By
Obododimma Oha
Nigeria has what could be called a cow problem nowadays. Cows in free grazing are reported to enter farms, destroying crops and other property. This reminds one about how cows are treated in folklore. In Igbo folktale, for instance, cows are treated as monstrous destroyers. In some communities, especially in the southern part of Nigeria, the cow, seen as a monster, may be traditionally cursed or forbidden. Paradoxically, the cow is offered as a sacrifice to honour ancestors and dead relatives! This short essay examines one case.
In an Igbo folktale, a father put his children in a pot to hide them from the notorious cow, before going to a faraway land to harvest palmnuts.
But inside the pot was a talkative child who against the father's instruction, answered the notorious cow when it was passing. Their communication is given as follows:
Cow: Onye nwe obodo e e?
Chorus: Izee!
Child: Ọ bụ nna a Agbakaaja ọ
Chorus: Izee!
Cow: Nna gị ahụ ọ jere oleè?
Chorus: Izee!
Child: O Jere eluigwe na-egbu amụma jee igbu akwụ. Tinye anyị na nwaudu sị anyị ekwuola okwu. Ehi Omekome ehi abịakwala bịa ilo anyị.
Chorus: Izee!
Rough translation:
(Cow: Who is it that owns this homestead?
Chorus: Izee!
Child: It's our father, Agbakaaja.
Cow: Where has that father of yours gone?
Chorus: Izee!
Child: He went to rainbow-dressed heaven to harvest palmnuts, hiding us in a pot, lest we are swallowed by "Ehi Omekome," the cow that goes around doing terrible things!
Chorus: Izee!
"Ehi Omekome" was infuriated on hearing this. Using its powerful horns, it broke the pot and swallowed the children. Then, it walked away to the next homestead. Imagine being referred to as "Omekome," the criminal who does as he likes!" So, I am that bad? It thought. This greatly infuriated Ehi Omekome.
Shortly, parents started returning and the unfortunate father of the children, too. It was discovered before long that he had been attacked, his children missing. So, the village oracle was activated. Each creature had to swear and claim innocence. Ehi Omekome had to swear but was caught. It fell into the pit right away.
When it was cut open, the children were brought out and revived, with the exception of the talkative one who had gone far on the path of death.
It is good to listen to one's parents and not invite trouble.
That community had to make a law, restricting the movement of big creatures, especially near homes and farms. The story of Ehi Omekome was told from generation to generation, supporting the ban. If some countries now want Ehi Omekome to come out of the pit where it fell, that is their own headache. When it comes out of the pit of condemnation this time around, it is not only going to break all the pots it sights, but also destroy all the houses around. Ehi Omekome is not a beast that can be deceived.
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