Chapter 3: Ikenna Reborn as Ifunanya

When e open eye again—

Ikenna don reborn.

E shock as e notice say body don change; e no be Ikenna wey e know before. For this Naija, people dey talk say if you wake up for another person body, better call pastor. But Ikenna just dey confused, dey look around.

Reborn enter the body of one young woman.

Everything fresh. Skin fine, body soft, wrapper na real Ankara, pattern sharp like mama’s Sunday best from Balogun market. The air different; e sweet, e get small smell of incense like for old-time prayer house.

"Se... senior, why you seize my body? Abeg, fit return my body to Ifunanya?"

You fit see as the voice dey shake, like say person dey fear cane for primary school. The woman spirit just hide for one corner, dey tremble like say person dey fear cane for primary school.

Ifunanya face dey like person wey dem just warn say masquerade dey road. E weak am. Even as spirit, she still dey do respect, dey beg. All these small small gestures na wetin elders dey call home training.

She dey meditate, dey pray, na so one spirit just rush enter, collect her body.

For Nigeria, e for mean say person dey do night vigil, dey ask for breakthrough, na im suddenly spirit from nowhere take over. Ifunanya mind dey scatter; her prayer no even finish before wahala land.

Ikenna turn look am.

Ikenna dey try balance for this new form, e look Ifunanya like person wey dey look ogbonge masquerade for first time. The spirit just dey tremble, dey try hide for shadow.

The spirit resemble small version of the original self.

E be like Ifunanya dey see herself as child wey dey fear cane. E funny reach small, but still, pain dey.

E fit see the original face well well.

For Naija, if you see spirit, sometimes na your own face e go resemble. E dey happen for dream, e fit even mean say person dey close to ancestors.

The woman name na Ifunanya—real fine babe.

Her skin clear, her eyes dey bright, and you go know say she get that Igbo fine girl quality. Ifunanya na woman wey fit turn head for village market. Even her voice get that soft melody wey dey make elders dey bless pikin for morning.

Na just say her mind never strong reach.

Ifunanya na real ajebutter for spirit world; her mind never see real wahala before. For Naija, e mean say she never chop life.

Person wey reach high spiritual level, still, as she lose her body, the first thing wey she do na to try reason am out.

This kain thing dey show say Ifunanya too gentle. Even as e lose everything, she still dey try use mouth settle matter. Na big heart, but naim dey always enter problem.