I grew up in Ile-Ife, the heart of Yoruba land. One interesting fact about the Yorubas is that they are known for their rich history and myths. I grew up hearing stories about gods and goddesses, magical and spiritual beings, and even other weird creatures. To add credibility to their myths, there are many statues of these creatures in strategic places in Ife. Some of these statues are scary- merely staring at them could make your heart skip a beat. Sometimes, I tried not to believe the Yoruba myths- I’d often say the stories were coined by elders to prevent children from misbehaving. However, it was hard to maintain this skepticism when everyone around you; including the elderly and young people, believed it. Interestingly, during my elementary and high school days, the schools offered subjects that taught us about local myths and history.
Of all the myths, one that stands out is the story of Moremi, a woman who exhibited courage and resilience in the face of adversity. Moremi is regarded as the savior of Yorubaland. Unlike others, her statues are in almost every important place in Ile-Ife; from museums to schools, universities, the King’s palace, and also roundabouts. To show how important Moremi is to the Yorubas, they have a special festival dedicated to her. On this day, yorubas from all around Ile Ife and beyond, come together and offer prayers to Moremi. Day 3 of the inleo prompts asks us to share our experiences with mythical creatures around the world. Do you or your country believe in local myths?
This happened many years ago- when I was in my third year of high school. The school had just closed for vacation and I’d just gotten back from boarding school. My dad came to pick me up, and with a cheerful smile, I jumped into the car and sat comfortably. I had had some ugly experiences with seniors in boarding school, and I just couldn't wait to leave that place and go home. As I sat in the car, my eyes were fixed on the window, looking at trees and buildings as we passed them. Immediately we entered my street, I noticed something weird; there were big leaves hanging on the street’s gate. I didn't think much of it “Maybe the kids were playing and did it.”
However, as we moved further, I noticed that not only were there leaves hanging on the street’s gate, but also on every door knob of every house. Those who had fences hung it on their gates, while those who didn't hang it on their door knobs. “What is going on with these people? Why are they hanging leaves on their doors? I had many questions, but for some reason, I kept them to myself instead of asking my dad. Maybe I didn't want to disturb him as he was driving.
When we finally got to the house, I was shocked to see leaves hanging on our gate and door knob. Things became more interesting when I entered the house and saw leaves hanging on every door, including that of my room. My younger cousins were around and I knew they'd have answers. According to them, there was a creature going around every night, knocking on doors. This creature could take the voice of someone you know so you'd be tempted to open the door. To ward off this creature, the community leader mandated everyone to hang “special leaves” on their doors. My parents didn't believe it and didn't bother about it, but the community chief (leader), went from house to house, making sure people obeyed his orders.
“Why would you people believe such a silly story,” I told them. My cousins yelled at me, saying it was true and that the creature had captured two people in the street. I knew if I continued with the argument, we'd still be at it for hours. So, I agreed with them. They warned me not to take down the leaves. For some reason, a part of me wanted to take them down and see if the creature would truly come at night. During the night, my eyes were wide open. I couldn't sleep because I kept thinking about the creature. To worsen the situation, my dogs were barking. After about one hour, I finally fell asleep. I had a great night and woke up the next morning feeling refreshed. Was the creature unreal or did the leaves save me? I guess we’ll never know.
This is my entry to the inleo prompt.
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Thanks for reading.
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