THE STORY OF ONIKOYI part 2 – Aishat Omotola

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ÀRỌ̀NÌ Ò WÁLÉ, ONIKÒYÍ Ò SIMI OGUN – Aishat Omotola.

When Oníkòyí saw that the defense of the savages was impenetrable, he looked at the sky. Cumulonimbus clouds could be seen from the north. With a grin on his face, he beacon to his assistant and pointed to the sky. The assistant got the message immediately and called to halt the ongoing battle. Although they all understood the principle of retreat as “mọ̀’jà mọ̀’ sá làá mọ akínkanjú lógun,” they withdrew facing the battlefield as it is in their creed of war never to receive arrow from the back. If Oníkòyí must fall in battle, it has to be a wound received from an onslaught.

Ẹ̀ṣọ́ Ìkòyí wọn kì í gb’ọfà lẹ́hìn
Èyí tó bá gb’ọfà lẹ́hìn, ojo ló ṣe!

Into the woods they went making tents and feeding on dried àkàrà. The rituals started in earnest, more smoke goes up into the air. If other humans know how to tame wild animals, it is only Oníkòyí and Yoruba warriors that knows how to tame wandering clouds and use it in battle. Orò, the night roarers took over the surrounding forest, forcing the savages to remain within the city wall.

By nightfall the cumulonimbus clouds had turn to nimbostratus cloud. Oníkòyí raised his arm up as if in trance again. The savages spying on him could not understand what was happening. But his army knew the secret. He was gauging the amount of water in the air with that arm and its bracelet of copper. Three people were chanting incantation behind him.

Suddenly Oníkòyí exclaimed “Olukosooo!” The thunderclap that followed the proclamation sent shivers down the spine of savage king in his chamber far away. These people have come with their tricks and magic he wondered. They don’t know he is the king of magic handed down to him by his ancestors. The science of rain making is something we have lost in our heritage. We need to reinvestigate the claim using the gauge of science for use in the contemporary period.

Àrọ̀nì looked up from inside the cage she was sitting. Naked and famished, she heard the faint voice before the thunderclap. A sinister grin flashed across her face and disappeared immediately.

Contrary to the propaganda sent by the king of the savage to the world that he intends to marry Àrọ̀nì and that she is being spoilt with many gifts, the king actually planned to sacrifice her to the chief god of the savages pantheon. This is following the divination by the king’s diviner that only a princess blood can appease their god of gods. So they had been hunting for Àrọ̀nì for years before they could get her. So she had been stripped naked and painted with white stain in certain pattern suggesting she is to be sacrificed. This is done in case she escapes, anybody that sees her knows she is for sacrifice and would return her.

Outside the gate Oníkòyí ‘s men chants of war. By the time Oníkòyí brought down his hand, rain started. Visibility became poor, fireballs became useless. Pits dug and covered became easily identifiable and the inner walls made of mud easily gave way with intense push. Soon, Oníkòyí and his men were within the cluster of houses called the city of the savages. The massacre visited on the people cannot be described.

When words reached the savage king that Oníkòyí has finally entered the city with his men, he told his medicine men to carry out the sacrifice at once. Àrọ̀nì was led to the altar of the god naked and beaten. The altar was an elevated platform made of stones and wood.

Oníkòyí fought his way to the palace of the savage king. He was greeted by battle ready army of the king and the fight was bloody. However, his army advised him that what should be their focus now is how to rescue Àrọ̀nì and not a revenge mission. But Oníkòyí will not listen. He wanted to cut the phallus of the king who had known his bride and other women kidnapped. The thought drove him crazy and blood thirsty. He cut through the army like blade cutting through butter. He was soon standing face to face with the king of the savage.

To Oníkòyí ‘s utter dismay, neither arrow, nor sword can penetrate the body of the king because it was covered in armor of beads. The only place showing was his eyes and difficult to target. The head, the neck, the torso were all covered up in crimson red beads. Rumour has it that human blood is used to wash the armor to make it more reddish.

After hours of fight within the chamber, Oníkòyí came out holding the head of the king. His own body bathed with blood. But the most sorrowful thing happened that will reverberate down the history to this day.

Oníkòyí came out of the king of savage ‘s chamber with the head of the king raised high, but he could not believe what he saw happening. His warriors had ransacked the whole palace taking whatever they saw as valuable: beads, gold, gemstones, copper, iron, bronze and artworks of different sizes and material. One was carrying a stool made of pure gold. Another was wearing a heavy armor made of beads and iron. All of them had plundered the palace and were now with enough gold to buy them their capital city!

He asked them of the whereabout of Àrọ̀nì, and to his consternation, all of them said they could not find the lady anywhere within the palace! They told him Àrọ̀nì had been led out of the palace to the altar of the savage gods to be sacrificed. Oníkòyí was furious that his army did not go after the procession to the altar, but he could not blame them much since they warned him not to be so blind with revenge to forget the mission he was sent to accomplish.

This is a great lesson for us blacks. We need to be focused on the mission of liberating our people from the cage of neo-colonial servitude first before amassing wealth individually. A failure of one robs on all.

Oníkòyí motioned to his army to follow him to where his woman was being slaughtered, but they told him it is too late. The deed had been done already, they are sure. They told him to forget about Àrọ̀nì and let them all head back to Ọ̀yọ́. They will tell the king, though they plundered the city to its last block, they were unable to save Àrọ̀nì his beloved princess. The king will understand and forgive Oníkòyí.

However, Oníkòyí knew that it is not because of the fact that Àrọ̀nì had been sacrificed that made them refuse to follow him to the altar. He knew it was because of the gold and gemstones that they have now divided among themselves. He knew how sudden riches could turn the most disciplined squad in the world to a pack of selfish, drunk and gluttonous lot. He looked down at his own share on the ground as they motioned him to take it and let them head back to Ọ̀yọ́. Then he looked at the foot path by the palace that leads to the altar. He imagined how betrayed Àrọ̀nì will be feeling now. He remembered how Àrọ̀nì used to sing his praises:

Ẹ̀ṣọ́ Ìkòyí ọmọ adìílẹ̀ d’ogun
Ọmọ agbọ̀n tí ò ríkú sa
Ọjọ́ ogún le Ẹ̀ṣọ́ ò pe’ra wọn lórúkọ

How would Àrọ̀nì feel, if he betrays her at this hour of need? How will he live for the rest of his life knowing he left the love of his life behind to die a cold death in the hand of savages? Even if his love had been sacrificed, he wanted to see for himself how the most beautiful African princess die. He raced down the path of blood into the forest of rituals, leaving riches, fame and comfort Ọ̀yọ́ could offer, to pursue his heart desire.

At the altar of the savage gods, Àrọ̀nì had waited for Oníkòyí and his men to show up but all to no avail. So she knew she was now alone. No help from anywhere. If she will survive, it has to be by her own effort.

Àrọ̀nì gbọnra jìgì d’ẹrù oògùn nù.

She had waited patiently for the right moment and when it was time to untie her and place her on the altar, she struck like a viper!
People say beauty could be deceptive; such was the case with slender Àrọ̀nì. She yanked off the hand of one of the men untying her and snatched the razor by his side before pushing him off the cliff upon which the altar stood. She had got rid of one, how would she defeat the other 5? Remember Àrọ̀nì was a brave beauty. She was determined even if she will be defeated, she will not go down without a fight.

The five other priests were amazed of the agility and dexterity of Àrọ̀nì with knife. They brought out their sword to fight. But the problem was Àrọ̀nì is a prized sacrifice. If they kill her anyhow, it is not sacrifice; she has to die the right way.

Àrọ̀nì can only pray someone was on the way to help her, anybody, even a toddler to distract the attention of the men enough for her to escape.

By this time she had managed to stab two of the men. She herself was bleeding profusely from the wound she received through the sword of one of the men. She was holding the wound to her side with one hand, and wielding the knife with another. As dizziness began to envelop her for losing too much blood, one of the priest managed to give her a kick and she fell down. Immediately, she was pinned to the ground and the knife yanked away from her grip.

Now all hope was lost. So she will be sacrificed to the gods of the savages eventually, she thought to herself as she fought to stay conscious. She was bounded and beaten again. The beating kept her conscious though, and she was thankful for it.

All hope lost. Beauty and fame about to perish in the land of savages. She was about to be placed on the altar when a familiar voice was heard behind the men.

“Ẹ ti já’wé sẹ́’nu dandan ni kí ẹ rí’jà odi.”

The priests all turned back to see who has the effrontery to enter this forest while they were performing their rituals. The gory sight that greeted them sent shivers down their spines.

What happened next will send waves of shock down your spine too.

Oníkòyí rushed at one of the priests with the speed of lightning. The priest was about to shout when he discovered his head is no longer attached to his body. The second priest could not comprehend why the back of his legs were wet, so he turned back to have a look. Behold, his own urine wetted the back of his legs to the heels. Then, it seemed he was levitating. No, somebody was choking him by the neck and raising him high with one hand. Then he came crashing on the rock. Every thing turned watery as he saw his body floating among the skulls of people they had sacrificed. No, this is not the best way to meet the gods with plummeted skull.

Then the other three knew they had to possess either teleportation portion or ability to fly before they could escape, for death has come down from heaven flash-moving like charged spirit. Even the first to escape could not believe he is not being pursued again, for he could not but wondered what kept knocking him in the occiput despite the fact that he is now miles away from the altar. Then he came to realize it was his own heels as he raced down like rabbit who just slipped through the jaws of leopard.

The second priest also escaped through the forest. He wouldn’t have had the chance if he had decided to take the foot path. He plunged himself into the forest not minding the thorns and thicksets. He would later enter the town bruised and in tatters. The third was not so lucky. He took the road, but discovered he was moving faster than he could swing his legs. By the time he would realize what has happened, the arrow of Oníkòyí pushing him had lodged a complaint into his rib cage. He fell down and felt the distasteful taste of arrow poison in his nose instead of mouth. He was still surprised this is how his life will end when he heard another thud to his head. Then blackness.

Oníkòyí picked up the dying Àrọ̀nì and rushed down to where his horse was waiting for him. In bear hug, they rode at top speed. The princess had lost much blood and was about to faint. By the time the horse, galloping at top speed, reached the city of savages, the remaining savage army were waiting for Oníkòyí. But thrust the son of Agbórí-èṣin lé gúkọ-gúkọ. Oníkòyí will not just draw his bow string back to shoot. It is archers uninitiated into Oníkòyí ‘s fighting strategy that do that. After drawing the string backwards, Oníkòyí will twist the arrow together with the string! Then he will release the killer unto the target. The arrow will not only fly, it spins ferociously towards its target and the result always is a drilling effect! So when you hear of one arrow killing six people at a go, know that it is only Oníkòyí the master archer that can perform that fit in the world. Be proud of your heritage.

As Oníkòyí ‘s horse hurdled over the last barrier of the city of savages, after cutting through the men like knife through shea-butter, the acrobat that happened mid-air on that day would remain a challenge for movie stunt makers of nowadays.

It so happened that Oníkòyí had straddled Àrọ̀nì to his chest as they rode on the horse. The bear hug by Àrọ̀nì not only revived her, it also gave her the opportunity to see the back while Oníkòyí could only see the front. At the point the horse leapt into the air to scale the fence, Oníkòyí shouted to Àrọ̀nì to jump, but she had seen what was coming! In a twinkle of an eye, Àrọ̀nì loosed her grip on Oníkòyí and leaned backward, while Oníkòyí jumped, all in the mid-air! By the time Àrọ̀nì rose again, positions had been switched and the couple are backing each other on the horse!!!

Then he heard it. It was a distinctive sound he has grown accustomed to in battles! A quick look back, he saw one of the ugly savages recovering from arrow shooting posture and seemed to be having a last laugh stretched across his face. Then he noticed Àrọ̀nì was almost about to slump. He used one hand to hold her in position and use the other to manoeuvre the horse into the woods.

In the woods, he stopped to assess what has happened. Then he saw it; Àrọ̀nì was still breathing, but the arrow had made a clean entry into her stomach and came out behind her. He could not cry; he was just asking, why? Why? Which god punishes a beauty like this with misfortune all through her life?

Àrọ̀nì looked at him admiringly, love in her eyes and proud of being betrothed to the most gallant warrior. Then she spoke:

“Ọkọ mi, olówó orí mi,
Oníkòyí ọmọ gbọ́in ọmọ gbọ̀in
Ọmọ gbọ̀ìn gbọ̀ìn tó so m’ẹ́ṣin lẹhin ọrùn dẹ́dẹ́
Tí ò jẹ́ ẹṣin Oníkòyí lè jẹ’ko
Tí ò jẹ́’ṣin Oníkòyí lè mu
Ọkọ mi, ìpínyà dé
Ọmọ awo ń lọ.”

“But no one in your lineage has received arrow at the back. I will not allow history to make you the first, even if I have to sacrifice my life.”

He stood there unable to move. What manner of woman is this: brave till the end? He cursed the day the savages took her on her way from market.

Then they heard it again. Arrows flying here and there. The savages were still on their tail! Àrọ̀nì motioned to him to do the needful as she could barely talk again. But he could not bring himself to do it. She told him she had kept his honour by not letting the arrow hit him in the back, now she must do the needful for every royal born in this predicament. Oníkòyí could not hold it again: he let it out, a sorrowful wail.

…………….. ………………….

Back in Ọ̀yọ́ the king himself was preparing for war when the news came. If his army would run back tails between their legs leaving Oníkòyí behind at war, he had better go and join his most valiant warrior in battle. He came out to meet a procession from the palace to Akẹ̀sán market and down to the gate of the city lined with men and women in sorrowful mood. He was wondering what has happened but none dare told him. He picked his pace slowly and his Ẹ̀ṣọ́ followed him. Dirge rented the air.

At the gate to the city, Oníkòyí staggered into the city bruised and covered in blood. In his raised hand, the head of the most beautiful princess the world has ever known. He could only mumble one sentence amidst the wailing and dirge when he met the king by the broad road:

Orí adé kìí sùn ‘ta.

The dirge continues.

“Àrọ̀nì ò wá’lé, Oníkòyí ò sinmi ogun
Nítorí pé orí adé kan kìí sùn’ta
Àrọ̀nì ò wá’lé, Oníkòyí ò sinmi ogun”

THE END

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