1 A Man and His CHi

A man and his Chi

Jacob: Nkem, hurry up, we will be late for mass, why are women always slow at nearly everything? Jacob asked as though there was someone there to answer his question.

Nkem is the pet name Jacob calls his wife, Sarah. Jacob has been, before his sudden conversion and baptism, a traditional worshipper. A religion he inherited from his late father, Mazi Udoka, was handed down and practiced by their long line of ancestry. Jacob would sometimes cringe at the thought of his father feeling ashamed of him from the land of the dead, having abandoned their ways for the white man's religion.

Jacob had gotten his baptismal name, Jacob, shortly after his baptism, after Rev. Father James had almost drowned him in one of their famous river in Attah. Jacob would never forget that fateful day when he was held down, both arms placed in an embrace on his chest while Padre James blockaded his nostrils to prevent water from entering inside. Jacob nearly picked offence with Father but from what he was taught in catechism, he knew better than to lose his tempers especially at Padre who was worshipped and respected just almost like the Pope in the Vatican City whom they may never see.

Sarah quickly dashed out of the room still trying to tie her hair scarf while trudging just behind Jacob her husband. Nnam, 'biko', walk slowly, remember I am a woman and not just any kind of woman but your Nkem, Sarah concluded while smiling because she knew her husband would fall for her bait. Jacob gnashed and crushed his teeth while reducing the pace at which he had been walking. A habit he could not stop, not even the holy sacrament could stop him from gnashing his teeth from time to time whenever something irritates him. No doubt, Jacob loves Sarah, 'Obi di ya' as he rarely calls her.

I will walk as slowly as possible just as you have requested, but hope you know it will not stop Padre from conducting the mass with or without us? Jacob protested.

At the mention of missing the mass, Sarah quickly increased her pace and they both walked hurriedly towards the big cathedral seated just at the heart of Attah, along the road. A one thousand sitter capacity cathedral, built during the pre-colonial era by natives of Attah, though supervised by a British architect and a small looking Irish engineer.

Jacob and Sarah walked briskly into the cathedral to the sound of Halleluiah from the choir ushering them both to mass. Padre James, always elegantly looking in his white cassock was kneeling just in front of the altar. An altar boy was dangling incents puffing out smoke which filled nearly the whole cathedral. Jacob would quickly remember his youth, the good old days like he fondly calls it, when he was still a youth and carried the masquerade around the village during the new yam festival or when a chieftaincy holding man dies in their community. How he bellows smoke which goes out from the top of the masquerade like a chimney up in the sky. A trick he was taught by his late father who carries the same masquerade too, a cutlass in one hand if the occasion was a burial or a palm frond if a festival.

Bless and forgive me dear mother Mary, Jacob quickly say a prayer because he had been made to believe that thoughts like that are vein and only shows idolatry to dead gods carved by men, they cannot talk neither can they see or hear.

The thought of these made Jacob quickly stare at the image of the Virgin Mary standing boldly on the altar of the cathedral and the hanging body of her son, Jesus Christ, with a bloodstain on both his stretched hands and entangled leg from the nail that had pierced them. Jacob has always been a critical thinker and was described by many in the whole of Attah as a man who has a heart and mind of his own.

Jacob quickly banished the thought of comparing the masquerade image with that of the Holy Virgin Mary and her son. Remembering the teaching in his catechism class that while one was formed by folklores and tales as they never exist the other existed and performed miracles over three thousand years ago.

Will you receive the communion today? Sarah had noticed the blank stare on the face of her husband and knew exactly what he has been thinking about.

Jacob, almost stuttering, trying so hard to conceal his absent-mindedness, retorted her question, yes, of course, I will receive the communion today, what about you? Jacob added.

Sarah nodded in response while placing both hands in front of her chest as though she would float to heaven at the sound of halleluiah being sung by the choir.

Sarah is tall, slender, and beautiful, merely looking at her, one could conclude she gave the young men in her prime a hard time and made them stare at her behind which looks rather saggy now due to old age. Even though the gods of their ancestors could not bless them with a child their newly found faith has not produced yet an heir for them. Sometimes Jacob would sit and watch as others flock to the altar for thanksgiving holding their new children in their hands. He still believes his children will come even though he was not getting any younger same goes for his wife Sarah. Jacob is 54 years old already while his wife, Sarah, is 42 years old. Though she looked older for her age may be due to constant thinking out of her childlessness, Jacob would always scold her and try to make her happy whenever he finds her thinking or crying for a child.

Nkem, let us process to the altar, it is our turn to receive the holy communion, Jacob gave a gentle touch on the shoulder of Sarah who appears to have been carried away by the song being sung in the most angelic voices by the choir as she chorused in, trying so hard to raise her sonorous voice to that of a soprano singer. Sarah had been a chorister in her spinster age. While she was born into a Christian home, it was not the same with her husband, Jacob, who was born a traditionalist and only gave his life to Christ a year before he married Sarah.

Rumour has it that he had succumbed to converting to Christianity just to get the blessing of Sarah's parents before getting married to her.

Jacob shut his eyes tight as he kneels before Padre James to receive the holy communion, the taste of the wine makes him wish he could get a feel of his keg of real fresh palm wine but that would mean sinning against his flesh and bringing him for confession which he dislikes.

Jacob believes a man should be able to confess his sins to his 'chi' and pray them away rather than going to confess same to another mortal, even though he had been taught that the "son of man has the power to forgive sins" he still finds it rather uncomfortable divulging matters of his to another person all in the name of confession. So Jacob lives a quiet and peaceful life, trying so hard to avoid breaking any one of the Ten Commandments. Not because he was a righteous man, but because he abhors the idea of going for confession on Saturdays.

The communion was over and Padre taught on the topic of giving since their harvest was just around the corner. He emphasized the need to give without relenting and sacrificially, giving, like the widow in the bible, what will cost you something and not what is convenient. Jacob stared back at his wife who was edging him with her elbow, pretending to be oblivious of his presence there each time she echoes halleluiah or amen to the blessings Padre throw at the congregation as he prays for them to give without relenting this thanksgiving.

Are you thinking about your tuber of yams you will harvest this year already? While you are at that, please remember the yams and healthy goat we will be giving out for thanksgiving after you harvest, Sarah eyed Jacob as she said those words with a gleeful smile.

Jacob did not like that smile of her whenever she wanted something done her way. Left for Jacob, he would rather be like Cain who offered what he could rather than offer a bountiful sacrifice to his demise. That part of the story has never gone down well for Jacob as he strongly believed a man should be able to determine what he gives to his creator than be arm twisted to give through his nose. It sometimes makes him believe there is no difference between the warrant chiefs who task members of their community on behalf of their colonial masters. The only good thing their colonial masters have done for the good people of Attah was posting a black Padre to their diocese as a priest for the first time, a priest who happens to be a native of Attah and most times may go out of his way to conduct part of the mass in Igbo language and at the same time in Latin during prayers.

I will give according to how my mind tells me to give, Jacob snorted to the hearing of his wife.

She gave a disapproving look and decided to concentrate as it will be futile to start an argument right in the middle of the sermon and in the church. Amen!!! Sarah roared in response to another blessing released by Padre to the congregation. Padre is known for his Pentecostal nature and style while conducting his mass.

Jacob and Sarah both strolled back to their home as it was a little close to the church. They arrived home and helped themselves with the white rice and stew as it is customary with most Christians, especially amongst the Igbo to eat that delicacy virtually every Sunday after church. Sarah had prepared the stew a day before with the bush meat her husband had returned home with that Saturday afternoon. She had boiled the rice a few minutes after they got home. Jacob reclined on his local wooden chair just outside his house to relish the evening breeze which was chill and dry and smells muddy welcoming the harmattan for the year. The thought of the harvest and his tubers of yam and healthy-looking goats he will have to give to the church during the forthcoming thanksgiving filled his mind that evening. He chewed hard at the side of his mouth and heaved a sigh, maybe not out of relief but out of conviction for what he would do next before thanksgiving.

Nkem! Please can you come join me here? Jacob called out to his wife, Sarah.

Alright, give me some minutes; I'll join you soon, Sarah replied just loud enough for their adjoining neighbours to hear her.

She walked at a fast pace, every stride revealing her slender long legs, as she moved towards her husband to answer his call. Obim, she flirted with her husband as she gave him that look that makes him do her bidding.

But it appears this evening her charms are not working as Jacob did not return a gleeful smile. She quietly pulled a stool close to her and relaxed her slender self gently on the stool made from an ebony tree.

Nnam, what is the matter? Sarah demanded. You look so serious this evening, is something wrong? Sarah quickly concluded as her mind ran wide. She probably thinks her husband has eventually given in to the pressure from his family to take a second wife since she has not been able to give him a child let alone children. She heaved a sigh of relief when Jacob responded with something far from it.

Nkem, Jacob started, I do not think I buy into the idea of giving half of my harvest to the church, giving the best of my goats to a God who has refused to bless us with a child after all these years of serving. I left the ways of my ancestors because our gods too failed or refused to answer our prayers despite the large sacrifices we offer to them, name it, thousands of kola nuts, goats, white cocks, 'nzu' (local chalk) and schnapps, yet no children,

Jacob fired on, now sounding like he was losing his temper. Now this white man's god seems to be demanding too much without giving anything in return, Jacob halted, trying to catch his breath after his long sermon to his wife.

Sarah knew better than to start an argument with him over this topic, his mind was made already, and nothing, except one person whom he respect, may make him budge.

Is this why you called me out, Nnam? Sarah funnily demanded. Well, if that is the case, you are my husband and you call the shot so do as you please. With this, Sarah stood up from the stool and dragged herself into the room which was already dark by now.

Jacob was not convinced enough by his wife's reaction on this matter, he knew deep down that she has something up her sleeves and he is hell-bent to be ready for any surprises she wishes to pull on him.

May the daybreak, Jacob said out loud as though he was speaking to an invisible being as he dragged himself into the house to retire for the night.

It was early Monday morning and most women in Attah were already dashing out of their houses to catch the early morning bus that usually takes them to Owerri, the capital city of Imo state. The rickety-looking bus would convey over one hundred women to the Douglas market located just at the heart of Owerri to enable them to begin their trade for the day. Sarah was one of these women who usually board this bus to Owerri throughout the week including Saturdays too except for Sundays. Albeit, most women still go to their shops in Owerri on Sundays, Sarah forbids this as it goes against the teaching to keep the Sabbath day holy. Today it appears Sarah will not be joining fellow traders to catch the early morning bus to Owerri. She quickly changed direction and walk towards Padre's compound just a stone throw away from the cathedral. She found her way inside and luckily for her Padre James was home.

Father, Sarah protested, I do not understand what has come over my husband; I think you need to speak to him.

What exactly is the issue? James demanded. It did not take Sarah that long to narrate all that her husband had told her the previous day after mass concerning the coming thanksgiving.

Father James promised to find time to come pay them a visit at their residence.

Go in peace my daughter, father James dismissed Sarah by making a crucifix sign. She responded with an "amen" with a crucifix sign. Sarah left Rev. father's house and hurried to catch the last bus to Owerri.

Peace be upon this house, Padre James tried as much as he can to raise his very angelic voice as he approaches the home of Jacob. Sarah was first to respond to the Rev. father's greeting.

Peace be upon you Father, Sarah replied his greeting. Jacob was next to join in, good morning Padre, welcome to our home, whatever brought you to our home, it must be for good, Jacob made this last statement while grinning. He probably knew why Father came to visit him.

Father refused to take any refreshment but water Sarah offered him. Sarah calmly excused herself to allow Padre to speak to her husband.

What is this that I heard you told your wife? Did you not read in the bible that offerings and thanksgiving are mandated by God to be a source of blessing in return to us? Padre quizzed.

He quoted some scriptures from the bible to Jacob and assured him he was not offering his yams and goats to any man but God. Jacob smiled and thanked Padre for his concern.

I was a heathen a few years ago before I was converted to Christianity, Jacob cleared his throat and adjusted himself on the bamboo stool he was sitting on and continued. As a traditional worshipper, I was ardent and committed to observing every ritual and I made sure I offered all the sacrifices to my Chi for protection, fertility, and bountiful harvest every year. I observed some years I made huge sacrifices were the years I suffered greatly a loss, it goes both ways, some year I do not offer any sacrifices but render hard work and apply some technique I learned from farmers who apply the modern farm practice and that year I have a bountiful harvest, as for protection, I do that myself by looking out for myself and wife, the issue of children, I believe in the right time they will come and I will have to seek medical attention and not wait for any god to provide one for me, at this last comment Jacob gnashed his teeth in between his jaws.

I am now a Christian and from my observation, it appears the god of the white men even demands more than my ancestors with little to show for, Jacob sounded too bold for Padre to engage him in an argument.

Father, I respect you a lot and I honour God, but if this God cannot provide for himself then it cannot be my responsibility to provide what he will eat even to my detriment. I will continue serving him with the confidence that he is well fed up there in heaven since he owns all the thousand cattle on the hillside, with this Jacob chew again on what is left of the kola nut he was chewing before Padre came.

Padre James has never heard such a controversial argument from any of the locals in the village and coming from a man who barely had just his primary school certificate was shocking. Padre smiled down at Jacob.

I will love to always see you in mass, Padre quickly broke the long silence, peace be upon you and your household, Padre quickly made a sign of the crucifix and bade them farewell.