29. Akuruntegun

“It’s not the first time some of you have been at the palace. As you know we’ve had a series of events here before. I love inviting my people to feasts during which you’re asked to take part in games and contests, all designed to help you improve your lot. This time what I’ve in mind is similar, and yet different. It’s a guessing-game with a clause.

“I’m going to have a feast in seven days’ time to which all of you are invited. Three main things are going to be served on the day, and whoever can tell me what the three things consist of will be given half of my worldly possessions. However, if the person guesses wrongly, he’d be put to death.

“Don’t bother to ask anybody at the palace because only I know what I’m going to serve you on the day.”

It was not unusual for Ọba to summon their people to take part in strange contests or anything else that caught their fancy. Ọba were known for their whims and caprices, for example challenging suitors to compete with each other for their daughters' hands in marriage, by setting up contests that were impossible for anyone to win. One of these Ọba asked the suitors to guess the names of his daughters which they had no way of knowing. Another one set a 'hot-water test' whereby each of the contestants were given a mug in which some water, just taken off the fire, was poured.

This was how a beautiful young woman called Ogunfolu unexpectedly became an olori. Ogunfolu had lost her parents, and was living with her father's brother, his wife and children. She was being ill-treated by her uncle's wife especially vis-à-vis the latter's own children. Her uncle was totally against his wife's behaviour, and when he heard about the contest, he told his daughters and Ogunfolu to take part in it at the palace on the appointed date. The wicked woman stopped Ogunfolu from going there, sending her on an errand at a farm instead.

However, Ogunfolu showed up at the palace at the last minute, when none of the women had been able to guess correctly what was inside the three ọpọn. Even though she was not dressed for the occasion – in fact she came straight from the farm and was shabbily dressed – the Ọba asked her to be brought forward to compete. Ogunfolu, owing to a strange and unexpected intervention at the farm, guessed what was inside each of the ọpọn correctly. The Ọba and ijoye (officials) ordered that she should be given a new set of clothes, and that she should become an olori.

Nobody in Malawa was surprised about this sudden whim of their Ọba – his proposal of a guessing-game – and that his main concern was to ensure that whatever he did his people would benefit a great deal from it financially. What shocked them was the condition attached to this particular game. They did not imagine that their Ọba would want to subscribe to this kind of law which was practised elsewhere. The people were surprised that someone as kind as this Ọba would want to put someone to death for something like this.

"We know that this kind of law isn't unheard of. Laying claim to Ọba of something one can do – even if it's just taking a guess at something – and then failing at it, is considered a very serious offence punishable by death", some of the people were thinking.

"But our Ọba is the kindest, most generous man on earth. He can give his last penny to anyone, so it's not surprising that he's ready to give away half of his possessions. But to lay down this condition which is cruel to say the least is out of character. He cares so much for people. He has a heart of gold. He can't hurt a fly".

In those days, Ọbas played an important role in the day‑to‑day lives of their subjects, being called upon to settle disputes – no matter how small or inconsequential. An Ọba was expected to solve mysteries of any kind that baffled his subjects, so it was considered a very serious offence if someone laid claim to being able to solve a problem and then failed. Perhaps it was seen as an affront by the Ọba. For example, there was a boy who came across a little bird called Kin‑inrinjingbin, that sang like a human and went to tell the Ọba of his town. The Ọba promised to make the boy rich if he was right about this but warned him that if he failed, he would be put to death.

A long time ago, the world was very different. Humans and animals had much in common, lived side by side, spoke the same language and generally behaved the same way. Some animals, like the ijapa (tortoise) possessed remarkable physical and mental capabilities. Some birds were known not only to sing like humans, but also to have special powers.

There was dead silence for ten minutes or more after the Ọba finished speaking. It was as if everybody had stopped breathing.

"The Ọba is up to something. Why this sudden whim? He must have something up his sleeves. Is he trying to test us, to see if someone would risk his life for money – money that he (the Ọba) himself would be willing to give up easily?"

They were not far from wrong. The Ọba, who could not hurt a fly, did not want anyone dead at his hands. He did not expect anyone to take him up on his challenge. He was toying with his people. He was just curious as to what would motivate someone to want to risk their life in this way.

Everyone including the Ọba was convinced that nobody was going to take him on when suddenly they heard someone say:

"Kabiyesi! May you reign happily and for long! Greetings to all titled men present and to everyone young and old gathered here to honour our Ọba. With regards to what the Ọba has just said, I, Akuruntegun, will come up with the answers to the three main things that'll be served on the day, God willing".

Everybody including the Ọba was shocked. They were not happy about what Akuruntegun had just said. They were afraid for him because they cared for him a great deal.

"We'll gather together in seven days' time, and you'll tell us what the three main things are", the Ọba said.

"What's the worst thing that'll happen to me? The Ọba will kill me if I fail to name the main things to be served. I'm not afraid to die!" Akuruntegun was thinking.

After the gathering people close to Akuruntegun spoke to him, telling him to reconsider, to go back to the Ọba, and tell him that he had made a mistake.

"Is it worth risking one's life no matter how tempting the reward is?" most of them were thinking.

"Well, a challenge is a challenge, and anything is possible under the sun as they say!" Akuruntegun replied.

This matter was discussed a great deal thereafter by the people of Malawa.

"What made Akuruntegun agree to such a thing?"

"But then are we surprised knowing the kind of person he is?"

Akuruntegun was known for his boldness and bravery. He was fearless, ready to face any challenge head-on. He was not afraid of anything or anyone. He had been a successful business man, but things went wrong. Akuruntegun's business collapsed and he lost practically everything he owned. Then he started farming with the little money he had left. Akuruntegun was a very popular, well-liked man. He had a lot of friends in high places who often invited him to their homes to eat and drink. That was how he met Sasawa, one of the Ọba's daughters, the woman who was playing a big role in his life, unknown to everyone, and who was now very concerned for him as well.

"He's been invited to the homes of Ọba, oloye (titled men), and knows what they serve at feasts. Maybe he thinks that he can take a guess and be right".

"Perhaps he's expecting a miracle! We've heard stories of strange things happening to people that get them out of difficult situations".

Akuruntegun was putting his faith on nothing. He was ready to do anything for Sasawa. He had been looking for ways of improving his lot, so when the Ọba said what he said, Akuruntegun did not think of the implications of not succeeding.

Sasawa thought and thought about the matter – how she could get her father not have Akuruntegun killed should he fail to guess correctly. She challenged her father about why he would want to kill anyone for such a thing, especially knowing how kind-hearted her father was, how he had been helping his people.

"Have you put anyone to death over something like this before?"

"No! To tell the truth I never expected anyone to rise to the challenge. It was a test…".

That was when Sasawa confessed to her father that she knew Akuruntegun. "Akuruntegun and I have been going out for some time now, and we're in love! Nobody knows about it. Akukuntegun refuses to marry me unless he can afford to set me up in style!"

Akuruntegun racked his brains about what to say on the day of the guessing-game. Perhaps he should call on some of the oloye and Ọba at whose homes he had been eating and drinking, and they might help him with his guessing. On the third day Akurutegun went to his farm and that was when he heard a bird singing:

Akuruntegun, Akuruntegun Terente
Akuruntegun, Akuruntegun Terente
Latọdun-mọdun All these years… Terente
Latoṣu-moṣu All these months… Terente
Too ti n b'Ọba jiyan That you've been eating iyan (pounded yam) with Ọba Terente
Too ti n b'oloye jọka That you've been eating oka (cooked garri) with oloye Terente
Itan igun ni nbẹ lọpọn Itan igun is in the wooden container Terente
Iyan esuru ni nbẹ lawo Iyan esuru is in the dish Terente
Ọti eree ni nbẹ loru Oti eree is in the keg Terente
Akuruntegun, Akuruntegun Terente
Akuruntegun, Akuruntegun Terente

"Why is this bird calling my name? What's he saying? Is he trying to tell me something?" Akuruntegun was fascinated by the song and listened attentively to it. He started singing it to himself again and again. The bird sang it more than once, and Akuruntegun was able to memorize it. Then he went home – a very happy man.

The bird was no ordinary bird. It knew about Akuruntegun and Sasawa and Akuruntegun's wish, and its job was to help anyone that it thought was deserving - someone like Akuruntegun.

On the day of the guessing-game the palace was packed full, just like seven days before. Then the food and drinks to be served were brought forward in three containers: a dish (awo), wooden container (ọpọn), and a keg (oru).

"Here we are! Akuruntegun you're invited to tell us what is inside each of these containers. We're ready to hear what you've to say!" It was quiet all around.

"I can do better than tell you what is inside these three containers. Let me sing a song to you, and all will be revealed":

As soon as Akuruntegun finished the song there was a loud cheering, with people clapping. They just knew that Akuruntegun had guessed correctly. "Open the containers one by one!" The containers were opened, and itan igun was found inside the ọpọn, iyan esuru inside the awo, and oti eree inside the oru.

The Ọba was very happy especially as the answers he wanted was revealed in a song.

"Let's dance to the song. Akuruntegun, you've guessed correctly. I'm going to give you half of my possessions as promised.

Sasawa laughed: "You're not only going to divide all your worldly possessions into two and give half of it to Akuruntegun, you're also going to throw in your daughter. Tell everyone about Akuruntegun and me – that we love each other and want to get married, Father! I'm very happy that I'll be marrying someone I love unlike some other women who're forced to marry whomever their fathers chose for them".

The Ọba was only too happy for his daughter to marry Akuruntegun. "Let's eat and drink to our hearts' content to celebrate Akuruntegun's success. There's another celebration. My daughter and Akuruntegun are in love. They're going to get married, and I'm very happy for them. Let there be dancing as well!"

✤ The end · tale of Malawa ✤