In the bustling town of ‘Nsidung, south of the great trading city of Calabar, where the Cross River winds its way to the Atlantic Ocean, there lived a woman named Affiong Any. She was married to Chief Etim Ekeng of Hensham Town, a man of considerable wealth and influence in the region. Their marriage was blessed with love and prosperity, but for many years, one joy remained absent from their lives, they had no children.
Chief Etim Ekeng’s heart ached with the desire for an heir to carry on his family name and inherit his substantial wealth. He made countless sacrifices to his Ju Ju spirits, offering expensive gifts and performing elaborate ceremonies, but still no child came to bless their union. In his desperation, the chief sought counsel from a renowned witch doctor, a man known throughout the region for his ability to see into the spiritual causes of earthly problems.
The witch doctor’s diagnosis surprised the chief greatly. “The reason you have no children,” the spiritual advisor declared, “is that you possess too much wealth. The spirits demand that you share your riches with others before they will grant you the gift of a child.”
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Following this mystical guidance, Chief Etim Ekeng embarked on a campaign of generous hospitality and community service. His wife Affiong organized magnificent feasts, inviting all her friends and their families to dine on the finest foods and drink the best palm wine the region could offer. The chief himself hosted elaborate entertainments for his associates, spending freely on music, dancing, and celebrations that lasted deep into the night.
He also contributed extensively to the Egbo society, the powerful traditional organization that governed many aspects of community life. Money flowed like water from the chief’s coffers, and his once-vast fortune began to dwindle significantly. When approximately half of his wealth had been distributed in this manner, wonderful news arrived—Affiong announced that she had conceived.
The chief’s joy knew no bounds, and he immediately organized a spectacular celebration to mark this blessed event. Musicians filled the air with rhythmic beats, dancers moved gracefully in elaborate costumes, and the entire community joined in the festivities that honored the coming child.
In those days, the wealthy chiefs and merchants of the region belonged to a secretive organization known as the Alligator Company. This society operated both on land and in the waters of the great river, ostensibly to protect the canoes and trading ventures of its members. However, the organization had a darker purpose—it also worked to destroy the boats and steal the property of those who refused to join their ranks, sometimes even taking lives in the process.
Despite repeated invitations and increasing pressure from other wealthy men, Chief Etim Ekeng steadfastly refused to join this society. His kind heart could not accept the cruel practices that the Alligator Company employed against innocent people who simply wished to trade and live peacefully along the river.
When Affiong gave birth to a healthy son, the chief named him Edet Etim and celebrated with another grand festival. The Egbo society was called into session, and according to ancient custom, all the doors in the town were closed, markets ceased their activities, and women remained in their homes while the sacred ceremonies took place. This traditional celebration lasted for several days and cost the chief a considerable sum, but his happiness made every expense worthwhile.
Tragically, the chief’s joy was short-lived. Just three months after his son’s birth, Chief Etim Ekeng fell ill and died, leaving his grieving wife to raise their precious child alone. Affiong entered the traditional period of mourning, which lasted seven years according to local custom. During this time, she devoted herself entirely to caring for her son and managing the estate left by her husband.
As Edet Etim grew into a fine young man, he became the pride of his mother’s heart. Tall, strong, and handsome, he attracted admiration from everyone in the community, particularly the young women who were charmed by his gentle manner and striking appearance. His mother, however, was careful to warn him about the dangers of romantic entanglements, fearing that they might lead him astray from the path of virtue and responsibility.
Despite his mother’s warnings, Edet could not resist when the young women of the town invited him to their social gatherings and festivals. His natural musical talent soon became apparent, and he developed exceptional skills as a drummer. The rhythmic beats he created were so captivating and energetic that he became the most sought-after musician in the entire region. Whenever there was a celebration, dance, or ceremony, people would specifically request Edet’s services as their drummer.
His popularity with the young women grew to such an extent that several married women left their husbands, hoping to win Edet’s affections and convince him to marry them instead. This situation naturally created intense jealousy among the young men of the town, who found themselves unable to compete with Edet’s charm, talent, and good looks.
The jealous young men began meeting secretly at night, plotting ways to eliminate their rival. They eventually devised a sinister plan that would make use of their secret connections to the Alligator Company. One evening, when Edet went to the river to bathe, several alligators, actually members of the society in their animal forms—attacked him. Despite his strength and desperate struggle, they overpowered him and dragged him beneath the dark waters to their hidden underwater dwelling.
When Affiong discovered that her beloved son had disappeared, she was devastated but determined. Rather than immediately crying out in public, she remained calm and began planning her response. She knew that recovering her son would require more than ordinary human efforts, she would need to call upon spiritual powers and ancient wisdom.
At dawn, she went to her husband’s grave and consulted his spirit for guidance. Then she made her way to the riverbank, carrying small green branches which she used to beat the water’s surface while calling upon all the Ju Ju spirits of the Calabar River to aid her in her quest.
Her search led her to Ininen Okon, a powerful Ju Ju man who lived in a farm outside the town. Known throughout the region for his cunning and his mastery of spiritual forces, Ininen Okon was exactly the ally Affiong needed for such a dangerous undertaking.
When the young men learned that Edet’s mother had sought help from this feared spiritual practitioner, they trembled with anxiety, knowing that his powers were formidable. However, the rules of their secret society prevented them from simply releasing Edet, even though they now feared the consequences of their actions.
Ininen Okon used his mystical abilities to determine that Edet was indeed alive and being held captive in the alligators’ underwater home. He instructed Affiong to be patient while he devised a plan for rescue. Using his shape-shifting powers, the Ju Ju man transformed himself into an alligator and infiltrated the society, learning their routines and finding the perfect opportunity to act.
After careful observation, he discovered that the young alligators would sometimes leave their dwelling unguarded when they all went out to feed during low tide. On one such occasion, Ininen swam to their secret location and found Edet chained to a post, weakened by his ordeal but still alive.
The Ju Ju man freed the young man and gathered several loin cloths that the alligators had left behind as evidence of their involvement. However, Edet’s long imprisonment underwater had left him deaf and unable to speak, requiring additional spiritual healing.
Ininen took Edet to his mother, but the reunion was bittersweet, while Affiong wept with joy to hold her son again, the young man could not respond to her embrace or even recognize her. The Ju Ju man assured her that with time and the right spiritual treatments, Edet would recover his faculties.
Through a combination of traditional medicines and spiritual ceremonies, Ininen gradually restored Edet’s hearing and speech. Meanwhile, Affiong pretended that her son had died, continuing to wear mourning clothes to deceive the members of the Alligator Company.
After six months had passed and the young men had relaxed their vigilance, Affiong put her plan for justice into action. She approached the town chiefs and requested that they call a large public meeting to discuss the distribution of her late husband’s property, claiming that since her son had been killed, the estate needed to be settled according to traditional law.
The next day, the entire community gathered at the palaver house, the traditional meeting place where important community decisions were made. Unknown to the crowd, Affiong had secretly brought Edet to a small room behind the main hall, along with the loin cloths that Ininen had recovered from the alligators’ home.
Standing before the assembled chiefs and townspeople, Affiong delivered a powerful speech about her family’s tragic losses and the destructive impact of the secret Alligator Company on the community. She challenged anyone present to explain what had happened to her son and called for justice against those responsible.
The dramatic climax came when Ininen appeared, leading Edet by the hand and presenting the bundle of loin cloths as evidence. The young men who belonged to the Alligator Company were shocked to see Edet alive and tried to flee, but the chiefs ordered them to remain seated.
As Ininen displayed each piece of clothing, he called upon its owner to come forward and claim it. When seven young men stepped forward to retrieve their belongings, they were forced to reveal the names of all thirty-two members of their secret society.
The chiefs, who had long suspected the Alligator Company of various crimes and had lost many of their own people to the society’s activities, were finally presented with the evidence they needed to take action. They declared that the evil organization would be disbanded and its members punished according to traditional law.
The judgment was swift and severe. The chiefs determined that such a dangerous society could not be allowed to continue threatening the peace and safety of the community. The members faced the ultimate penalty for their crimes, and the Alligator Company was permanently destroyed.
From that day forward, the river became safe for ordinary people to use for bathing, fishing, and transportation. The reign of terror that had claimed so many innocent lives finally came to an end, thanks to a mother’s love, spiritual intervention, and the community’s commitment to justice.
Many years later, people noticed that a large, deep hole had formed in the ground between the beach and the town, which they believed marked the former location of the alligators’ secret dwelling. Despite numerous attempts to fill it, the hole remained as a permanent reminder of the evil society and the importance of standing up against injustice.
The Moral of the Story
This powerful tale demonstrates that love, determination, and spiritual wisdom can triumph over evil and injustice. Affiong’s unwavering devotion to her son, combined with her patience and strategic thinking, ultimately led to not only his rescue but also the liberation of her entire community from a dangerous threat. The story teaches us that sometimes justice requires great courage and that the protection of the innocent is worth any sacrifice.
Knowledge Check
Q1: What role does spiritual intervention play in this Nigerian folktale’s resolution? A: Spiritual intervention through the Ju Ju man Ininen Okon is crucial to the story’s resolution. His mystical powers enable him to locate Edet, infiltrate the Alligator Company, and provide the evidence needed for justice, reflecting traditional African beliefs about the importance of spiritual guidance in overcoming evil.
Q2: How does Affiong’s character represent traditional African values about motherhood and determination? A: Affiong embodies the African ideal of maternal strength and wisdom. Her patience, strategic thinking, and unwillingness to give up on her son demonstrate how motherly love, combined with intelligence and spiritual resources, can overcome seemingly impossible obstacles and achieve justice.
Q3: What does the Alligator Company symbolize in the context of Nigerian society and power structures? A: The Alligator Company represents corrupt secret societies that abuse power for personal gain at the expense of ordinary people. Their dual nature (human by day, alligator by night) symbolizes how people in positions of trust can hide evil intentions behind respectable facades.
Q4: How does Edet’s talent as a drummer connect to broader themes about gifts and consequences in African storytelling? A: Edet’s drumming talent represents how natural gifts can attract both admiration and dangerous jealousy. In African storytelling tradition, exceptional abilities often bring both blessings and challenges, teaching that talent must be balanced with wisdom and community awareness.
Q5: What is the significance of the community gathering (palaver house) in resolving the conflict? A: The palaver house represents traditional African democratic justice, where community problems are resolved through public discussion and collective decision-making. It emphasizes that justice requires community involvement and that hidden crimes must be brought into the light for proper resolution.
Q6: How does this folktale reflect Nigerian cultural attitudes toward secret societies and community safety? A: The story reflects traditional suspicion of secret societies that operate outside community oversight and harm innocent people. It emphasizes the cultural value of transparency, community protection, and the responsibility of leaders to eliminate threats to public safety and social harmony.
Source: Traditional Nigerian folktale, Calabar region
