In an ancient town in Yorùbá countryside, there lived a wealthy and powerful woman named Mọ́wùnmí. She was renowned for her beauty, intelligence, and generosity, but despite all her blessings, there was one thing she desired above all else—a child of her own.
Mọ́wùnmí had been married to the nobleman Adegbọlá for many years, but their union remained childless, much to their sorrow. They consulted the most renowned herbalists and native doctors in the land, seeking remedies and potions that promised to grant them the gift of parenthood, but all their efforts were in vain.
As years passed without any sign of a child, Mọ́wùnmí’s desperation grew. She became known throughout the kingdom for her lavish offerings and prayers at sacred shrines, beseeching the gods for a child to bless their home. Yet still, no child came.
One day, in her darkest hour, Mọ́wùnmí heard of a powerful herbalist named Aroni who lived in the depths of the enchanted forest, far from the bustling cities and villages. Rumors spoke of Aroni’s unmatched wisdom and connection to the spiritual realms, where even the most impossible wishes could be granted.
Determined to leave no stone unturned, Mọ́wùnmí embarked on a perilous journey into the heart of the forest, accompanied only by a small retinue of trusted servants. The dense foliage and eerie silence of the forest seemed to echo her own inner turmoil as she sought out the elusive Herbalist.
After days of searching, Mọ́wùnmí finally arrived at Aroni’s hidden abode—a humble yet mystical dwelling nestled amidst ancient trees and fragrant herbs. Aroni, a wizened figure with piercing eyes that seemed to hold the secrets of the universe, welcomed Mọ́wùnmí with a knowing smile.
“I have heard of your plight, noble lady,” Aroni spoke in a voice that carried the weight of centuries. “But the timing of such blessings is beyond mortal understanding. There is no good child willing to come to earth from heaven at this time.”
Mọ́wùnmí’s heart sank at these words, for she had hoped that Aroni would hold the key to her long-awaited happiness. Yet, there was a serenity in Aroni’s demeanor that inspired a glimmer of hope within her.
“Patience is a virtue often tested but richly rewarded,” Aroni continued, his gaze steady and unwavering. “Trust in the divine timing of life, and all that you seek shall be granted when the heavens decree it.”
“I can not wait any longer” said Mọ́wùnmí.
As Mọ́wùnmí spoke those desperate words, a heavy silence settled between her and Aroni. Aroni’s eyes bore into Mọ́wùnmí’s, searching for the truth behind her plea. He had seen many desperate souls come to him, seeking remedies for ailments of the body and spirit, but Mọ́wùnmí’s request cut deeper than most.
“Mọ́wùnmí,” Aroni finally spoke, his voice grave and measured, “the spirits do not grant such requests lightly. To ask for any child, good or bad, is to invite forces beyond our understandinginto your life.”
Mọ́wùnmí’s resolve wavered for a moment, but the ache in her heart, the emptiness of her arms yearning to cradle a child, pushed her forward. “I understand the risks, Aroni. But I cannot bear this emptiness any longer. I will accept any child that the heavens send to me.”
Aroni nodded solemnly, his wrinkled face betraying a mix of concern and resignation. “Very well, Mọ́wùnmí. I will perform the rites tonight, calling upon the spirits to hear your plea.”
That night, under the glow of the full moon, Aroni conducted ancient rituals, calling upon the spirits of fertility and destiny. Mọ́wùnmí stood beside him, her heart pounding with a mix of hope and fear. As the rituals reached their peak, a gust of wind swept through the sacred grove, sending shivers down their spines.
As Mọ́wùnmí performs the ritual to have her own child, Aroni the herbalist tied her hands sideways to two trees. Then an eerie spirit descended and entered Mọ́wùnmí.
As the eerie spirit descended and entered Mọ́wùnmí, a shiver ran down her spine, and her senses heightened. She could feel the presence of ancient powers swirling around her, whispering secrets of the earth and sky. Aroni, the herbalist, chanted incantations in a language long forgotten by most, invoking the spirits of fertility and life.
Months passed, and Mọ́wùnmí’s belly swelled with life, a testament to the success of the ritual. She gave birth to a child named Ọmọlokùn.
Ọmọlokùn grew to be a spoiled child whose demand must be met or she dies. When she started making outrageous demand, her mother knew she is dealing with spirit child that may eventually kill her.
Ọmọlokùn’s demands grew increasingly unreasonable as she entered her kindergarten years, causing distress and fear among her family and community. Her mother, Mọ́wùnmí, realized the gravity of the situation and sought advice from Aroni and spiritual leaders. Unfortunately, she was told nothing can be done about it.
Another mysterious thing about the girl is that no harm seems able to touch her. While growing up, a giant tree fell on her, thunder struck her, she dived into river without knowledge of how to swim, yet she did not die in all these calamities.
Ọmọlokùn grew into a beautiful and curious young girl. She would often ask for exotic things like fruits from distant lands, exotic fish or meat and egg of ostrich. Ọmọlokùn usually makes her request in a song form and this is how it goes:
Call: Ìyá, ìyá n ó f’ẹja bọ̀’run àjìjà mi
Ìyá, ìyá n ó f’ẹran bọ̀’run àjìjà mi
Ọmọ lokùn ọmọnidẹ, ọmọ níí sìnsìn fún ni sìn
Response: Ọmọ lokùn, ọmọnidẹ
Call: Ọmọ lẹ̀ṣọ́ ayé,
Response: Ọmọ lokùn, ọmọnidẹ
Mọ́wùnmí happily obliged, wanting nothing but the best for her daughter.
THE STORY OF ỌMỌLOKÙN
(PART FOUR)
One night, Ọmọlokùn started asking for something outrageous and Mọ́wùnmí never expected or could afford it. “Mother,” she said in a song form, her voice soft yet determined, “I wish to eat that shining ball in the sky at night.”
Call: “Ìyá, ìyá n ó f’oṣù bọ̀’rùn àjìjà mi
Ìyá, ìyá n ó f’oṣù bọ̀’rùn àjìjà mi
Ọmọ losùn ọmọnidẹ, ọmọ níí sìnsìn fún ni sìn
Response: Ọmọ losùn, ọmọnidẹ
Call: Ọmọ lẹ̀ṣọ́ ayé,
Response: Ọmọ losùn, ọmọnidẹ
Mọ́wùnmí’s heart skipped a beat. She remembered Aroni’s words and knew she had to fulfill every of her daughter’s request. She took her daughter inside, then rushed out to mold wax into a ball and light it like a candle. Then she brought it to her daughter. The daughter looked at it suspiciously and ask if she could see the sky outside if the moon has indeed being plucked out by her mother.
Before Mọ́wùnmí could stop her, she jumped outside to check. Life almost jumped out of the mother too as she knew the consequence of not fulfilling her daughters request. Luckily for the mother, big cloud had covered the moon at that particular time so the girl accepted.
Her next request after few weeks was even more ridiculous. She saw the moon in the sky again at night and asked her mother she wants the new moon. Her mother tried the trick again but this time no cloud to cover the moon in the sky. She had to call a witness that she actually went to heaven’s firmament to cut a piece out of the moon for her. Their neighbor came to bear her witness but Ọmọlokùn was not satisfied. She changed the request. If the wax as the moon is in doubt, this busy-body neighbor can never be in doubt. She started singing:
Call: “Ìyá, ìyá n ó f’odidi ẹni bọ̀’run àjìjà mi
Ìyá, ìyá n ó f’odidi ẹni bọ̀’run àjìjà mi
Ọmọlokùn ọmọnidẹ, ọmọ níí sìnsìn fún ni sìn
Response: Ọmọ lokùn, ọmọnidẹ
Call: Ọmọ lẹ̀ṣọ́ ayé,
Response: Ọmọlokùn, ọmọnidẹ
“I wish to eat a whole human being” was her request!
Ọmọwùnmi looked up at the sky. She remembered the word of wisdom of Aroni the druid. A child that doesn’t want to come to earth should not be forced to come. She gave up. She cannot kill a human being all because she wants to leave a kid behind to inherit her. How many humans will she have to kill to satisfy this insatiable Ọmọlokùn? She denied her beloved daughter the request for the first time with emphatic NO.
Suddenly eerie winds began to blow. The tree that fell years ago and did not hurt her came crashing again and this time crushed Ọmọlokùn to death. As she laid lifeless, the thunder that could not hurt her in the past struck and burned her corpse. That was how Ọmọlokùn returned to heaven and Mọ́wùnmí became childless again.
However, people noticed Mọ́wùnmí was no longer depressed due to her childlessness. When asked, she said Ọmọlokùn may be gone, but the fact that she gave birth to her is enough consolation. She will forever remain Mọ́wùnmí, the mother of Ọmọlokùn.
Few years later, Mọ́wùnmí gave birth to a set of triplets naturally and without force. She named them
Ọmọniyì,
Ọmọlẹ̀yẹ,
Ọmọlàṣẹ̀yìndè.
She was praising Aroni her druid, Aroni was praising Òrìṣà òkè. She said:
Bójú ọmọ pọ́n ni bá ò bí
Ká má fokùn ọ̀ràn fa ọmọ wáyé
A difá fún Mọ́wùnmí tòun ti Àrọ̀nì
Tí wọn ó fokùn fa ọmọ wáyé ní dandan
Ọmọlokùn ọmọnidẹ, ọmọ níí sìnsìn fún ni sìn
Ọmọ tí ó sìn wá, tí ó sin wá là ń fẹ́
Kìí ṣọmọ tí ó jòṣùpá ọwọ́ ò tókè
Èdùmàrè jọ̀wọ́ jẹ́ kọ́mọ rere ó ṣelédè lẹ́hìn ẹni.
Ìyá, ìyá n ó f’eku bọ̀’run àjìjà mi
Ìyá, ìyá n ó f’ẹja bọ̀’run àjìjà mi
Ọmọlokùn ọmọnidẹ, ọmọ níí sìnsìn fún ni sìn
Ọmọlokùn, ọmọnidẹ
Ọmọ lẹ̀ṣọ́ ayé,
Ọmọlokùn, ọmọnidẹ
Ọmọ ò mo bí ọ ná ò
Ọmọlokùn, ọmọnidẹ.
The End.
Peoplesmind