Chapter 5: Ayo, Son of the River

For Odo-Ogun riverbank, one young man wear black, divine marks for im forehead, just dey relax under mango tree. Im three-pointed, double-edged blade dey by im side, black dog dey sleep for ground—everywhere calm.

The breeze dey soft, mango dey drop for ground. Small birds dey chirp, but the air dey carry tension. Villagers dey far, dey watch from bush, dey whisper: "Na Ayo be that? Im juju pass police juju o!"

Suddenly, e frown small, talk: "Which kind breeze blow today wey carry Baba Tanimola reach here?"

E no like surprise visitor. E adjust cloth, call dog, sharp ear dey alert. The ground get small shake, sign say strong power dey come.

From nowhere, one old man with white hair waka come out, smile. "Ayo, your life soft sha. If dem allow me, I go stay for your Odo-Ogun enjoy small."

Baba Tanimola waka with style, im staff dey shine. For hand, im carry old bag, e dey drop kola nut for ground as e waka. Im smile full with wisdom, but e eye sharp like person wey see wahala.

Ayo hear am, raise eyebrow. "Nobody dey come empty hand... You bring big news come?"

Ayo voice na cool breeze, but e sharp. For spirit world, dem know say Ayo dey always ready for gbege.

"Just now, I see una all gather for Iroko Hall. Now you reach here—no be another demon wahala again?"

Ayo dey eye Baba Tanimola like eagle. Im voice low, but im mind dey run quick. "If na demon, I go clear am sharp."

"But even the monkey na Buddha now. Wetin fit happen wey even monkey no fit solve..."

Ayo rub chin, eyes dey shine. "Monkey wey don see Buddha, still dey fight? The matter get as e be."

As e talk, small seriousness show for Ayo face. Even Baba Tanimola drop play, talk soft: "This matter... long story."

The air begin dey cold. Baba Tanimola voice low, im face dey show pain. Even birds for mango tree stop to sing.

After Baba Tanimola finish, Ayo—wey no like to join outside matter—bow im head, everywhere just heavy.

Ayo close eye, remember old time. Spirit king wey die, monkey wey fight, everything dey rush im mind. For a moment, e no talk, only dog dey whine small.

E don tey.

Ayo dey remember old war, old friends, old enemies. For im heart, fire dey build. For the river, water dey turn, even fish dey hide.

All Niger gods just dey their corner, dey guard their small world, until now, when outsiders come their house dey show power.

Ayo vex. "Dem think say na only Western gods fit get power? Time to show say Niger no dey carry last."

Clang!

Blade fly for Ayo hand, light flash for air. Even dog dey bark, ground dey shake. For sky, cloud dey scatter, sun dey shine small.

The three-pointed, double-edged blade jump for Ayo hand, sharp energy cut sky, break clouds.

Na real power. Even Baba Tanimola smile, "This one no be child play."

E look up, take deep breath, im eyes shine with anger.

Ayo eyes red, im voice na thunder. "Dem go see pepper today!"

"Good!"

Ayo no fit hide im joy. For im face, na war spirit full ground. For river, fish dey jump, even crocodile dey clap tail.

"Good, Olympus! Good, Western hunt!"

Ayo shout, birds fly from tree, river spirit dey dance. Baba Tanimola dey nod, im eyes dey shine.

"That monkey, at least, get strong mind. No wonder I always respect am!"

Ayo voice calm, but e dey hail monkey. "Monkey no dey fear anybody. Na so we go fight!"

"This fight... Me, Ayo, go enter!"

For ground, dog dey bark, air dey tight. The fight spirit dey grow for Ayo chest.

Light flash around Ayo.

For air, silver shine dey spread, small gods dey gather, all dey hail: "Ayo, carry go!"

Silver armour, divine shine everywhere, cover am.

Armour dey fit body like skin. For hand, blade dey glow. Even Baba Tanimola dey smile, "Na true son be this!"

Big power just dey burst from am, no holding back.

For sky, thunder roll, rain begin fall. Even villagers dey dance for far corner, dey chant: "Ayo for Niger!"

This fight... na for Niger land!

Ayo look round, im heart dey swell. "Today, for river, for land, for our pride, dem go see who Niger be!"

For the pride of Niger!

E dey vow: "No retreat, no surrender!"

I must fight with everything!

Ayo stamp foot for ground, earth dey shake. Even mango tree dey shed extra fruit for am.

"Ayo, no rush."

Baba Tanimola voice calm, but e firm. E stretch staff block road, im eyes dey shine.

As Ayo wan move go Olympus sharp sharp, Baba Tanimola rush block am.

E step quick, im robe dey float. For corner, small gods dey wait, tension dey build.

"Wetin happen?"

Ayo voice sharp, battle spirit full body, e dey ready.

E stand like lion, im hand for blade, heart dey beat fast. "If wahala dey, I go clear road!"

E don dey hungry to cut Western god head to honour the spirit king.

Ayo dey remember old gist, old fight, all im anger dey push am go front.

Baba Tanimola wave sleeve, plenty magic mirrors fill sky.

The air dey full, mirrors dey shine, every face dey show. Even Ayo dog dey bark, dey jump for joy.

Inside, big demon kings with body like mountain, dem power dey show.

Demon kings dey knock chest, dey beat drum, dey sing war song. For air, magic dey float, everywhere dey hot.

War general of Spirit Court, red cloth like fire for sky.

General dey wave sword, im cloth dey burn. For ground, soldiers dey match, dey shout: "To Olympus!"

Buddhist disciple, light of ten lifetimes, Buddha power dey flow.

Im face calm, but eyes dey red. Im hand dey shine, prayer beads dey float for air.

...

The mirrors dey show plenty faces—old enemy, old friend—all ready for fight. Spirits dey unite, for once.

All those strong people wey before dey fight each other—

Today, all wahala put for ground. Only one enemy now: Western gods. Unity full air, for first time in many years.

Now, dem all dey come out from their place.

You go see as small gods, big gods, all dey waka, dey gather army. For sky, eagle dey fly, for ground, lion dey roar.

All dey go one direction—Olympus, kingdom of gods.

For mortal world, people dey dream, dey see fire and light. For spirit realm, na only one road. Olympus, we dey come!

Baba Tanimola smile. "Na slow fire dey cook better soup. We don allow these Western gods too much."

Im teeth white, im eye sharp. "Today, na dem turn to taste pepper."

"Now we wan fight, we must win for one battle."

Im voice heavy. "No retreat, no surrender. Only victory fit wipe our shame!"

"Before you attack Olympus, one thing remain for you to do."

Im voice low, but everybody dey listen. Even the dog sit for ground, dey wag tail.

"Wetin be that?"

Ayo eye don light up, small joy dey show.

Im voice dey eager. "Give me anything, I go do am!"

"Go straight enter Olympus... climb reach top of the holy mountain."

Im instruction clear. "No turn back, no hide. Go straight, show dem say Niger never die!"

"Fight the gods together with the Great Sage."

As Baba Tanimola talk, thunder roar for sky, river spirit dey dance. "With monkey, with Niger, we go win this fight!" Ayo smile, im heart dey swell. For the land, for the ancestors, for the Niger, today na today!