Skip to main content

The Heavy Fruit of Fate or The Perils of Oge Unwu

Image
Jụọ Ndigbo
A man preparing meal on a bonfire and two women and a boy sitting by the hut.

One late night during the planting season, known as oge unwu in Igbo land, a widow sent her only son to fetch some fire embers from a neighbor. The boy set off and decided to take a shortcut, passing under a massive breadfruit (Ụkwa) tree. As he walked beneath it, a heavy breadfruit suddenly fell from a branch, striking him on the head. The impact was fatal, and he was killed instantly.

When his mother was alerted, she was overcome with sorrow and began to wail and lament.


Gịnị g’emere m Ụkwa nooooo!

O nwa’ele ele!
Gịnị g’emere m Ụkwa nooooo!
O nwa’ele ele!
Ụkwa mere gịnị?
Ụkwa dagburu nwa-Aka n’ụkpọrọ k’ọgara ngụtara nne ya ọkụ!

Then, the Pestle divided the breadfruit. The widow started to wail and lament again:

Gịnị g’emere m Obi nooooo!
O nwa’ele ele!
Gịnị g’emere m Obi nooooo!
O nwa’ele ele!
Obi mere gịnị?
Obi mawara ụkwa.
Ụkwa mere gịnị?
Ụkwa dagburu nwa-Aka n’ụkpọrọ k’ọgara ngụtara nne ya ọkụ!

Then, the termites ate the Pestle. She started to wail and lament again:

Gịnị g’emere m Akịka nooooo!
O nwa’ele ele!
Gịnị g’emere m Akịka nooooo!
O nwa’ele ele!
Akịka mere gịnị?
Akịka tara Obi.
Obi mere gịnị?
Obi mawara ụkwa.
Ụkwa mere gịnị?
Ụkwa dagburu nwa-Aka n’ụkpọrọ k’ọgara ngụtara nne ya ọkụ! 

Then, the hen ate the termites. She began to wail and lament again:


Gịnị g’emere m Ọkụkọ nooooo!
O nwa’ele ele!
Gịnị g’emere m Ọkụkọ nooooo!
O nwa’ele ele!
Ọkụkọ mere gịnị?
Ọkụkọ tara Akịka.
Akịka mere gịnị?
Akịka tara Obi.
Obi mere gịnị?
Obi mawara ụkwa.
Ụkwa mere gịnị?
Ụkwa dagburu nwa-Aka n’ụkpọrọ k’ọgara ngụtara nne ya ọkụ! 

Then, the kite swept off the hen. She began to wail and lament again:


Gịnị g’emere m Egbe nooooo!
O nwa’ele ele!
Gịnị g’emere m Egbe nooooo!
O nwa’ele ele!
Egbe mere gịnị?
Egbe buru Ọkụkọ
Ọkụkọ mere gịnị?
Ọkụkọ tara Akịka.
Akịka mere gịnị?
Akịka tara Obi.
Obi mere gịnị?
Obi mawara ụkwa.
Ụkwa mere gịnị?
Ụkwa dagburu nwa-Aka n’ụkpọrọ k’ọgara ngụtara nne ya ọkụ! 

Then, the gun killed the kite. She began again to wail and lament:


Gịnị g’emere m Egbe nooooo!
O nwa’ele ele!
Gịnị g’emere m Egbe nooooo!
O nwa’ele ele!
Egbe mere gịnị?
Egbe gbagburu Egbe.
Egbe mere gịnị?
Egbe buru Ọkụkọ
Ọkụkọ mere gịnị?
Ọkụkọ tara Akịka.
Akịka mere gịnị?
Akịka tara Obi.
Obi mere gịnị?
Obi mawara ụkwa.
Ụkwa mere gịnị?
Ụkwa dagburu nwa-Aka n’ụkpọrọ k’ọgara ngụtara nne ya ọkụ! 

Then, the blacksmith destroyed the gun. She began to wail and lament again:


Gịnị g’emere m Ụzụ nooooo!
O nwa’ele ele!
Gịnị g’emere m Ụzụ nooooo!
O nwa’ele ele!
Ụzụ mere gịnị?
Ụzụ tijiri Egbe.
Egbe mere gịnị?
Egbe gbagburu Egbe.
Egbe mere gịnị?
Egbe buru Ọkụkọ
Ọkụkọ mere gịnị?
Ọkụkọ tara Akịka.
Akịka mere gịnị?
Akịka tara Obi.
Obi mere gịnị?
Obi mawara ụkwa.
Ụkwa mere gịnị?
Ụkwa dagburu nwa-Aka n’ụkpọrọ k’ọgara ngụtara nne ya ọkụ! 

Then, death killed the blacksmith. She once again began to wail and lament:


Gịnị g’emere m Ọnwụ nooooo!
O nwa’ele ele!
Gịnị g’emere m Ọnwụ nooooo!
O nwa’ele ele!
Ọnwụ mere gịnị?
Ọnwụ gburu Ụzụ.
Ụzụ mere gịnị?
Ụzụ tijiri Egbe.
Egbe mere gịnị?
Egbe gbagburu Egbe.
Egbe mere gịnị?
Egbe buru Ọkụkọ
Ọkụkọ mere gịnị?
Ọkụkọ tara Akịka.
Akịka mere gịnị?
Akịka tara Obi.
Obi mere gịnị?
Obi mawara ụkwa.
Ụkwa mere gịnị?
Ụkwa dagburu nwa-Aka n’ụkpọrọ k’ọgara ngụtara nne ya ọkụ!

Finally, God took death. And nothing happens to God.

Morals

This narrative carries several important morals:

The Dangers of Taking Shortcuts: The boy’s decision to take a shortcut led to his untimely death. This highlights the potential risks and unforeseen consequences of taking shortcuts in life.

The Unpredictability of Life: The sudden and tragic accident underscores how life can be unpredictable and how unforeseen events can drastically change our lives.

Parental Caution and Responsibility: The story also suggests the importance of parental caution. The widow’s sorrow indicates the deep responsibility parents feel for their children’s safety.

Respect for Nature: The incident with the breadfruit tree serves as a reminder of the power and unpredictability of nature, emphasizing the need for respect and caution when interacting with the natural world.

These morals collectively teach us about the importance of caution, the unpredictability of life, and the responsibilities we have towards ourselves and others. 

Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

Akwụkwọ ozi ndọrọ ndọrọ Nigeria (or the Allegory of Nigerian Politics)

Jụọ Ndigbo
Outline: Politishanụ gbagọrọ agbagọ na Politishanụ ziri ezi The English translation Meaning Usefulness Implications Politishanụ gbagọrọ agbagọ na Politishanụ ziri ezi M ga-ekerịta akwụkwọ ozi metụtara ma ụwa gị na nke m. Ọ bụghị  sọsọ nke gị; Ọ dabere na ụwa ị si. M na-ekwu na "Onye ọ bụla amịkpurula." Ọ dịghị onye gbanarịrị mpu nke ndị ahụ Nigeria bụzị. Ọ ga-eju m anya ma ọ bụrụ na ị mataghị na ị bụ akụkụ nke nsogbu a maara dị ka Nigeria. Akwụkwọ ozi ndọrọ ndọrọ Nigeria, gosiri otu anyị si metọọ aka anyị n’ure nke n’osiri ike ịmata ọdịiche dị n'etiti ihe ruru alu n’ihe kwụ ọtọ. Lee ya ebe a: O nwere otu nwoke gbagọrọ agbagọ, ebiri n'ụlọ mgbagọrọ agbagọ. Ọ lụrụ nwunye gbagọrọ agbagọ, ma nweekwa ụmụaka gbagọrọ agbagọ. Ọ na-eyi uwe gbagọrọ agbagọ, ma na-asụ asụsụ gbagọrọ agbagọ. O nwere ụgbọ ala gbagọrọ agbagọ, n’agba n'okporo ụzọ gbagọrọ agbagọ. O biri ndụ gbagọrọ agbagọ, ma nwụọ ọnwụ gbagọrọ agbagọ. Ọ gbagọrọ n’ihe niile banyere ya.   Onye a...
Continue reading »

Echoes of Corruption: The Fall of Maazi Ebuka and the Triumph of Justice – A Nigerian Tale

Jụọ Ndigbo
Overview This Igbo drama, Ikuku Kuo Ahụ ike Okụkọ , authored by Stanley – Obilor Stella and published by God’s Eagle Publishers in 2017, centers around Maazi Ebuka, a wealthy man from Umuoma town. His wealth stemmed solely from the mass production and distribution of counterfeit medicines. Maazi Ebuka’s illicit activities continued unabated until his associates sold the fake medicines to a policewoman whose child was ill. Tragically, the adulterated medicine led to the child’s death. The policewoman, leveraging her influence and authority, swiftly sought justice. Maazi Ebuka and his accomplices were apprehended and subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment. While incarcerated, Maazi Ebuka’s son squandered his father’s fortune through a lavish lifestyle, depleting it within a few months.  A man in cuffs and two officers Outline for Writing About the Author’s Experiences: Preface: Incorporating Igbo Proverbs Public Perception Sourcing Genuine Medicines for Counterfeiting Devel...
Continue reading »

Ụkpana Okpoko buru, ntị chiri ya (A Grasshopper that was carried away by 'a wild bird' is Deaf)

Jụọ Ndigbo
Nke a bụ ilu ma bụrụkwa okwu n'ala Igbo. Ihe ọpụtara riri nne. Ị nwer'ike sụgharịa ya n'ụz'ọlemọle. Ọmụm'atụ ụfọdụ bụ: 'Nkwụcha abụrọ ụjọ.' 'Mberede nyịrị dike.' 'Eme ngwangwa emeghara ọdachi.' Okwu ndịa n'egosi ka ndi-Igbo si eche echiche. Nwoke m'ọbụ nwanyị bụ onye-Igbo ñụzụrụ ara anaghị eme ihe ọ bụla m'ọbụrụ n'ocheghi ya eche. Ya ga'eji asị n'ụmụ Igbo n'eji anya agb'ogige ebe ọ bụla ha nọ, ihe ọ bụla ha n'eme, nkata ọ bụla ha n'akpa. Makana onye n'ekwughi k'ọha, e buru ya bufee obi nna ya. Ọzọ dịka ibe ya wee bụrụ na-ijiji n'enweghi onye ndụmọdụ n'eso ozu aba n'ili. Iji kwu eziokwu, onwekwazịrị ndị enyere ezi ndụmọdụ ma ha jụrụ ịnara ya. Ajụjụ ị g'ajụ onwe gị taa bụ: abụ m ụkpana, k'abụ m ijiji? Lezienu anya, ka m kọrọ gị ihe ụkpana na ijiji mere. Ụkpana na Ijiji tiri n'aka k'amata onye nkpakpa ọga akpa g'aka emetụta ndị mmad...
Continue reading »