Episode 5
1082 Words
It was the morning of the ceremony, the oghene music group came very early to play. The sound of drums and metal gongs, with the flute, giving a delightful sound, making people to nod their heads. The music could be heard at every corner of the palace.
The palace was unsually busy and crowded with people, the servants were busy running around making sure the palace was neat and well decorated.
The palace cooks were cooking at the back, some group of village women had come too to assist them to prepare the food for the occasion. Pounding yams, cooking meat, and making of Abacha dish. Some group of men have gathered to grill meat at a corner. All chanting, laughing and discussion as they work in cheerfulness.
The palm wine tappers have been trouping in, bringing kegs of palm wine for the occasion.
Indeed the Okwa festival is the most anticipated occasion in the village but not so common among other villages.
The idea of the festival is to unite the sons and daughters of the village, once every year.
People usually come from far and near to celebrate with them.
Kings, elites and famous men from far and near were always invited for the occasion. Even native doctors also use the opportunity to showcase their abilities.
Ego was in her hut dressing up with the help of her maids; ugomu and uchayi.
She sat on a little wooden stool in front of a big mirror, leaned on the wall.
"The beads don't match" she complained.
"It is beautiful on you my princess" Uchayi assured, trying hard not to let out her anger, as Ugomu was on her last nerve.
Ego has changed for the eleventh time, she was indecisive about what to wear. She just wanted to look the best.
"I don't like it" She blurted out.
Ugomu rushed and dragged out her wooden box from the edge, to the center and opened it
"Please make your choice. let's dress you up. The ceremony will soon start and we are not even dressed up yet because we are waiting for you.."
Ego shushed her with a wave of her palm
"hold it there, are you complaining or what? Is not like you have a choice"
"I am sorry my princess" Ugomu apologised.
"please save the sorry" Ego snapped "If you maidens needed to dress why not say it. Don't rush me because of you want change. I am not in a hurry, neither do I want to arrive early. Just get out and change, make sure you are back here before a blink of an eye".
"Are you sure we should leave Princess" Uchayi inquired calmly.
"Get out" Ego yelled at them.
They both ran out immediately. Ego stood from the stool to where her box lay, she bent over and started shuffling the clothes inside. She finally got hold of a very beautiful yellow wrapper, which she got as a gift from her step mother Ijeoma.
Ego so much love the dress, she pressed it to her lips and kissed it. She started to imagine it on her body. How it will fit on her beautiful caramel skin. The beads that would fit perfectly.
Suddenly the sound of the drums started getting more and more intense, accompanied with chanting.
Ego paused trying to make sense of the chants, but those were not mere chants, they were hailing someone.
She knew who ever it was must be special. She paid attention to the chants to get the name of the one they are celebrating.
"Nwangala Nwangala" "child of dignity"
Ego screamed in joy. It was Prince obiako. Nwangala was his nickname.
Ego quickly dropped the wrapper she was holding back into the wooden box.
"Are you okay my princess?" one of the warriors guarding her hut inquired from outside her hut. They are not allowed to enter her hut except on emergency.
"I am fine" she said.
She had caused the guards to panic. She couldn't go out to meet him because she wasn't properly dressed.
"Send for my maids, tell them to come now" She said out loud to the hearing of the guards.
It was a glorious arrival of Prince obiako, the last son of the king. He was the leader the village warriors, a hunter and a wrestler amongst others.
He was loved by every one because of his nice personality. He is the most handsome of all the sons of the king, he has a very masculine and charming physique. The dream of every maiden in the kingdom, but he has made it clear that he doesn't want to get married.
He lived outside the palace because of his nature of occupation. He normally stays in the village warrior's field most of the time and he so much enjoyed his simple life.
The villagers clustered around him singing his praises and escorting him to the king's Obi; where all the princes and titled men stood at the entrance to welcome him in.
The princes were already dressed in their expensive regalia for the occasion. They were all wearing smiles on their faces, excited to see their brother Prince obiako.
"Obi nna ya" "obi the son of his father" "The great pride of the kingdom"
The princes hailed as they all embrace him in turns cheerfulness. The titled men also took turns in exchanging hand shakes with him.
"Anya gi" "It has been long" Prince obinwa said to him.
"Idikwa oyi?" "hope you are good?" Prince obiako asked.
"look at how fat he is, obinwa should be the last person you should worry about his welfare" Prince Akudo said jokingly and they all laughed.
"Anu mpama" Prince obinwa beefed back at Prince Akudo and they laughed again.
The children of the Princes ran out of nowhere to welcome their uncle, Prince obiako. He bent over and embraced them, giving each and everyone of them a kissed.
"We have missed you uncle" the chanted.
"I missed you all too, where are you mothers?" The kids began to mutter words, causing everyone to laugh at theirchild like behaviours. Prince obiako then turned to the princes and asked.
"Where are your wives and the princesses?"
"You know women, they are dressing up inside" Prince Ikedi replies, then signaled to the servants to take them away
"Go be with your mothers"
They watched them until they were out of sight before they all entered back to sit at the king's Obi.
- Writer
