EKIW! THE DYING POWER DRUNK ANT

By Dr. Jarlath Uche Opara Jarlathuche@gmail.com

Growing up, I heard a lot of fairytales and folklores. Each of them had deep impression on my infantile mind. Remembering them now makes a joke of them, prompting a rhetorical question to oneself, “how was one able to believe such intelligently non-conforming stories.

Such stories of how death came into the world, how truth became naked, how the back of Tortoise became broken, how the back of human beings is divided into two, the story behind man’ Adam’s apple and other funny stories that our non critical minds were fed with.

Recently I read how Zik bottled River Niger “Mamiwater” to have control over River Niger.

An argument over who owned River Niger ensued between Zik and the River Niger “Mamiwater”.

Both agreed that whoever was able to enter the bottle and comes out owns the River. Zik asked “Mamiwater” to enter first, immediately she entered, Zik corked the bottle .

These are apparently grotesque stories that seemed intelligible then to our unsuspecting and impressionable minds, but fooly now through the interrogation of ones deep structured mind.

I recently remembered Ekiw and Arabuf. Such folklore was told to us by my grandfather years ago.One night in a starlit environment, sitting with my siblings and cousins around him, the story of Ekiw the power drunk grasshopper was narrated.

According to my grandfather, Ekiw was a very lovely ant, chubby and elegant in his infancy. As he grows, he became overly pompous, vituperous, cantankerous over the gift of nature to him.

One day, he engaged into a fight with another ant called Arabuf who appeared gentle, reticent and non combative.

Ekiw bragged over his power and how the gods blessed him with power, influence and riches .

What he didn’t know was the story of Arabuf destiny path, though appeared weak and frail, was endowed by the gods with a special power to spill fire in embers effortlessly.

Such power was unknown to anyone until that day Ekiw dared him brazenly with audacious emptiness.

What happened? We all chorused, focusing our gaze on grandpa to hear the full gist..

Ekiw and Arabuf came from same kingdom of ants where leadership tussle was always a game of fire and brimstone. All other ants that ruled their kingdom had their own fair share of war, battle, insults and humiliation by their successors.

When Ekiw became the head of the kingdom by same process of violence, intimidation and war,he became powerful more than all other ants. His names became a terror. By his command all knees bowed.

When it was time for him to go as it was customary after 8 year, Ekiw picked a more vulnerable, seemingly weak and lame Arabuf to succeed him.

He didn’t want to suffer what others suffered in the hands of their successors. It was his desire to be all time powerful, who would always weld influence and whose words would always be a law, till thy kingdom come.

Surprisingly Arabuf was ready to play according to the scripts of the Ndaboski Bahosa style of Ekiw, infact he was rubber stamping all Ekiw’ orders and command. Sadly the madness and power drunk disposition of Ekiw undid him too soon.

If Ekiw had maintained some level of decency and integrity in looking for the manhood of Arabuf, he would till today be the Emperor, the conquer of the Revir kingdom.

Rather he bragged, not only held Arabuf’ manhood, he prevented him from using it to perform his “matrimonial” duties.

Like a drunk lion, Arabuf roared and what came out were embers of fire that not only disfigured Ekiw but consumed him.

No man that has something dangling in between is completely weak however frail and dull he may look.

There is always a deal breaker, a sensitive spots very vulnerable when touched would make the weakest man roar and bark.

There is always a line to avoid from crossing when dealing with a man. No man is too weak not to react when his “manhood” is taken hostage . This was the undoing of Ekiw.

He was too power drunk to realize those sensitive areas that shouldn’t be touched. If not Ekiw would have been that powerful king behind the throne while Arabuf the nomenclature king .

All that is lost, the weak and fragile looking Arabuf is now the new no nonsense Sheriff in town.The Endaboski Bahosa of Srevir Etats kingdom. Ekiw has learned, the hard way too! The Ekiw the bee is now the larva. Ekiw the Eagle is now the eaglet. Ekiw the lion is now the cub. Ekiw the wolf is now the pub. Ekiw the Crocodile is now the hatchling and Ekiw the Ostrich is now the chick. Beware of a man’s manhood! Too delicate to be touched without any reaction.