A voice, calm and soothing, spoke from behind, “Hello Akombo”. He turned and saw a snake, green as the vegetation it was coiled in, almost invisible. “Who are you?” Akombo quivered, attempting to back away. Even as he spoke, the young man was shocked that a dangerous animal like a snake could have the power of speech.
“I am Ikyarem.”
“Oh, Ikyarem … I have heard of you”, he was suddenly relaxed. Ikyarem, according to legend, was a benevolent serpent who saved people in distress. Akombo had always been one to sense the presence of spirits and the forces of the supernatural so it was not all too surprising when the serpent told Akombo that he had been chosen by the spirits for a specific role. However, what he’d been chosen for came as a surprise to him; deciding who the new King of Spirits was going to be.
Tired of all the fighting to claim the title, one of the gods, Esu, suggested a novel way of choosing who the new king would be. Any of the spirits who wanted to become king would declare his intention to all in a gathering and then the rest of the spirits were to choose who they wanted by casting cowry shells. Whoever had the most cowry shells would become the new King. Akombo’s role in this process was to count.
“So, do you accept? You will be greatly rewarded.”
Akombo didn’t dilly-dally about the matter. He thought the spirits were truly wise to come up with this new way of choosing their leader, and he was eager to see how the proceedings would play out. Maybe he could introduce it to his kinsmen when he returned.
“I accept, Ikyarem. It would be an honour. I have one question though, why pick a mortal to count the cowry shells? Couldn’t one of the spirits do it?”
“I suggested that a mortal be the one to count because the spirits squabbled among themselves over who would do the counting. There is very little trust among us. You will get to see that very soon.”
“Oh ok… When should we depart?”
“Meet me here by twilight and I will take you to the land of the spirits.”
“As you say, Ikyarem.”
The snake slithered into the greenery and vanished.
Akombo went back home, ate, had a bath, and returned to the spot where he’d met the snake, eager for the journey ahead. He saw Ikyarem crawl out from the bushes, a darker green in the waning light of the sun, then it looked up at him and said: “Close your eyes and count to ten, then we will be in the land of the spirits.”
He did as he was told, “One, two, three, four…,” and when he opened his eyes, he was in a strange land. The ground was covered in deep red sand and the trees were much bigger and taller than any he’d seen before. In fact, everything looked much bigger, the moon was a white, fat melon in the night sky and the stars burned brighter than he had ever seen them shine.
Ikyarem crawled forward and Akombo followed, until they got to a roofless, large round structure, with smooth walls like the back of a calabash. He heard chatter coming from within. “This place is called Onokoni, the meeting place of the spirits. You will inform them of your acceptance of your role in the selection of a new King.”
“I see.” He wondered what the spirits would say.
“Now put me on your shoulder and enter.” Despite Akombo’s misgivings about placing a snake on his shoulder, even if it was one known for its benevolence, he lifted Ikyarem and placed the serpent on his left shoulder where it coiled and balanced.
He entered the building and was introduced by Ikyarem. They were all here, spirits he had heard about in tales beneath the moonlight, in songs during burials, in chants during births. There were also others he didn’t recognise. He could see pale humanoid beings, fat scaly creatures, a two-headed, gigantic spirit, a spirit covered in vines with about five different eyeballs in between them, among others.
A human-like spirit was addressing the crowd. It wore a long, striped robe and a hat that went round his head and stretched upwards, neatly divided in the middle by two colours, red on the left and black on the right. This was Esu, the architect of the new selection process.
He turned to Akombo and explained the process, adding that he would do the counting alone, without help from any of the spirits, but he was allowed to make one significant change to the counting process if he so wished. Then he introduced the candidates for the position of King of Spirits; Sango, Mami Wata and Kure, the Great Hyena.
Akombo saw Sango, muscular with fiery eyes and a cocky smile, wearing a black loin cloth. His chiselled face bore a rugged handsomeness that exuded charisma and danger. His skin was the rich brown of polished copper and his muscles flexed as he walked. He had a battle axe in his right hand, perhaps to show that he was always ready for a challenge.
Next, Akombo saw a beautiful woman, her skin fair and smooth like a mango just before peak ripeness, soft yet firm. She wore a sparkling green cloth around her breasts and another round her waist. Her waist was also adorned with coral beads, while a huge necklace made of colourful seashells sat on her neck. The most surprising accessory on her though, was the large boa, hanging from her shoulders down to her waist. Its skin was greenish yellow with large black circles. She was beautiful yet terrifying at the same time.
Then he saw the third spirit, a huge Hyena-like creature, walking into the centre of the room. this spirit’s fur was brown but adorned with black spots. Its legs were massive and muscular. It was called Kure the Great Hyena; it was the first to speak.
“I greet you all, divine eminences. I come here to declare my interest in becoming the new King of Spirits. I have one complaint, however. The three of us are mighty spirits, and it only goes to show that might is necessary for leadership. I propose that only mighty spirits be allowed to choose who the next King is. I don’t see why a minor spirit, like Ikyarem over there,” he pointed at the serpent, “should be part of the process. They amount to nothing. It would be laughable for them to have a say.”
The assembly went into an uproar, some spirits agreed while others expressed indignation.
Sango said “Are you worried, Kure, that you will not find any support from the minor spirits, whom you have bullied and hunted before? You are afraid of losing, aren’t you?”
The Hyena growled at the thunder god.
Mami Wata raised her hands up and said; “Everybody calm down. It is true that the minor spirits are weak but that is no reason why they shouldn’t make their choice. They outnumber the greater spirits and you should remember, Kure, that there is strength in numbers.”
“Hmmph!”
“So, it is agreed that the minor spirits will also cast their cowries,” Esu said, turning to face Kure.
The Hyena looked at the gathering and could see the anger in the eyes of a lot of the spirits.
“Yes, fine! They can participate. However, I have another condition. A spirit shall only become king if they get more cowry shells than the other two combined.”
The gathering went into another uproar. Surely this was a ploy. The Hyena knew he couldn’t win because he was not liked by the smaller spirits so he wanted to make sure that nobody won.
“Keep quiet!!! All of you, keep quiet and listen to me! If the winner doesn’t have more supporters than the other two combined, what happens if the losers and their supporters come together and attack the winner?! We will be back to square one, where fighting decides the King!” the Hyena grinned, knowing that he had made a good point.
Sango took his hand to his chin and considered what Kure had said. Mami Wata just looked on with a subtle smile on her face. The spirits murmured among themselves, then an ogbanje raised a hand. “I greet you all, and I have to agree with Kure. The winner must have a greater majority than the other two so that it doesn’t become a battle between all. We can agree that if nobody wins the selection process, another will be conducted.”
Esu addressed the gathering, “do you all agree?”
The majority cry was a resounding “Yes!”
It was decided. The winner had to get more cowries than the other two combined.
Ikyarem spoke:
“There is one more matter. Akombo has a very important role and it is possible that he will be exposed to danger, he will need to be protected for the period in which he will be here, and also the three spirits must swear not to harm him.”
The Hyena growled.
The god of thunder smiled.
The queen of the waters maintained her expression.
Then Sango said “That is a good idea. Who can protect Akombo while he carries out his duties? Whichever spirit is strong enough will be rewarded for protecting the mortal.”
Silence reigned in the hall, as the spirits looked at each other or elsewhere.
“I will do it; I will protect the mortal.” Everyone turned to the source of the voice. It was Egbonkeke, a spirit that looked like a woman. She was tall and muscular, her skin the colour of loamy soil. She wore a green lacy blouse and a skimpy skirt made entirely of coral beads. Sounds filled the hall as spirits spoke in hushed tones. Akombo asked Ikyarem who she was, and Ikyarem told him that she was a fearsome spirit but to some she was a protector. With her as his protector, he was in safe hands… Probably.
“It is decided then, Egbonkeke will protect the mortal,” Esu announced.
Kure added, “But know this, you must protect him with your life. If he dies and you’re still alive, I will kill you personally and eat your heart. Hahahahaha!”
Sango smiled and said “you are just horrible Kure, but I agree. If Egbonkeke fails to protect the mortal, she will die. That is the only way to make sure she takes the job seriously.”
Mami Wata said nothing.
“I accept to protect him with my life, and I expect my reward to be plentiful.”
“Of course,” Esu said then brought out three kolanuts.
“Each of you must swear not to harm Akombo during his stay in the spirit world. Come, take a kolanut and eat to be bound by your oath.”
Each of them took a kolanut, swore not to harm Akombo and proceeded to eat the nut.
“It is done then; the selection process will be carried out tomorrow night. The gathering has come to an end.”
The spirits left the hall, some flew out, others vanished and the rest walked out. Akombo and Ikyarem also departed, accompanied by Egbonkeke.
I’m sure you’re hungry and tired. We can go to the Feasting Hall and thereafter to the lodgings that have been prepared for you to sleep. No harm will come to you now and you can carry out your duty without fear.”
“That is reassuring, I can’t wait to be a part of it all,” Akombo could hardly contain his excitement as he thought of how each spirit will cast a cowry shell for the one deity they want to become king.
They were on a red trail that led to a structure which looked like a giant pot that had been turned upside down and affixed into the earth. Its colour was a washed grey, and the surface was designed with rows of shapes and dots, mostly squiggles and arrowheads. This was the Feasting Hall, where spirits often gathered to eat.
Beside the entrance, someone was waiting for them. It was Kure.
“Come behind quickly, Akombo.” Egbonkeke ordered and stepped in front of him, taking a fighter’s pose.
“Relax, my dear Gbon. I just want to have a chat with him. I swore with kola that I would not hurt him so there is nothing to worry about.”
“This is highly irregular Kure, you shouldn’t be meeting with Akombo in such a manner—”
“Shut up worm, just because you brought him from the land of mortals doesn’t mean you suddenly have the power to talk to me in this way. I swore not to harm Akombo but you are a completely different matter. Now mortal, I intend to win the crown, you like meat, right? I know your people love eating meat a lot. Well, if you make me win somehow, I will provide you with all the bush meat you can imagine until the day you die.
“You will have a lifetime supply of all the meat you know and even the ones you don’t know. Antelope, grasscutter, pheasant, hippo, buffalo. I am the Great Hyena and I can bring it all for you. So, is it a deal?”
Akombo was tempted by the magnitude of the hyena’s promise. A lifetime supply of bush meat would certainly make his life easier. He could become a chief in his village, marry many wives, have a lot of property, and gain enormous respect from his peers.
“Thank you, but I will have to decline your offer Great Hyena. I am only com—”
“you’re a fool”, Kure said and left. Ikyarem saw him leave and knew he made a mistake. He should have added more conditions for the candidates to abide by. Who knows what other plans they would come up with? Extra care was necessary, going forward because there wouldn’t be any other gathering until the selection process.
They entered the feasting hall and Akombo saw a lot of enticing delicacies, some were familiar but the vast majority were not. Their strangeness didn’t reduce the desirability of the meals, the aroma alone was out of this world, literally.
“Don’t eat anything unless I tell you it’s good for you; you understand?”
“I hear you,” Akombo replied.
Egbonkeke went around and came back with a tray of pounded yam and some kind of soup filled with a lot of meat. Akombo stared longingly at the soup, and maybe Egbonkeke interpreted his gaze as suspicion because she said:
“Don’t worry, none of the meat there is human.”
Akombo suddenly bore a shocked expression on his face. Ikyarem assured him that he was in no danger and added “Enjoy the feast. I have some business to attend to.” Then he slid down from Akombo’s shoulder and crawled into the crowd of diners. The spirits were animated, talking about the selection process and who they would drop their cowry for. An Orisha said it would vote for Sango because he was strong and confident while an ndem was of the opinion that Mami Wata was the better candidate.
Ikyarem heard them as he slithered between them, getting an idea of who was the popular choice and trying to determine how the results could turn out. Suddenly he was grabbed by an Anjenu who asked him: “tell us Ikyarem, who would you prefer to become the king of spirits?”
He paused a bit then said “In the interest of all spirits I think Mami Wata would be the best. She acknowledged the strength of us minor spirits because we have the greater number. As a result, I believe she will most likely treat us favourably.”
The hall was quiet as spirits mulled over what the serpent said, even the Orisha that had previously indicated support for Sango seemed to be reconsidering its stance. After a moment the hall became lively again with talk of the selection process.
After the meal, they walked out of the hall where they were approached by Sango. “Mortal, it is an honourable thing you are doing. You should be proud of yourself but don’t follow the rules too strictly or you might get enemies you would rather not have. Some may bear a grudge if the outcome of the selection process doesn’t go in their favour. Make a wise choice.”
Was this a subtle threat? It certainly appeared that way and a threat from a spirit, no a god, was not something to take lightly. Akombo thought these things, but said instead, “Great Sango, your words are truly wise, however for the sake of the spirits and as you have said, this is an honourable duty. I must obey the rules fully, whoever is chosen must be made king as the rules dictate.”
The god frowned almost imperceptibly then smiled, “An appropriate answer, mortal. We shall see how things turn out and if you made the right choice.” With that, he turned and left.
The spirits are truly untrustworthy Akombo realised, remembering Ikyarem’s words earlier.
#
Akombo and his companions headed to the place that had been arranged for his slumber. The moon shone brightly above but the trees in the forest they were passing through were tall and grappled with the moonlight, creating an ethereal effect of pale light and shadow. Suddenly, Egbonkeke stopped.
“Is there a problem?” Akombo looked at her.
“We are being followed.”
Akombo turned around but saw nobody, Ikyarem stuck his tongue in the air for a few seconds then said: “you’re right. There’s three of them, two are by the side and one is directly behind us.”
“Come out! We know you’re there. What do you want?”
From the left, a noise startled them, when they looked, they saw a diminutive humanlike creature, it was covered in black gruel from head to toe. And it was smiling in a childish, mischievous manner. From the right appeared a pale man in tattered clothes, a deadpan expression on his face. And right behind them, a tree creaked, then croaked, and its branches became animated as if they were arms. Its bark cracked open in two places and within the crevices, Akombo saw… eyes?
“These are our attackers? A bush baby, a dead man and a tree spirit?”
The tree spirit spoke through another, longer fissure beneath the two that served as its eyes: “you don’t want to obey the demands of someone very powerful, and there are consequences for that, mortal. Heeheehee.”
The bush baby vomited the same black goo that covered its body just as Egbonkeke grabbed Akombo and jumped on a tree. The dead man vanished and appeared on one of the branches of the same tree, close to Akombo. He stretched out his hand to grab Akombo but Egbonkeke kicked the branch the dead man was on and he fell. He vanished before he hit the ground and appeared beside the tree spirit.
“Hold onto the tree tightly, I have to go and fight these spirits!”
“Will you be alright alone?” Ikyarem asked.
“I am Egbonkeke the terrifying, you don’t have to worry about me.” She smiled devilishly then jumped down and landed directly in front of the tree spirit. The spirit pulled its roots from the ground, the roots were clumped together in two pillars which served as its legs. The tree took a swing at Egbonkeke but she jumped to dodge it. Almost immediately, the bush baby spat some is its goo on the ground where she was going to land. Her feet fell into the goo and got stuck. The bush baby laughed hysterically.
“Now go and get the mortal, dead man whose touch brings death!” The dead man said nothing but looked at Akombo up in the tree. He vanished again and appeared on another branch just above his quarry.
Moaning as if he was hurt, the dead man stretched his hand out to strike but Ikyarem told Akombo to jump and as Akombo did, Ikyarem grew larger in size and acted as a cushion for him. The serpent was as large as a tree now and with Akombo on its back, it slithered away. The dead man looked at them languidly, as if trying to determine how close to them he should appear. The bush baby ran after them. Egbonkeke by now had gotten angry, and it showed. Her muscles flexed, her hair grew longer and became pitch black, swirling on their own like living strings. Her face broadened and her mouth widened, her teeth grew sharp and pointy. With immense force, she yanked one foot out of the goo and placed it on bare soil then did the same to the other.
Now free, she jumped through the air after the bush baby. It turned around too late as she kicked it into a tree with such strength that it became a mass of black goo on the tree trunk. The tree spirit and the dead man stood side by side ready to attack. Ikyarem told Akombo to get down because he would have to fight alongside Egbonkeke if they were to survive the night. Akombo asked him if he could win but the serpent said he had made his choice and that was most important.
Ikyarem slithered towards the tree spirit and coiled around it, binding it in place, the tree spirit dug into his flesh with its branches but Ikyarem tightened the embrace. The dead man appeared before Akombo, ready to strike but Egbonkeke kicked him away. The force of the kick tore the dead man in half but somehow it merged his body back together.
Standing up, the dead man moaned and ran towards them.
“You’re a dead man but you’re still just a mortal who was brought back to life. Do you know how many mortals I have killed?! Tens of thousands!” Akombo looked at Egbonkeke, aghast at her words, she caught his eyes briefly, then looked back at the dead man. “I will show you my true power!”
Her hair shot out towards the dead man and wrapped itself around him, then she stepped forward, nails as long as daggers, and grabbed the dead man’s head. She said some incantations and then crushed his skull. Her hair then let go of the corpse and it fell to the ground with a thud.
Egbonkeke turned her attention to the tree spirit and Ikyarem.
The tree spirit had dealt the snake a lot of blows and it looked like it probably wouldn’t last long. She jumped up to what counted as the tree’s face. Digging her nails into its bark she plunged her hand into the left eye which gushed out sticky brown liquid. The tree spirit screamed and its branches tried to grab Egbonkeke but she kicked at them, jumping off the branches and at a point along Ikyarem’s body. Her target was the other eye.
A branch struck her but she held on to it and from it jumped to the tree’s trunk, digging her long nails into it. She was close to the second eye now and she dug her right hand just beneath the second eye, and then she reached upwards. Again, a stream of sticky brown liquid flowed out, but this time, the tree spirit had been blinded. Ikyarem uncoiled himself from the tree’s writhing body and shrunk back to its regular size.
Egbonkeke picked Ikyarem up and turned away as the tree spirit thrashed about in pain. They met up with Akombo and continued their journey to where he would spend the night. She advised that Akombo stay in his lodgings till the night of the selection because it was unlikely that he would be attacked there.
The night they were waiting for arrived finally and Egbonkeke escorted Akombo and Ikyarem into the hall. Ikyarem told Akombo that he had a choice to make since he would be the only one in the hall to count, he had the ultimate power to decide what the results would be. Akombo felt the weight of the burden placed on him and was troubled, he had to think of something.
The spirits lined up outside the hall to cast their cowries in either of three calabashes, one had a carving of a fish, the other a hyena and the third, a lightning bolt. Esu announced that the process had begun and the spirits trooped in and out, placing a cowry shell in a calabash of their choice.
In about 3 human hours the casting of the shells was over and time for counting was to begin. Akombo thought hard about how he would use the power he had been given to make a significant change in the counting process. He decided to amend the rule by bringing the three calabashes out to where the spirits were gathered and in full view started to count: one cowry, two cowries, three cowries, four…
All the spirits saw the process of counting and all saw who had won. He made the announcement that Mami Wata had the most cowries and more than those of Kure and Sango combined. She was the new King, no… Queen of Spirits.
“I refuse! I refuse! This calls for war! I’m supposed to be the King!” the protest came from Sango and as he said the words, clouds teeming with flashes of lightning gathered. He was ready for the old ways, for war!
“Hahahaha! You see! That’s why I suggested that extra rule. You supported this new selection process Sango, and now you want to discard it? You want to fight us all because you don’t like the results? You can’t even take me on alone, not to talk of me and Mami Wata combined. Now look at all the spirits ready to defend their choice, how many can you alone fight?! Hahahaha!” the voice of Kure rang through the crowd of spirits.
The spirits looked at Sango and he looked at them, he saw in their eyes the readiness to protect their choice and to protect the process. He grimaced as his pride was wounded but ultimately, he relented, dissipating the dark clouds. The spirits shouted in joy over the success of this new form of selection, it was as if they were in control of their destiny for the first time.
Mami Wata thanked the spirits for choosing her and made her first proclamation as Queen, no spirit was to harm Akombo for as long as he lived. The spirits cheered in support, they respected and applauded Akombo’s forthrightness. Mami Wata also gave him a charm, in the form of a fishbone which could be used to catch any water creature and a pebble which protected him from harm whenever he held it.
“You did a fine job as a counter, mortal,” Egbonkeke said.
“Thank you, you also did a good job protecting me,” Akombo replied. She nodded and left.
With his duty done Akombo was taken back to the land of mortals by Ikyarem.
“Count to ten.”
“one, two, three, four…”
And he was back to the spot where he first met Ikyarem, the snake was in front of him and so he asked just before it left: “Ikyarem you risked your life to save me and to make sure the process went well. Do you really have that much faith in this new way of selecting your leader?”
“Yes Akombo, I truly believe that this new way is for the best. We minor spirits can finally be recognised by the major ones. And for now, only the major spirits are brave enough to indicate their interests but, someday, maybe even a minor spirit like me can become king.”
“Oh, I see, I hope it happens. Goodbye Ikyarem.”
“Goodbye, Akombo.”
They parted ways and Akombo walked home with Ikyarem’s words ringing in his head.
THE END.
