Explaining that it does not mean that they worship pythons, the former policeman said: “We do not worship pythons. We plead for blessings from God through the shrine that owns the pythons. God created it and created everything in the world. We came into the world and discovered from our forefathers that they did not kill pythons.
“We also have a big river (lake) mmiri arusi, mmiri ngenenebaka. There are more than 30 crocodiles there. There is nothing lacking there. Children go there to swim and they were usually warned that they would have problems if the swam there. A particular boy was always going there to swim; he would abscond from Nimo Boys Secondary School and take kids to go and swim there. Despite series of warnings, he did not listen. One fateful day, I was in the shrine that I feed and I warned them to go away. Others obeyed and dressed up but he did not. He entered the river and stood up there. And he died. Water did not enter his mouth but he was dead. The children that went there to swim with him were detained at the police station in Abagana. Some swimmers went into the lake and brought him out. His stomach was flat because water did not enter into mouth. It was like he was magneted there. There is a signboard warning people not to swim in the lake. Fishing is also not allowed there.
“The remains were brought to the front of the Urunnebo hall. He was buried by the side of the river. It happened two years ago. He was popularly known as Okocha because he was light complexioned. He was less than 18, very popular. Such victims do not get burial rites. He died in vain; he died for obstinacy, because he was warned.
Why fishing is forbidden in the lake
“The lake is beside the shrine. Ezu ngene Urunneboaka warned from the time of our ancestors that it would not tolerate any fishing there because, when you do, you disturb the spirits resident there. If anybody wants to do rituals, you do it. The crocodiles and the rest of them would come out and make merry. After the sacrifice, progress would be made. But he cannot go without the chief priest.
>Consequence of fishing in the lake
“Whatever anyone that goes fishing there sees, he would take it. It means he went there secretly. The person would be assailed by sicknesses. The person would deteriorate in all forms. That is why people don’t go a-fishing there. Communities have things they forbid. In Ogbunike, for instance, they don’t kill the tortoise. If you go there, you would tortoises moving about because they don’t kill them.
strong>Tradition and Christianity
“If you come to our shrine, the first thing you see is God the creator.
Thereafter, you begin to call upon the things kept on earth. Christians don’t disturb us. On Sundays, you tell your children to go to church to listen to the word of God. But tradition remains profound. We work together with Christians or people who go to church.
“If there is anything happening in the church, we cooperate. If there are levies in the church, you make sure that you are up-to-date in payments. Give Jesus what belongs to him and Caesar his due. It is all channelled to one God because He created everything in the world. If those things were not useful to him, he would not have created them. There is so much power in the world; only God knows all. Those sent down from heaven are receiving power from God. Power is in the river. We, traditionalists, obey nso ana. Our motto is, live and let live. Whatever you would not want anyone to do to you, do not do to another. We don’t marry our relations. We forbid so many things such as involvement in bad or ungodly things. We belong to many societies that confer different titles so as obey nso ana. God created the heavens and the earth and we obey all so as to live long.”
Igwebuike Alloysius Okeke from Akiyi village in Enugu Ukwu, said: “Pythons, in my place, belong to the deity. Anybody who kills a python in my village will have to organise a burial ceremony for it just like it is done for human beings. The only difference is that people will not gather to mourn as in the case of a human being.
“After the burial of the python, the land will have to be cleansed by appeasing the deity. Certain items will be presented before the deity for the appeasement. That is how it is done in my village. Coming to the issue of Ngwu, it came to Akiyi from Awkuzu, because its kindred are from there. It is not everybody that eats its head, unless it calls you. Before then, it gave a sign and, on investigation, it would be discovered that it has invited one to be one of its relations. And when you come, all the necessary requirements would be spelt out for you. After that, you would provide all of them, including some animals, which would be sacrificed before the Ngwu.
“After the sacrifice, you would eat the meat and thereafter, you become its relations because it is assumed you have dined and wined with it.”
On why the people don’t kill pythons, Okeke said: “The way I understand it is that the python belongs to the deity and should not be killed. It enters peoples’ houses and compounds but it does not destroy anything. Even if it bites you, there is no problem. That is why we have decided to follow our forebears to keep the tradition.”
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