“You two are standing here all loved up when there's a rumor going round the community”. My friend Zana would never stop with her endless stories. She put her hands on her waist observing our reaction.
“What is it this time? Don't you know when to shut up at least?” I queried Zana as I pulled her to the side.
“Shut up ehhn. The King is dead”. She said to my face.
“Ahh! who told you that? These are heavy words you speak”. I tried to close her mouth but she backed away.
“Okay, wait here until the masquerades are out. I'm going home”. Zana quickly ran off leaving me spellbound.
“Zana just said that the king has died. If so, you know what that means”. I hurried back to Namu to break the news to him half trembling.
“Go home now. Run along. I will see you tonight”. Namu held my hands and led me. I could see the apprehension in his eyes.
“It is true. You have to be brave now my dear. When I go, I may never return. Promise me that you will live your life for you and no one else. Be happy. It is all I want from and for you”. Namu came to see me that evening. He had confirmed my worst fear.
“I have to go now my love”. He looked me in the eyes one more time and ran off. I was stoned right there as I watched him leave. It was happening so fast it felt unreal. I was going to lose the one that mattered to me most just like that.
“I told you to let that boy go a long time ago. That you may never have a future with him but you vehemently refused. Look at where your stubbornness has led”. My mother's voice jolted me from behind. All I could do was shed tears at this point.
“I told you he has a bigger responsibility than being your lover. He is a shield and the life of one is uncertain. You knew before you started seeing him”. My mother tried to comfort me as I cried in her arms.
“Can't anything be done about it? Why should a person sacrifice their life for another? Another dead person? It is just inconceivable ”. I cried some more.
“Shut up and watch your tongue. A shield is chosen at birth. This is our custom and tradition. You do not get to question or change it”. My mother scolded this time.
“I told you before you started seeing him that he wasn't for you and has no business falling in love. If the king dies, he would have to accompany and deliver his soul to the great beyond. Weep no more, my child. It is time to move on”.
I cried my eyes out that night. I knew Namu was a shield to the King and I knew what it entailed. However, I didn't think that day would come. A shield was tasked with the responsibility of taking the soul of a dead king to the great beyond. He was the spiritual protector of the king. And when a king dies, his soul is collected by performing a spiritual rite. Then the soul is transferred into a calabash and given to the shield to transport.
The most dreadful part of the rite was that the shield must transport the calabash through the Baku forest to the land of the spirits. The Baku forest was said to harbor the souls of all the offenders, terrible and banished evildoers of the land. Often no one journeys through Baku and comes back alive. Legend said that the shields still carried on their services to the spirit world. They served the spirits of their dead kings forever.
Morning came quicker than the cock crow. The whole community was as silent as a graveyard you could listen to the rhythm of your breath. Everyone stayed in their homes except for the masquerades roaming the community. Masquerades often came out to mourn too whenever a prominent in the community died.
Namu was adorned in a secret ceremony by the community priests and the elders. The soul of the dead king was handed to him. He was put on a horse and escorted to the entrance of the forest. I knew all this because I went to Namu’s home to say goodbye but it was too late. The elders had gotten there before me so I secretly crept behind them.
Seeing Namu ride into the unknown broke my heart into tiny bits of pieces. Pieces that traced his path and followed him.
I wasn't sure what controlled me at the moment but I waited until the priests and elders had dispersed. I watched them sacrifice a goat before leaving.
Like a person possessed, I walked straight into the forest following the path of Namu’s horse. Was I going to be a hero and save Namu or was I going to join him too in the great beyond?
Soon I lost track of the horse's tracks and frankly, I was tired and needed to rest. I got to a spot where tracks led to different directions, all so confusing. It was getting dark and only then did I realize what I had done.
I was alone in a thick forest said to be harbored by evil spirits. My heart raced. I had gone too far to turn back. I started to hear strange sounds, footsteps, distance voices and eerie winds. “ today is the day I die”. Even beneath the moonlight, I could not see anything but I could hear them.
I cleared a small path under a mahogany tree. I was going to wait there till daybreak if only I would last till the morning.
I drifted into a short sleep only to be awoken by footsteps and whispers. I felt chill down to my bones. I cleared my eyes to view clearly and I saw three forms. They moved so quickly and appeared to be carrying something. I looked closely and recognized the goat. The same one that was sacrificed earlier by the elders.
And those weren't spirits carrying the goat or so I thought. They looked as human as me with flesh and blood. My fear lightened and I became calm.
They didn't see me so I followed them very carefully not to make my presence known. Soon we got to an entrance. It looked like a gate to a village. I hid from a little distance and I could see more people walking around. I saw women, men, children, houses.
I could hear conversations and laughter too. I couldn't believe my eyes. People lived here too.
“Another one? Two people in one day?”
A voice from behind startled me.
“Who are you?” we both echoed.
“I am Amana and my love for Namu has brought me to this strange place.” a tear rolled down my cheek.
“Why do you cry? This is no strange place and you are most welcomed here. This is the land of the forgotten”. It was a vibrant young man coming out from the bushes.
“Yes. The forgotten ones cast away by the community. You see, we soon found out that there's nothing to fear in this forest. Instead, we coexist and enjoy the nature that it offers.
“The more outcast the community sends in here, the more our numbers grow. Over generations, the ones who came here before us raised families, lived lives and left legacies for us”. He added.
“Dont you want to go back out there and tell them the truth about the forest? That it is a peaceful place and there's no evil or anything to fear?” I asked with so much curiosity.
“No! That is the only rule we have in the land of the forgotten set by the first ones here. Why bother with a people that send you to your death? There is no persecution or judgement here. Everyone is allowed to be themselves and be happy. We've even got free food all the time.” he pointed towards the goat that was already garnished above burning coal while giggling. “Funny lots they are. While they think their gods accept their sacrifices, we are out here getting our bellies satisfied”.
“Enough now, come on and meet the rest of us, and of course the love of your life. He arrived here hours earlier”. The young man led me through the gate.
When we got in, I saw even more people. Everyone seemed so happy and fulfilled. There were people singing, chatting, dancing and dining. Then I saw Namu. He walked slowly towards me and gave me a tight hug. I wanted to melt inside of him.
“What now?” I said.
“Just enjoy the moment”. He whispered in my ear.
Everyone clapped cheerfully as though we gave them a performance.
This story was inspired by the Jukun tribe of Taraba State Nigeria.