‘Did you say you are from Umunnachi?’
‘Yes.’
‘You must know Okpa Ime-Odu.’
I know Okpaa from stories. It is a powerful Deity in my town whose slogan is: ‘O bulu na nwanyi fu m yara i gba oso, atuba m nwoke ime.’
(If a woman sees me and fails to flee, I will impregnate a man.)
All my life, I have never considered the reality behind this brag until I met this stranger in a welder’s workshop.
‘Eiii!’ he screamed. ‘That deity is everything scary. I saw it and my head swelled. For months, I could not take its image off my head.’
And he shared his encounter with Okpa Ime-Odu.
A wealthy Umunnachi man returned from overseas and decided to build a house. He engaged a tractor to clear his piece of land. While they were working, a local farmer went to his house with a complaint.
‘Your tractor is encroaching in my own little farm. You are exceeding your boundary.’
The wealthy man ignored the farmer and continued with his land clearing. The farmer visited the wealthy man’s kinsmen who could not stop the intrusion.
Returning to his farm, the farmer noticed that labourers were already digging the foundation for the fence in his farm. He tried to stop them, but under the Wealthy man’s instruction, he was overpowered and the work continued.
The next morning, the labourers called the Wealthy Man.
‘Oga, come o. There is something you need to see.’
‘I am not around. I will be back before mid-day.’
‘Then, we have to wait till you return.’
‘Wait? You should be laying the blocks. No living being can stop you.’
‘Oga, this one pass living being. Come and see with your own eyes.’
Leaving all his appointments, Oga ran back to his site. And behold, a native priest was on his land, and beside him was the dreadful, horrible-looking Okpa Imo-Odu.
The narrator, who was a part of the team that was erecting the fence, said that for the first time in his life, he saw a dark man change into green. The sight of Okpaa Ime-Odu sent fire and brimestone down Oga's spine. He had never imagined that such an imposing statue exist anywhere in the universe.
The presence of Okpa Ime-Odu has already created a scene. The Priest of the dreadful God identified the man immediately.
‘This is for you. All you have to do is: say before Okpaa that every part of the land you cleared is yours; and we will take Okpaa back to His shrine. Just say it.’
You know, men do not know how to settle dispute amicably until a fly perches on their scrotum. Still too afraid to speak, his kinsmen took him by the side, and most probably enlightened him on what he was about to do.
He asked for the poor farmer, and the Priest plainly told him that they represent the farmer, hence, he should say whatever he wants to tell the farmer to them. He told the farmer to show him the boundary, that he was willing to settle.
Funny creatures. He thought that would be the end. The priest taught him the tradition. The Deity cannot just leave His abode to yours and you send Him back without some rites. In the list of what the deity went back with was a big Ram, and the man fulfilled it.
Fear no gree Oga to continue his dream project. He left the field and ran back to Oyibo man’s country; yes, he found something his money could not buy - the ultimate protector of the poor.
Had he sworn the oath - and if the legend is true - Okpaa will not only kill him but will also kill all his kinsmen that knew the truth and didn’t say it. Okpa will continue clearing all his relatives until He is appeased.
At the involvement of a powerful deity, Oga - or any oppressor in Igbo land - loses his willpower to decide. His kinsmen, who also will inherit the blow of the gods, must get involved to exonerate themselves. Yes, at the involvement of Alusi, all the hidden truth must be let loose.
And I tell you, had the farmer reported Mr Wealthy Man to the church or Mosque or to other foreign gods, Oga and his kinsmen wouldn’t lose a night sleep. It took only a God he fears to persuade him.
This is the general case of every Igbo man. We know what and who to fear.
Ozii Baba Anieto
Ajambele
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