‘All right, you go away, Nwafo; he doesn’t like you – you are not a good person. He wants Obiageli.’
And truly Amechi climbed on to Obiageli’s back without any trouble.
‘You see,’ said two or three voices together.
Obiageli raised herself to her feet with difficulty, bent slightly and made a sudden jerk with the waist. This threw the child further up her back and she walked away.
‘Softly,’ said Ezeulu.
‘Don’t worry yourself,’ said Anosi. ‘She knows what to do.’
Obiageli went out in the direction of Edogo’s compound singing:
Tell the mother her child is crying
Tell the mother her child is crying
And then prepare a stew of úzízá
And also a stew of úzìzá
Make a watery pepper-soup
So the little birds who drink it
Will all perish from the hiccup
Mother’s goat is in the barn
And the yams will not be safe
Father’s goat is in the barn
And the yams will all be eaten
Can you see that deer approaching
Look! he’s dipped one foot in water
Snake has struck him!
; He withdraws!
Ja – ja . ja kulo kulo!
Traveller Hawk
You’re welcome home
Ja – ja . ja kulo kulo!
But where’s the length
Of cloth you brought
Ja – ja . ja kulo kulo!