We wish you lots of success on your fiction novella!
Let's check out the details, shall we?
Here is the book blurb for The Wind of Change.
This book,
titled The Wind of Change, is a true
reflection of the totality of the gospel. It speaks of the original nature of
man in his wicked state. It revolves around the travails and harrowing
experiences of Johnson
as the son of a Ohen n’ okha (Chief priest) who embraces the Christian faith against his father’s wish.
It also explains the phenomenon of parental influence in youth development from
a traditional African perspective.
As it is
with the gospel, nobody can go very far in life without divine redemption.
Hence, Johnson is redeemed by God at the appropriate time. This is a writing of
hope to all who have Christ and those are yet to receive him. It is a must-read
for every home.
Friday is also giving us a peek at his book today!
Chapter One
Festival Time
The season of planting had come and gone. Now it was the
season of harvest. Farmers smiled as they brought home their produce. Their
festival, which was celebrated once in three years, was due in two months time.
This festival symbolized the greatness of the gods of their forefathers, who,
they believed, came to rescue them from famine, barrenness, and other forms of misfortune.
The gods took away their sufferings, blessed the women with fertility and
replaced famine with abundance. The gods also cured their ill children with
magical powers. Before the day of the festival, king Okoduwa, and his council
of chiefs and elders always sat down together in his palace court to decide the
date of the festival. Immediately the date was fixed, they would announce it to
the public by firing the canon (local guns). From that day, preparations began
and the youth leader mobilized the youths to clean up the entire village.
Anybody who refused to work was fined at the end of the day. The fine, which was
imposed and enforced by the chief pries, Ohen n’ okha (Chief priest) and the
youth leader, usually consisted of one nanny goat and a bottle of ogogoro (locally brewed gin).
At
noon of the appointed day for the festival, musicians gathered at their royal
central shrine and beat their drums followed by song after song. The Ohen n’
okha (Chief priest) usually chanted some incantation as he danced with other
native doctors round in a circle. This year’s performance was spiced with some
magic; the musicians beat the drums harder and harder.
Shortly
afterwards, Ohen n’ okha (Chief priest) dug
a hole, put a seed of corn into the hole and covered it with sand. Presently,
he ordered the townspeople to water the seed; which they obeyed. Almost
immediately the seed of the corn began to grow, until it became mature and bore
fruits. The townspeople harvested, cooked and ate the corn that day with much
fanfare, even as they marveled. The Ohen n’ okha (Chief priest) then told
people about their problems and the solutions. Soon after, he anointed them by
pouring some liquid over their heads. At the end of the day, he would request
from each of them one old nanny goat. These people came from different places
with all kinds of problems. They had come to him for solutions and would gladly
provide what he requested because they believed in his solutions. In fact he
was held in awe by everyone. Whatever he said was final, even King Okoduwa and
the elders obeyed him. King Okoduwa’s bodyguards arrived ahead of him. At his
appearance, the entire crowd bowed as the sound of ‘Long live King Okoduwa’
reverberated. The worshipers changed the tune of the song. Their voices were
heard loud and clear. King Okoduwa danced after performing the statutory
sacrifices. After this, King Okoduwa would go back to his palace. This means King
Okoduwa had declared the festival open and it is seven days celebration. During
this festival, nobody went to the farm or market. There were times nobody was
seen outside, for fear of being sanctioned. In the past, strangers who violated
the law by venturing out while the festival lasted were sacrificed to the gods.
Though none would admit it, it was largely believed that such sacrifices were still
held.
The
new planting season usually offered job opportunities for people from other
communities. This was because, Ajami was widely known as the food basket of the
entire region due to its vast fertile arable lands. Consequently, the arrival
of the new season brought several young non indigenes which included Gregory and
James. Gregory and James were young secondary school students who were looking for an
opportunity to work in order to raise money for their education. They had come
to Ajami to work in people’s farms in the hope of raising the money they
needed.
The journey to Ajami was a rough one
having taken the best path of nine hours. It was even worse for the lads as
they had to ride the bumpy road at the back of a rough-looking lorry. While in
the lorry, Gregory complained all the way. He was, however, advised by James to
see it as the sacrifice they had to make to succeed. If there was anything the
boys were afraid of, it was poverty and a life in obscurity.
At Ajami, the boys were taken to the
home of Chief Igbedion, a wealthy farmer with a mean reputation.
“What are your
names?” Chief Igbedion asked.
“James and Gregory”,
the boys replied in unison.
“Quiet!” Igbedion
shouted. “When next I ask a question you reply one at a time.”
“Yes, sir,” they
again echoed in unison. Then in realization, they echoed, “Sorry, sir!”
Igbedion
laughed in spite of himself.
What was promising to be a good
relationship with the Chief was ruined by the boys’ admittance that they were
Christians. Chief Igbedion was a core traditionalist who had no patience with
Christians. But because he needed the labor the boys represented, he hired
them at half the going rate. Refusing the offer would mean leaving the Ajami
completely to find work elsewhere as none other would dare engage anyone who
walks out on Chief Igbedion. With that said, the boys' story in Ajami, which
would eventually have multiple twists and turns, started.
After the festival, it
was a new season of brushing. This gave opportunity to James and Gregory. Who
came as far from another State to make fast money for themselves? This
community is located in the revering area of the Niger Delta southern part of
Nigeria. In this community of different occupations, some are farmers, hunters,
traders and fishermen. The road was rough and galloping. Gregory and James had to
travel this long distance in a lorry that normally comes to buy pineapple and
other food items. The journey took them six hours and forty minutes. They were
tired and Gregory began to complain. Soon after he sighted from a distance
sacrifices that had been performed and it was placed by the side of the road.
This reminded him of
a local proverb which says that (when a man is traveling to place he had not
been to before, but when he began to see sacrifices that means he is getting
close to the place). Soon after they got to their central market place and the
driver of the lorry parked and they came down. They carried their traveling bags and began to walk into the village.
When they saw a group of young able bodied men gathered in one place build
with palm leaves. They walked to them and greeted them. Good evening and they
responded to their greeting. One of them asked them, "How can we be of help to
you?"
Gregory told him their mission of coming. He was so excited, because his
father had been looking for laborers and they cannot do all the work
alone. He ordered them to follow him and
they obeyed. He took them to meet his father at the palace, whose name was
chief Igbedion and he was one of the popular chiefs to King Okoduwa. He welcomed them and asked them their names
one after the other. The first person replied him, my name is Gregory. Then he
turned to the second person and he replied him, my name is James. He ordered his son to take them home and he
should give them accommodation. They greeted him, thank you sir and they left.
After their evening meal, chief Igbedion invited them and told them the rule
and regulation of their land. He asks them, ‘which of the religion do they
belong to?’ They replied to him, with smiles in their faces. "We are Christians, chief."
Igbedion's face
changed immediately and he no longer laughed with them as he used to do before. Gregory and James noticed it. Soon after he
managed to smile, but inside, he was bitterly angry and he said to them.
Never make any attempt to preach in this our community, because we are idols worshipers. Gregory and James shouted at once Jesus Christ ‘what idols worshipers?’ both of them looked at themselves and wondered what kind of
people were they. Do not call that name
in this place and let it sound as a warning to both of you. Do I make myself
clear to both of you; they managed to reply him in a sad mood, yes, sir. Shortly
after they left to their room and Gregory began to wonder and said. ‘What kind
of human beings are those people?’ for a man to pronounce such a comment from
his mouth with confidence. James interrupted him, "I said it before, these people
must be wicked people; we must be careful dealing with them and we must try and
obey their laws." James said, "After all,
we came here to make money and we can leave at any time."
Gregory did not say
any word for a while. Shortly after Gregory breathed down with a loud noise and
said, "I pray God should show them the light because they are still living in
darkness."
They went to bed and slept it off.
Chapter Two
Chief Igbedion and
Daughter
In the morning of the next day chief
Igbedion took them to his farm and showed them the portions of the land.
Immediately after they had finished bargaining the price, they started working
on the farm and chief Igbedion came home to dress and went to the palace.
Before the year was out, chief
Igbedion had decided to give one of his daughter whose name was Airoboma out
for marriage to a Ohen n’ okha (Chief
priest) in a nearby Town. This Ohen n’ okha (Chief priest) had four wives
already. Chief Igbedion’s daughter refused to marry the Ohen n’ okha (Chief
priest) and she said to her father, "How can I marry an old man who is about
sixty years of age? With four wives and you want me to be the fifth one," with
tears on her face.
Her mother tried to convince her husband about her daughter
marring such an old man. Her father never cared to listen to her daughter and
her mother’s explanation and even his entire family. Airoboma decided within
herself to run away, but she only told Johnson and James. Chief Igbedion
noticed that Airoboma was planning to run away, her father went to his family
members and warned them. He placed a curse on anybody who would allow Airoboma
into his or her house. When she got to know of this, her family members advised
her to obey her father, which was the only solution to her problem. Because she
knew the kind of father she had. A stone-hearted man and whatever he says is
final. When she got home, she was confused and began to contemplate on what to
do with tears on her face. She thought of taking her life by herself, she was
afraid and she quickly dismissed the idea and said to herself. She does not want to
be a murderer. Her mother advised her daughter to obey the wish of her father.
Some days later Airoboma run away
from home, chief Igbedion began to descend on Airoboma‘s mother, that she was
the one hiding her daughter. That was why she refused to obey him as her
father. His wife tried to explain things to her husband, but he refused to
listen to any explanation.
Chief Igbedion reviewed this issue over and over in
his mind. As he thought of it, anger welled up in his mind and he immediately
sent for his family members. Soon after his family members all gathered in his
big parlor, hoping to hear something good from him. His wife stared at her
husband. Because she does not know what could be the next thing.
"My people, I
greet you all," and they all responded to his greetings. He continued, "I want to
sound it loud and clear that Airoboma my daughter has ran from home for the
past few days. Simply because I asked her to marry a man, who she refused to
marry so for that reason I disown her as my daughter."
They all shouted and said
it has not gone to that extent and Airoboma's mother was crying. "She is still
your daughter and she must obey your order as her father," said his family
members and they begged him not to take such a drastic decision. One of them
asked Airoboma’s mother, ‘Where is your daughter?’
She replied, "I have not seen
her for some days now, with tears on her face."
Chief Igbedion turned and faced his wife and said to her. "Let me warn
you never to go in search for your daughter, because she is not my
daughter. I know you must have been thinking about her, if you love your life
never contemplate about her."
After warning her he ordered her to leave with a
wave of his hand. She stood up and left with tears on her face.
Soon after Chief Igbedion stood up and entered his room. He brought out a bottle of gin
and offered it to his people and they began to drink. They buried the matter
because they knew who their brother was.
Five days later Chief
Igbedion told the youth to be watching carefully, whenever they come across the
daughter Airoboma, they should arrest her and bring her to him. Because she ran
away from home since a week and some days.
In the evening of that same day,
they saw Airoboma and her friend. Which means she had been staying in her
friend’s house? They arrested her and brought her to her father. Before then Chief Igbedion had made an arrangement with the Ohen n’ okha (Chief priest),
whenever they got hold of the daughter, he will definitely bring her to him by
himself. Immediately her father looked for a rope and tied her two hands and her
two legs. He gathered all her belongings, carried her and put her into a pick-up
van and they drove off with the help from the youths.
Gregory and James felt pity for the
innocent Airoboma. Gregory and James began to wonder how father would give out
her daughter to an old man of about sixty years, who had four wives already.
James said to Gregory, "I believe it’s because the Ohen n’ okha (Chief priest)
is wealthy. Come to think of it... for instance, Airoboma is married to this Ohen
n’ okha (Chief priest). If he eventually dies due to his age, another person
close to the deceased will marry her as his own wife."
"What kind of life is
this?" Gregory replied. "I said it before that the entire land needs
deliverance."
"There is nothing we can do other than folding our hands and watch them,"
said James.
"It's because we are here, that is why we are seeing this nonsense. I
believe the day we step our legs out of this place, we will be free from this
entire kind of ungodly attitude," Johnson replied.
When Chief Igbedion got
to the Ohen n’ okha (Chief priest)’s place, the driver parked at the front of
his compound. Soon after they brought her down with all her belongings from the
pick-up van, Chief Igbedion handed over his daughter to the Ohen n’ okha (Chief
priest) and said to him, "I have given you your wife." Shortly after they
entered into the pick-up van and drove off.
The Ohen n’ okha (Chief priest) was
so excited; that they had finally brought his new wife to him. Airoboma was
crying and struggled to set herself loose. But she could not. Shortly after the
Ohen n’ okha (Chief priest) entered his room and came out with a charm and
touched her. She immediately calmed down and looked helpless. Soon after the Ohen n’ okha (Chief priest)
loosed the rope and took her inside. He tried severally times to make love to
Airoboma, but she refused.
The Ohen n’ okha (Chief priest) began to contemplate
on what to do. Shortly after an idea occurred to him to use force on her and
he laughed ha! ha!! ha!!!. Because he tried all he could to make love to her,
she refused.
Some days later the Ohen n’ okha (Chief priest) went to see four
of his friends and made a deal with them. In the evening of that same day, his
four friends came to visit him and they sat down at his parlor. He offered them drink and they began to
drink. Airoboma saw them and greeted them and they responded to her greetings.
She thought maybe they would leave very soon. Time was going and nature to take
its place; the sky began to change its uniform, until it became dark and
darker. Airoboma began to wonder within herself and said ‘are these men not
going home?’ and her husband never told her they had visitors. She knew
something must be fishy between her husband and those visitors. All the other
wives had their own apartment where they stayed with their children. Airoboma was staying with the Ohen n’ okha
(Chief priest) in his own apartment as his new wife. It got to a period
everybody had gone to bed to sleep, including Airoboma. Shortly after a heavy rain began to fall,
before she could understand what was happening. The four men came in into her
room and held her two hands and legs. She began to shout, soon after her
husband came in and began to make love to her until he was satisfied.
In the morning she
became tired as if she was beaten by twenty people. She hated herself and
felt dejected and regretted why she was born with tears on her face. As she
thought about her life, soon after she concluded within herself, never to be
pregnant for him, as far as the marriage was against her wish.
Chapter Three
Western versus Traditional Beliefs
Two weeks later she
went to the market, she came across her old friend, who she narrated her problem
to. Her friend promised to buy her drugs that will help her not to get
pregnant. Airoboma was so excited and thanked her friend.
A week later her
friend came to visit her and gave her the drugs and the description of how to
use the drugs. She was so happy and started using the drugs continuously.
Gregory was not
happy the way Airoboma was treated by her father and he said to himself. 'This
community has been poisoned with bitterness.' This kept on disturbing Gregory to
preach the good news to them, but he was afraid to preach. Until when the day
had fully come at about four thirty in the morning, suddenly he woke up and
there came a sound from heaven as if a rushing mighty wind had filled the room
where they were sleeping. Gregory was filled with the Holy Spirit and soon
after he began to speak in tongues. He
was moved by the Holy Spirit to preach the gospel and he took his bible and
James interrupted him. "Where are you going by this time?"
And Gregory did not
say a word to him.
James asked him again, ‘Do not tell me you are going out to
preach to these wicked people. Or have you forgotten we were warned not to preach
by Chief Igbedion." Gregory did not say any anything to his second question.
"Tell me what has come over you now; you are trying to beat the drum of trouble
that will swallow you. Please count me out."
Gregory opened the door and left.
Soon after he began to preach, "O repent of your sins and come to God." Shortly
after he began to prophesy that one day, a great wind is going to blow and it shall
be called the wind of change. The wind is going to sweep away all darkness and
the power of evil. Immediately the light will come and everybody will see the
truth.
Some of them came out with charms
and different weapons to attack him. But they could not find the person there
and they were disappointed. After he had finished preaching, he left to his
house immediately; that was what saved him. In the morning the news had gone
round all the community and to King Okoduwa. He was very angry and he quickly
summoned an urgent meeting. Within some minutes the elders and the chiefs were
all gathered at King Okoduwa’s palace hall. Soon after King Okoduwa came out and
sat down on his judgment throne. They all prostrated before King Okoduwa had sat
down on his judgment throne and they all said, "Long live King Okoduwa." They all
responded 'amen'.
"My people I greet you,
my people I greet you all," and they all responded to his greeting. King Okoduwa
coughed and cleared his throat and he continued. "My people, something terrible has happened in
this our land, which has never happened. Before Some body was preaching in this
our community this morning."
They all shouted ‘this is an abomination’ to those
who were not aware. Already they have done their investigation and find out who
this person was and the owner of the house. King Okoduwa continued, there is no
need to be beating about the bush, let’s call a spade a spade. He turned and
faced Chief Igbedion and King Okoduwa asked him. "Why have you decided to bring
shame to our land?"
Chief Igbedion was
amazed and short of words. Shortly after he asked King Okoduwa, "I do not
understand what you are talking about", not until he was told of what happened.
He shouted and said, "I warned these boys before."
Immediately King Okoduwa sent
his palace guard to go and bring them. Some minutes later they brought them to
the palace before King Okoduwa and his people.
James was crying, because he was afraid and said to Gregory. "I warned
you before, but you never listened to me, but look at what you had caused now."
Gregory sighted Chief Igbedion, he was ashamed of himself and he bowed down his
head.
Then the chief ordered him to look at his two eyes with anger on his face and
Gregory obeyed. He asked him, "I have strictly commanded you not to preach
in this our land."
He replied him, "Yes, sir. "
He continued, "Then what makes you to
disobey my order now... Do you see what you have caused?"
King Okoduwa
interrupted him, "Look, you want to fill this community with your doctrine and
destroy our customs and laws of our forefathers."
Gregory was still trying to
preach the gospel to them right there.
The chief shouted at him, "Shut up your
mouth." He became angry and ordered Johnson the youth leader to teach him a
lesson!
Johnson stood up and walked close to Gregory and gave him a hot slap
that sent him to the ground. Gregory shouted Jesus Christ and Johnson asked him, "Do you know him? Is he a black man or a white man?" They all laughed ha! ha!!
ha!!!.
Gregory looked at Johnson‘s face; he was in the mood to kill.
Shortly
after one of the elders stood up and read the charges to them. The Ohen n’ okha
(Chief priest) told them they had committed a great sin against the gods of
their land, which is punishable by death. There were serious arguments between
them on what they should do to them, but they tempered justice with mercy and
fined Chief Igbedion a cow. Johnson was fined two old nanny goats and two
cartons of beer and one bottle of ogogoro (a local gin). Before he knew what
was happening, they brought two old nanny goats, two cartons of beer and one
bottle of ogogoro (a local gin). They ask Gregory to pay the bill immediately;
he pleaded they should to allow him get home and fetch the money. He was allowed and accompanied by some of the
youths. Soon after they came back and he paid his fine. One of the elders stood
up and told them to leave their land before one hour. Otherwise they will
regret why they were born into this world. They quickly rushed home and packed
all their belongings and they were accompanied by some of the youths to lead
them out of their land. They warned them never to come back to their land
again, if they were found they will pay with their lives and they left. On their
way, Gregory and his friend were very happy and began to thank God. If not
God nobody knows what could have happened to them.
Three hours later
they all closed from the palace and they began to disperse to their various
destinations one after another. Chief Igbedion
felt empty as he was coming home, because they had suspended him from the
palace and all the activities concerning their community. Until he pays his
fine. A few days later he went and paid his fine before he started going to the
palace and so on.
Hmm...what an intriguing book!
Purchase Links:
Universal Reader Link: https://books2read.com/u/4AYeLp
Thanks for letting us know all about your Christian Fiction novella! It sounds like quite a read! :)
About the Author:
Friday O. Abumere hails
from Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. After his
primary education, he was admitted into Ujoelen Grammar School, where he
subsequently obtained his O/level certificate in 1995. After one year he
proceeded to Niger State, where he worked with Iyayi Sea Food Suleja, Niger
State, Nigeria.
He also worked with
Julius Berger Construction Company Plc in Abuja as a checker for five years. He
later obtained his Diploma certificate in Computer Engineering in 2004.
He is the author of several books including Who to Blame, Blood is Thicker than Water and the
Barrel Destiny, Under the Drain, the Power of Love the Wind of Change, Cry for
Justice and the Revealing Secret.
He is happily married and blessed with
children.
Friday O. Abumere hails
from Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. After his
primary education, he was admitted into Ujoelen Grammar School, where he
subsequently obtained his O/level certificate in 1995. After one year he
proceeded to Niger State, where he worked with Iyayi Sea Food Suleja, Niger
State, Nigeria.
Author Links:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FAbumere
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Friday-O.-Abumere/e/B07FL6X1ZL/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8102700.Friday_Abumere
Google+:
LinkedIn: https://ng.linkedin.com/in/friday-o-abumere-a0b44b43
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fridayabumere/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fridayoabumere/
Friday's Books:
No comments:
Post a Comment