“What is the reason for my barrenness?” Techira asked.
“Your parents,” Safo revealed.
“My parents? But they are both dead. How are they the reason for my dilemma?”
“Your parents were childless for many years. They had tried everything they could to have a child, but all their efforts proved futile. Your father was under pressure by his family to marry another woman. He refused to concede to the demands of his family as he had no intention to love another woman aside from your mother. There were rumours at the time that there were spirits in the river who provided couples with children. Hearing this, your parents paid a visit to the very river we crossed this night, and cried to the spirits for help.

The spirits heeded to their plea and in three months, your mother conceived a baby, which was you. However, there were some rituals that your parents needed to perform in appreciation of the help granted to them by the spirits. Unfortunately, your parents forgot to perform those rituals. The spirits got enraged and that’s why when you were three years old, you almost got drown while playing at the river bank with your peers. Your mother saved you and got drowned while doing so. Your father on the other hand, was killed by a branch of a tree that got broken by a sudden storm, when he attempted to rescue your mother. Their death was a mystery to everyone and that’s why your grandparents never told you the actually cause of their deaths,” Safo narrated to the bewilderment of Techira, whose lips were quivering.
“But how is this related to the death of my child and my barrenness?”
“Well, since no one else knew about the rituals your parents were supposed to perform, it was never performed and the rage of the spirits were left unquenched. This is why your child was carried away by the river and you are still unable to conceive.”
“So what do I do now? How do I know what exactly is needed to perform this ritual?”
“When you return to your village, pay a visit to the fetish priestess and tell her about what you’ve just learned. She will assist you. I have accomplished my mission, so you my leave now.” Safo said and Techira thanked her.

She stood up to leave but turned to Safo again, “But how come you are the only one living in this side of the forest?”
“Because I am the last of Ekumpo’s descendants,” Safo admitted and Techira witnessed her eyes transform from glee to gloominess. Safo narrated,” My great –grandmother, Ekumpo, was a diviner. She could predict whenever a calamity was to befall the village or whenever a person’s life was at risk. However, no one ever listened to her when she informed them. They rather turned to call her a witch whenever her revelations came to pass and no one in the village wanted to associate themselves with our family. What finally caused her downfall was her revelation about the then chief. She visited the palace one day amidst protests from my grandmother and mother, and informed the chief that he was going to die by poison in a few days. She cautioned however that his death would be inevitable if he avoided eating from the cooking pot of his first wife. This news enraged the chief, so my great-grandmother was thrown out of the palace and banned from ever stepping foot there again. A few days later, the chief passed away due to a mysterious illness, but no one ever suspected his first wife. Instead, my great-grandmother, grandmother and mother were all banished from the village while my mother was still pregnant with me. My father couldn’t endure the shame and stigma, so he divorced my mother, leaving us to our own fate. We finally moved to this side of the forest, and unfortunately, my great-grandmother died a few months after we arrived. This hut,” Safo said, while pointing to the floor, “was her hut and where she died. It is the last of the three huts we built when we settled here. The other two were destroyed by storms. I also inherited her gift, and I do not only tell the future, but I can also prevent calamities from befalling sometimes.”

“So what happened to your grandmother and mother?” Techira asked.
“My grandmother died forty years ago, and my mother…” Safo paused and Techira noticed the choke in her voice. Techira noticed tears forming in her eyes, so she drew closer to her and held her hand. “You don’t need to continue if you can’t.”
“Oh, I can,” Safo said while wiping away the tears on her cheek. “My mother was killed by a hunter. The same hunter, who “mysteriously” died in this forest decades ago,” Safo revealed and Techira gaped in shock.
“But how did that happen?”
“One morning, my mother and I were cooking when we heard footsteps approaching. We got frightened because, people barely came to this side of the forest. We ran into the hut, leaving the fire and utensils outside. We had no time to carry them along. The person walked into our compound and noticing the utensils, called out. We remained silent, hoping the person would leave, but he didn’t. Instead, he fired his arrow at our door and threatened to kill us if we did not come out. My mother and I hesitantly went out and to my mother’s surprise, it was my father. He was the hunter who came hunting but instead, found our hut. When he laid eyes on me, he asked my mother who I was, but she kept mute. That only confirmed his suspicion. He immediately knew I was his daughter and vowed to take me along with him to the village. My mother refused, so did I. She told him it would be over her dead body that she would allow him to lay hands on me. A violent argument broke between them and without thinking twice, he shot my mother with an arrow, just like he shot any of his prey. My mother died instantly, and he tried dragging me along with him…” Safo pause again and looked away, with her eyes, settling on the flickering lantern.
“Did he succeed in taking you along?” Techira asked.
“No, he didn’t. I grabbed the knife we used for cooking from the ground and stabbed him. After, I dragged his body to the riverbank and absconded. That was how he was found. Even though I know I shouldn’t have killed him, I do not regret doing so,” Safo pressed, and piercingly stared into Techira’s eyes. Techira nodded and bowed to avoid her eyes.

“It’s enough child, you should head back to the village now. You need to get back home before daybreak,” Safo said and handed the lantern to Techira saying, “This should guide you.” Techira nodded and turned to leave when Safo’s voice emerged behind her, “Now that you know the true story of Ekumpo and my family, I hope you will share it with the rest of the villagers?” Techira nodded.
“This is the first and last time you will ever see me. Inform the villagers that I will no longer be present to protect this forest, or the villagers. Therefore, they need to take caution as there is so much evil looming around the village. And you, be careful on your way back. Don’t talk to anyone and only focus on your journey home.” Techira nodded again and waited for Safo to give another caution. When she didn’t, Techira knew it was time to leave. She stared one more time at Safo who was already lying on the floor and drumming her fingers on her hip. Techira walked out of the hut wondering what will happen to Safo and hoping she would be fine.

To be continued…

© Nasreen Zankawah,2025