By
Obododimma Oha
Chi nyere nwoke
Chi anarala
Chi nyere nwaanyị
Chi anarala
Eje ịga n'ụzọ eso atụrụla.
(God gave the male child
God has taken him
God gave the female
God has taken her
I tried to go on my way on the road
The gum trap
Holds me!)
Eroala the night hawk is very lonely and sad over series of misfortunes.
The Igbo have the irony of the concept of "Ajọ Chi" (Bad personal God or simply "Bad Luck"). It is believed that some people have this "Ajọ Chi" and cannot reverse its deed. The Igbo, therefore say: "O mebere ma chi ya ekweghị, onye ụta atala ya" (One who has tried but his Chi has not agreed has no blame.
Eroala is stating the facts of its life and telling us that it is a miserable one. The bird is very unlucky in life. It is not even free to go lonely on the road. If it says: "Leave me alone! Let me perch and grieve," it is still not left alone. "Ajọ chi."
Some are just like Eroala, very unlucky and lonely and sad. It could even have been worse if they had not tried. Imagine being given a male child, then dispossessed. A female again and dispossessed! Is this a joke? It must be a very expensive one. I am thinking, too, of granting independence and taking it away.
Kidnappers are gum traps. Bandits are gum traps. Terrorists that butcher innocent citizens are gum traps!
Is the gum trap the only worry that Eroala has? What of the cattle route? It may even pass through the road where Eroala is sitting and the bird would be forced to stand up again and fly. "Ajọ chi," honestly.
Eroala does not want any disturbance. That is why it is sitting there alone, to be able to keep itself company. But, no! They would still come to disturb its life. In that case, it would get up again and perch somewhere else. But they would still not leave it alone! Imagine.
Eroala sees other creatures get male children who grow serious-minded and hardworking. Is it the son of the weaver bird or the son of the ostrich? The Okonkwos of a village where things do not suddenly fall apart.! Not this contradictory giving and taking again.
The song of Eroala is a special psalm and prayer. Who would hear it and not expect Chi to be fast in bringing laughter to the lips of the sad one perched on the road?
A world of ironies. Which was one reason my father used to say: "What one detests is what likes coming one's way."
Yes, giving and taking.
Giving that is taking.
Laughter that is a bitter cry.
A song that is a story of giving and taking.
A song that kills the spirit.
Eroala is the Job we know. Eroala is responding like Job, asking why daylight has suddenly become a night, wondering how taking has become giving.
The lone figure singing a sad song on the road this early morning looks singular. But this victimhood is plural. It would look as if Eroala is the only afflicted soul. No! A whole community. A whole land. A whole world. Eroala the night hawk is plural and laments plural. This victimhood remains plural.
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