The town of Owara is popular in the eastern part of Nigeria for its dreadful tradition of discovering the paternity of the male child in the town. Every year, there is a tradition called the "sacred draw", where all the male children in the town from each family will contest picking a straw, and anyone who picks the shortest straw will be sent into the Kala forest for 24 hours to be tested by their ancestors. If the male child is the legitimate son of the family he came from, he will be released by the genie to return home, but if not, he will not be seen ever again. This was their tradition used in correcting promiscuous women who cheat in their marriage, and it has been in existence since the days of their first ancestors.
Some had gone into the forest and never returned, while some did return, and for this reason, every woman in Owara town is always afraid to cheat on their husbands. The sacred draw occurs every last Saturday of the year, and every family must participate. There is always tension in every family when the time of the sacred draw is near. The male children are expected to participate once they are at the age of five. All the male children in the family must participate, so there is always hope that it might not get to some turn that year because only the one with the short straw would go into the Kala forest.
The Okpara family has never participated in the sacred draw because the only male child was still not qualified every year until last year when he clocked five. The fear of participating has engulfed his parents, not knowing what they would expect. But before then, Mr and Mrs Okpara have to explain to little Chisom what the sacred draw is all about.
"Chisom, nke m (my own), you will be participating in the tradition of this town next week on Saturday. I know you can do better and make me proud," Mrs Okpara said.
"Mama, gįnį bų okwu ąhu (what is it about)?" Chisom asked his mother, who was passionately staring at him.
"Nwam (my child), it's called sacred draw. It will require you to pick a straw out of the passed straws, but the clause there is that you must not pick the short straw. Yours must be long, biko nwam (please, my child)," Mrs Okpara said, not knowing her husband was right behind the door, eavesdropping on her conversation with Chisom.
"Nwanyi (woman), what are you saying to my son?" Mr Okpara cut their conversation.
"Gịnị mere? Ọ bụghį nwa m nwoke m? (What happened? Is he not my son?), Mr Okpara raised his voice at his wife, who is now fidgeting at the sight of her husband.
"Chisom, nwa m nwoke(my son), irrespective of the straw you choose, I know you will come back to me, nke oma (okay)," Mr. Okpara said to Chisom, looking at his wife sternly.
"Okay, Papa, I will make you proud," naive Chisom said.
"Kedu, maka gįnį į na-eme ka o nwee egwu(why are you creating fear in him?)" Mr. Okpara said, facing his wife.
"I was only preparing him for what was to come; this is his first time; I was just scared," Mrs Okpara replied and left the room.
The day for the sacred draw is getting closer, and Chisom was telling his friends how happy he was that he will be participating in the sacred draw for the first time. Most of his friends are participating for the first time too, as they are of the same age, but each has his fear due to what has been told to them by their parents.
A day before the draw, each male child was to barb their hair without leaving a strand. Mrs Okpara was helping Chisom with his when she was lost in thought.
"What if this child is for Infeanyi, eh chimo (God)?" and I wanted to avoid this before marrying Uzo. Kedu maka gįnį m mere nke ahu (why did I do that) when I knew I was getting married to another person?" Mrs Okpara thought within herself when Chisom complained of feeling pain.
"Mama, it's paining me," Chisom said.
"Sorry my dear, I'm almost done", Mrs Okpara replied. After a few minutes, she concluded the shaving, and Chisom ran out to tell his friends he was ready for the sacred draw.
At exactly 6pm, everyone has gathered at the town square, waiting for the king before the draw begins. As the king arrived, people began to shout, "Eze anyį(our king). Mr and Mrs Okpara too were there. Mrs Okpara wasn't comfortable; she was terrified as they announced the beginning of the draw.
"Chineke biko, nyere m aka (God please help me), Mrs Okpara mutters.
After the chanting of the traditional hymn, all the male children were summoned to line up in front of the ancestral image of the first king in the town square. Immediately, Chisom stood and ran to the front. While his mother was scared, Chisom was happy. Without delay, the town's chief priest came out with a black pouch containing several straws of the same size with only one short straw. He laughed hysterically as he shook the pouch rigorously, which sent chills into Mrs Okpara's spine.
"Chineke, nwa m nwoke(God my child)," Mrs Okpara said shivering where she was seated. Her husband looked at her sternly and hissed, focusing on the chief priest who was still chanting.
After a long chant from the chief priest, he paused for the king to address all the lined-up male children before passing the pouch around. After the King's welcome speech and prayers for all the male children who are participating in the draw, he prayed that peace reigned in Owara, and all the villagers chorused Ise (amen). Each family with their fears – those with two male children were praying none of their children picked the short straw, likewise those with one or other number of males in the family.
The chief priest once again came forward with the black pouch in his hand. Raised it up to the craving image of the first king at the square and moved forward to the boys. The small ones were lined in the front, which includes Chisom and his friends of the same age. Then the chief priest went to the back to begin with the older ones. Chisom was number nine in line. The picking had started, and every parent was praying silently for their child or children not to take the short straw.
Each of the boys before Chisom picked the long straws, but when the chief priest got to Chisom, he paused for some seconds and said, "Ihe a dį m įtųnanya (this thing is strange). He skipped Chisom and moved to his other friends at the front. Yet Chisom was eager to take a straw. Mr and Mrs Okpara became worried, wondering why the chief priest skipped their son, but they couldn't ask, as it was forbidden to talk at that moment. After others had picked, the chief priest returned to Chisom, and out of anxiety, he picked a straw and was hiding it from his friends. After every one of them has picked, the chief priest commands them all to raise their straws up. Chisom was the first to raise his, and everyone watching shouted, "Ahhh!"
Mr and Mrs Okpara were shocked; immediately, the chief priest took Chisom to kneel before the king and began to chant. Everyone else was jubilating and heading to their home, while Mrs Okpara sat on the floor crying. Her husband left her and headed home because they could no longer move closer to Chisom. Immediately, the king commanded Chisom's clothes to be changed to a white robe with a charm round his neck. After crying for some minutes, Mrs Okpara headed home. Chisom was sent into Kala Forest. All through the night, Mrs Okpara couldn't sleep, whereas her husband was sleeping like a baby. All the villagers were patiently waiting for twenty-four hours to see if Chisom is a true son of his father or not. The chief priest went to the King's Palace to inform him about his observations when he got to Chisom during the sacred draw.
"Eze m, there is something strange about the little boy who picked the short straw. When I looked at his eyes, it was like a burning fire. I'm yet to understand what that means, but I will consultt the arúsí (gods) to know more," the chief priest said.
"I would love to know what the outcome will be. I know his parents are scared right now; I saw his mother crying profusely last night. Let's wait and see," the king replied.
At exactly twenty-four hours, all the dwellers of Owara town gathered at the town square, waiting for Chisom to return from Kala forest. His parents were also there, patiently waiting. An hour passed, still no sign of Chisom. Two hours passed, and everyone had begun to murmur. At exactly three hours and no sign of Chisom, his father furiously left the town square. People passing several comments on Chisom's mother, calling her all sorts of names. The king and the chief priest were surprised, saying Chisom's mother cheated with another man to bring forth Chisom. The people silently left the town square, leaving Mrs Okpara stranded in the square, crying like a baby.
"Ndu m (my life), my son. Eh chimo(my God), what have I done?" she said, rolling on the floor.
The king asked the chief priest to consult the gods to know if Chisom is still alive or not. After consulting the gods, the chief priest told the king that Chisom is still alive, and the gods confirmed it. Since the departure of Chisom, Mr Okpara hasn't spoken to his wife about anything nor eaten the food cooked by her. Mrs Okpara can't leave her home because of different insults from the people of Owara town. After forty-eight hours, Mrs Okpara went to the town square, knelt in front of the statue of the first king, crying and pleading for forgiveness. The people who saw her were all hissing and mocking her for being a dishonest woman in her marriage. She returned home after crying herself out.
People are gradually forgetting about Chisom, as it is the third day already. His mother never stopped crying; neither is his father talking with his mother. In the afternoon, Mrs Okpara sat in her room crying as usual when she heard someone calling her name outside.
"Nne Chisom", the woman calling continued shouting repeatedly. Immediately, Mrs Okpara rushed outside to see who was shouting her name.
"What happened? What happened? Talk to me," Mrs Okpara shouted.
"I saw someone on my way from the river who looks like Chisom, but this person's eyes look different, and he looks a bit weird," the woman reported.
Immediately Mrs Okpara took to her heels and headed to the river; after running for a while, she saw the person that was reported by the woman. "Chisom nwa m nwoke (Chisom, my son), is that you, my son?" Mrs Okpara shouted but couldn't move closer, as she didn't know what to expect.
Immediately the news had been spread to everyone in the town. The king immediately commanded that Chisom be brought to the town square. Guards came to pick up Chisom, and his mother followed, calling out his name. The chief priest looked at him and recited some chants. He gave Chisom a water to drink, which brought back his voice. Immediately he asked for his parents.
His mother ran to him with tears in her eyes. "I'm here, my son; your mother is here. Suddenly the people cheered and sang in their dialect.
"Listen, everyone, our god has been good to us, and that's why he has surprised us in Owara. Behold, Chisom is the new chosen one. He will be the next king of Owara village. The gods have chosen him; that's why he went for three days. You can all rejoice; he is our new blessing in Owara," the chief priest announced while the people cheered.
Mrs Okpara immediately carried his son home, jubilating that she wasn't disgraced. Mr Okpara was surprised to see his son; he had lost faith since he hadn't returned in forty-eight hours. Since that day onwards, Chisom lived in affluence, enjoying every side of Owara town.
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