Ahia-oru was as a remarkable festival in Umudioga, which usually takes place from the first to third afor day of onwa ifejioku, everyone have been involved in it from the begining to the after. Men where seen in their festive mood, women did all their best to please their spouse, children were moving around doing their normal duties.
In the spirit of the festival, love and happiness abounded.
Uju was not left out in that wonderful occasion, she tidied up the house and her late father's obokoro , a little hall in which the late Ichie Ararume hosted his guest but now it has become a playground for little children. Her mother has been the greatest ally to her sick bed since the last five ekes. Uju's beauty seemed to be dwindling since she does the work of a mother and also a sister. She hardly had the chance to hang out with her peer group which made her friends jokingly call her 'mama' but she didn't found this any bit funny but tried as hard to give a wry smile.
Uju was beautiful and also wise, which has earned her some respect amongst her peers. Her age mates came to her to find out and get a piece of her wisdom. Uju was suddenly waved back to reality, she wondered what has made tears run down her pretty cheeks.
'kpuhun kpuhun', her sick mother coughed hoarsely.
"Mama", Uju chorused in her usual low soft tune.
"My daughter, i hope you slept well?"
"Yes, I did." she replied her with a wry smile. "And i hope too that you're getting better?"
"We thank chi"
"Mama, you're getting better, I can see it."
"I hope so my daughter," she coughs coarsely again and then continued;
"Where is Agunna, Ulumma and Oby?" she asked.
These were the names of Uju siblings from the eldest to the youngest.
Agunna was the only surviving son of Late Mazi Ararume after the Ogbunuguru pestilence that befell the community in the tender age of Agunna, that was why he was believed to be created by chi for a purpose.
Agunna was a good hunter even at his tender age, he brought home meats like grasscutter, porcupine, bush guinea fowl when it was his day. He would not eat his food any day he was unable to catch. His trap was as good and perfect, that Okoro, the village wag, in one of his joke said that 'it catches animal from afar. Ulumma and Oby were in their adolescent stages and knew not that much about life.
"They aren't up yet", Uju said depressed.
Her mother's state of health was less assuring. Though still alive but was as good as dead. Uju never tried to imagine her mother lying lifeless.
"Mama, have you taken your medicinal leaves?"
"I do by chi's grace", she replied in a more fainting tone.
Uju was even more worried and perplexed by her mother's ever fainting tone. She wondered what in the world could revive her mother to the hardworking and caring mother that took care of her and her siblings.
"Mama, can I take you to your bamboo chair", she said in a voice as if she was going to shed tears.
In the spirit of the festival, love and happiness abounded.
Uju was not left out in that wonderful occasion, she tidied up the house and her late father's obokoro , a little hall in which the late Ichie Ararume hosted his guest but now it has become a playground for little children. Her mother has been the greatest ally to her sick bed since the last five ekes. Uju's beauty seemed to be dwindling since she does the work of a mother and also a sister. She hardly had the chance to hang out with her peer group which made her friends jokingly call her 'mama' but she didn't found this any bit funny but tried as hard to give a wry smile.
Uju was beautiful and also wise, which has earned her some respect amongst her peers. Her age mates came to her to find out and get a piece of her wisdom. Uju was suddenly waved back to reality, she wondered what has made tears run down her pretty cheeks.
'kpuhun kpuhun', her sick mother coughed hoarsely.
"Mama", Uju chorused in her usual low soft tune.
"My daughter, i hope you slept well?"
"Yes, I did." she replied her with a wry smile. "And i hope too that you're getting better?"
"We thank chi"
"Mama, you're getting better, I can see it."
"I hope so my daughter," she coughs coarsely again and then continued;
"Where is Agunna, Ulumma and Oby?" she asked.
These were the names of Uju siblings from the eldest to the youngest.
Agunna was the only surviving son of Late Mazi Ararume after the Ogbunuguru pestilence that befell the community in the tender age of Agunna, that was why he was believed to be created by chi for a purpose.
Agunna was a good hunter even at his tender age, he brought home meats like grasscutter, porcupine, bush guinea fowl when it was his day. He would not eat his food any day he was unable to catch. His trap was as good and perfect, that Okoro, the village wag, in one of his joke said that 'it catches animal from afar. Ulumma and Oby were in their adolescent stages and knew not that much about life.
"They aren't up yet", Uju said depressed.
Her mother's state of health was less assuring. Though still alive but was as good as dead. Uju never tried to imagine her mother lying lifeless.
"Mama, have you taken your medicinal leaves?"
"I do by chi's grace", she replied in a more fainting tone.
Uju was even more worried and perplexed by her mother's ever fainting tone. She wondered what in the world could revive her mother to the hardworking and caring mother that took care of her and her siblings.
"Mama, can I take you to your bamboo chair", she said in a voice as if she was going to shed tears.