"I think she will stay. They usually stay if they do not die before the age of six."
"I pray she stays," said Ekwefi with a heavy sigh.
The woman with whom she talked was called Chielo. She was the priestess of
Agbala, the Oracle of the Hills and the Caves. In ordinary life Chielo was a widow with
two children. She was very friendly with Ekwefi and they shared a common shed in the
market. She was particularly fond of Ekwefi's only daughter, Ezinma, whom she called
"my daughter." Quite often she bought beancakes and gave Ekwefi some to take home
to Ezinma. Anyone seeing Chielo in ordinary life would hardly believe she was the
same person who prophesied when the spirit of Agbala was upon her.
The drummers took up their sticks and the air shivered and grew tense like a
tightened bow.
The two teams were ranged facing each other across the clear space. A young
man from one team danced across the centre to the other side and pointed at whomever
he wanted to fight. They danced back to the centre together and then closed in.
There were twelve men on each side and the challenge went from one side to the
other. Two judges walked around the wrestlers and when they thought they were
equally matched, stopped them. Five matches ended in this way. But the really exciting
moments were when a man was thrown. The huge voice of the crowd then rose to the
sky and in every direction. It was even heard in the surrounding villages.
The last match was between the leaders of the teams. They were among the best
wrestlers in all the nine villages. The crowd wondered who would throw the other this
year. Some said Okafo was the better man, others said he was not the equal of Ikezue.
Last year neither of them had thrown the other even though the judges had allowed the
contest to go on longer than was the custom. They had the same style and one saw the
other's plans beforehand. It might happen again this year.
Dusk was already approaching when their contest began. The drums went mad
and the crowds also. They surged forward as the two young men danced into the circle.
The palm fronds were helpless in keeping them back.