ORIGIN - Chapter One

Echi was from Umuolu, a village filled with people whose ancestors were mainly immigrants from Afam. The first settlers in Umuolu probably gave the village its name because of their indulgence in productive activities, which has led many to become farmers, woodcarvers, and hunters.

The people of Umuolu were known to have war with many of the neighboring villages, and they usually came back victoriously with the spoils gotten from the raided villages. They sometimes came with girls, which they captured to ease the sexual desire of the men who went for the war. This brutal display of power by Umuolu through war, made the fear of Umuolu spread through the villages which had not been raided. Those villages came together in a meeting and decided that five girls should be given to Umuolu every new yam festival so that the warriors of Umuolu would not attack their villages and destroy it. This idea was welcomed by the people of Umuolu, especially the men who saw it as a means of marrying new wives without the payment of bride price.

The women of Umuolu were not pleased with the offer presented because some of the girls posed a threat to their marriages and affected their relationships with their husbands, but wiser and more experienced older women saw it as an opportunity to reduce the laborious work which was on their shoulders.

One of the girls brought to Umuolu was from Umuoku. Her name was Olanna. She was a very beautiful woman with a unique smile. She was so stubborn that she refused all men of Umuolu as husbands. Most of them became angry and came together to decide a proper punishment for her. One of the rejected men was provoked to speak during the gathering when he could no longer hide his disgust. “Imagine, a slave from Umuoku telling us that she cannot marry us. Just imagine that,” he said.

“Some women don’t know the value of men. That is one of the reasons why they can open their mouth and say anything they feel like saying,” another added. 

The men of Umuolu finally decided that the appropriate punishment for Olanna was to bury her alive. They felt it would serve as a warning to any girl who refused to comply with them, to comply with their terms.

When the day for Olanna’s death came, she did not show any sign of remorse. Instead, she kept quiet and folded her hands as the diggers kept on removing the sand from the red earth. 

Echi, who was one of her admirers, pleaded with the men to change their decisions, but they declined. “Please, my brothers don’t kill her,” Echi said.

“Echi, go home and forget this woman,” one of them replied.

“How can I forget my heart? It is impossible.”

“You have to learn to live without your heart. Our decision is final.”

Echi argued with them for a long time, and they finally agreed to let her live when he offered a large portion of his land. 

“Your sacrifices are great, and because of the respect we have for your father, we will let her live, but don’t forget we warned you,” they said.

The diggers were angry at the wasted effort but got over it after they were given five she-goats and a hen. When the men left, Echi begged Olanna to follow him home, but she refused and only accepted when the sun sank deeper in the sky.

*

Echi spent most of his time cooking for her, feeding her, and doing all sort of work to please her, yet she did not agree to be his wife. Many nights he would come into her room, and many nights he would be sent away. He was so much in love with Olanna that he could spend all his life waiting for her. He kept on believing that a day would come when she would succumb to him, and that day eventually came, but it took a long time.

The day of Olanna’s submission to him came, and it was during one rainy season when Echi discovered that she was not at home. He ran out like a mad man and kept on screaming, “Olanna, my love!” 

When Olanna heard her name, she ran and hid in a bush, laughing at the foolishness of Echi. Some of the villagers who heard his shout came to his aid, but got angry and cursed him when he narrated his ordeal to them.

Evening came, and there was still no sign of Olanna. Echi felt all hope was lost and wept for her, for he dearly loved her. After pacing around for a long time, he sat at a corner of a path. His eyes were closed as he imagined being close with her In his hut, their hut. He kept on dreaming of her until he heard a loud cry. Swiftly, he ran toward the direction he heard the cry, and to his surprise, he saw his cherished Olanna, lying on the grass. Above her was a green snake, who seemed to derive pleasure from her constant screaming. It did not bite her. He moved quietly and grabbed a stick, which he used to strike the head of the snake. When the snake died with a long hiss, he carried Olanna home, on his back, and she did not resist, rather, she kept quiet until he dropped her on a bamboo bed and rubbed her body with palm kernel oil. 

Days passed, and Olanna improved. She became stronger, and when he asked for her hand in marriage, she gladly accepted. The marriage ceremony was set as soon as Olanna could walk properly. Echi made sure the marriage was held in a grand style. He invited men of honor and titles to grace the occasion, and he made sure everyone left the celebration feeling satisfied and filled.

Most of the invited guests were pleased with the marriage, but they considered him a weak man because he wasted his time trying to woo Olanna, while the older women praised him for respecting Olanna and her feelings.