THE DEPARTURE OF THE GODDESS

In the heart of a verdant landscape lay this village where the air is often thick with the scent of earth and sacred feelings. For generations, the villagers revered a singular entity—the Goddess of Abundance called ‘Omo Okwai’. She was not just a deity but the very essence of their existence, embodying the spirit of fertility, protection, and cultural identity. The sun would rise over her shrine, casting a warm glow on the offerings of yams, kola nuts, chicken and vibrant fabrics attached with chicken feathers placed by devoted hands on the shrine. Her presence was felt in every corner of the village, from the laughter of children playing near the stream to the rhythmic drumming during festivals. The stream, “Okwai”, was the source of daily need of water by the villagers. The stream was used for drinking, bathing and washing etc. However, this stream runs through the length and breadth of the village, even as far as where the farm lands were situated. The farm land was always rotated each year and wherever you go in the farms the presence of the stream is always and very visible.

Yet, beneath the surface of this idyllic life lay a complex relationship between the goddess and her people. Their dependence on her for survival also tethered them to a deep-seated fear of her wrath.

As the village prospered, the goddess remained a constant, an unyielding force whose presence loomed large over the hearts and minds of the villagers. However, as new ideas began to infiltrate their lives, the delicate balance between reverence and rebellion shifted, leading to a profound transformation. The departure of the goddess would mark the end of an era and the dawn of new beliefs, forever altering the landscape of their existence.