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Chapter 5 - Ọmụmụ na Mbido Ekwensu. (The Birth and Rise of Ekwensu)

"So how do we envision him to be?" Ikuku asks. They're at the same spot they made Amadioha.

"He's supposed to be a warrior, strong and aggressive in battle..." Ani says.

"Not difficult or with an unhealthy dogma on days of peace..." Ọma proposes.

"Or any other day at all." Anyanwu adds.

"Right I love that. The God of War at wartime, the protector of the peace at peacetime." Ọma continues.

"A deity of peace." Ani calls out.

"Gbam!" They chorus.

"Alright, let's make him and get those beings over with." Ọma says.

They interlock their fingers together and they form a circle again. They begin chanting praises in his honor.

"Anyị Kwe n'ịga esu ha ọnụ.

Anyị Kwe n'ịga ga emebi ọnọdụ ha.

Anyị Kwe n'ịga azọputa anyị bu ụwa.

Anyị Kwe n'ịga esubata ụwa.

Anyị Kwe n'ịga adighide.

Anyị Kwe n'ịga ebu ekwe agha.

Anyị Kwe n'ịga abu udo.

Anyị Kwe, ịga esu.

Anyị Kwe n'ịga adighide."

"Ekwensuuuuuuuu." Ọma calls out. The powers from them merge up and around, it flows to their center and giving way, a dark-skinned, well-built figure emerges... Of course we're all dark skinned, we're from the lands where the Sun shines the brightest, Anịnne (Africa). The region where the Sun awakens from Owụwa Anyanwụ (the East of the rising Sun).

He stands up and beholds them, he's breathing fast, the surrounding waters are vibrating aggressively in response to his body movements.

On his left shoulder is a heavy looking black feathered bird, sitted on his right is a more athletic dark feathered bird of the Women's gender. On his left hand is a long stick with a pointy metal head and on the right is a shorter stick with a sharp, flat and extended head. To his back is an oval, hard piece of wood-like material and sitted on it is a four legged animal with a back of the same instrument.

"Well, Ọma, this is your idea, care to explain his ekwe (instruments or weapons) so we know what we're working with right here?" Ikuku asks.

"Yeah, we simply merged our powers with yours to make him a reality. So please, do us the honor." Anyanwụ verifies.

"I know." She sighs. "On his left shoulder..." The Hen crows. "Is the Hen, Nneukwu Ọkụkọ..."

"Nnukwu Ọkụkọ, that'll be... Big Chicken?" Anyanwu asks.

"More or less," Ọma describes. "Nneukwu means Big Mother, so Nnukwu or Ụkwụ which will come from Nneukwu will be Big. So this is Nne Ọkụkọ, the Mother Chicken or the Mother Hen..."

"Adidi Ọkụkọ." Ikuku says.

"Ikuku, we're all virgins, we're all adidi, scrap the name biko. Moving on, she'll be called the Mother Hen, fierce and aggressive about her children, she won't want to fly long distances. Not necessarily his weapon but one of his spirit animals on Land. On his right is the Eagle, Ugo, fast and direct, detail oriented and everything else."

"Another spirit animal?" Ani asks.

"Yes Sis." She nods. "On the air. Now, the weapons. On his left hand is Ube, a spear, perfect for these enormous beings and on the right is Anyu, the axe. This is a two-edged axe, amazing for these creatures too. On his back is Ọta azụ-mbe, the Tortoise-back shield. Sitting on the shield is the mbe wearing her back which is the source. She is his spirit animal too symbolizing his cunning craftiness during both wars and negotiations in the market place. This is the reason Agha is War, and Ahịa/Afịa is market. The Eagle has in her mouth the horn of a cow, the horn symbolizes majesty in victory and in war. The cow, Efi is one of the animal of those beings, don't worry, I'll show you them later. We'll eat everything eatable, these are my Waters, these are our Lands." Ọma says.

She goes and taps on the shoulder of the Man, he shoves her off as if regaining himself and runs off towards the land.

They all stand there, confused.

"Babes, bụtụe, that's on me too." Ọma says. "I had to make sure they understand how powerful we the Women are, so they're not to be intimate with just anyone of us or any of us at all before they're to do anything relevant and important. Our powers and everything about us can disrupt them and cause them not to succeed in anything they do if they don't appease us to our heart's content or if they're not on good terms with us."

"And if they're on good terms with us, closeness and proximity to us can cause them to succeed..."

"That's if we're happy with them."

"Exactly Ani Nne m." Ọma replies

"Ọma, I don't want these new beings to start getting the wrong or dominating ideas especially these which you've called out to be our quote unquote helpers, the Men." Ikuku says.

"Ikuku, the Woman of scrutiny, the ever careful one." Ọma calls out. "Baby Sis m, Asa mpete m, bụtụe. Everything will go according to plan, just watch." Ikuku nods. They continue to hear turbulence above but Ọma just simply continues.

"I'll like to ask fine Girl, what's all these with you?" Ọma asks, now focusing on Ani.

In her left hand is a long sharp metal blade with a short wooden handle and on the right is a stabby looking weapon almost shriveled up which wraps lighting rays round her body from the hand with which she weighs it.

"This is a sword, Mma agha, knife of War forged from my heart for him mid process..." They hear turmoil above once more. Anyanwụ shakes her head and begins to slowly swim upwards. "This on my right hand is Agba, a thunderbolt..."

"Wait o, you made all these for just Amadioha?"Ọma asks.

"You said they're our support system right? We're the most powerful, we have nothing to prove, let's assist them lest they die because Men are nothing without Women to tell ourselves the obvious truth and if this fight is over..."

"So it's not a war?" Ikuku asks.

"No it's not, this is simply a battle or a fight." Ani says. "When all these are over, I'll like to spend eternity with him so please, let me be, this is the help I want to render him as my Helper, the Master helper, Dịenyemaka m."

"Ọgini kwa?" The voice around them calls out again.

"Ani if you're not careful, one day they'll remove the enyemaka and carry only the Dị and then try to lord it over us. It won't be funny and you'll bear the grunt alone cos I'll be above when your quote unquote children are maiming..."

"Ngwa, Ọma, ka anyị na awa, ka anyị na awa, ka anyị na awa..." Ikuku calls out going behind her to pull her forward.

"Ọma I don't know why you're getting annoyed, Ekwensu is available..."

"Ani you sọ be going nụ." Ikuku calls out.

****

"Nnya Mmaa, they started fighting because of a Man?" Njoku asks. "Is it not arụ?"

"Njoku Nne m, they didn't fight, they only bickered and had a misunderstanding just like Men today argue who the best wrestler is in their free time..."

"It's Ekwensusobem!" A Man calls out from across the yard.

"Taà sọ!" Ekwensudi replies. "It's Okomma..."

"Ehen! Ifurọ ya?" Mmaa signals her.

"Ani..." Ekwensudi continues.

"Mechikeneli ọnụ ụnụ a ụnụ na asara asa ebe a!" They all laugh. "Nya Njoku, ifugo ya nụ? It's nothing serious just, continue listening, I'm almost done sọ."

****

Ọma comes out with Ikuku to behold Ekwensu sending his spear right into the heart of one of the beings. The animals have flown far off leaving him and the tortoise on his back to fight. Ekwensu jumps on it, one leg on his shoulder the other on the spear thrust in its heart and with his axe slits the center of its forehead almost in two.

It staggers behind falling face front with the spear emerging from it's back as it lands.

It had fallen head first on Ekwensu. Anyanwụ and Ikuku makes to rush over fearing it's over but thankfully they see movement underneath.

With his feet, Ekwensu fractures the dead head of the being to the side freeing himself from its grip. He grabs all his properties from its body and goes over to Amadioha who was lying face down and pokes at his bum with the blunt side of his spear.

Amadioha turns and beholds someone that looks like him except his own head was full and this Guy's was plaited in straight lines. Dreadlocks, about ten or more locs. He stands up by himself.

"Ndewo, my name is Ekwensu Nzenwa, the deity of war and of peace. I was birthed by the Mothers to come put an end to all these madness." Amadioha nods just focused on the hair. Ekwensu feels on them and replies. "Free the dreads, Man, it's called an Nzenwa for a reason, it signifies a sacred or holy child.

"I'm just admiring it." He makes to touch him but Ekwensu resists, bending his head away.

"Hapụ kwa m aka biko o." Ekwensu calls out.

"Fine, my name is Amadioha Kamalu, the Father of the people and the Thunder and Lightening of the world. Nice to meet you my brother. I was birthed by the Mothers too. And I would like that. Yes, let's go end this shii, together." They clap each other's palms and flex their biceps.

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