31 From the ashes

She isn't bringing that bird anywhere near her home; she will let it die there of starvation. There is no way she is consciously going to bring evil to the new hut that Nnadozie was going to erect for her. She would accept her brother-in-law's offer. He was her only option, she also deserves to be well-fed and taken care of, especially after these few days of hardship and torment from the gods and that witch.

That evening, Ego moved into Nnadozie's compound; a compound twice as big as her father's, with about six sizable huts and a large Obiri at the entrance. It has a very massive kitchen behind the huts. The huts were arranged in an L-shape with the Obiri at the center, just in front of the gate. Ego was given one hut to herself, Nnadozie had one, his two wives had one each to themselves, his workers who worked into the night sometimes pass the night in one. Lastly, Nnadozie's parents who visited also had one to themselves.

Just behind the large compound was his monolithic yam farm stretching as far as the eyes can see. He was one of the richest farmers of his age grade, harvesting over fifteen thousand tubers of yam at the end of every farming season. He inherited the whole of his father's land, since his father and younger brother were not interested in farming. He employed over thirty people who worked for him; they get paid daily either in cowries or in yam tubers depending on what the worker prefers.

It has been two years since he took another wife Chinaza; she was heavily pregnant with her first child when Ego moved-in. The very next day after Ego's arrival, when one's shadow was directly under one's feet. Chinaza gave birth to a baby boy. Immediately the cry of the baby was heard, Ezinne, her mother, took out white nzu powder and began running around the whole village to announce the arrival of her grandson.

She sprayed the powder in the air and on anyone she came in contact with, saying with so much excitement that the gods have blessed her family with a bouncing baby boy. In a matter of minutes, the compound was filled to the brim with joyous people especially children and women, all jubilating, singing and dancing to the arrival of the new baby.

Chinaza gave birth with the assistance of the local midwife and two other women who were inside the hut with her; while the remaining family members were all just outside the hut praying and waiting patiently. The child came out, still covered in blood; the midwife proceeded to cut off the baby's umbilical cord. This is a very dramatic event. A small native blade, triangular in shape and sharpened at the base called Aguba was used. With this blade in her right hand, she pretends to cut close to the base of the cord, and then ask "Do you want me to cut it here?"

In unison, the women present in the delivery place would shout in loud chorus "mba! mba! mba!"The midwife continues to ask this question and receives the same answer until she touches the right length and she would be encouraged to cut. The placenta was buried at the foot of a young palm tree which automatically became the child's inalienable natal tree. It is believed that the plant becomes fruitful in proportion to the fame of the child's subsequent achievement as an adult.

Chinaza and her baby were kept in seclusion in the same hut for eight days before which the naming ceremony took place. A little fresh palm frond was hung at the door jamb to ward off evil spirits. During this period of seclusion, the nursing mother does not engage in any strenuous activity. Her mother or an elderly female relative will come for "Omugwo" to do everything for her, watch over the baby and her, feed her and do any other thing that was needed of her. The only duty of the mother was to sleep, eat and breast-feed her baby.

The women of the kindred all came to visit with gifts of wrappers and other things needed to fend for the baby. It was a taboo to visit a newborn baby empty-handed. The women also took turns in fetching water and firewood for her. All old grudges, petty quarrels, and enmity are erased as soon as a woman puts to bed, even debts are written off. This does not foreclose future enmity as anything can happen.

After two eke market days, it was time to circumcise the child. Chinaza leaves the compound for the first time; she is escorted to the farm, where she collects a few things for the ritual. The circumcision was performed by a skilled elderly woman in the village. Chalk, kola-nut, alligator pepper and white fowl are among the items provided. They appeal to the gods and ancestors with these items.

After three eke market days of the child's arrival, it was time to name the child. Iba nwa afa as it is popularly called marks the official presentation of the child to his human agnate and the whole village. This is also to fulfill the socio-religious obligation to perform a ritual of thanksgiving to the gods and ancestors for the gift of a child; to also ask for blessings on his behalf as he begins his earthly journey.