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MELANIN
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Black coal
Black scar
Black scale
Black and lovely melanin
You are as tough as a coal
Like a scar you have marked me a spot
among the cloud
Your hardness has taught me hardship and
endurance under the scorching fire of the yellow glow
Black and lovely melanin
You made me weak
You make me strong
You made me sad
You make me happy
You are a great gift from the world's
blacksmith
Of the colors in the world you are
greatness
Black and lovely melanin
From you the black smith of the world
refined and nurtured me into a lustrous gem
I will love and cherish you forever.
Black coal
Black scar
Black scale
Black and lovely melanin
-Anthony. O. Godwin
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ADA PRIDE OF ALAOCHA (BK 1) PROLOGUE
Her heart skipped a beat.The softness of his lips brushed on her hungry cheek and sent a chill down her spine. It clouds her whole body with an intense feeling that almost overpowered her. Nothing in the world mattered for she was lost in his arms, hoping above all that this fleeting moment would last forever. The desire boiling inside her threw her into this misery that she held him tightly, afraid that letting go would mean losing him forever.The night was formless and empty, too quiet that it let the thumping sound of his chest to cover the silent peace. She could make out his muscular features, not with her eyes, but with the trace of her body on his.“You said you will tell me about the Igwe’s Ofor today.” He whispered in her ear and pulled away from her.They still held hands but the slide distance separating them, created an agony in her stomach and she found herself pulling hi
ADA PRIDE OF ALAOCHA (BK 1) CHAPTER 1
The men watched as the Diviner circled another series of dance steps. The beads, and cowries that clothed her, oscillated, and swerved in rhythm to the wooden gong that vibrated the serenity of the cold night, whose handler was a ghost in the scene. Sulugede, the dance was so-called. It was, it is and will always be the dance of the spirit.Drunk and possessed by the spirit of the ancestors, the diviner paused and started making gestures with her two hands. The numerous beads lining her wrist jingled with the cowries and both followed their wearer without complaint.The musical beat of the wooden gong has ceased and the diviner had also paused, listening to the air, trying to pay heed to their advice.Nobody spoke, nobody dared to speak, for this was one of those moments when the diviner and the spirit of the dead interact.“Let the child that wrestle with the father be put to shame” she began the incantation, with a voice which cracked
ADA PRIDE OF ALAOCHA (BK 1) CHAPTER 2
Ada couldn’t help but smile. Her grip was steady on the broom but she was lost in her little world, to notice the rising dust and the cold harmattan wind.The pattern of her heartbeat had changed long before now. It always does whenever the thought of him pops into her memory.It’s been two days now, yet she still felt his hands strong on her waist, almost as if they were still there. She could feel that glorious tinkling on the back of her head and his words—which carries her world, to that rosy bed where the problems of the outside world could never be remembered—still echoes in her ears. His arms, ironed with battle scars, were unimaginably soft. The strength in them brought home that longing comfort that Ada couldn’t resist, but cling on to. How long has it been since she felt something similar for someone else?Never.Ada giggled when she remembered the first time they first met. It was at Ogba River. He had
ADA PRIDE OF ALAOCHA (BK 1) CHAPTER 3
The day’s chores had eaten deeply into the evening, and now what was left from the light of the sun, tubes in any directions through the trees’ leaf and grasses, into the river, reflecting bright warm lights and faint rainbow colors. The melodies of the arboreal initially clouding the air, were now retiring to their nests, but the cold harmattan wind seemed anew and prevalent.Ada sat on the cold sand and watched in wonder as her friend immersed herself into the water again. Her head which was the only thing afloat, suspended the dark hair, like fine trends of delicate motile tentacles. Until fifteen to sixteen feet above the surface, the river was bottomless, but Chinwe always maintains her upthrust, like the professional she is.Female swimmers are rare in Alaocha; most people believe that unless one was gifted by the goddess of the seas and rivers— Idemili—they could not go to places in the river where the depth was cupped.The s
ADA PRIDE OF ALAOCHA (BK 1) CHAPTER 4
The sound of the ikoro (wooden gong), percolated the quiet, pale moon night, following the cheerful cries of the people and giving warmth to the cold harmattan air. The dancers filed themselves in a single column, dancing to the melody of the beat. The jidida on their frictionless waist were shaking vigorously with their body, creating a vibe in the air, and life on the face of the audience. Naked children were roaming playfully and joyfully amid the cold, with the full moon smiling at them; a day like this could not be spent on the lone arms of the bed.The monarchs sat at the far end, spreading their subject with happy smiles, especially those who rained longevity and presented gifts to them. A pat on the back from the King’s Ofor, left those of them who hadn’t come this close to the king, to shower endless praise and thanks to the gods of the land, as if they had just been granted access to see the maker.The King’s cabinet members sat on a b
ADA PRIDE OF ALAOCHA (BK 1) CHAPTER 5
A huge torch of yellow fire, as large as five average men placed on top of each other, lay resting now, on the center of the circle, to commemorate the blazing kindness of the gods of the land. The jamboree and songs of the people blast the night with melody. The drums, the Ogene (metal gong), the xylophone and every sweet talking instruments, played so well, that the burning woods joined the harmony as they gave out fairies of floating sparks. The festival had taken another turn as those who were not gyrating, were drinking or making bolus from the pounded yam, and swallowing the round ball, after covering it with the sauce of the egwusi soup. No running children to disturb the dancers, every one of them were busy gulping any edible delicacy they could lay hands on.Ada was tilting her head over the crowd, trying to find the loose black hair of her friend. There were oceans of black hair here, but she knew how to pick out Chinwe’s, from the crowd anytime. Just find the
ADA PRIDE OF ALAOCHA (BK 1) CHAPTER 6
“Who walk in the comfort of the night? Show yourself or I will strike you with my spear, the gods stake me if I miss the first blow,” The hardened voice of one of the night’s guard bellowed. There were five of them visible by the gloomy yellow torches, which lined the two hands of the narrow road, driving the shadows behind the palm trees which also stood as pavement. One would be a fool to think that the five guards were all there is. No one knows actually, but stories have it that the night’s guard are hundreds, most of whom were hiding in stations where the eyes cannot see. Other stories have it that some of the night guards are spirit born, who do not take titles or household names. That they are simply born out of the mercies of the night, to protect the Ofor, which was and still is the mantle of leadership in the kingdom. All these stories, told to children, most of them told by parent or village raconteur, who probably have never seen a night guard all
ADA PRIDE OF ALAOCHA (BK 1) CHAPTER 7
It was the dimples on those smooth cheeks and the way she speaks that he admired the most. Those whistling words that are always soothing to a grudging heart. No, that was not it; she had acted rudely last night when he presented his humble proposal. Okay, maybe it’s a far-cry from her smile, maybe it’s the mortar of kindness lurking in her actions, mixed with that fragile baby looks, which always flush with her eyelid. She had winked at him last night hadn’t she? Maybe or maybe not or maybe I am being a goat head for thinking she would want anything to do with me again. Not after all these passing moons and all that had happened.The Prince heaved and steered on his bed, the fur mattress from Umumba clan was the most expensive and finest in the whole Kingdom, but beneath that softness, he could feel some stinging hardness on his skin which had nothing to do with the wooden frame of the bed.Somewhere outside a cock crowed loudly, announcing the
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ADA PRIDE OF ALAOCHA (BK 1) EPILOGUE
Four days laterAda closed her eyes, letting the sweet air travel into every part of her body. Dry season had parted ways and now they were kicking off for the first time into raining season. Her stomach was lifting and something she didn’t think she would ever feel in her life time walked into every part of her mind. Peace.The people of Alaocha and Ndiocha had agreed to live as one. They had chosen King Obidike as their King after Ada had forfeited any right to mount the throne. Chira was the Lolo (Queen), her heart had found love again with Obidike. Their
ADA PRIDE OF ALAOCHA (BK 1) CHAPTER 50
“I am invincible,” King Chika yelled, “I am the King of the world.”The armies of both parties were shifting their weight as they studied the dragons that parades the sky. The cloud had darkened and the thunder was clapping with a hoarse voice.“You are but a creature,” Ada clutched her teeth. “But you are not invincible,”The thunder clapped again when their sword met midair. Ada spanned and deflected the blow coming from the right. She bent in time to save her head from the sharp edge of his sword. He was fast, but Ada was faster. She could match his speed and his strength now. Even though she couldn’t explain what was happening, she was gra
ADA PRIDE OF ALAOCHA (BK 1) CHAPTER 49
Her hair bounced as Swiffer galloped away from the cave. Maybe its adrenaline that was heating her body, or perhaps it was fear. If everything goes on as planned, she still has a lot of work to do. But she must at the same time be smart and not let her past mistakes cloud her judgement. These creatures are mystical and are dangerous. “Sorry,” Ada shouted and blinked herself back to reality. The women on the road only cursed and glared at her, but she was too busy with her mind to pay any attention to them. She directed her zebra into the sandy path leading away from the village. I hope it’s not too late.The sun was high above the sky now, and its heat was drawing sweat from t
ADA PRIDE OF ALAOCHA (BK 1) CHAPTER 48
King Obidike wiped the sweat on his brow with the back side of his left hand. He studied the scorching sun for a while before uncorking the goatskin water bag and gulping the fluid. Some of the liquid lingered in his mouth before he swallowed it. It was hard not to smile with relief from the refreshing fluid as they walked down his throat. This was one of the reason why he wanted to live in this part of the land.The waters were good, compare to the other side of the sea, where mountains and limestone polluted the little water they had. Even the rain was polluted. The sea was the closest fresh water they had, but that only comes after much cooking and boiling. Even that in itself could not compete with this thirst quenching liquid that was in his goatskin.He returned the skin back to its place and checke
ADA PRIDE OF ALAOCHA (BK 1) CHAPTER 47
The path leading into the cave of bones was cold, and crowed with a nauseating air that reminded Ada of decomposing animals, beaten by a drizzling rain. To use emptiness to describe the place would be an exaggeration of what truly crept on the walls. No noise could be heard and nobody guarded the place either. Every corner blended obediently with the darkness which drove away the lights of the afternoon, and portrayed a barrenness that gloat like a toothless beast. If only she had the power to revert the hands of time. She would take it to that sweet night when this episode started. With the knowledge she has now, she was sure she could prevent it from happening. All of it. Maybe it’s selfishness, but a part of her missed that sweet feeling that always walks on her skin whenever she was with Ikedi. It would be nice to have that innocence again, to enjoy that ser
ADA PRIDE OF ALAOCHA (BK 1) CHAPTER 46
Swiffer’s stride had not decreased a bit; despite hours of riding none stop in the harsh gaze of the sun. It was as if the animal understood the urgency of their mission.Sweat pricked Ada’s brow as she stared ahead, trying to keep her mind from wandering into the unknown. The most direct route to the cave of bones was through the other hand of the forest, far away from the forest ofIyi.But Ada had chosen the longer path. It was the only option if she wanted to avoid the warriors of Alaocha, who would be guarding the borders right now. Besides, the forest ofIyiwas perceived to be dangerous. It was a route where only demons trend.Ada bit her lips and leaned in, adding more momentum to the strides of Swiffer. King Obidike and the entire people
ADA PRIDE OF ALAOCHA (BK 1) CHAPTER 45
Ada stroked her brow and relaxed her hands on the table. Her eyes traveled back and forth from one edge of the table to the other, studying the dried sticks that were arranged on it. The twigs which were tallied in ten represented a dozen solder.“This would be suicide,” Ada muttered and pace the room.“Why? Our men have more endurance.” King Obidike said. The confidence in his eyes sent a chill down Ada’s spine. He has no idea what the warriors of Alaocha were like. Perhaps he had never seen war before in his life.“Endurance would have mattered if we weren’t outnumbered,”and less skilled. Ada stroked her brow again. “And besides, they have the hands of the god
ADA PRIDE OF ALAOCHA (BK 1) CHAPTER 44
“Relax dear one,” Chira whispered and placed a hand on Ada’s chest, pushing her back to the mattress, as gently as her rigid hands could muster. “You were talking gibberish in your sleep,”“Gibberish? No,” Ada shook her head with disagreement. “I don&r
ADA PRIDE OF ALAOCHA (BK 1) CHAPTER 43
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Leviathan’s shrilling voice echoed in Ada’s head. “Are you sure you want to save the village and abandon your lover? You will never see him again.”Ada held its scale as it steadied its wings and soared between the mountains. Th
