C6 CHAPTER SIX

The forest was filled with creatures- though not all of them were savages- a row of men hurried into it dragging behind them a goat, speaking a language the goat could not understand, so it made a loud noise they did not bother to listen to. It was very late at night, the moon was in its shadows, in some parts of the forest some nocturnal birds were flying in….bats, owls were making strange noises, crickets and some other unfamiliar noises could be heard. At some isolated spot within the vicinity, something was beginning to happen.

A man dressed in a strange dark costume, holding some feathers and wearing a weird hat was running around a fire which burnt furiously, surrounding the fire were many people, males and females of various ages. Some were too young to be seen outside at that time, but they must start at an age. The man was chanting an incantation to Loa at the top of his voice; it was time for the disciples to gather. The worship of the vodun spirit had commenced. The fellowship of the ancestors, the invocation of the spirits ofLoco,Agwe,Erzulia,LegbaandOyahas become necessary for the disciples, so they will gather around to see the manifestation.

Some began playing gongs and flutes producing some unnatural sounds, others arrived some carrying dark hued cocks with bizarre appearances. The women wore different costumes depicting the various spirits of vodun; whether for good or for evil, they will match it…..they took turns with the incantations, after the dark hued cock was allowed to stroll into the fire without its head. For some time, silence broken only by the eerie sounds emanating from the strange birds flying around- Were they expecting some divine creature to grace the occasion?- The fire raged as if expressing their collective desire for spiritual manifestation. Then the incantation….then more incantation, they begin then to run round the fire making grotesque face and body signs. Late into the night when it seemed as if the ritual will end, another decapitated goat walked into the fire, more incantation, some screaming followed by a prolonged period of silence. The god ofvodunwill come upon the disciples, then rest.

The creature shivered- some experiences will either make you or mar you, and then you become ready for what follows- At a point every creature wants to know more, curiosity….question? Probes, it needs answers. Events happen so fast that you only get a chance to observe from a distance. You may be wrong or right in your assertions, what difference does it make? When covered in the fur of another and yet within another- Events move in different directions, mutual exclusions? Or some variables which it observed to have mutually independent correlations?- Whatever sense one may try to make of it, will lead to some illogical assumption- Then the morning breeze wisps through its unprotected limbs, and then it shivers.

Some creatures were heathen, looking around it found signs of what had happened…was it holy?- Surely, something supernatural- Some sinister manifestation- A shiny object it picked up, feathers, drops of blood- Something happened that morning, but no traces could be seen, only an accomplished atmosphere remained. There was power; there was also passion, what controlled a creature? - As it trotted away slowly, on its hind limbs- What difference will it make? If one is lead by one or the other.

For centuriesvodunhad been a way of life for their fore fathers the custodians of their culture, it provided them with a link, a source of meaning regarding the various natural and supernatural events going on around them, from birth to death, illness to wellness, poverty to riches, victory to defeat- If the crops didn’t do well from season to season, thenvodunhad the answer, if there was a bad omen then vodun had the answer- “And so the vast kingdom of Dahomey has its origin invodun!”Qweconcluded, her sisters were with her numbering two dozen.

“Have you been part of the ritual?”kemiasked naively...

“I was here yesterday”;Qweresponded casually...”It was my guardian they called out to”,

“And did they get any answer?”Chimneasked.

“The spirit ofvodunalways answers a noble request”,Qwereplied.

“What was it they had wanted from the gods?”,Kemiasked, Qwe was quiet for a while- moving around the already exhausted fire, she noticed they had taken away the coals while they were still burning-’ the spirit had truly come!’, she exclaimed. Her timing was perfect- “we need to move, we should be somewhere by tomorrow morning”.

Just as men have survived the changing times, so did many other creatures, most of which were dependant on it for survival or a vital part of its continuity- They sat spread around the slowly burning fire whose heat was directed at some animal parts hanging from long tree branches- They were tired, as they had been hunting all morning- it was successful, they had eaten and the remaining part was to form what will constitute their supply while they fight- The roasting meat dripped blood into the slowly burning logs, constituting the only sound coming from the quiet group. Many were sleeping and others were engaged in isolated conversation in hushed tones.

They awaited the return ofChantelwho had gone to scout around for their likely target, they all seemed eager to fight having been bored by attacking animals,….’you must all remember to whom you owe your allegiance’,Qwespoke,.. ”remember your families, your villages and our King and Kingdom, there is more for us in victory than we can ever have in death, therefore I urge you my sisters, be only afraid of not trying to fight!” She spoke calmly, the others quietly listened.