MUNACHI

"Muna! Muna...! Akwugo...!! Akwuuugo!!!" A shrill voice would yell from the raffia-thatched hut blackened by firewood smoke at the backyard which served as the kitchen to the little and old mud hut witg raffia roof at the centre of the compound.

"Nma, I'm coming....! Nne Ukwu, you called me?"

"Yes Akwugo m, ezigbo nwa, I called you. What were you doing inside?"

"Nma, i was folding your clothes that i washed the other day at the Ihi, they've dried".

"Ooh, ezigbo nwa, thank you very much. When you're through help me go Nwanyi Eze's place and get me some okpenyi that I will use to prepare Ofe Oha this evening. I forgot to get it at Ahia Eke when I went there earlier this morning".

"Alright Nne Ukwu, let me hurry and finish up inside, I was almost through when you called, so that I can rush and get it".

"Ngwanu, ezigbo nwa. Akwugo m! Simultaneously shaking her head and letting a smile.

They say, what a man can do a woman could do better. In her case, she could do best. Her name was Munachi, but fondly called Akwugo by Nne Ukwu. She was strong, brave, courageous and to add, very beautiful, with a resplendent and shimmering ebony skin that was the envy of most of the girls in Umuleri. Her parents had died barely after her birth. Her father, Agulanna, died during the communal clash between Umuleri and Aguleri two Eke days before her birth. Her mother, Oduagu, died shortly after she put to bed Muna, but before she died, she gave her the name — Munachi—meaning, "I and my God". She had given her the name as a result of the circumstances around her birth and the premonition of her death, and that Muna will be alone in the world, but alone with her Chi.

Muna would grow up into a beautiful, strong, courageous and likeable young girl under the watch and tutelage of Nne Ukwu. She was a special kind of girl; liked across the whole village of Umuleri. The hands of the gods were on her. She was brave, precocious and acted like a man, never to be intimidated by any man in the village. She was equal to ten men.

At her birth, two days after her mum Oduagu died, Ijiriji, the great dibia of Umuleri had come to visit Nne Ukwu in the frigid night on an Afor day. He would reveal certain prophecies surrounding the birth, destiny and death of little Muna of which Nne Ukwu was to keep as secret until they begin to unfold.

Her parents had waited 12 years without any issue until eventually conceiving Muna, which came with profound joy. However, that joy was short-lived. Probably, the gods knew better.

At that time, Umuleri was a blessed land, with vast resources albeit a very small village. But it faced a great deal of hostility and envy from her neighbouring villages and at times had her land run over by these villages with her children and women captured and taken away as slaves and their farm produces utterly decimated during the frequent attacks. Some of her lands were forcefully annexed by neighbouring villages and everyday, the villagers of Umuleri lived in utter trepidation.

One bright Afor morning, Okonta, the Chief-village town crier, cried the news around the village that all the eldest men of every family should gather at the Igwe's palace to discuss a pertinent issue with the Igwe and Ijiriji, the great dibia. At about the noon, all the eldest men of every family of Umuleri, including Mazi Ochanya, the oldest man in the village(aided by his little grandson to the palace), were all present at Igwe Ochiedike's palace. Some sat, especially the very elderly, while some stood as they and Igwe Ochiedike waited for Ijiriji to come. Not sooner had they started waiting for him, than he came, hitting against the threshold of the ground his beaded staff which let out a clattering sound as he walked. He was chalked in white from face to feet; he had the omu meshed in between his lips and his demeanor read gloom and ominousness. He would incantate some words and then turn around and sit down next to the throne of the Igwe.

Whilst he sat down, he nodded his head three times in disapproval and letting the word "hmm"! as the men watched on in dismay.

The land was in trouble!!

A prophecy had come on the impending carnage being planned by the land of Amache on Umuleri.