The existence of a leaf in Igbo mythology capable of turning a person into unconscious wanderer

There Exists A Leaf Of A Particular Plant That Can Turn A Person Into An Unconscious Wanderer

By Anayo M. Nwosu

Nnanyi Ozuomee was reclined on his cane chair inside his obi, a small hut where he received visitors. The obi was overlooking the "ilo" or the "footpath" that passed in front of his homestead ending at Okwuani or Ani shrine.

While inside the obi, one could see any passerby. And the footpath was a major access route for those living in the southern part of Nnewi like Ezeikwuabo, Okofia etc going to the northern part of the town particularly, Nnewichi.

Nnanyi Ozuomee with an ancestral devotion would sit in his Obi in the morning to draw marks on the earthen floor decreeing peace and good luck on the head of all Nwosu Ezeonwaneti's children, inlaws and other relations.

He would thereafter send for Chukwucheem his friend or any of his wives to come witness or partake in ritual of the first breaking of kola nut in a day.

Daily and very early, Nnanyi Ozuomee would be seen performing the "itu nzu" or drawing lines on the floor with "nzu" or white chalk and the subsequently, the breaking of the kola nut. Nnanyi Ozuomee would tell us that he was keeping the tradition he inherited from his father.

But this very morning that fell on Orie market day was different.

Nnanyi Ozuomee had observed that three women with baskets on their heads had passed by the footpath in front of his obi for the third within two hours.

The women passed by the first time when Ozuomee was doing the itu nzu and the second time when he was praying with kola nut in his hand. This time around, they passed after Chukwucheem, his friend had left with kola in his mouth.

"Bia umuakaa ga juo umunwanyi nu ebe ha na-aga" meaning "You children, go ask those women where they are going", Nnanyi Ozuomee instructed the kids who were sweeping the compound as their early morning function.

"If they don't talk, hit them by the shoulder and they will respond", Ozuomee further instructed.

The children did as they were instructed.

The women not only responded, "we are going to Orie Agbo Market in Nnewichi", they also shook as their senses returned back to them.

Nnanyi Ozuomee suspected that something was wrong with the women's merry go round. They were even chatting amongst themselves as they aimlessly moved around the orbit as the sun.

The women would pass by in front of the Obi, make a detour. Instead of going straight to their destination, they would follow a road that would lead them back to where they lost their sense of direction.

Something must have happened to the women on their way to the market, a destination they had always attended every four days to sell their wares and purchase their needs.

This incident happened in the early 1970s when there were few motor-able roads in most villages. The mode of transport then was mainly by foot.

The footpaths were wide enough to contain 3 or 2 human walking side by side. These passage routes were not wider than one and half metres, though the paths by the forests or farmlands were narrower.

Along the footpaths were many trees of different species which branches provided shelter to the road users. The dripping branches of some of the trees could even touch people as they walked.

Many people trekking along traditional footpaths or inside the forests had experienced an instant and mysterious loss of sense of direction.

Those women that attracted the attention of Nnanyi Ozuomee who hailed from Ezeikwuabor had set out about 5am to the Orie Agbor Market in Nnewichi, hoping to sell off their wares before 7am when midway they lost control of their conscious compass hence they began to move in cycles.

There is a leaf called "akwukwo njofia" or "a leaf capable of making any person it touches to get lost".

Only the native doctors under the influence of the spirits know this particular plant. They use it to prepare charms used to make someone leave his or her station and get lost.

The person under "get lost" spell would never entertain an advice to visit his or her parents or his village. The afflicted would appear normal in other areas other than going back home or reaching planned destination.

The plant is also used to prepare "confusion" charm or "isusu", juju for hypnosis, "igbanye isi n'ofia" i.e. "to make someone hate ever thinking of coming home", madness and general lack of direction.

The help for the victim under the spell of this leaf must come from an observant onlooker or relation.

When afflicted by the magical leaf of the "njuofia" i.e "that which can lead astray", the victim can only come to his or her full senses once asked "where are you going?"

Knowing the possible consequences of the "astray leaf", it became habitual in Nnewi to always ask fellow citizens met on the road "where are you going?"

By so asking, a greater proportion of our people afflicted by the "akwukwo njofia" regain their consciousness on time to reach their destinations.

Come to think of it, shouldn't we, out of serious concern, ask our country, "Nigeria, where are you going?"