Adesewa: the paragon of Beauty

Longtime ago in our village, there was a beautiful girl called: Adesewa Abike [Abike means ‘born to be cared for’] The father of Adesewa known as Chief Oriyomi Ariyibi was married to Madam Ojuolape Aderike many years ago. Adesewa was born after 18years of wedlock between Chief Oriyomi Ariyibi and Madam Ojuolape, the beloved mother of Adesewa. Chief Oriyomi Ariyibi was a successful farmer. He had a big cocoa farm and banana plantations at Ayelagbe land. In addition, he rears various kinds of livestock such as goat, sheep, cows, pigs, ducks, turkey, and fowls in his large compound at Ayelagbe village. In her own case, Madam Ojuolape the mother of Adesewa was a prominent trader and hairdresser combined. Ojuolape traded in clothes, jewels, food stuff in bags plus selling of assorted household materials. She was noted and well recognized for are trading activities in Ayelagbe village and the neighboring villages and nearby towns. Madam Ojuolape used to travel to Lagos, Abuja, Abidjan, Accra in Ghana and Liberia to purchase goods and wears to sell as a well to do trader in Ayelagbe land and environ. She planned to travel to Dubai later like other traders. She is hardworking and highly enterprising as a woman trader in Ayelagbe land. Madam Ojuolape does sell to both the rich and well to do in the village including the king of Ayelagbe land. Also, she sells to the poor and less privileged people in the society. She is a cloth seller to all and sundry. She is nice and highly considerate in dealing with people. Madam Ojuolape does her activities with the fear of God. She is not a Sherlock in business like many others around. Madam Ojuolape, the mother of Adesewa is also given the alias, ’’Iya Kowope L’oja’’-meaning: Paying the correct price for goods purchased is Business’’ Adesewa’s mother is a frontline business woman. She was honored with the position of ‘The Market Woman Leader’. Madam Ojuolape holds the chieftaincy title: ‘’The Iyaloja of Royal Market’’ in Ayelagbe land. Both Oriyomi and Ojuolape-the parents of Adesewa are very hard working and diligent. They were equally very generous with the wealth they have among the people of Ayelagbe land. Meanwhile, it took Chief Oriyomi and the Cash Madam Ojuolape a longer period of time after they got married as husband and wife before they could give birth to their only daughter named: Adesewa. They struggled and wasted a lot of their fortunes for the sake of seeking to have a baby to bear. Chief Oriyomi Ariyibi and his wife went to several places, did uncountable rituals. They visited many mountain tops and hills; shrines and worship places to appeal to the gods for pregnant. A child is the crown of the mother. If you do not have a child of your own, you’ll not have someone to send on errand. Having a good child is regarded as the ultimate of wealth and honor among the Yoruba’s. Wealth without a child is a shame. A woman with a child will gain respect and dignity in the society. You cannot find a child to buy in the Royal Market expect a toy or lifeless baby images. When a man or woman becomes old and passes away, it is the child that will replace his or her position like ashes that stands in for fire when it quenched. Even when costumes are not available for use, it is ones child that will inherit all that belongs to a person including character of the deceased. This is the Yoruba people’s concept about bearing a child as a man or woman. It is only a man’s child that can bear the name after him. ‘The eyes of anybody looking for a child will see pepper’ says an adage. Yes, both Oriyomi and Ojuolape went through hell before they got a child in those days. It is also true that a woman looking for child will never experience a sound sleep in the night. Madam Ojuolape attended several night vigils for prayers for the sake of getting a child of her own as a woman. No doubt about that, both Oriyomi and Ojuolape have money to spend as successful business gurus. But, they lacked a child as married couples for years. The rare experiences do make them sad and unhappy all the time. However, one will be one day that their prayers of having a child will be answered. It was confirmed by a prophet that the wedding between Oriyomi and Ojuolape will not be barren at all. ‘’Ojuolape, a banner planted by the riverside is never found to be barren without fruits. You’ll bear a glorious child that will make you to forget your sorrows and shame’’ said the prophet. Both the husband and wife took solace in the prophecy. On several occasions, Chief Oriyomi would be seen petting his wife saying: ‘’My wife Ojuolape, I love you. One day you are going to carry a baby for me by the grace of God’’ In Ayelagbe village, many people were of the opinion that the extra-ordinary wealth and the success of the both couples may likely be an exchange for a child. ‘How will married couples have such huge money without a single child?’ Some concerned citizen could query. The people of Ayelagbe village have concluded that something fetish or fishing was behind the wealth of Oriyomi and Ojuolape who were successful without a child to be proud of as married couples. Men are like that in the society. When you are blessed by God and the source of your blessings looked strange to the people; they will start attributing it to other factors. Whichever it may be, the plain truth will emerge one day. Really, wealth for couples without a child is questionable anywhere under heaven. Barrenness is a big curse among our people. A woman is created to have a child. Any matured woman without a child of her blood is not complete in the society. A child is the crown of a woman in our land. Also, bearing a child is one of the blessings a good marriage should experience. In fact, nobody wishes to be childless as a man or woman. A man labors in vain where no children to inherit his properties or estates are. In Africa generally, child bearing is a priority to good parents or couples. Nobody prays to get married without bearing a child whether a male or a female. Despite the fact that Madam Ojuolape was a virgin before she got married to her husband Oriyomi. She battled for the fruit of womb for solid eighteen years. But God wiped off her tears in life as a woman. At last, after 18 solid years of marriage, God answered Oriyomi and Ojuolape. They were lucky to have a child that removed the shame. It was like a dream when Ojuolape became pregnant. And after nine months, she gave birth to a beautiful bouncing baby girl that was named: Adesewa Abike Ademubo The mother of Adesewa, Ojuolape did all things possible to ensure that there was no miscarriage throughout the nine months of her pregnancy. Several herbalists, native doctors and midwives were engaged. The day Adesewa was born by Ojuolape under an apple tree in the land of Ayelagbe. The news spread like wildfire. People of Ayelagbe land and the villages around came to rejoice with Oriyomi and Ojuolape Ariyibi. A new baby is usually a welcome visitor among the people of Ayelagbe land. They were highly delighted to see the beautiful daughter that joined the family of Oriyomi Ariyibi during that period. A long awaited gift from the gods of the land. The name ceremony of Adesewa was one in town. No Child was ever celebrated that way since the settlement of people at Ayelagbe land. Oriyomi and his wife proved to the world that they were happy to have Adesewa has their daughter. Money talked in several ways when the naming party was held at Ayelagbe land. Three popular musicians graced the occasion. Assorted foods were served to the people who came from far and near. In return, presents and gifts were given to Madam Ojuolape Ariyibi for the baby on that memorable day. Adesewa grow up rapidly and she became an adult after few years. Every matured girl in Ayelagbe land wished to be like Adesewa, the girl admired by both young and old men. Adesewa is so confident that you’d think she is a man of steel. She has eyes that could look all the way into a person’s heart with a genuine smile. She is a unique spice. She will never do things the way people expected most times. Adesewa is a paragon of beauty with complete trait of humanity and character. She is cultured and well behavior. She goes about her duties without causing trouble. Adesewa is pretty to the call. No other girl in town could march her beauty really. She is equally humble, well behaved and a virgin. She moved around with in peace and harmony with others.