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ORIGIN - Chapter Twenty-five
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2024-10-29 19:42:56The high-pitched sound of the town crier's metal stick striking the surface of the hard, rusty gong woke Ibekwe. The morning was still early, and the dew was just beginning to wet the plants and grasses that laid uncovered in their compound. Another sound from the gong, and he drew closer to the window where he saw the stoutly built town crier, beating the metal piece harmoniously. The town crier was announcing a wrestling contest that was to be held in the evening.
It was almost a month now that Peter Stonefield’s body was burnt in the outskirts of Umuoku and his companion, Ada, disgraced in front of the whole village before being chased away by a pack of warriors.
Ibekwe could have sworn that he had never felt anything as genuine as the gentle Igbo words that Peter used to express God’s love towards his sinful soul. A young boy damned for eternity under the torment of a cursed devil could be saved by the simple acce
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Shading Black ORIGIN - Chapter Twenty-six
The elders took their positions in front of the crowd as they waited for the wrestlers to arrive. The first match of the day was between two young men who were in their mid-twenties. The men came out separately, in their own war-like style. They hit their chests with rigid bare hands and danced to the wrestling drums before clutching hands together to indicate a fair game.The first match started with a whistle, and the wrestlers locked hands immediately. They held each other firmly in the shoulders, circling and moving their muscles to the fast beats coming from the drum. They pushed and pulled for a long time until the whistle was blown again, signalling a draw match.The wrestlers went away. New palm fronds were brought to replace the old ones. The next wrestling match was among teenagers, and the favourite teen wrestler was Akagi, a seventeen-year-old bastard who had never been thrown on the ground. He held the title of best teenage wrestler in
Shading Black ORIGIN - Chapter Twenty-seven
Ofu’s old legs rocketed in platonic propulsion as he chatted with Ihuoma about their hazy past. Slowly, the wrapper tied around Ihuoma’s waist flared out, and she tightened it as she saw Nwaka, Ezinne, and Ibekwe approaching.Nwaka greeted his parents, so did Ezinne and Ibekwe. He always liked being the first to share good news with his old father, especially when it involved the triumph of his son.“Father, your grandson just won a wrestling match,” Nwaka said.Nwaka’s voice was soft and cajoling. He reached towards Ofu and jerked his shoulders softly as if that would quicken the impact of his words.“The gods be praised,” Ofu declared. “I know Ibekwe is a good wrestler even though he has avoided the sport. That is why our people say that what an old man can see sitting down, a young man cannot see even if he climbs the tallest Iroko tree. He has
Shading Black ORIGIN - Chapter Twenty-eight
The proxy voice of a man instructing a woman to touch Ibekwe drained him out of his sleep. He stared at the two people in front of him and quickly identified them as his parents.“Mother! Father! What are you doing here?” he asked.Ezinne was silent. She wailed and shrieked before she finally found comfort in the arms of Nwaka.“Father! What is wrong?”Ibekwe fought against his weakness and stood up, rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand.“Ibekwe!” Nwaka called, turning and bending his eyes to look at Ezinneh who was hugging him tightly and crying. “The evil spirits have struck.”“What happened, father? Where is grandfather and grandmother?”Nwaka lifted his eyes and grappled the resistance that was growing within him.“Ibekwe, you have to be a man.”“Why are you saying all these things?”
Shading Black ORIGIN - Chapter Twenty-nine
The third yearly sacrifice since the death of Ibekwe’s grandparents created a feeling in Ibekwe that made him attempt to erase every memory of his grandparents he had left in him. It was one of those rare times of the year when Umuoku parents flocked around the shrine of Igweka-ala. They carried precious gifts in their hands, and knelt in front of a clay statue close to the shrine before kissing the statue with their gentle lips to honour Igweka-ala, the most prominent god of their village and the rest of the villages.Ibekwe hated the part of the sacrifice where the worshippers of Igweka-ala showered praises at the entrance of the shrine to cleanse themselves from their sins. He felt it was like worshipping the carver of the statue and not Igweka-ala. So when his parents arrived at the shrine of Igweka-ala, he did not follow his parents to bow down and kiss the shrine, he just stood by their side.The chief priest of Umuoku came out when he sighted
Shading Black ORIGIN - Chapter Thirty
Ofoedu visited Nwaka’s hut with two elders the following morning. They searched his compound for a while, and looked in the barns, scattered pots, and the firewood for the kitchen before they returned to the entrance of the hut.“Did the gods grant life to the owners of this hut?” Ofoedu asked. It was his form of announcing his presence.There was no reply.The two elders bent down at the eaves of the thatched hut that stuck out. They entered the threshold, and one of the elders whined. He was too impatient to wait like Ofoedu. The elder knocked at the door, and Nwaka came out. The greetings were brief, and the elders went straight to the point after a few proverbs were said succinctly.“Where is your son?” Ofoedu asked.“He is inside,” Nwaka replied.“We must see him.”“The morn
Shading Black ORIGIN - Chapter Thirty-one
The sound of the town crier’s gong rung in Ibekwe’s ears as he stood at the shrine of Igweka-ala. Once or twice, he had seen an elder come out from the shrine, stare at him for a while before spitting on the ground with insolence. The more the elders spat on the ground, the more he feared his fate. With the faint images still in his head and with the broken pot he had destroyed, he knew he would not come out from his situation and remain the same. If only he had not broken the pot and saw its contents. A pot that was like every normal pot in the village, but was believed to have the ability to foretell the future. He cursed as he remembered the broken crucifix in his room, just lying dead. Slowly, he spat on the ground as he saw the town crier approaching.“The elders and the chief priest of Umuoku summons you all to the village market square,” the town crier said and struck his gong.After the town crier had passed the shrine, the
Shading Black EXILE - Chapter Thirty-two
He jerked as the sun shone brightly in the sky as if setting itself ablaze. Shading his eyes from the hot sun with two hands thrust forward, he felt the pain of a tight grip on his neck, squeezing his nape. It was a rope. He shifted his body and worked with his hands, loosening the rope that was strongly tied around his neck. After much struggle, the rope finally let loose, allowing fresh air to pass through his wind pipe. He gasped.Dragging himself to a crouching position and pulling himself persistently, he moved slowly with the help of his bloodstained hands towards a mango tree nearby. He stumbled on a stone as he moved a few strides, crashing his head on pebbles lying aimlessly on the sand. Drops of fresh blood poured out from the wounded spot and a white flesh appeared. He groaned and trudged, clinging to his forehead and wheezing loudly and slowly. He tried to cry for help but his vocal organs failed him and only a breath of hot air came out from his mou
Shading Black EXILE - Chapter Thirty-three
The two invisible beings withdrew their hands from Ibekwe's eyes when the sun was slowly departing. It was evening. He managed to get up from the bloodstained leaves and stroll to the village path that was close to him.By now, farmers were departing from their farmlands to their various huts. He turned eastwards, coughed and examined the path. He looked and closed his eyes for a while. He knew that the sound of the voice he had heard, came from the direction he was following but he had to be sure that he was right. He tried to remember everything that had happened but only blur memories filled his mind. He remembered the voice of his father speaking to him when he was young. The same calm and caring voice a father bore when advising his son. His room was cold that day and his father had told him to stack enough firewood to keep the fire in the kitchen glowing."Son!" His father had said. "There are two opposite components that revolves arou
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Shading Black About the Author
Chibuzor Victor Obih was born in the southern part of Nigeria. Delta State to be precise. His writing includes essays, poetry and short stories. He likes to play soccer, read, study and above all, write. He is currently a fourth year student of a renowned public university in Nigeria. The University of Port-Harcourt is where he is pursuing a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering. Shading Black is his first book and his first attempt to explore the beautiful world of a novelist. To stay connected with him and his works, you can follow him on Instagram using the account name: Chibuzor Victor Obih or follow him on Facebook using the account name: Author Chibuzor Victor Obih.
Shading Black Epilogue
The room was silent. The door swung open and James came inside, holding a book. Ibekwe stared at James and sighed. They looked at each other for a while before James sat down."I got some interesting information you might want to hear," James said."Tell me," Ibekwe said. He had been feeling guilty since the death of Ifeme."The same boy who killed Osisiakalaka confessed some of the diviner's sins to me. He gave some fascinating explanations about your history that still baffles me," James said, moving his fingers. "Is the name Isiewu familiar to you?" He asked."Not really. I have only heard my grandfather mention him once and that was when he told me to story of Umuolu's war."James reasoned with compressed lips. "Isiewu played a major role in destroying your family. According to Efulefu, the diviner slept with Agunwa, the daughter of a chief priest named Egwusinala. Does these names sounds familiar to you?""I think it does," Ibekwe said.
Shading Black NEW LIFE - Chapter One hundred and three
When James Streamer and his father arrived at Osisiakalaka's shrine with some of the people of Umuise who had converted to Christianity he was shocked to find a large crowd of men and women sitting tiredly in front of the shrine. He asked a young woman to explain what was going on in the shrine and she obeyed without hesitation."A great man has fallen in Umuise," she said with tears in her eyes."Who is the man that has attracted everyone in this village to Osisiakalaka's shrine?" James asked."The man is not here. He is far away from this village.""What do you mean by that?""His body is lying in the shrine but his spirit has departed," the woman replied slowly."What is the name of the man that has caused so much tears to flow in your eyes?"The young woman turned and pointed at the door of the shrine."Osisiakalaka," she said. "Maybe you will be able to tell us why your god has sent his messenger to kill the greatest
Shading Black NEW LIFE - Chapter One hundred and two
"What is happening to the family of Okoli? The news of death has become a common thing in Umuise." Chima said as the elders gathered in the village square.There were many men and women sprawled on the ground. None of them brought stools along with them. It was a day of mourning."What will the ancestors of Okoli say when they hear that his family lineage was wiped out within a week?" Chima asked but no one replied.The women sprayed ashes on their heads as if they were mourning the death of a chief priest. The children covered their bodies with sand as they wept and called Ifeme's name.After Chima sat down, the next elder who spoke was Ekwensi. He did not salute the crowd."Great people of Umuise, our gods have been offended. They have been desecrated and now they seek justice for the blood of Okoli. People of Umuise, we have sinned against our gods by sending a man that did not deserve death an
Shading Black NEW LIFE - Chapter One hundred and one
Ibekwe was thinking about Richard Streamer and what James had told him about his father as he approached Okoli's compound. He brushed the thoughts aside as he remembered that him and Ifeme were yet to bury Okoli. Now, that Ezeugo, Okwudili and Okoli were gone, it was the duty for the next of kin to inherit all their properties while ensuring they had normal burials. Ezeugo's body was almost rotten by now in his compound. Okwudili's body was wrapped with cloth and still left unburied. Okoli on the other hand was in the village square with his head uprooted from his neck. He was beheaded after being found guilty by Osisiakalaka.Ibekwe wondered how Ifeme would deal with the whole family situation as he passed a cherry tree. He had already decided to help him in the best way he could and James and his sister had also offered to help him too.He stopped when he reached Okoli's compound and took a deep breath.As he entered Okoli's hut, he looked through the du
Shading Black NEW LIFE - Chapter One hundred
Osisiakalaka came to Umuise as soon as he was able to leave Umudike. By his side were Efulefu and the young lad that was sent to deliver him the message of the elders. As he reached the village square, he drew two straight lines on the ground with a chalk and stepped on it. He gave the chalk to Efulefu who broke it and threw it in the direction of Okoli."May the gods be praised," Osisiakalaka yelled. "Let those who stand with evil fall. Let the men who invite the bringer of evil into their midst perish."As soon as Osisiakalaka was done, Okoli picked the chalk from the ground and started chewing slowly. In Umuise, it was a law for an accused person to chew the white chalk before spitting on the ground. It was a way of acknowledging the presence of the gods.Osisiakalaka ordered Efulefu to bring some sand after Okoli was done with chewing and spitting the white chalk. He took the sand from Efulefu and pou
Shading Black NEW LIFE - Chapter Ninety-nine
When the first palm wine entered Okoli's throat, it dawned on him that his death was near and there was nothing anyone could do about it including himself.Outside the window of his small hut, a full moon had risen, dazzling and vivid, blotting out all other celestial bodies. Okoli gazed at his two sons that he had condemned, lost in his thoughts of all that had happened in the village square.He knew that he didn't deserve the love and comfort that his sons were showing him and he felt bad for not appreciating their efforts even when they tried their best to be the perfect children that a parent could have.As Ibekwe and Ifeme left him for the white man's hut, Okoli thought of what was going to happen to him when Osisiakalaka finally decides his fate. Would he be killed? Would he be thrown into the forest? Would he be banished?Outside the window of his hut, a pair of stars were dancing, lifting their voices and slowly making it to fade away. Some moment
Shading Black NEW LIFE - Chapter Ninety-eight
Okwudili's body was brought to the village square a day after he was murdered in his compound by a masked man. By his side, was the lifeless body of Akwaudo. She was found dead in Okoli's compound the same night that Okwudili's life came to an end.Life means considerably more than just waking up in the morning and going through the motions of living in Umuise and for the first time in nearly a century, two people who were related to each other were brutally assassinated in the same night. A year after the death of a man whose passage into his ancestral abode was yet to be considered fair and devoid from foul play.It did not take up to a week after the shock of the two deaths had been accepted and managed before words started running from one end of the village to another, each bearing a tale with Okoli as the subject. It was difficult for any irrational man in their time to deny his involvements in the death of his wife and brother."Let us reason like one ent
Shading Black NEW LIFE - Chapter Ninety-seven
The sad day was friday for a man who feared he had lost his children even though he hadn't. Rain fell slowly and the town was calm as the water poured over the roofs. It was a lively evening and everywhere was dazzling as fathers who had returned from work came together to celebrate the last day of labour for the week by having special dinners in quality restaurants with their children but that was not the case of the man who had not been able to sleep well since the day he heard his son was gone— taken away from him and sailing without his permission to Africa.Richard Streamer sat at the Billy Landy bar, remembering the night he had told Kathleen he was going to Africa. It was almost two weeks now and he was still in England sharing a bottle of beer with some couple of friends, and each of them bragging about their personal achievements as they ordered more drinks.He took a rumpled letter from his pocket. He had planned to send the letter to his
