Tradition they say, is the air on which we breath The earth on which we live. It is what makes us unique and different But is tradition dynamic. Try reading this book"Traditional rules" It serves as an eye opener to the traditional blinded one's. It is equipped with the culture and tradition of the Ndi igbo, The need to abolish some of the harmful antiquated traditions set up or created out of ignorant by the mystic predecessors. The book X-rays the parlours situation of not eradicating the obnoxious pratice of osu caste system. the need to eradicate it, the effect of the abolishment. It's also calls for a resolution to end few of the dehumanizing, denigrating and retrogressive traditions.
ONE
It was early morning, the young and old carried their earthen water pot down to the stream as they passed through the narrow roads leading to the stream getting the grasses that nosed their way out. Ekemma, a slim, dark-complexioned girl, with a height that was appealing, hurriedly went down the stream, filters it and filled her water pot.
"Can you believe that this is her fourth time of coming to the stream this morning? Indeed she is a child", the first elderly woman jeered. "Mgbeudo is lucky to have her as her daughter, I wish I have such a daughter, at least I will be at rest for works", the second woman offered. "We are becoming workaholic, even when our children are there. Don't you know, children of these days are like eggs that will break if they over worked". Ekemma walked passed them with greetings. "Nne, ndewo! Ndewoo", they chorused with smiles, gasped and converted to another topic.
Nze Obika dressed in his Chieftaincy attire, walking towards Nze's house, he passed through bushes and nearby farms he stopped by, watched and muttered to himself and continued his walk, he approached and knocked, Nze, from within, answered "Onye"? "It is I, Nze Obika.
Nze was cleaning his teeth with chewing stick, he cleaned his tongue twice and rinsed it before placing it on his left ear and bended inside. "Nze", he exclaimed, "welcome". They exchanged greetings, he sat down with him for a while, cracking gags before he stood up to ask; "Nze: I know too well that palm wine will serve much better to this cool morning". Haha, he laughed, "exactly".
Nze entered inside, coming out with a keg of palm wine, placing it on a table in front of Nze Obika, Nze Obika removed the palm fronds and poured as much as he could drink, he sipped a bit and smiled, observing the palm wine thoroughly. "Real palm wine", he commented, "not those mixtures sold in the market". "Yes", Nze cut in, "it was specially made by Agbara as a gift to me". "No wonder it tastes different, you know Agbara is the only man in Amueke that knows how to tap palm wine without tapping dead the palm wine tree". He nearly licked the cup before dropping it and cleared his throat. before I drink and forget, the reason of my coming, the elders have meeting today at the Ogbako as usual". "When did the elders hold a meeting without me being present?" he asked, pondering. "Have you forgotten so soon, that you were intoxicated that you could not even find your way home", Nze sighed. "It almost getting late, soon the meeting will begin". "So soon? Wait for me in a brief moment". "Do not hesitate; I don't want to be left out in any discussion". "There is still much time left", Nze said and dashed into his hut.
The elders and titled men sat in a semi-circle, waiting. This was an important meeting for an initial issue needed to be deliberated on. Everyone was on set, excluding Nze and Obika. At last, they appeared, they looked sorry and apologized, the meeting began. Oboh stood up, addressing the elders who were speechless.
"When the moon is shining, the cripple becomes hungry for a walk, other villages have done their Iru Mgbede Festival, will our own be different?" he asked. "The King should have a say on this matter, we can no longer wait till his son decides to choose a wife from the festival or not. In this case, we, the Elders will decide for him". "Yes!" they nodded in agreement, "we can no longer be patient, the festival must hold". Ottah retorted, "Then, what are we waiting for? Lets match to the palace, the king should have an answer to all this talks".
At the palace, the king was seated on his throne, behind him stood his two attendants. Dimgba and Ekwe, the elders, strode in implosively and sat down in their positions, he stared in anticipation and uttered; "your faces looks serious, what could be the problem?" "We are not happy", Oboh spoke with a tiny voice, corded with despair. "We have not heard from you, concerning the festival". "I am short of words", the king replied, "he has refused to participate in the festival, so I need not to proceed when he is not yet ready". "Then, he should be persuaded to participate in the festival, because this is a festival which has been holding even in our youth, I believe it won't change in this era", Nze pointed. "Give me few more days to talk him out", he ad-libbed and grinned to the serious faces. They greeted and left muttering to one another.
"I am sad; my son's happiness is at stake, what can I do? Nothing", said the King, dejected. "Your Highness, stop all this soft talk, your son's happiness is in no trouble, besides, tradition can breed more happiness", Dimgba pointed. "But, your Highness ,weather the prince get married from the festival or not, it means nothing because tradition demands that he must be married and it did not demand that it must be from the festival, the tradition is not neglected if he marries outside the festival", Ekwe suggested. "You speak well, Ekwe". "No, your Highness", Dimgba disagreed, "it is not a simple matter in practice. Remember, it is against our tradition for the prince to marry outside the festival, it is a sacrilege". "I think you are right", he pondered. "It is the truth Dimgba. Certainly, they do it in Achi and Ika and they see it as no sacrilege because they do not allow the tyranny of ignorance and superstition to go under the cloak of tradition". Ekwe explained. "It is our ancient practice, what would happen if you were allowed to change our ancient practices as we like? For us, tradition is not a passing thing, it is the earth on which we live and the air which we breathe, it is what makes us different from any other village. If we do not respect tradition, how can our village stand? How can we be proud of our forefathers and pass on our pride to our children? Therefore, there is no way we can break the traditional rules". "I insist, your Highness, you must let the young man be inspite of all these tradition and ancient practices, let us look into the future and forget the past, tradition is not made by spirits, it is made by man, man makes the law that even the spirit obeys. Man also breaks the law, when it is found unsuitable for the present situation", Ekwe convinced the more. "I do not think so", Dimgba interrupted, relentlessly. "I do not see how all these matters, tradition is tradition and it cannot be changed. Your Highness, do not listen to this law breaker", he abated. He looks at the King, who was trembling with confusion. "You must compose your Royal self, your Highness, do not over worry yourself with those monologue.
Once upon a time, there were two kingdoms once at peace. The kingdom of Salem and the kingdom of Mombana... Until the day, the king of Mombana passed away and a new monarch took over, Prince Cone. Prince Cone, has always been hungry for more power and more and more. After his coronation, he attacked Salem. The attack was so unexpected, Salem never prepared for it. They were caught off guard. The king and Queen was killed, the prince was taken into slavery. The people of Salem that survived the war was enslaved, their land taken from them. Their women were made sex slaves. They lost everything, including their land. Evil befall the land of Salem in form of Prince Cone, and the prince of Salem in his slavery was filled with so much rage. The prince of Salem, Prince Lucien swore revenge. 🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳 Ten years later, thirty-years old Lucien and his people raided a coup and escaped slavery. They went into hiding and recuperated. They trained day and night under the leadership of the fearless and cold Lucien who was driven with everything in him to get back their land, and take Mombana land too. It took them five years before they ambushed and attacked Mombana. They killed Prince Cone and reclaimed everything. As they screamed out their victory, Lucien's eyes found and pinned the proud princess of Mombana. Princess Danika. The daughter of Prince Cone. As Lucien stared at her with the coldest eyes anyone can ever possess, he felt victory for the first time. He walked to the princess with the slave collar he'd won for ten years rattling in his hand as he walked. He reached close to her and with a swift movement, he collared her neck. Then, he tilted her chin up, staring into the bluest eyes and the most beautiful face ever created, he gave her a cold smile. "You are my acquisition. My slave. My sex slave. My property. I will pay you in spades, everything you and your father ever did to me and my people." He stated curtly. Pure hatred, coldness and victory was the only emotion on his face. .
Rena got into an entanglement with a big shot when she was drunk one night. She needed Waylen's help while he was drawn to her youthful beauty. As such, what was supposed to be a one-night stand progressed into something serious. All was well until Rena discovered that Waylen's heart belonged to another woman. When his first love returned, he stopped coming home, leaving Rena all alone for many nights. She put up with it until she received a check and farewell note one day. Contrary to how Waylen expected her to react, Rena had a smile on her face as she bid him farewell. "It was fun while it lasted, Waylen. May our paths never cross. Have a nice life." But as fate would have it, their paths crossed again. This time, Rena had another man by her side. Waylen's eyes burned with jealousy. He spat, "How the hell did you move on? I thought you loved only me!" "Keyword, loved!" Rena flipped her hair back and retorted, "There are plenty of fish in the sea, Waylen. Besides, you were the one who asked for a breakup. Now, if you want to date me, you have to wait in line." The next day, Rena received a credit alert of billions and a diamond ring. Waylen appeared again, got down on one knee, and uttered, "May I cut in line, Rena? I still want you."
For as long as Emily can remember, she has wanted to overcome her shyness and explore her sexuality. Still, everything changes when she receives an invitation to visit one of the town's most prestigious BDSM clubs, DESIRE'S DEN. On the day she chose to peruse the club, she noticed three men, all dressed in suits, standing on the upper level, near the railing. Despite her limited vision, she persisted in fixating on them. Their towering statues belied the toned bodies concealed by their sharply tailored suits-or so she could tell. The hair of two of them was short and dark, and the third had light brown-possibly blond-hair that reached the shoulders. The dark, crimson background incised their figures, exuding an air of mystery and strength. They stood in stark contrast to the unfiltered, primal energy that pulsed through the club. Shocked by the desires these men aroused in her, she was disappointed to learn that they were masters seeking a slave to divide and conquer. She couldn't afford the fee, and she also realized that they were outside her league. Emily hurriedly left the club, feeling disappointed and depressed, unaware that she had also caught the group's attention. A world of wicked pleasure, three handsome men. Over the years, they have lived a life of decadence, their lavish lair serving as a stage for their most sinister desires. But despite the unending parade of willing subjects, one woman sticks out. A mysterious stranger with white porcelain skin and a killer body, a slave, a name with no address, the first lady to attract their eye and they will go to any length to obtain her no matter the consequences.
On the day of their wedding anniversary, Joshua's mistress drugged Alicia, and she ended up in a stranger's bed. In one night, Alicia lost her innocence, while Joshua's mistress carried his child in her womb. Heartbroken and humiliated, Alicia demanded a divorce, but Joshua saw it as yet another tantrum. When they finally parted ways, she went on to become a renowned artist, sought out and admired by everyone. Consumed by regret, Joshua darkened her doorstep in hopes of reconciliation, only to find her in the arms of a powerful tycoon. "Say hello to your sister-in-law."
"I heard you're going to marry Marcelo. Is this perhaps your revenge against me? It's very laughable, Renee. That man can barely function." Her foster family, her cheating ex, everyone thought Renee was going to live in pure hell after getting married to a disabled and cruel man. She didn't know if anything good would ever come out of it after all, she had always thought it would be hard for anyone to love her but this cruel man with dark secrets is never going to grant her a divorce because she makes him forget how to breathe.
In her previous life, Kimberly endured the betrayal of her husband, the cruel machinations of an evil woman, and the endless tyranny of her in-laws. It culminated in the bankruptcy of her family, and ultimately, her death. After being reborn, she resolved to seek retribution against those who had wronged her, and ensure her family's prosperity. To her shock, the most unattainable man from her past suddenly set his sights on her. "You may have overlooked me before, but I shall capture your heart this time around."