'Dark Light' by Ugwu Lawrence Enenche

Amuche was an ardent traditional worshiper before he converted to Christianity. His conversion was precipitated and caused by misfortune that enveloped his entire family which was beyond his wisdom and might.

After he married Monica, they were living happily and were the first couple in the village as traditional worshipers to call themselves “dear.”

Most of his age-grade members and neighbours taunted him for calling his wife “dear” instead of calling her name. This does not worry him as he was known to be a non-cantankerous and hilarious fellow.

Many times when he was in farm, his wife would go and have a little chat with him before going back. This infuriated many women in the village who were jealous of their love and saw her as a lazy woman. They usually refer to her as the tail of her husband. Sometimes, they asked themselves in the market; “did you see Amuche’s tail?”

Trouble started after she gave birth to two stillborn babies who according to her were killed by her mother-in-law and the host of other witches. Igbiji Village was well known for witchcraft, voodoo and sorcery in Echepepe community.

Some of the sons and daughters of the village who were wealthy in the urban cities refused to go home because of the fear of being killed by witchcraft practices. It was recently celebrated in the village that one of their sons was appointed as Chief of Army Staff of the federation but the celebrant refused to go home despite the calls from the village king and other relatives. His father warned him not to come home, so he sent his secondary school classmate who was also son of Igbiji to represent him.

Amuche sacrificed all his goats to different idols and ancestors in order to put an end to the stillborn evil in his family but to no avail. He consulted all Agbarakatas in Echepepe community and beyond but none of them could find solution to his predicament. He was always worrying and ruminating on his misfortune and his wife was always crying and weeping.

She conceived again and they were assured by pastor Ishalu of Devil is in Trouble Ministry International {DITMI} and a renowned witchdoctor, Agbarakata from Efewada village. His wife went to the pastor for prayer while he went to Agbarakata who gave him the charm he buried at the threshold of his wife’s house.

She gave birth to a healthy bouncing baby boy and joy returned to the family. Both pastor Ishalu and Agbarakata laid claim to the victory over the spirit of stillborn. Pastor Ishalu and Monica were praising God for showing His mighty power over the spirit of stillborn that had held her in bondage for years while Amuche and Agbarakata were praising his deity.

When pastor Ishalu came to bless the child, Agbarakata was there chanting incantations at the threshold of Monica’s house. Immediately he sighted pastor Ishalu, anger and jealousy roared in him and was evident in his demeanour.

Pastor Ishalu and his two companions stood under the Ogbu tree until he finished his abracadabra. He told Monica not to allow anybody to touch the child throughout the day except those who were with her when he was chanting incantation and went to Amuche’s living room where a big ocha of palm wine was kept for his entertainment.

As he was going to Amuche’s living room, pastor Ishalu greeted him but he ignored him and gave him a black look. Amuche was not at home. He went to farm to bring yam.

Pastor Ishalu entered Monica ‘s parlour and after greeting all the women sitting down, he stretched his hand to carry the baby and was told that Agbarakata has warned that nobody should touch him except those who were inside when he was enchanting.

He laughed and took him from the lap of the woman who was carrying him. ‘I know, it is the prayer of this pastor that delivered me from stillborn spirit’, Monica said holding a cup of hot water in her hand. Her house was three-room apartment roofed with aluminium zinc.

Pastor Ishalu was praying for the child when Amuche came from farm. He dropped the yam in front of his wife’s kitchen and went inside. His mood was mixed with joy and arrogance of the pastor’s presence.

He shook him and his companions after the prayer because he didn’t want to offend his wife. Pastor Ishalu left and he went into his living room to meet Agbarakata which he called Ejekwote – the action tiger. Agbarakata was holding a cup of palm wine when he entered.

‘Papa, thank you very much. Our ancestors will continue to keep you for us,’ he said and bowed down to the ground.

‘Stand up my son; I’m commissioned by our ancestors to bring deliverance to their children. Your wife is totally free from those ogbanje spirits.’

Agbarakata was about to go home and a young lady was called to carry the tubers of yam to his house.

Joy enveloped Ochiyiro’s house with the youths of the village going to his house in the night to dance secular music. He had video compact Disk (VCD), fourteen inches black and white TV and two speakers which his brother who died in a motor accident while going to the city after Christmas celebration in the village bought for him.

Oftentimes, they bring cassettes he was unfamiliar with to play for them. He disliked some of it with passion but played it in order to please them and keep the atmosphere gay.

Monica conceived again and told her husband she would not subject herself

to any witchdoctor to administer their “witch medicine”. Initially, he refused but later consented when he saw she was firm in her decision.

Pastor Ishalu visited her often and prayed for her. Oftentimes, when her husband was not at home, she would go to the church with her son and pastor Ishalu will pray for them. One day, pastor Ishalu visited her and her husband was at home.

He greeted him and told him he want to pray for him and his wife. He accepted because of his wife and he prayed for them. During the prayer, he bowed his head but did not close his eyes and did not say amen as his wife used to say when pastor Ishalu mentioned Jesus name. Pastor Ishalu thanked him for accepting him in his house and left.

One day, pastor Ishalu and his companions accompanied her to the only clinic in the village after a section of prayer in the church. The clinic was managed by a young lady who had been writing Unified tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) but was not able to secure admission to any of the high institutions of her choice.

She explained to her how she was feeling and she gave her drugs. Pastor Ishalu paid for the drugs but she objected, telling the lady to return his money that she had money to pay for it.

‘Take your money pastor’, the lady said.’

‘No, no, don’t worry. Let’s go.’

‘Sir, please collect your money from her, I have money to pay’, she said.

‘Mama Joseph, don’t disturb yourself, let’s go. Use the money you want to give her to buy something for my son Joseph.’

They left there with pastor Ishalu telling her to come to the next Sunday service and advised her not to engage in quarrel with anybody. He cautioned her to be careful with her mother-in-law. They got to Ikporogwu of Amuche’s house and she bade farewell to them.

On the ninth month of her pregnancy, she went into labour panting and calling Jesus. Pastor Ishalu was sent for and before his arrival, she gave birth to a bouncing baby boy.

Everybody in the community rejoiced with them especially members of the Devil is in Trouble Ministry International (DITMI). Pastor Ishalu named the child “Enokiche”, meaning; the light of the day.

Amuche gave his life to Jesus after seeing the hand of God in his family. He brought out all his idols and they were burnt by members of DITMI with pastor Ishalu standing in the middle of his compound speaking in tongues and commanding demons to vamoose.

That was how he became a Christian and pastor Ishalu told him not to drink or tap palm wine again. He initially accepted but after a while, he went back to taping and drinking palm wine, giving the excuse that it was the major source of his income.

Ugwu Lawrence Enencheis a prolific writer and reputable researcher on African literature and folklore. He has a bachelor degree on English literature from Ahmadu Bello university and master's degree on English literature from Bayero university, Kano. He is the author of Gone With Love, Just After Dawn, and A Talking Dream. You can shoot him an email ugwulawlaw@gmail.com, follow him on Twitter: Lawrence Enenche/Instagram: Ugwu1.

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