Mishark and Mazi Onuoha walked in silence. They had attended the funeral of a relative of theirs who died recently. All around them were dried leaves that had fallen off the trees that lined the streets of the village. Here and there, there were empty spaces where there was no tree, exposing the small huts that laid behind. But where there were trees, they grew with reckless abandonment as if there was an urgent need to stake a claim to that part of creation.
Mazi Onuoha, as was his custom was dressed in a black fitted kaftan made with guinea brocade fabric with a cream coloured embroidery, with his maroon red cap. He was a heavy-set man, of about five feet ten inches. His dress revealed his wide shoulders and bulging stomach which betrayed the more than 70 years he has spend on earth.
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He lived most of his life in Jos, Northern Nigeria where the weather has a reputation of having a more gentle weather than any other part of the country. He had several businesses there but has recently retired and left the businesses to his children. As they walked past, there were several other villagers that looked at the pair from a distance. The ones that walked past them did so cautiously as if disturbing the air around Mazi would attract dire consequences. Mazi continued walking with Mishark, his uncle seemingly completely oblivious of the fear he inspired in the people of the village.
Mishark understood the reason why his uncle was generally feared but being a practical person, he did not see why he should be infected with their fear of the man. If anything, he found the man amusing. Even his wife, Ani has warned him to be careful of the man because of his odd behaviour and reputation.
Just the day before the funeral, he came to the house and asked for water to drink. Ani fetched him water in a glass cup and in his usual fashion, he inserted his right forefinger in the water before he drank up. Mishark was amused as usual but today he had to ask his uncle why he did that since it obviously makes his wife uncomfortable. Mazi quickly apologised. 'Old habits,' he said. 'Back in Jos, I acquired a charm that would enable me detect impurities in water by simply dipping my forefinger in it'.
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Mishark could not believe it so he asked for a demonstration. Ani fetched three more glasses of water with table salt in one. The three glasses were set in front of Mazi who inserted his forefinger in each one. The second glass quickly shattered with such force, Mishark was startled. To be absolutely sure it was the glass with the salty water that broke, Mishark tasted water from other two glasses and they tasted alright.
However, this had nothing to do with why the man was greatly feared. For all Mishark knew, his house was the only place his uncle visited whenever he came to his home town.
It was barely a month before this visit that Mazi was summoned by the king of the town due to accusations from his relatives alleging that Mazi had been responsible for the death of his nephew, Nnamdi.
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Nnamdi and Mazi lived in the same in the same building in the city. The building belonged to Nnamdi's father but because the man died when Nnamdi and his siblings were all so little, Mazi who was also business partners with Nnamdi's father William, took over the business, managed his estate and took care of his family. The children are now grown and are demanding a transfer of their father's wealth. The problem with this demand is that Mazi's children also considered the business and buildings as their father's wealth. Therefore Mazi was caught in the middle.
One night there were screams coming out of Nnamdi's apartment. Mazi did not go to find out what was the matter until the next morning. Then he learned that Nnamdi died during the night. Apparently, a rat had ran into the living room from outside and Nnamdi killed the rat. Suddenly he started shaking like he was being choked, fell and died instantly. The screams of the wife woke all their neighbours except Mazi. In his defence he said he thought it might have been an armed robbery attack and being frail, he did not think he could be of any use to anyone.
The news reached his home town. It did not take long for a committee to be set up to investigate the matter. Both families were invited prior to the funeral of the dead Nnamdi. At the meeting, with Eze Ironsi (the king) presiding, the elders concluded that as was the custom, the accused would swear that he had no hand in his nephew's death after which he would drink water from the corpse to clear his name.
The custom of the people dictates that if there is doubt that a dead person was killed by another, clean water would be poured into the mouth of the deceased person and back into the cup. The accused would drink the water and if he is guilty, he would die on swearing that he was innocent. Mazi stood up from his sit. He was dressed in white with his traditional red cap. He walked around the corpse chanting inaudibly as the crowd watched.
Mazi drank the water and lived. However the people believed so strongly that he was responsible for his nephew's death that they feared that his juju was so strong that he defeated the gods of the land.
That was the end of the dispute between Mazi and his brother's children. Did Mazi kill Nnamdi? No one knows. But since Mazi is alive, it means the gods answered "No". They say the gods are silent, but could they also be asleep?