Dead and happy - tales of those born to die

Walking back to a time that was, retracing the steps that is, reliving the moments that will be, the undead comes to play.

Light glimmers through the tiny hole called ‘hope’. Almost like a pin hole it’s hard to see, if this child will stay. Should we bother with names or not, a ceremony is even out of options.

A grief to bear or a test of faith? ‘Who’ exactly is this punishment for the sins that never were. Nine months of joy, laughter, pains and sadness, nine months with the burden of a child, another nine months to bring to life the one who best remains dead…

As a young child I would hear tales of the dead, living. I heard tales of people who were born to die; not like every one of us will eventually, but for them, death was expected at a certain age mostly before puberty (they were predestined to die).

I was told that this people had been before; they had lived (maybe live is not the right word to use, but they were once alive). Unlike the myth that cats have nine lives though, they could ‘choose’ to live more than nine, lucky you think?

Due to their attachment to a particular spiritual realm, they are 'called' at a particular age to come back to the land of the dead (or undead). These children keep coming to the same family; same mother, bearing grief as gifts to the family over and over again in their wake.

Yoruba people call them Abiku- The one born to die (direct translation), Igbos call them Ogbanje- Children who come and go. These children are said to have an attachment to something which is buried somewhere close to the family, allowing them passage severally.

The only way to 'avoid' an ogbanje coming to the family again is to get the child confess where the 'attachment' is buried and dig it up, or mutilate the child: Genital mutilation, tribal marks etc. Even despite mutilation, some stubborn ones are said to come back, bearing the scars from their previous life upon their birth.

Ogbanjes/Abiku are often given names like:

Kokumo- The one who has refused to die

Kosoko-No hoe to bury; A name which serves as a treat meaning upon the child’s death, there will be no hoe to bury the child and the child will be thrown into the even forest.

Interestingly, an ‘undead’ I ‘met’ few months back clocked the big 30. I have learnt some things from watching her and I safely assume that all undead are that way:

Do you know what the best part about being an ogbanje is?- you’ve got nothing to be scared of. I mean; a living ghost takes all opportunities thrown in its path and risk taking isn’t unheard of.

Oh! Remember when mama asked you never to be scared of your own shadows? The dead have no shadows: they create it. They are the balance between finding, having and living this thing called life.

Maybe we should all be ogbanjes.

Written by Christiana OSUN.

Christiana is a lover of words. She's not just a reader, she's also a writer. She's sarcastic, fun loving, and a jack and master of most things creative. She has her website underway, so watch out.   Instagram handle: _themillenniallady_   Facebook: OSUN Christiana Oluwadamilola  Email: krwistee@gmail.com