Forebearer's Sight: Strangers Among Us

The cock's crow was symbolic in the Kingdom of Ile-Ife. Its significance was not only tied to the origin of the land itself but also to the dawn of new possibilities that a new day has to offer after darkness has been vanquished into the shadows once again. The early morning smoke from the burning furnace of the famous blacksmiths at Iyekere glowed in the golden ray of the first light. The farmers waited patiently in their homes for the foretold rain of Oya to sweep them into the days of harvest. It was a prosperous kingdom born from divinity.

Ifaromi opened his eyes slowly as the rising sun shone into his room. His bed was made of bamboo and palm leaves. The torches on the opposite sides of his clay wall were almost spent. It was morning already. Visions of a dark battle kept flashing through his mind. He placed his palm on his head as if trying to push the resulting headache away. It was a flashback of the nightmare he had overnight. His heart was beating fast. He took deep breaths to calm himself. 

His forehead was covered in sweat. The night was cold but not cold enough for him, it seemed. He wiped the sweat off his face and removed his white cover cloth. He approached his door before realising he was wearing his white Sapara, which covered only his private part. It didn't matter to his family members; he was still regarded as a child among his family even though he was fifteen. He was the last born, after all. 

Ifaromi picked a white cloth from the basket beside his bed and wrapped it around his waist. He opened his bamboo door and headed straight to his mother's room. He was about to knock when she said, "Come in, my child". "Good morning, mama", Ifaromi said while prostrating before his mother. "Good morning, my child", Iyunade said. She sat on a wooden bench beside her bed. Her beautifully woven hair was laced with cowries. Her smile warmed Ifaromi's heart. She was the youngest wife of Orunmila. Her beauty won many hearts and enemies, especially among his father's wives. Still, she attended to matters with wisdom befitting a wife of the Orisa of Wisdom. 

She looked into her son's troubled eyes. "What burdens you, my child?" she asked. "I had a bad dream, mama," he said. She patted a side of the bench beside her. Ifaromi sat on the bench and put her arms around him. "Good thing is it was a dream. Your reality is what you make it, my child", Iyunade said. "If you are troubled by it, you should talk to your father," she said. "Yes, mama", Ifaromi replied. "Now, go about your daily duties," she told him.

Ifaromi stepped out of his mother's shelter. It was the smallest in their large compound. He went from hut to hut to greet all his siblings and stepmothers, which was the norm in his tribe. His brother was fast asleep and wasn't waking up anytime soon; he was the black sheep in the family. The compound was spacious and beautified by different trees that bore fruits in their time. The fallen leaves rode the mild wind and littered the floor. He had his work cut out for him this morning. 

Iya Fayemi pounded palm kernel in front of her majestic hut with bronze engravings. She was one of the oldest wives of Orunmila, and she commanded respect in the compound. Most of the other wives were spoilt with fancy huts, the finest clothes, and beautiful accessories, except Iyunade. She looked like an outcast, but only those with inner sights could tell she was Orunmila's favourite. 

Kikelomo and her sisters walked through the stone walls of Orunmila's compound with a calabash filled with water on their heads. Their iro was made of beautiful colours, covering their breasts to their knees. The beads on their necks were eye-catching. They giggled and chatted as they strolled through the compound. Ifaromi had to complete his task before setting out. It was his duty to ensure that the compound was clean every morning. He swept the whole compound as fast as he could. 

Ifaromi chewed a herbal stick before bathing with black soap and a native sponge. He was dressed in a white wrapper that hung from his left shoulder and covered his body to his knees. He wore white beads around his neck and wrist, and his precious opele chain rested beneath his white necklace. He was ready for the day. He headed out of his compound while he waved at his mother.

Orunmila's compound was located in Alapata village, a few miles from the centre of Ile-Ife where the largest shrine of Ifa was built. Ifaromi was an Awo who had the blood of an Orisha flowing within him. All Awos reported to the Ifa Shrine every morning to continue their tutelage under a Babalawo, an Ifa Priest. Descendants of the Orishas were feared and respected among all the kingdoms under the watchful eyes of Olodumare. The Orishas themselves wielded the essence of Olodumare and were gods among men. 

Iyekere village was ahead of Alapata village. Ifaromi made it a habit every morning to run through villages till he reached Ifa's temple at the centre of Ile-Ife. It was a form of sacrifice considering his prowess in using Ase, and sacrifice was the bedrock of Ifa divinity. He got to Iyekere in no time with his blistering pace. Iyekere was a village of blacksmiths and crafters, and they created different artefacts from iron, bronze, and terracotta. 

Ifaromi ran straight to Kunle's shop, the best blacksmith in the village. Unsurprisingly, he was the blacksmith to the Oba, Ooni Ayetise. He was not only a blacksmith, but he could craft anything from anything. "Good morning Boda Kunle", Ifaromi said as he popped up in front of his shop from nowhere. "Good morning Ifaromi. For a second, I thought you wouldn't show up this morning", Boda Kunle said as he held a large metal rod with his muscular arm. "I wouldn't miss your early morning display for the world", Ifaromi said.

Kunle always had new crafts and artefacts to display every morning. His creativity was unmatched. Ifaromi was one of his fans. Different people from different villages and neighbouring kingdoms came to marvel at his handwork. "The show is about to start," Kunle said with a wink at Ifaromi. "Gather round my great people. Marvel at my latest works!", Kunle yelled to the crowd in front of his workshop, which was made of clay with a roof made of palm leaves and metal doors to secure his workshop. 

There was excitement in the crowd. Ifaromi stood at the front roll amongst the people, and his eyes glittered with anxiety. 

"Behold! Oko tin gbina (the spear that ignites fire)", Kunle yelled as he raised a beautifully carved spear into the air. It had various engravings all over it. The morning ray reflected from the magnificent iron in his hands. It gave the spear a divine appearance. He swung it in the air, and the atmosphere blazed in its wake. The crowd gave a loud sigh in fear and awe. 

"I call it Oko Apaadi (Hell Spear). It goes to a lucky warrior for one thousand cowries", Kunle announced. The morning ray bounced off Kunle's ring as well. He was a wielder of the ring of revelation, Oruka Ifihan. Rings forged by Orunmila during his first incarnation, forged with the essence of Olodumare, which flowed from one of the three Fore-bearers' of Life. It was telling from the power his creations wielded.