GUILTY AD CHARGED

As they were at for the traditional trial to begin, the sun had began to show it's cheerful face in between the passing glooming clouds. This occasional warmth spread by the sun did nothing to take away the cold and gloomy atmosphere.

The Sorhefia Akoto, leader of the youth came forward as is his duty to accuse the young girl sitting on the ground holding her new born baby.

He stood looking at the young girl with sympathy. This young lady happened to be his bethrothed. Their marriage had being arranged from their childhood. They were both from the royal circle so it was a match made in heaven.

The always had a good relationship, they had admired each other since they were informed of the bethrotal when they became young adults. They young girl was in the basic school and the older boy was in the middle school.

Being the ideal youth full of valour, good behaviour, from a royal family and being additional handsome, most young maiden in the village admired him and some even throw themselves at him. But he was warned from a tender age that he was bethroted to the only daughter of the paramount chief.

With this in mind he always carried himself with dignity and is well behaved. The young girl was elated when they had told her of the bethrotal, after all this was the most talented and outstanding young man in the village.

But here they were today and the one she had admired and betrayed must carry the burden of accusing her. She out rightly had refused to look him in the eye after seeing his pained expression and the sympathy in his eyes.

Sorhefia Akoto stood silent for awhile before facing the crowd to address them. "Today the heavy rains carried a bad omen into our peaceful village." he paused and bowed towards his Paramount Chief in greeting.

"Agoo na Anyinor fea. There is a calamity that had befallen our village that must be averted by ensuring the justice is served and the gods are appeased. If this is not done our villages cannot shoulder the consequences." he paused briefly and continued.

He adjusted his battle dress and continued, " it gives me no joy to stand here despite all to accuse Esi, my bethroted and the only daughter of our Paramount Chief of our village. Over the course of the past several months we have not held back any resource we had to try to avert this gathering today". He had a bitter smile on his face as he recollected all the sacrifices they had made.

"But the gods would not be totally appeased and therefore for the greater good of our people and the continuity of our great lineages we had to do this. It gives us no pleasure what so ever"

"But a leader must do what is right by the, that is the responsibility that comes with it. So today a father must condemn his only daughter and grandchild. " he said as he sighed with a heavy heart.

Those women in the crowd who's hearts were touched couldn't help but break down I to tears. The mother of the accused was uncomfortable as she had to be escorted out of the gathering. Even the men could not help but have a heavy heart.

How would a father sentence his on blood to whatever the gods would decree, knowing the gravity of the crime the punishment wouldn't be light at all.

For the ancient drums to be sounded after so many decades is already a testament to what is about to happen.

"Esi had broken the custom of our prestigious village by having an affair the Prince of the Aklamahe Kingdom. As we know this is a taboo of the highest order"

There was a rucus in the crowd as every one was shocked by this revelation. There were exclamations of shock and surprised. It began to dawn on the people how grace the situation was.

They knew the princess had gotten pregnant without being customarily married. So she was hidden away in the palace and not allowed to go out. This was a grave taboo by itself.

But they had thought she had relations with his bethroted and that was the result of their union. So they were surprised the drums were sounded and the princess was brought out. When the Sorhefia came out, they had began to suspect he might not be the father after all.

This was also another previous taboo, but the revelation just now had shattered what eve imagination they had in their mind. To have relations with the Prince of the sworn enemy kingdom ?

What was the thinking? It was a very known taboo that all and sundry were warned of, since they were children. Due to certain irreconcilable feud fro. The past both Kingdoms had sworn an oath never to inter marry or have their bloods mix with each others for all eternity.

Who would have thought the princess of their own Kingdom would be the one to break this taboo and bring calamity upon their village.

The Sorhefia signified for silence and continued,"We have done everything in our power to appease the gods and today they would give a verdict. That is why this gathering has being summoned" he concluded and went back to sit among the youth.

At this juncture, the traditional custodian of the law, the Chief Priest Hunugah Dzokoto stood up and took center stage. He inserted his staff of authority made up of a metal rod inserted with tiny gongs and bells that make chiming voices as he inserts int I the ground when walking.

This is to inform all and sundry that the eye of the gods was on the move and all the ritually unclean; women in their menstrual circle. And men who had slept with their wife's prior to his passing to get off the road.

This is to prevent them from incurring the wrath of the gods upon their heads and that of their families. This is an offense of the highest order and could cost a lot of resources for a cleansing to avert the curse and it's imminent repercussions.

As he stood in their midst and recited chants and incantations, the whole gathering was deathly silent. The Chief priest and his entourage of priests and priestesses were the most revered individuals in the traditional set up.

They after all communicate with the divine and are considered to be processors of supernatural powers. Even the Chiefs have to show utmost respect towards these individuals. Their word and decrees are accepted to be from the gods themselves. Do their word is therefore law.

After some time his eyes went all white as he seemed to have been processed by the spirits.

"Hmmm mmmmm, hiaaa hiaaa, hmmmm" he kept muttering as he limped around the village square. His attending priestesses were throwing white powder on the ground he was limping around on one leg.

He would jump into the air occasionally and mutter some deeply profound incatations. The priest were playing the drums used in their voodoo rituals. It was indeed a solemn atmosphere all around, as every one was afraid to make a costly mistake by creating any sound that could distract the ritual being performed.

" The gods are angry!!!! The gods are very angry!!!! The gods are angry. " he said as he came to a stand still surprisingly not out of breath at all. He now walked backwards towards the animal skin that had been spread for him by one of the priestesses.

He sat down and gestured for one of the younger priest to interpret as he spoke a strange language; the language of the gods that mere mortals could never understand.

As he spoke the priest would interpret," Mene meume. My oohh uuuu, lulala oooh dzata maatsts." the chief priest spoke.

" A taboo has been committed by one of our own beloved daughters. This taboo could bring a village destructive punishment upon as all." the young priest interprets.

The chief priest then tossed his coweries again and continued in the strange language. " Dama kalamata, dzidzi latsa latata. Hmmm kata data tsi gata dzata kama latata."

"The gods have spoken and decided to purnish only the culprit and the abomination must be removed from among the people and sacrificed to the gods in order for this calamity to be avert.