The Cry

Chief Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 1

“…Igwe!! Igwe eeh!!,the worst has happened to

me?? Your highness oh!!”Maazi Uchendu’s voie

was heard from the entrance of the Palace as

Igwe Ebubedike stood before his throne

thinking and lamenting of what has befallen the

land of Umuanyanwu. Maazi Uchendu and his

wife ran to the palace carrying their dead male

child that was just 3 weeks old. They got to the

entrance of the Palace but was blocked by two

hefty guards who held spears in their hands

“I want to see the Igwe”Maazi Uchendu said as

he struggled with the guards. His wife did

nothing but rather cry bitterly looking at her

dead Son in her arms

“The Igwe is not in the mood to see

anyone”One of the guards said

“Akuko n’egwu (Folktales), I must see the Igwe

today ooh,it has gotten to my neck”He

struggled with the guards.

“Who is that??”Igwe Ebubedike’s voice was

heard from within as he heard the noise

outside

“Let them in”He ordered without waiting for

their reply to the first question. The guards

paved way and Mrs. Uchendu ran and knelt

before the king followed by Mr. Uchendu who

walked in fastly hitting his walking stick very

hard on the ground

“Maazi Uchendu,what is this and why is your

wife crying??”Igwe Ebubedike asked Uchendu

“Your Highness,you are asking me as if you

don’t know”Mr. Uchendu started

“You claim to be a great king but you are

watching Umuanyanwu suffer and

cry!!”Uchendu added which made the igwe to

place his hands on his waist looking above in

more confusion.

Mrs. Uchendu was still busy

crying on the floor

“Babies and children die everyday and you are

here drinking palm wine!! What sort of a King

are you.

This is the third time my child is dying.

Igwe!! Chaii!! Aru emee m (Calamity has

befallen me)”Uchendu weeped looking up

above

“Maazi,please calm down, were ya nwayoo

(Take it easy). The gods are yet to speak of what

ha…”The Igwe tried to say but Uchendu rudely

interrupted

“What kind of gods!!! gods mmuo ka o bu gods

mmadu. Nke a bu nke ato (This is the third

one). Owutere m ya wee buru nwoke (It pains

me it is a male child)”Uchendu weeped the

more. Lolo Nwaaku hearing the cries from

inside the house came out with Prince Azuka

looking at them piteously.

“Maazi Uchendu daalu kwa (Good Morning)”Lolo

greeted

“Mba Lolo jide ekele gi (Hold your greetings)

and as for you Igwe lee nwa m rie ya (Eat my

child) Since you refused to do anything about

this!!”Uchendu concluded,collected the child

from his wife and kept it at the feet of the

Igwe.

“Woman let’s go!!”He ordered his wife who

bitterly followed him and the Igwe shook his

head not knowing what to do. He went and sat

on his throne with his hand on his jaw

“What is all this eeeh, gini n’eme (What is

happening?)”The Igwe asked himself as his wife

and son came closer to him

“Nna anyi (Our Father), you have to take it

eas…”Lolo tried to encourage the Igwe

“Woman leave me alone”The Igwe said waving

his hand in a low tone

“But Igwe…”She tried to say again

“I said leave me alone let me think!!”Igwe

yelled at his wife and she sighed and left with

his son who the pain of the Land didn’t bother

at all..Just then, Onowu Udemba walked in

tying a wrapper around his waist,a red cap on

his head and topless just crossing a piece of

cloth around his neck. He walked in looking

behind intervally.

“Igwe..May your reign never end”He greeted as

he sat down. The Igwe only waved at him but

did not say anything

“Your highness,I feel your pains. But you won’t

have to kill yourself Igwe”Udemba said and the

Igwe looked at him

“You feel my pains?? What nonsense feeling is

that!!”The Igwe yelled at Udemba standing up

“You feel the fact that I am being blamed for

the calamity befalling this community??”Igwe

Ebubedike added walking around

“Just take a look at this!!”Igwe said pointing at

the dead child in front of the throne

“Aru!! (Abomination). Who did this

Igwe??”Udemba asked

“Uchendu told me Igwe Ebubedike the first of

Umuanyanwu to eat his dead child!”Igwe said

hitting his hand on his thighs and tears flowed

down his eyes

“Igwe,it’s alright. The Great Elephant does not

cry.. Cheii!! Aru. Was that why I saw him

walking like something who wants to hit down a

rock?? Hei!! Uchendu”Udemba lamented

“Well, I don’t blame any of them at all. I blame

the gods who kept silent seeing all these

calamities befalling Us. Firstly was just twins

now male single child has joined. Who knows

what is going to be next. Gods of our

Land!!”Igwe cried bitterly as he went and sat on

his throne in concordance of the consolation of

Udemba…

“Get me the Priestess now!!”Igwe ordered and

a guard ran,knelt down before the Igwe and ran

out immediately to the Shrine

*

*

“Gods of our land,why do you silence us to this

mysery that has befallen us”The Priestess

complained sitting on a wretched stool,wearing

a read and black gown,eyes painted with white

chalk..The environment was scary as red, white

and black clothes was seen everywhere and

moulded images of different kinds

“Nwa adighi eje nna ya si ya eje na (A child

does not run an errand else sent by his father

Adage)..gods of our land,Umuanyanwu is

suffering!!..Will we endure in this forever”She

complained to the gods beating her gong and

spreading cowries on a white mat shaking her

head negatively. Few moments later she heard

running footsteps from coming closer

“Stop there!!”She ordered the guard without

looking at him

“Greetings the Great Priestess of

Umuanyanwu”The Guard greeted

“Greetings to you,but greetings and greatness

are not important when it can’t solve a bit of

the happenings in Umuanyanwu..Tell the Igwe

that the gods are still silent to our cries”She

said and hit her iron staff on the floor

“But he said…”The guward treis to say

“No buts…Tell him what I said”Priestess

concluded and stood up yet not looking at him

“Ok Priestess”The Guard said and ran out then

the Priestess turned around

*

*

“Chaii!!. Chim egbuo nu m ooo (My ancestors

has killed me)”Mrs. Uchendu cried as other

women held her and consoled her

“My only male child”Uchendu weeped bitterly

as elders surrounded him also

“What is really happening to Us in this

Land”Maazi Ukanna asked not throwing the

question to anyone

“Cheii. May the gods save us ooo”Maazi Akabue

said lifting his hands above….