Ogbanje
Ogbanje episode 13
Øgbanjé. Final part. “My name is Obiageli sir”. Obiageli said smiling really hard. My husband almost choked on his drink. “Were you adopted?”. My husband stuttered. Obiageli turned to Chibuike and jokingly hit him smiling. “You’ve told your parents already”. She said. “You were really adopted?”. I asked anxiously. This really got her a little […]
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Øgbanjé. Semi final. “Sister o, I don’t know how you will take what I have to say o but I think something isn’t right with Chibuike”. My sister dropped the bombshell that almost led me into a cardiac arrest. For a moment I couldn’t breathe. I placed my hands on chest as though it would […]
Read MoreOgbanje episode 11
Øgbanjé. Part 11. My mother’s inheritance was shared amongst all four of her children. As her first daughter, I inherited almost all her clothes, including her wrappers. “I don’t really need these clothes o”. I said to my younger sister. She wore a fake frown on her face. “, Mama won’t be happy that her […]
Read MoreOgbanje episode 10
Øgbanjé. Part 10. My husband and I couldn’t stop staring at our son in disbelief. “Our miracle baby”. I spent a week in the hospital because my case was a special one. I never attended antenatal for once, so series of check ups and medications were administered to me. It wasn’t really easy for me […]
Read MoreOgbanje episode 9
Øgbanjé. Part 9. On the 8th day of my fast, I went to the market and bought about 10 pairs of sandals, 5 school bags and some pairs of white stockings. I wanted to buy more but was limited by funds. I went very early to a public school that was close my house. I […]
Read MoreOgbanje episode 8
Øgbanjé. Part 8. My husband was discharged from the hospital the next day. We went back to the house. Our house became unusually quiet. The usual midnight jokes my husband and I usually shared was abruptly stopped. The smiles, the laughter, the hugs, the kisses, the compliments… Everything met their premature dèath. Nothing interesting was […]
Read MoreOgbanje episode 7
Øgbanjé. Part 7. “My God! My God! Why have you forsaken me?”. It wasn’t Jesus shouting this time around. It was me. I was frustrated…no! I was already at the end of myself. “Where do I go from here? Where do I start from? Haven’t I been praying enough? Haven’t I fasted enough?”. I was […]
Read MoreOgbanje episode 6
Øgbanjé. Part 6 The first night after we returned Obiageli back to the orphanage, my husband and I slept like babies. We wrapped ourselves together like teenage lovers. The night was peaceful and calm. I woke up early the next morning to prepare breakfast and get husband’s clothes ready for him. We ate breakfast together […]
Read MoreOgbanje episode 5
Øgbanjé. Part 5 “In the mighty name of Jesus, I cast you out”. The pastor shouted. “Amen!”. My mom and I chorused. Obiageli began to crawl on the floor. Her eyes were wide opened. She looked so scary and dangerous. “Leave this body now!!”. The pastor shouted. He brought out a bottle of Holy water. […]
Read MoreOgbanje episode 4
Øgbanjé. Part 4. My husband and the other injured passengers were rushed to a nearby hospital. My husband was placed on life support because he couldn’t breathe on his own. “Obim please don’t dîe. I can’t do life without you”. I sobbed bitterly. Obiageli sat close to me calmly. Outwardly, she looks like an innocent […]
Read MoreOgbanje episode 3
Øgbanjé. Part 3. “Honey, I think Obiageli is possessed for real”. I cried to my husband. “How can you say such about a child you claim to love?”. my husband questioned me in disbelief. “I love her, I still do. With everything happening, I can’t call it a mere coincidence. The principal lost her life […]
Read MoreOgbanje episode 2
Øgbanjé. Part 2. My pregnancy was already two months old. I was advised not to stress myself to avoid having a mîscárriage. Obiageli was already in nursery one. My pregnancy didn’t stop me from taking care of her. I still loved and cherished her because I see her as my lucky charm. No matter what […]
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Ogbanje by Judith Onyoyibo
Øgbanjé. Part 1 “Your womb has been tied by spiritual forces. You can’t get pregnant until you appease your Chi. Adopt a child”. A mad woman said to me on my way to the market. She even tried touching me and I kept on running away from her. “Madam hearken to her words. Sometimes the […]
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