Aku cried in silence, bearing the agony of labour. It was a belief that publicity during child birth drew the attention of the spirits that would linger around, waiting for the child to be born, so they would take it from them.'The bad spirits' took pleasure in seeing humans suffer and would make the child an ogbanje, a witch. And when the children died, they were reborn in their mother's womb, tormenting the parents until the evil cycle of birth and death was broken with a sacrifice offered to the spirit in charge. She knew these things and chose to bear the pain alone. For a first timer, she was living the most painful experience and when the pain became unbearable, she involved the women living in her vicinity.Her baby daughter was very merciful to her. “The birth was quick,” the women told her. Aku was dazed with joy, Nwankwo had won, she thought to herself, feeling pity for her father at the same time.The message was sent and Nwankwo
Last Updated : 2020-08-25 Read more