Onisegun – Another Interesting Story

The morning sun announced brightly the birth of new day, birds chirped happily on the elm tree in the backyard and the cock just freed from its cage flapped its wings noisily and raised the popular cacophony that such birds make. Alani came out through the backyard door slinging his cover-cloth around his left shoulder, chewing-stick balanced in his mouth. He glanced round to inspect the backyard that coupled as his workshop and centre for other sundry tasks. The backyard was indeed multi-purpose and Alani always insisted on making it sparkling clean every morning. The whole house had been an heirloom, a heritage that he had inherited from his father, being the only surviving male child of his parents who are both late then.

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He could still remember the lone Odan tree that had taken the whole left space of the patio. The tree had been finally cut down when its branch fell on the passing Locust-Bean Seller during the reign of king Latoogun. The king had ordered it to be cut. It took five able-bodied men five days to finally cut the mighty tree. And that girl with big bright eyes that used to play with him under the Odan tree those innocent days; Alake later grew up to be the most beautiful girl in the neighbourhood, only for the prince to come and marry her off. She is now the queen of the kingdom. Those are childhood memories that still fills him with nostalgia.

Alani is one of the most important men in the compound. As an herbalist of note, his fame surpass that of the Baale who was known widely for being stingy. And people had confidence in Alani’s sense of justice more than that of the Baale who was noted to be as greedy as he was stingy. Alani was generous to a fault, and the troop of young men that gathered every evening to drink the palm-wine he freely provided were prove of his large heart and selfless spending. This selflessness endeared many people to him. People would have preferred him to be the Baale, had Omikunle not gone to bribe the king. Offering of bribes was alien to Alani who nonetheless had no interest in becoming a chief. People had gone to him, especially the youths, to persuade him to contest but he had politely turned down their offer. He was loved and respected by all, except Omikunle the Baale who saw in him a rival and a threat.

Alani was no mere man. He was the custodian of the magic of his ancestors and the knowledge of herbs he had inherited and those he had accumulated strike fear into the spines of his enemy. Omikunle was afraid of Alani though Alani was ignorant of the hatred and scorn that Omikunle harboured for him. How can Omikunle hate him, since the said Omikunle was richer and was a chief? Alani remained friend with all and held no grudges for nobody.
Although Alake remained the girl in Alani’s mind for a very long time after her marriage but he however adjusted his affection to accommodate Awero his faithful wife and mother of his seven children.

Awero was plain, truthful and loving. She had never been found to have openly disagree with her husband and all neighbours can attest to her cheerfulness and generosity. Children flocked around her since she never failed to provide them with Dodo, Du-n-du and Kokoro whenever they visited her. Other mothers would come and carry their sleeping children at night from “Mama a Bola’s” room. Mama a Bola was Awero’s alias and that was the name she was called by all.

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