Tales of the Lamp
Let me tell you a story. I promise, child, this is the last one, I know your eyes are aching and exhausted, but I believe that you must know what happened to our ancestors before you sleep tonight. I have long procrastinated telling you this story. My excuse was simply that you were not old enough. But right now, I feel that you’re ready. But if by the time this lamp goes off, and I am not done, then I’ll stop because this story must never be told in the dark. And it must also never be said during the day. You see, child, someday, you’ll understand why the timing matters because this story is what makes our family.
In the times before man became weak, from fleeting pleasures and self-indulgence, times when spirits and witches roamed the earth without any animosity and castigation. There lived a woman named Aduke, who was the daughter of a very wealthy and brave hunter. Her father was known both near and far for his hunting skills, and it was once rumoured around town that he killed a lion with his bare hands. The lion was named kokobi, and it had always disturbed the people for months, going from village to village, farm to farm, attacking both man and animals. Still, no one was brave enough to face it. It even evaded traps and survived arrows. It seemed unkillable; rumours went around that Kokobi had been a fierce warrior in its previous life and was back to exert its revenge on the people because they had refused to fear his death. But one day, Aduke’s father named Kuko, visited the king's palace and told him that he would bring the head of Kokobi before the next festival. The king was surprised by the audacity of this young hunter who appeared skinny. Still, Kuko was a great speaker. He managed to convince the king that he was going to achieve his objective and requested that the king must make him a promise in the presence of the chiefs and town’s folks to grant his wishes when he got back. The king obliged; Kokobi was giving him enough headache.
So before dusk on that day, Kuko entered the forest in search of Kokobi’s abode. According to other hunters who have crossed Kokobi’s paths in the forests, they had drawn a map of areas where they saw him frequent. But the thing about these sightings is that they always coincide with the full moon days, the only days when Kokobi comes to town, so Kuko had to be ready. He also visited the town’s most proficient herbalist, who gave him a blade that grows stronger in the moonlight. Then Kuko vanished. He emerged a few weeks after with the head of Kokobi, with no scratch marks or wounds on his body. It was like magic. Everyone was delighted, the town became a frenzy of festivals, then the king asked him about his wish, and kuko said, ‘I want to be king.’ This enraged the king because he felt kuko had set a trap for him. The town became a boiling pot, and sides were created, some people in support of the king, others in support of Kuko, but one thing remained certain, Kuko had satisfied his part of the deal, the king hadn’t. But these were times when the words of kings were sacrosanct. So the king did what any other person whose power was challenged, he banished kuko, which led to a civil war. After two years of fighting, Kuko came out triumphant. On the day he walked into the town, for the first time since his banishment, Aduke was born. That night, her mother didn’t survive the pain of childbearing. This time, Aduke became the first daughter and third child of Kuko.
Of all the children of king kuko, Aduke was his favourite. He loved her so dearly that he gave her anything she wished, things her older brothers could never dream of. She was the envy of the town’s women and also her father’s other wives and children. She sat during court meetings with her father, which had been forbidden for women. She represented him in events at other village colonies of their town. She was the apple of her father’s eye. Kuko, on the other hand, conquered more towns and villages, becoming more powerful daily. He had an army of herbalists who did his bidding. He was fearless and cunny. And had so many enemies.
On her 18th birthday, Aduke was kidnapped on her way from representing her father in one of the village colonies. The whole town was in disarray. Someone had done the impossible. They had stepped on the lion’s tail. So king kuko charged all his best warriors to scout everywhere and make sure they find his daughter. He couldn’t sleep nor eat. His prized possession was gone. After a few months, she still wasn’t found. Kuko became a shadow of his former self, and just like the universe was playing games with him, a young farmer named Ayinla visited the palace and told the king that he could help find his daughter. The king jumped to the opportunity and accepted, promising him riches. Then Ayinla went and searched for her. Finally, he saw her. The king was excited and filled with joy. He drank and drank till he became drunk, and in the whole drunkenness, he asked Ayinla what he wanted, that he should make one wish, and he was ready to grant this wish, he boasted in front of everyone. Ayinla simply said, ‘I want to marry Aduke.’ The king, realising his mistake, suddenly went into a rage. He stormed out of the room and was not seen for the next few days. Unknowingly to him, Aduke and Ayinla had been dating each other secretly, and though they knew her father would disapprove, they had faked her kidnap to push his hand, and it worked. But with it came grave consequences.
First, Kuko said he wasn’t going to bless the union. Secondly, he tried severally to assassinate Ayinla, which failed. Thirdly, he banned Aduke from ever seeing him. And when all that he did, didn’t work, he arrested Ayinla and imprisoned him in one of his dungeons. This started a fight between father and daughter. No one dared interfere, not his wives or his other children. Aduke knew the secrets to his powers, so she used them to her advantage, but even knowing the secret to his abilities, he was still mighty. So she sought power somewhere else. She went to the witches.
These witches had once approached her several years ago to join forces with them, but she had turned them down because she felt that she didn’t need them, but now she needed them. They gave her powers beyond her imagination, but it came with a clause. Which was that one day they would come calling, and she must answer and give them what they deserve. Aduke agreed out of desperation, and so it happened. Father and daughter went to war. She came out victorious and sent her father out in exile. Aduke became the queen, freed Ayinla from prison and made him her prince and husband. Years they lived in happiness, their empire grew, but they had no children. Then she became pregnant, and the pregnancy wasn’t any normal pregnancy. She was way past her due date, but she never entered labour. This troubled her as she tried every incantation and trick she knew but it was futile. Then she went to visit the witches, and they told her, ‘for a life to be given, another has to be taken.’ This worried her dearly because she didn’t know who she was going to sacrifice. She would have gladly chosen herself, but she couldn’t sacrifice herself because she was an initiate. She shared her troubles with her husband, and after a few days, he decided that he would sacrifice himself for his child. Aduke kicked against it, but so it happened Ayinla gave himself up, and soon after Babajide was born.
He was a delicate child who excelled in everything. He was excellent, which made his mother Aduke love him very dearly. He reminded her of the love of her life Ayinla, his father. But soon after his 21st birthday, the witches came calling. They wanted Babajide. Aduke kicked, and fought, cried and pleaded with them that they could have everything but her beloved son, but the witches won’t budge.
This desperation led her to seek an unlikely ally. Her father, the exiled king, kuko. She visited him and begged for his forgiveness; he was now an older man. She shared with him her dilemma. He agreed to help her. And so it began, they started fighting back the witches, and so the witch-hunting which our lineage has been known for began.
All these might seem like a fantasy to you, but I must assure you that it is authentic. Just as my father passed the mantle to me, I’m also giving you knowledge and power. You must come out victorious if not, the debt would be repaid which means, your life and the life of every child with our blood would be taken. This is why we fight, child. Now go to bed, sleep for the last time as a child and wake up as an adult tomorrow. Prepare yourself for war and remember darkness is your enemy.