ADEDAYO
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Up the tree, I see the boy that's always with the Olu Awo on one of the highest branches trying to claim a fleshy ripe mango. I tell Dada to stop moving down the path so I can check on him. At the bottom of the tree, I see boys his age range holding a basket full of mangoes as they cheer and yell at the boy up, showing him where there are ripe mangoes to take. With what I am hearing them call him, it seems Agbarigi is his name or most definitely a nickname because it's meaning is Tree Freak.
Seeing me near them, the boys then immediately prostrate as they greet me with the ones on the tree that are closer to the ground hurrying down to greet me. Agbarigi then joins them after as he climbs down with me acknowledging their greeting and beckoning them to stand up.
" Your name is Agbarigi?"
" No oo my prince, it's Oriyomi sir. My friends named me that because I climb trees better than them." Replies the boy as his bright yellow eyes twinkle with seriousness as if his playful self that was parabulating the mango tree awhile ago wasn't of his body.
" I didn't take you for the type that is this proactive, you always seemed calm and collected." I say to him.
" Well my prince, he's before you. It's expected of him to be well behaved before the crown prince of OYO." Dada says as he startles Oriyomi from behind. How he manages to do that sometimes despite the screaming colour of his dreadlocks amazes me.
Beckoning Oriyomi towards the path to the Olu Awo's dwelling, I then say to him.
" We are on our way to the Olu Awo's place to speak to him. We will need you to do so. Could you please come with us?"
" Sure my prince." He replies as he quickly goes to grab four big mangoes from his friend's basket. With him in front, we the continue down the path.
" It is said that the Olu Awo went to Irúnmölé, does he tell you about his time there?" I ask Oriyomi.
" Sir, at the time he went there and came back, I wasn't even born yet. But atimes he tends to rant his experience there whenever he hears of a huntee that plans on hunting the fields close to it's borders "
" Normally, Baba is someone that minds his business alot. But his time at that forest must have scarred him so much that always strives to make sure no one goes or even nears there again"
Chuckling at the boy's response, I then ask him.
" If he feels so, why did he implore my uncle into sending me there?"
" Omoo my prince, I don't know." He says as he nervously takes a bite at one of his mangoes.
The path then brings us to a fenced clearing with white painting of Obatala symbols on it's wooden walls and two unlit torches each at both sides of the entrance. Nearing it, we hear chaotic yells from a certain familiar voice that I really dislike.
Ì Y Á L Ọ́ J À
Foluke Àkànjí.....Of all the most annoying and discriminatory women in OYO-ILE, the Orishas sees it fit to bring me face to face with this woman at this time. Because unlike other people that can just throw offensive stares, her status as the ÌYÁLỌ́JÀ gives her the opportunity to mischievously chastise me. That's because she holds the seat of the ÌYÁLỌ́JÀ which is the mother of the market. She oversees all that occurs in markets across OYO and is of great importance to OYO's hierarchy. Her influence stretches way beyond OYO-ILE and she's also the voice of the women of OYO. So having conflicts with her as the Aláàfin shouldn't be considered unless the reason for it is extreme.
With her voice drawing closer to the entrance, I try to avoid a confrontation with her by attempting to ask Oriyomi for a back entrance to the Olu Awo's dwelling. But a black cat, HER FAMILIAR comes outside through the entrance purring with irritation as it's eyes pierces me with it's gaze and it's claws hosting white feathers. Seeing us, it begins to purr more aggressively so as to draw ÌYÁLỌ́JÀ attention to us as her voice and footsteps draw closer to the entrance.
ÌYÁLỌ́JÀ then comes out with attention directed towards the inside of the clearing as she stands at the entrance raining curses at seemingly someone inside. She then notices me and my companions as she turns her gaze forward with a mean stare occuring as soon as she places her eyes on us. A look at her is already enough surface towards noticing how mean she can be. She is fair skinned, her body shape is robust from the top but slim downwards with her black lips and three large tribal marks at each side of her face. Her face carries alot of wrinkles due to her constant frowning rather than her age with heavy beaded necklaces always placed around her neck. Wearing a blue&black tie and dyed dress with a head tie, she looks forth and back between us with each stare growing more menacing than the former.
With her stare finally settling on me, she says.
" Ekaaso oo Ọmọ Oba wa~Good afternoon my prince, one who dances to the tune of the sea god. How is your Ashe mark?. Have you started growing gills?"
Before I can respond, Dada chips in saying.
" The prince's Ashe is not yet determined ÌYÁLỌ́JÀ, please do well to remember."
Interrupting his reply, ÌYÁLỌ́JÀ shouts at him saying.
" Did you just speak at me, you this abomination. O ti e ni beru~ You don't even have fear. Normally as you see me, you are meant to turn around so I don't look upon that face and demonic hair of yours."
" ÌYÁLỌ́JÀ, please forgive Dada. He's only being defensive of his land's future king.....his and your land's crown prince. Regardless of the situation I am in and your position, you should watch how you address me Ma"
She then laughs, clapping her hands and says to me.
" So the pup finally barks ehnnn. If it was before, you would be cowering behind Ogundele. WELL MY FUTURE KINGG......it is said that you could be an Olossi and then I see you frolicking the forest with two of the most cursed and misfortunate people in this city."
Looking intently at Oriyomi who had apparently hidden himself behind Dada, she says to him.
" Yes, I know about you and that cursed mother of yours"
Turning back to me, she scoffs saying.
" So Adedayo, this company you are moving with is not a good image at all especially with your current situation right now. So why won't I speak anyhow to you? Better go and handle this Ashe situation, because with all this trouble I am facing with MY MARKET. I don't want the idea that I am going through all that just to fund the reign of a king that eats off the Olokun's table."
After saying this, she turns back to the clearing and yells curses I would rather not decipher. She then pushes past us to head down the path we came from with her familiar tailing behind her slowly as it steals glances at us.
" Even tho she's the ÌYÁLỌ́JÀ my prince, letting her address you like that shouldn't happen without repercussions."
" Let it be Dada, I have been tolerant to worse and besides it won't be good for me to lord OYO while having conflict with the ÌYÁLỌ́JÀ. She has the power to make things very difficult to me if I ever wear the veiled crown."
With that said, we then move into the clearing which is the Olu Awo's abode.