Arike's Choice

The hectic steps of traders suffocated the air in Oyo-Ile. It was a busy afternoon for the famed metropolis. After all, nothing less was expected from the capital of one the greatest empires, the Oyo Empire. The energetic attempts of the market women to draw the attention of travellers to their goods at Oja-Oba showed how competitive the city was. Top-of-the-line materials were on display, from the colourful apparel in Iya Oloja's wooden tents to the firm metals of the Mande blacksmiths. It was a market fit for a King. 

The Afin was at the city's centre, close to the market. The Oba's guards, under the command of Bashorun Onifade, manned the gates of the luxurious palace. There was giggling at the Alaafin of Oyo's quarters. "Stop Kabiesi", Olori Ewabunmi said with red cheeks under the royal sheets. Oba Ajaka wrapped his hands around her waist as she tried unconvincingly to pull away from his grip. She was his favourite Olori, and the reason wasn't far-fetched. She was the youngest and the finest among them all. Her shape was captivating. The Oba always had a weakness for light-skinned women. Her large bosom made his situation worse; he was dazzled by her.

"You know your chest makes my chest beat fast", the Oba said with a seductive smile. "Come here, let me bury my face in your melons", he said while he pulled her chest into his face and shook it. "Ooohhh, my Kabiesi", she said with a slightly embarrassed but elated look while rubbing his bald head with her palm. There was a knock on the door. The Oba raised his head swiftly. "Who knocks?" he yelled. "It is I, Akikanju, Kabiesi", one of his royal guards said. 

Kabiesi sprung up from his feather bed. He grabbed his ofi and tied it around his waist before taking long, angry strides to the door. His room was large. He yanked the door open. "How dare you disturb my peace at a time like this?", Kabiesi yelled at the guard, who knelt down immediately in fear. "Apologies, Kabiesi. Ilari Omiyale requests an audience with you. He said it is urgent", Akinkanju said. "It had better be", the Oba said. 

Ilari Omiyale stood in the throne room while staring into thin air. Half of his head was shaved, and he had black spots carved into the shaved part of his head. He wore a black robe. The Oba paced into the room wearing agbada and his ancestral bids. He held on to his Irukere while he sat on his throne. "Omiyale! What news is so important that you disturbed my peace" the Kabiesi said with an edgy look. 

Omiyale knelt before his King. "Forgive me, Kabiesi, I bring news from the Dahomey borders", he said. "Dahomey hunters were slaughtered at Sabe forest in the hands of Sango against our accord with their people", the Ilari said. "What? That fool!" the Kabiesi said. Dahomey paid tribute to the Oyo empire, who let them rule themselves in return. The boundaries had always been an issue between the two kingdoms. The Oba permitted them to use those forests, but his brother's thirst for battle had gotten the better of him countless times. 

The Kabiesi slammed his palm against his own face in anguish. Sango was torn in his flesh. Some of his top military officers did not like his diplomatic approach to the affairs of neighbouring kingdoms. They enjoined raiding and the thrill of war. Still, they respected his authority as the Alaafin of Oyo, the paramount ruler of the empire. Sango had an issue with authority, and he was more challenging to handle because he was his brother. Nonetheless, his strength struck fear into the mind of even the Kabiesi.

"Keep this between you and me. Leave the Oyo Mesi out of this for now. I will deal with my brother after the festival. I leave when the sun reaches the highest point in the sky", the Kabiesi said. "Keep an eye on the Dahomey capital. I want to know every move they make", he added. "As you wish, Kabiesi", the Ilari said. 

The day faded with the anxiety of the people all over the kingdoms heightening with each passing moment. The dawn after today would rekindle the memories that united the Kingdoms in West Africa. Tomorrow would strip them of their differences and remind them of their origin. The sun was setting. The golden gaze of the setting sun illuminated the leaves at Omisun, in Ife Kingdom. The sound of the flowing stream was a tune to nature's calm melody. Ifaromi brushed aside the leaves as he made his way along the roadsides of Omisun's stream. 

The pathway was quiet. The villagers had retreated to their huts to shield themselves from the uncertain events that might occur at night. Ifaromi followed the stream till he reached a rocky terrain. He passed under a tunnel in one of the rocks. The trees on the other side formed a canopy which engulfed a space between the rocks. Beautiful water lilies rested on the stream. The fireflies sparked up the atmosphere. Ifaromi lit the closed room with a wood pile by snapping his fingers. The woods caught fire. The view was magical.

The centre of the stream began to glow. Something was emerging from the water. Ifaromi's eyes lit up as he watched. Dark hair weaved beautifully into vertical patterns. The water which dripped off the emerging head gave it a divine glow. Eyes befitting an angel with a smile that could weaken the strongest of men. Slowly, Arike stepped out of the stream. Her skin was radiant. Its darkness shone mysteriously. Her upper body was clothed with white silk, which covered her chest region down to her belly. Her neck was decorated with a necklace made of pearls and sea shells. A white silk iro was wrapped around her waist with several beads.

Arike hugged Ifaromi passionately. "I have missed you", she said while she remained tightly glued to him. "I have missed you as well", Ifaromi replied with cheeks swollen red like a ripe pumpkin. Both of them took a step back from each other. They were shy even after a few months of seeing each other. It was teenage love. 

"I know you have been busy with preparations for tomorrow. We don't have much time", Arike said. "My heart beats faster every time I see you", Ifaromi said. "As does mine", Arike responded. "I can't wait for us to be old enough to be with each other without limits", she added. "Something troubling happened yesterday", Arike said after a short pause. 

"What is it?", Ifaromi asked. Arike hesitated. She turned her back towards him. "You know you can tell me anything", Ifaromi said. "I know, but I don't want you to think of me any less, but it's been on my mind since, and I can't tell anyone", Arike said. "Anyone but me, you mean", Ifaromi said. She turned to him and looked him in the eyes. "A ship docked at Gberefu Island yesterday. Sister Tife took me on patrol along with some of our warriors", she said. "She dragged the ship to the bottom of the ocean", she added.

"Yes, you know we have to protect our territory. The foreign people are easily possessed by the darkness around here. You remember the story of John Doe", Ifaromi said. "Yes, but I found a child in the ocean on the other side of the island. It was a white child, and I had never seen one before. He was a few years younger than us. And..", Arike said then paused. "And what?", Ifaromi asked with a bit of concern.

"I couldn't let him drown. He was just a child, Romi", Arike said while she placed her palms on Ifaromi's chest. "You saved him", Ifaromi said with a surprised look. "No, but I didn't let him drown. I made him float around the ocean. It's the least I could do for him", Arike said. "So you prolonged his death. Drowning would have been quicker than dying of cold and hunger in the ocean", Ifaromi said. "You gave him a chance to survive", Ifaromi said afterwards with a sympathetic look. 

Arike has always had a kind heart, too kind at times. It was one of the traits that Ifaromi loved about her, but he always wished it wouldn't get her in trouble. The consequence of her action was sure death. Ifaromi grabbed her shoulders. "Tell no one about this. He is just a child. Even if he survives, sooner or later, someone will get rid of him", Ifaromi said. The thought saddened Arike. Ifaromi could see it on her face. "I pushed him far into the sea, hoping he would reach his Kingdom before his death. How long will we continue to murder them?", Arike said emotionally. Tears dropped from her eyes. "Till my father finds a lasting solution. Trust me, he will ", Ifaromi said. He pulled her head close to his chest to console her.

"Our ancestral mother is calling. Take this", Arike said. She gave him a sea shell. "I made it. Speak into it and I will respond", she said. She pecked Ifaromi on his cheeks. "This is all I could ever ask for", Ifaromi said as he took the sea shell from her. "See you at the festival tomorrow", he added. "Surely", Arike replied with her beautiful smile before diving into the stream. 

The smiling moon appeared in the dark sky. It was nighttime. Orisade walked through the gate of his father's compound at Toro. It was a mini town on its own. The two guards manning the gate tapped the bottom of their spears on the ground and stood firm in salute of their master. "Welcome young master", one of the guards said, but Omisade gave no response as he walked past them. The compound was in a festive mood. Fancy touches lit up every corner. Several mansions and huts were made from clay, steel, stones, and sand blocks built by his father for his family and slaves. 

At the centre of the compound, beside the stables, many slaves and workers gathered around several round tables under canopies made of wood and dry palm tree leaves. The smell of palm wine filled the air. Arikawe Omobolanle, the Baale of Toro village, stood on a stage-like structure in the middle of the gathering. He was Orisade's famous father, famed for his farms and trading network across the kingdoms. His two eldest sons, Bangbelu and Owolabi, sat at the table behind him. They were Orisade's half-brothers who were pivotal to their father's large business. 

"My wonderful servants", Arikawe yelled with his hand raised high and his belly wiggling in his expensive aran sown into danshike and kembe. His Labankada swerved a bit. His fat frame was a sign of his good living, and his tribal marks were as famous as his wealth. "We make the end of a hard working day with a great feast", he said. His men roared in agreement. It was the end of their Owe task, which was always capped off by a great feast. "Drink and eat as much as you want. Tonight, Olodumare smiles on us", he said. The roar from his crowd was even louder. Their tables were littered with palm wine, roasted boar, asun, and pepper soup. 

Arikawe spotted Orisade beyond the gathering. "There he is! The one who walks the same path as the Orishas. My son who rivals the gods", he yelled while pointing proudly at Orisade. Bangbelu shrugged. His siblings hated the fact that their father paid so much attention to Orisade and spoke of him like the rest of them meant little. Orisade was his favourite, they thought, but he didn't feel that way. Orisade saw himself as a trophy rather than a son. 

The one thing Arikawe lacked was divinity. He wished he was an Orisha. He tried to marry one, too, but most orishas were too proud and wealthy to be moved by his wealth. That was all he had, wealth. He wasn't pleasing in the eyes neither was he witty enough to talk his way into a woman's underwear. His wives were beautiful, but they were never enough. Orisade showed promise with the ways of Ifa at a young age. Ifa divinity was the only way a mere human could achieve the height of becoming an Orisha without being born by one. This was why Arikawe was obsessed with Orisade, and he pushed him as hard as he could to the disdain of Orisade. His father's obsession was evident even in his name.

The seated crowd turned their attention to Orisade, and they hailed him. He wasn't moved by their gesture, and the sad expression on his face went unnoticed. "Tomorrow, he will shine in front of the orishas at the opening ceremony. More drinks!", Arikawe yelled and the crowd jollied. Orisade walked to his mansion, looking angrier than sad, while the merriment continued. Tomorrow was going to be a long day.