The Arrival of Ikemefuna

It was when I had just apologized for what I had said, “This meeting is for men,”, for calling Osugo a woman, only a week ago in a meeting where they held to discuss the next ancestral feast.

Although the oldest man firmly said that I should be humble for my palm-kernels was cracked by a benevolent spirit for me, but I thought the otherwise. I had cracked them myself. I had risen to be very strong, grabbing success at such an early age, so my chi agreed. My clan judged man by the work of his hands. That was when they brought me the boy, Ikemefuna. I believe that they trusted me to be a very strong leader, but I still doubted that I sensed fear among them.

Three long years. Never once have I thought of keeping Ikemefuna for this long. He has even adopted himself to be part of us though he was very much afraid at first. I still remember that I had a big stick in my hand, watching him finishing his yams, trembling. I want him to stop saying, “When shall I go home?” and live up with what he is now. He is under my care. Gradually, he was eventually by nature a very lively boy. He was like my own son and started to call me ‘father’, but when they told me it is time, only then I noticed the change. Was I happy when he called me so? Am I showing affection? If I am, then it is not worth it. It was a sign of a weakness. When the time has come, dazed with fear, I drew my machete and cut him down on my own. I was afraid of being thought as weak.