By
Obododimma
Oha
Those whose
grandmothers are still alive do not know what wonderful treasures they have
around. Grand-parents love their grand-children in a special way and would look
for the best solutions to their problems anytime. Grand-mothers, particularly,
like carrying the problems of the grand-children on their heads and would go at
any length, even if it means consulting seven-headed spirits, in search of
answers. They are also delighted when they are approached by their
grand-children with their problems. Then, they would with clear sincerity and dedication swing into action. So, approaching grand-mothers with a narrative of problems
is those problems half-solved! Don’t grand-mothers plunge in as if those
problems are theirs? (And, indeed, those problems are theirs in those fresh
little lives). So, they are justified by their confronting the problems with
utmost dedication and full sincerity until the problems are finally solved. And
don’t grand-mothers wish that their grand-children experience the thrill in
“fighting” with siblings over her handbag to have the akara balls, half-eaten
kolanut, or tempting groundnuts?
It was in the
context of this commitment from a grand-parent that I once approached my
maternal grand-mother and narrated to her a regular horrible dream that I used
to have. And what was that dream? I dreamt that at night, I would want to pay a
visit to the homestead of an uncle nearby, but terrible demons would always
come out of the bush and rush towards me to destroy me. I would then run for my dear life back home and towards my mother’s part of the building. Then,
I would knock frantically at the door which would later be opened and I would
race in to solace! That would be the time that I would wake up, sweating
profusely but safe and happy to be awake. This terrible dream repeated several
times until I thought it best to tell my grandma. Anyway, I don’t know exactly why
I told her. Maybe because I saw incredible sign of love towards her
grand-children in her. Maybe.
Grandma was
visibly disturbed when I narrated the dream to her. She thought and thought for
a while, alone in her world, but obviously searching for answers and
consulting! Finally, she looked up, the light of confidence in her eyes. The
signs of worry had vanished. She said to me: “Anytime again those demons come
after you in your dreams, charge at them in defence. Don't be afraid of them.
Instead, get angry and mad at them for daring. Just do it.”
I knew that
grandma’s words must have come with enormous power to solve the problem. And I
knew it was the best decision that she was taking on my behalf. So, I went away
happy, knowing that grandma was with me in my dreams and would charge at the
demons that dared charge at me. When next I slept and had the same dream and
the stupid demons came after me, I charged back at them as grandma had
recommended, and before I knew what was happening, all the demons that came
first were easily destroyed. Other ones following them ran for safety, avoiding
the greater charging force approaching! Anytime later that I dreamt of paying a
friendly visit at nighttime to the homestead, no demon attacked me again. I
sang and made all the joyful noise, but no antagonist dared approach. Later, I
narrated my final encounter with the demons and the freedom of movement that I
enjoyed to my grandma, she only nodded her head as if to confirm my story.
Why won’t I
be happy to tell it to my grandma, my closer goddess? If grandma could do it as
a “living”being, can’t she do it even better as a spirit, even recruiting an
army of spirits to join her in devouring stupid demons that want to turn my joy
to sadness? Behold, the spirit of goodness would always triumph. I only need to
tell it all to grandma and to do as she says. Sorry for stupid demons that try
to curtail my movement! They are fighting with mighty forces.
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