Chapter 1: Shadows Over the Compound

The rumour no gree rest for village. People start to dey talk anyhow, some dey whisper for under their breath for Mama Uche's shop, some dey gather for evening by the palm-wine tapper’s hut, dey add extra pepper to the story. "Ehn, you see am? Musa, that Okonkwo pikin! Who go believe?" Some go swear by their mother’s grave say dem see Musa waka for night with black rooster. Some old women shook their head, crossing themselves, muttering, "Ah, dis world na wah!" The compound was thick with tension, as even the children started avoiding Musa’s shadow, fearing he fit carry bad spirit. Even the smallest pikin go grab him mama wrapper tight, eyes wide, as if Musa shadow fit jump out from the darkness. In the dusk, mothers called their children inside early, and nobody wanted to fetch water alone at the backyard well.

Chief Garuba vex well. He ordered a proper investigation, and na so dem arrest Musa Okonkwo. The whole matter wey show say the eldest son dey use juju to harm him own brother come cast for the family compound. The wahala shock the whole elders’ council. Dem collect all the eldest son titles, come put am for house arrest inside the back room till the end of him life.

The day the elders summoned Musa, the whole compound silent like funeral ground. Chief Priest Adisa arrived with his staff, sprinkled white chalk at the entrance, then called on the ancestors to bear witness. Musa’s mother fell to her knees, begging, but the elders would not listen. Her wrapper slip, but she no send—tears and dust mix for her face as she beg, “Abeg, make una hear me!” As the sun set, they stripped Musa of his red cap and gave him bitter kola to chew—sign of shame. Elder Eze raise hand, voice deep: “This cap no belong to traitor!” Musa’s friends avoided his gaze, and the women covered their heads, muttering, “May God no allow this kind thing reach our house.” House arrest was no small thing; for a man of his standing, for Musa, na like dem lock am for grave wey get small window—he dey see life, but e no fit touch am. His room became a shadowy prison, with the sound of family life drifting in but never touching him.