Adaora

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Oju-Iya, the cocoa merchant in Ile-Oluji was prominent for his trade with the white men from the coastal city. He doesn't have farmland where cocoa or kola nut is planted but buys directly from the farmers. He has a very big warehouse where he keeps all the products until the traders from Europe come. He was so wealthy. Oju-iya was always on the move collecting cocoa seeds from all the farm settlements. He also buys kola nut to trade with merchants from the north. He married Wande but they had no child. Several attempts to get his wife pregnant failed. When she started to feel uncomfortable, she said to her husband out of anxiety.

Ayo mi, she said to her husband:

Aren't you worried we don't have a child? You are just busy making money. Who will inherit all your wealth?

Oju-Iya got worried he heard his wife chastising him with words. He replied:

Ife míí, I am not Olodumare that gives children. If He wills, He will bless us with children in His time. You don't have to worry much.

This reply did not go down well with Wande. She made up her mind to meet with a traditional midwife to know what is wrong with her. The next day was a market day, Iya-Alagbo the midwife will be much available. When Wande got to Iya-Alagbo, she was in a good spirit as she welcomed her.

Iya, I came that you may check me and see what reason is responsible for my childlessness.

We said softly.

You'd pay two shillings for the check-up.

After Iya-Alagbo had checked Wande, she said:

My daughter, you are sound in health. You shouldn't be childless. Maybe you should consult an active doctor. Your childlessness may be ordained by the gods.

This further troubled Wanda as she wasted no time to consult Baba Antifa. Before Baba could start anything, he just Wande:

Woman, you will have to marry a new wife for your husband. When the new wife gets pregnant and gives birth to a child, then you can conceive.

That evening, Wande could not eat neither could she eat. Her husband noticed her body language and got worried. We told Oju-Iya all that was said by the native doctor and now that is the only solution to her childlessness. In the end, they both agreed that he should take a new wife so that she could have a child of her own according to the words of Baba Antifa.

After all, the marital rites were paid, Aduke the new wife come. She was very humble and respected the Wande. They were seen everywhere together. She got pregnant and gave birth to a set of twins.

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Sooner than Aduke had given birth to her twin, Ade, and Ara, Wande became pregnant. Baba Adifa's divination had come to reality.

It was a challenging period of pregnancy for Wande. She felt pains all over her body during the nine months. She gave birth to a baby girl. We named her Adaora in agreement with Oju-Iya.

When the baby turned five years of age, Wande passed on in her sleep. This was the most dreaded thing Oju-Iya had ever thought about. She had been a pillar of support for her dear husband. Now that she is gone to the great beyond, what would become of him.

Wande remains were laid to rest in front of their home.

Several years passed. Adaora was made a slave in her father's house and no one could defend her. She wakes up first in the house to attend to the chores and prepares food for everyone. She would also eat last when Ade and Ara and their mother had eaten to their fills. Sometimes, when Oju-Iya returns from his trips, he'd buy fruits and chips base in the number of children he has. Adaora never get to eat from it. Rather, she is made to dispose the crumbs.

One day when Oju-Iya had arrived with oranges and cherries, Aduke and her children ate it all and asked Adaora to dispose the crumbs. She did it In good fate, she never saw all they did to her as punishment but as life lessons preparing here for a great future. That evening, she planted the orange seeds by her mothers grave.

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Oju-Iya had become so poor that they could barely eat a proper meal. It first started with fire leaking up his fully stocked warehouse. He went bankrupt.

Now the orange had grown and started beating fruits. Aduke claimed that it was Ara that planted it. So, she was asked not to touch the orange fruits let alone eating from it. This singular act vexed her as she began to sing my her mother graveside:

¶ Seeds planted in pains

Yo-yo yo

Let the planter eat and be filled

Yo-yo yo

And plunder grow on in the stomach

Yo yo-yo.

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She sang this song repeatedly in tears and went to be hungry. In her dreams, she saw her mother consoling her. When she woke up, all her anger had gone.

The next morning, Ade and Ara went to pluck from the orange tree. They made some good plucking and are the oranges. Seven days later, they began to grow big tummies. And there wasn't any remedy for their protruded stomach.

Adaora regretted that she laid a curse with her song when she got angry. After a few months, she got married to a prince from Igbo-ora a suburb town and lived in abundance. Sometimes, when her heart pricks her, she sends food and other materials to her father. At least, that's what a good child should do their parents.