs and whiskers forwarded and ready to face the threat. 
Blaize started the fight with a fierce blow that caught Flinz on the neck. But just as he pressed his advantage, and no eye was watching, he made a slash across the cat’s right cheek and some whiskers were lost. Blaize let out with an agonized cry as they shared blows from one end of the store to the other. However, it was only a matter of time before the advantage shifted to Flinz, and Blaize tasted frustration that night. Flinz had left Blaize devastated, then dashed out of the mall and raced towards the train station for all he was worth. Before Blaize could even blink, his enemy was gone. 
Not long after, Dag, Pork and Fred rushed to the scene where Blaize had received the beating of his life. Dag was the first to speak. “Where is Flinz?” 
Blaize pointed towards the train station and managed to croak, “There!” There was no strength left in him.
Pork and Fred tried to give chase, but before they could get out of the mall, Flinz had disappeared into thin air. With darkness hanging around the corner, and disappointment taking its toll, they shook their heads in disbelief and returned to the store. As a matter of fact, Blaize had yet to shrug off the injury he’d suffered at the hands of Flinz. “You were not prepared for the fight, Blaize.” Pork said.
That much was true. Later, they could discuss how to cut the bully down to size, but for now Dag helped the injured Blaize to his feet. “We must leave now,” said Dag. But just as they made for the window that was halfway open, they were alarmed by a strange sound from the street. “What’s that?” Pork took cover behind one of the shelves.
“Sssh! Keep your voice low,” Dag warned as, one after another, they scaled the window only to witness a bizarre occurrence that was taking place under the gloomy eyes of the silent night. On the street was a man being mobbed by a crowd of people. One after another they rained down their clubs upon the man until at last he lay gasping and choking. His head rolled to one side as life itself faded from his lips. After the assault was over, and after all the belongings of the dead man had been placed in the pockets of his assailants, the mob disappeared into the night.
“What have they done?” Pork inquired incredulously.
“Can’t you see that they just beat a man dead?” Blaize replied.
Dag shook his head in dismay. “What a wicked world! Humans do not value life as we do. No cat I know could be that brutal!”
But Blaize had something different to say: “What about Flinz? Is there any difference between that scoundrel and the mob?” 
“Flinz is a bad example, and his days are numbered,” Dag replied with a frown.
“I hope so,” Blaize mumbled.
Fred sighed. “I’m not so sure that the man is dead…”
“Nor am I,” Pork said. “We are too far away to assume that he has gone to meet his ancestors.”
“Let’s go and see if he is still alive,” Dag said, and led the cats to the street where the man lay in a pool of his own blood. Once they reached the scene, they were sad to see that the man had indeed walked into silence. Dag said, “This is not good. I know this man. He lives at the end of this street. I wonder why he’s come home so late today.”
“That is not the issue, Dag. No one has the right to take his life. Like every citizen of this land, each man has the right to freedom of movement,” Fred stated.
“Whatever kept him out late must have been important,” Blaize said.
“Only God knows. If humans would take security seriously, this man would have returned unharmed to his house,” Pork said. He sighed a long sigh.
A momentary silence hung in the air as the cats stared at the poor soul. Not long after, thunder crashed in the sky and it began to rain. “I’ve heard enough for today,” Dag announced and walked away. The elderly cat climbed the roof of one of the buildings and disappeared. The other cats knew that venturing further into the treacherous night was not the best idea, so they followed the path of their old friend.

NIHU MEETS OLD PHIL

At daybreak, the forest walked briskly into brightness. Alive for the right reasons, it carried on its inevitable duty, to give light to the world. Happy birds sung aloud a morning song. One might be carried away, thinking there are some instrumentalists having a field day with their keyboards a little distance away. Nihu thought this as he sat up and yawned a million times. The beauty of the morning was like a bed of roses. Still comfortable in his apartment on the tree branch, the activities of the birds had stolen away the urge to sleep. When he looked quietly on every side, his eyes fell upon some monkeys, which prompted a beautiful excitement to overwhelm him. They had their eyes on him as they swooped from one tree to the other as if inviting Nihu to join them.

          As he watched the fun, Nihu was struck by thirst. He reached for his water bottle so he could continue to observe the antics that lifted his spirits. There was nothing left. Thirst made watching the continuing monkey-sports difficult. He had to get water. Just one drink and he could be happy again.

He got down from the tree, and embarked on a journey to put his thirst under control. Knowing how he could be reduced by it, he slammed his rucksack on his back and traveled northward. As he proceeded further, he ran into a tree stained with blood. Flies hovered around it like bees in their hive. Nihu slowed down. He quietly went close to see the kind of insects that were on the tree. When he was considerably close, he noticed a hollow in the tree gushing out blood, which the insects were happily working on. Nihu’s head snapped back. Gradually, he went backwards to find safety before the unknown could ravage him. As he tried to find his way, a big movement under the leaves, set his mind in disarray. He looked towards the direction; all he could see was bloodstains on the ground. He began to fight with his thoughts, pondering over what must be going on in this strange forest. This is strange. Blood is everywhere. Maybe a wild animal just finished feasting on a prey, he thought. No, it cannot be. It must be something else.

The tree gushing out blood reminded Nihu of the ancient Iroko tree, the home of witches and wizards. The tree looked like the last Iroko that had been felled by over fifty able-bodied men with the assistance of some spiritual people whose families and children had been casualties of the powers that be in the countryside. Blood gushed from the tree the day it was brought down.

          After the tree fell, hosts of people in the village died. They were those who met at the tree to donate blood and flesh of whomever they wished to send to hell. It was after the fall of the Iroko tree that the people realized they had been living in the midst of devils. But this tree was different. The stain was continuous, as if something had been dragged to the spot from somewhere else. Nihu followed the stains in the direction it came from as if they were precious things that could prompt a gold seeker to give away his hand to gain a piece of diamond ring.

          He found himself in a traditional shrine where human heads and that of animals are sometimes used to appease the gods. As he fixed his eyes on the shrine, he remembered his trip to the stream with his father many years ago.

*     *     *

The place was a long way from their home. The goddess Ijokpa, a demon that reared livestock and kept her fortress as clean as any well-bred village woman keep, ruled the land. As Nihu and his father headed up the hill that lead to the stream to get the water, which was believed to be medicinal, and could cure all sorts of stomach related ailments, Nihu broke the long silence that had reigned between them.

“Father, who owns these fowls?”

          “Sssh. We do not talk too loud here. If you do, she could push you out of her territory. That is the least she would do to an ignorant person.”        

“Who is she? Whom are you talking about?”

          “Ijokpa. She has existed before our ancestors were born. She owns everything here.”

“What an old crone! What does she do with these hens, cockerels and goats? Does she sell them?”

          “I don’t know. Not even our forefathers can tell why she is so delighted in keeping them.”

          “Then she must be rearing them for a thief. Or what do you think Father?”

          “No one dares touch them. If you do, you die. Let me take this opportunity to warn you, do not touch anything here. Do you hear, boy? There have been people who tried to steal her things—they ended up paying with their lives.”

“Then she is very wicked. Is she taller than Grandma?”

“I don’t know. But those who claimed to have seen her said she has two heads. One is that of a man, the other like a woman. She has a shrine over there. Some people visit the place. You can, too.”

“I’m not going there. I don’t want to be hurt.”

“She does no harm to a just person.”

“Are you sure? Can I meet her in there?”

“Maybe. Sometimes she is friendly. When one spends too much time farming, she alerts you; lets you know it’s time to go home.”

“How does she do that?”

“She pushes you out of the farm.”

          “That’s interesting. Then I have to visit the shrine.”

His father stopped and put a hand on his shoulder, “Nihu, please, do not touch anything there. Is that clear? It would be good to return to me immediately after you set foot in that shrine.”

          “Okay. I will return quickly.”

          As they rolled down from the steep hill, Nihu raced to the far end while his father went to the stream to fill the water pot. As Nihu went, one of the cockerels making a meal out of some grains cleared his throat as if he wanted to say something. Nihu was startled. His eyes flew to every side to see if someone was nearby. When no one met his gaze, he peeked quietly into the shrine. A lifeless body lay massacred on the floor. Terrified, he did not bother to go in and left the place with devastating speed.

As his feet took him back down the hill, the cockerel that cleared his throat earlier, said, “Boy, have you seen who you were looking for?” Nihu screamed for all he was worth.

          He was panting when he reached his father, “I found a dead man in the shrine!”

          “A thief no doubt that came to steal her things. That is exactly what she does to unjust people.”

          “Not only that, a cockerel spoke to me. But I didn’t see her.”

          “Only the gods could determine who would see their nakedness.”

“What do you mean, father?”

          “If she wants you to see her, she would have revealed herself. Let’s go.” Nihu clung to his father as they left the stream.

*     *     *

          Nihu now remembered standing in the shrine in front of a headless body covered in blood with feet chopped off. The corpse had been opened as if a doctor’s knife in a laboratory had cut through it. Nihu trembled and folded his hands close. Why all this is happening to me, he wondered to himself. If I had known, I would have asked the king to execute me. That would have been better than wandering in a place I have no knowledge about. A place where everything is evil and one could be sent to hell with the snap of a finger.

In the far end of the shrine, his heart jumped into his mouth. With a yell, he ran out of the place at the speed of light. Suddenly, he missed a step and fell. As he battled to his feet, a creature as thin as a rope and with an eye as large as a crystal ball came out of the ground behind him. He attempted to crush Nihu with his club. Nihu ran the race of his life, the ugly creature giving hot chase. As they whipped past bushes, trees, limbs, dead woods and shrubs, it was obvious that the devil would not spare the boy a breath if he eventually caught hold of him. Nihu raced like a demon whose place in the future would be determined by how well he could maneuver the pair of legs that carried him.

          The path led to a swamp. Wailing and shouting at the top of his voice, he waded waist-deep through the mud to the other side. As the one-eyed creature approached the swamp, he faded from the chase. Gradually, the creature sunk into his underworld home. His crystal ball eye glared out as the Earth finally swallowed him.

          No longer hearing the crashing of branches or the sounds of his pursuer, Nihu looked back to see if the devil was still in the chase. Trying to keep his pace and looking back at the same time, he crashed into a tree. After a time, he recovered consciousness and moved to relax in the quiet of the dewy morning. The cool smell of a river met his nose. His eyes peered anxiously, looking for the solution to his thirst. The river was just behind the trees. An observer might be tempted to believe some gardeners must have worked here many years ago. Planting the trees in a way that would help people who visit the river to find shade where they could relax after swimming or washing themselves in the river. The sight was comforting, and Nihu was cheered.

          Nihu rose like a discouraged man who has just seen light at the end of a dark tunnel. He threw the ugly experience he just had behind him. Then he got hold of his rucksack with a firm grip and raced on rickety legs towards the river. When he got close, he threw his sack on the riverbank and threw himself into the river. Washing and drinking happily, he was soon lost in pleasure. He swam in every direction.

          Meanwhile, old Philominenges, a bald man living alone in the Lonely Forest, was behind a tree quietly watching Nihu in the river. The old man had been cleaning his musket when he heard a shout at the river that was not too far away from his little hut. First old Phil thought the noise was a roar from a wild animal grabbing their usual fun. So he loaded his musket and went quietly to the place to see if he might catch a good meal. But the hope of finding a rhino or hippo was dashed when he got close enough to see the boy. He decided to watch from a distance before making any decision that could make or mar his destiny. What must have brought such a person to a devilish place where the hope of a better life hangs in the cruel hands of fate, he wondered.

After sometime, Nihu came out of the river and went to brush his pair of boots. Soon they were clean and good to look at again. He filled his water bottle and hung his bag carefully on his back to start on his journey once again.

As he shuffled off, Old Phil followed quietly. He stole along so carefully, Nihu did not notice the old man behind him. Around a corner of the path, Nihu ran smack into a warthog making a meal out of a dead animal. The warthog charged. Nihu took to his heels, heading back to where he came from, the angry warthog in hot pursuit. Nihu thought his time had surely come. He raced, screaming to the high heavens as the warthog gradually closed on him.

Old Phil, who had seen everything shouted, “Boy! Climb any of the trees ahead of you. Just climb, the devil will retreat!” His voice sounded to Nihu as if an angel was ministering to him. He threw himself upon the next tree and climbed to the top in a hurry. He was just in time as the warthog charged up furiously. Still intending to teach Nihu a lesson, the animal began to hit the tree with all the strength he had.

As the tree shook with each ferocious hit of the warthog, Old Phil climbed another tree not too far away and took his aim at the rampaging devil. The bullet pierced its skull and the warthog roared in agonizing pain. The warthog finally bade the world goodbye at the foot of the tree after the old man sank two more bullets into his head from the same distance.

Slowly, Nihu came down from the tree. The heavily bearded old man in a coat made of animal skin approached him.

“Are you all right?” he asked the boy, stretching out his hand.

 “Yes, I am all right. Thank you for saving my life.”

“You are welcome.”

Nihu shook Phil’s hand. “Do you live here?” he asked, smiling.

Old Phil returned the smile saying, “Too early to discuss my adventures here. We shall talk when we get into a very safe place. No holy thing exists here. We have to leave this place right away. Other warthogs might soon be on the look out for this one before us. If they eventually find him here with us, it would spell doom for us. The devil in them might bring us low. Warthogs in this part of the world are brutes that are never fair with their prey. They are strong-willed, and have what it takes to bury a thousand army. So it is better to avoid them.” He got hold of the dead animal, slammed it over his shoulder, and started off.

GRAB YOUR COPY NOW!

Just then, a beastly hand came out of the tree and took hold of Nihu. He screamed and tried to shake it off. But the evil already had a firm grip on him and began to pull him into the tree. Old Phil threw the warthog down and came to battle for Nihu’s life. As Nihu wailed and cried, Phil pulled him one way, while the hand pulled him another. Finally, the old man went for his musket. He quickly buried two bullets into the hand. The wrist that grabbed the boy fell, while the other part retreated into the tree. Nihu was free, but the hand that fell began to crawl in their direction. The boy hid behind the old man as he sank two more bullets into the wayward hand, at last putting the devil to rest. Without saying a word, Old Phil got hold of the warthog and they hastened away.

They had just covered thirty yards on the bush path when they almost walked into the back of a demon standing more than thirteen feet tall. His name was Anjonu, and he was clothed in a flowing white garment. Sometimes he could appear as a dwarf covering himself with a mat and walking on the air. Hunters and farmers who entangle him never return home with good songs on their lips. Instantly, the heads of the boy and the old man began to swell. Old Phil, a quick-thinking warrior in his heyday, managed to pull Nihu and himself behind a tree. Right away, their heads returned to normal and they began to pant like a couple of terrified lizards.

          Nihu whispered, “I can’t explain what happened to my head when I set my eyes on that devil.”

 “That’s what happens when one sets eyes on him. We are very fortunate he didn’t see us.”

“Are you sure he didn’t see us? But he was standing on the road.”

“If that devil had seen us, we would have become imbeciles. That is the least of what he could do. Even the most powerful army on Earth cannot survive his onslaught.”

“Are you sure?”

          “Boy, I am very sure. Before I served in the village army, I was a proud hunter. I have plenty of experience running through this baldhead. Anyone he sees will be useless. He doesn’t even need to cast a spell before one becomes a nit.”

Nihu took a deep breath. “What do we do now?” 

“Nothing!”

“Nothing? What if he comes after us?”

“Then we would say our last prayers, while we book a passage to the silent world!”

“But you have a gun—can’t you use it on him?”

The old man chuckled. “Guns have no use against him. You can only deal with Anjonu when you follow the rules that were handed down to us by our ancestors. I expect you to know the rules. You don’t go out late at night, you don’t go to the stream on a sunny afternoon, and you have to watch your back when you go to the farm very early in the morning.”

 “Let’s try another way. Or let’s go back.”

“I can’t take that risk. Something tells me he is not out for us. You can see he is not facing this direction. That means he might soon leave.”

“How soon?”

“I don’t know. We have to wait. Patience wins the race of exploit. Whether in the farm, forest or on a market day, you can run into Anjonu very early in the morning, in the sunny afternoon or late at night.”

The explanation began to work in Nihu’s mind. Now he began to understand what he had seen that sunny afternoon he went to the farm to get the tubers of yam his father had left in a basket. He got them and decided to rush to the river to wash the tubers to take them to the market. Earlier, his father told him not to do this, for it was an abomination for anyone to go to the farm on market day. But greed and eagerness to start earning money at such a tender age led to the disastrous act. Anjonu always roamed the forest or the farm on a market day and could destroy anyone he found.

          While Nihu waited for the tubers to dry, he heard a strange sound behind him. He turned to see a short creature covered with raffia palms, whose legs were not touching the Earth, and spinning like a whirlwind. Nihu’s head began to swell. He took to his heels leaving the tubers behind.

While Nihu’s mind was still busy, remembering, old Phil tapped him, “Boy, he’s going away. My guess was right. He is not out for us.”

Nihu heaved a sigh of relief, “I was reminiscing about the encounter I had with Anjonu a few years ago. I was dumb for days afterwards. It wasn’t until after my father sacrificed a black goat and a white fowl at a three-way junction to appease the gods that I finally recovered.”

“You were very lucky. Because if he went for you, you would have been a dead person.”

          “I disobeyed my parents. I went to the farm on a market day.”

          “What? Do not do that again. Such an offense hanging on your neck, you are like a man that commits murder.”

          “My father told me that too.”

They waited quietly behind the tree until Anjonu finally walked into the forest. Then they got up and went quickly away.

No Church has Monopoly of God, by Omoruyi Uwuigiaren

Some people think that if Pastor E. A. Adeboye does not preach or lay his hands on them, their prayers will never be answered. Oh! It must be Bishop David Oyedepo or else God is not there! If W.F. Kumuyi does not preach holiness, no other person is fit to do so. But that is not Christianity because God is everywhere. Nobody has monopoly of God. The same God that healed the sick at the Holy Ghost Congress of The Redeemed Christian Church of God is the same God that used a member of a catholic church to pay the hospital bills of a sick woman. God is a miracle worker. God is not a man. He works in mysterious ways. You don’t have to belong to a particular denomination before He will reach out to you…

Against all odds, she had triplet. The family was happy until one sad morning when her husband left for work and never came back. All efforts to reach him met a brick wall. A few weeks later, he called his wife and told her that he had moved on. She is free to do whatever she likes with the kids. Sad that her lover and husband had left her with a mountain to climb, she was crushed by the cruel hands of fate. She went through the storm to raise the kids. When life is harsh, it is hard to survive. More pains and more horror enveloped the woman and her children. Sometimes, people die of tough times. Poverty kills!

While she tried to keep the kids happy and put food on the table, she took ill and was rushed to the hospital. Doctors diagnosed her. The poor woman was down with “institutional hernia” and “appendicitis”.

As her mother battled to stay alive, one of the triplets rushed to her local church (The Redeemed Christian Church of God). She met the pastor and narrated the family’s ordeal to him. The pastor and his wife looked at the poor soul and told her “IT IS WELL”. And she left the church empty handed and psychologically destroyed.

If I may ask: Why establish churches everywhere if you cannot give back to the society? According to the book of Acts, the gathering of saints is not only to meet spiritual needs. The church is also expected to feed the hungry, provide medicine and if possible provide shelter.

The idea that a church must focus on preaching the WORD of God is wrong. Jesus Christ healed the sick and also fed people in their thousands. The church finance is not entirely for the pastor. Acts 4: 41-47.

The Redeemed Christian Church never gave a dim to the triplet and the mother. People pay tithe and offering to the church, why deny them in their time of need? You don’t need to be a member of a church before the church can help you if you are genuinely in need. There are churches that look at your tithe card and financial contribution to the church before they can offer any assistance. That is absurd. However, God used some good Samaritans from a Catholic church to pay the hospital bills.

The work of God does not start and end once you can command fire to come down from heaven. God is interested in the man who can lift humanity. Some people don’t know that helping humanity is also working for God. They think the work of God starts and ends on the pulpit.

God loves a cheerful giver.