Chapter 4: Chief Uche Kneel for Sun

As I reach King’s Chambers, I dive straight go bed.

Bed dey soft, mosquito net dey. I just stretch body, dey enjoy cold breeze from window. I nearly forget say na ancient world I dey.

When I wake up for afternoon food,

My stomach first rumble before I open eye. Sun don shift, everywhere dey quiet except for birds wey dey sing for palace compound.

Palace Attendant Musa come attend to me, come report.

Musa na young Fulani boy, always dey smile. As e enter, e bend small, use respectful voice: "Your Majesty, Chief Uche never stand up since morning. E still dey kneel for sun, dey beg for your face."

E don dey kneel since morning court reach now.

This one touch me small. E mean say old man don kneel from sunrise reach afternoon. For our place, kneeling for elder na big matter, but for old man to kneel for younger king, e no easy.

He never drink water, ignore everybody wey dey try beg am.

Attendant Musa even talk say dem try bring water, Chief Uche no gree collect. Him just dey there, dey pray, dey mutter incantation under breath. Palace guards dey whisper say maybe na juju he dey do.

All na just to see me.

I raise eyebrow, surprise small.

For my mind, I dey reason: which kain wahala be this? Na so this man serious reach? Even me, I no go fit kneel like that for any king o!

That one na like seven or eight hours kneeling o.

Sun wey dey burn for this city no get pity. If person kneel for seven hours, na only strong head fit do am.

This one get mind — loyal chief no be here.

Na true. Some elders dey use style loyal pass loyalty. My heart do one kain.

I drop my spoon, rush go outside King’s Chambers.

Rice wey Musa serve me I just forget am. I no fit chop while old man dey roast for sun.

For under hot sun, Chief Uche dey sweat like say dem pour water for am, inside him tight agbada, dey kneel for palace gate, head down.

Palace gate dey shine, but Chief Uche no send. Him face dey pressed to ground, agbada don soak like wet towel. Palace guards dey stand like iroko tree, dey pity am.

Him old face don red from sun, sweat dey fall like rain in July.

Mosquitoes sef dey find am sweet, I see some dey fly round him bald head. If no be respect, person for don pity am since.

As him see me, Chief Uche catch emotion.

I notice as his eyes turn red, like say him dey hold tears since. Voice dey shake as he struggle to stand.

Him dey shake as him try stand up bow.

Legs wobbly, he nearly fall as he rise. Agbada dey trip for leg, na me rush reach am before he collapse.

I rush go hold am make him no fall.

My own hand dey tremble too. Palace guards dey move near, but I wave dem off.

Chief Uche hold my hand tight, tears dey flow for him wrinkled face:

I feel the grip, e strong. Tears dey soak my palm. People for corridor dey look, some dey whisper.

"The big exam na the future of this kingdom, abeg Your Majesty, no joke with am..."

Voice quiver, mouth dey shake. E be like say na last hope remain for am.

Before him finish, him faint for my hand.

Palace maids scream, guards rush come. I feel the weight for my chest as him fall—old man too light, but wahala heavy.

Thank God say Attendant Musa quick, dem bring water.

Musa sharp, use calabash sprinkle small for face. Old chief cough, eyes flutter open. Palace nurse bend near, mutter, "Oloun, fi suru bale," then rub shea butter for him head. Na so dem revive am.

As Chief Uche regain himself, I touch.

E no easy to see elder faint for your front. My heart dey soft, but I hide am with king face.

I sharply give order:

Voice loud, make everybody hear: "Carry Chief Uche go rest. Prepare horse for journey."

Make dem transfer this loyal Chief Uche comot from capital, go Cross River Province, make him be magistrate for Uwana District.

I add: "Make him get full escort, send gift of yams and palmwine follow am. Let Uwana people welcome am well."

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your big favour... Eh..."

I see confusion for him face, like person wey dem surprise with awoof.

Chief of Traditions blink, like say him no believe wetin him ear hear.

Him mouth dey open, eyes dey turn. Other chiefs dey peep from corridor, dey whisper.

"Transfer... go province... as district magistrate..."

The words heavy for him tongue. He dey reason if na promotion or demotion.

I nod, pat him shoulder well:

I use king voice talk: "You too get sense to dey stay idle for capital. I need you make you help my people for Uwana."

"My correct chief, person like you no suppose dey waste for capital.

Go that far place, help me solve wahala there."

I add: "You be man of action. I believe say you fit fix their problems."

Chief Uche face just white, him wan talk but I wave hand, order make dem carry am go.

He open mouth, words no come out. Palace guards help am up, dey escort am go.

As dem dey waka, palace griot wey dey always dey corner begin hum small song, 'King wey show strange kindness, dem go talk your matter for market.' Na so story dey start for this kingdom.