Traditional rules

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the narrow roads leading to the stream getting the grasses that nosed their way out. Ekemma, a slim, dark-comple

wish I have such a daughter, at least I will be at rest for works”, the second woman offered. “We are becoming workaholic, even when our children are there. Don’t you know, children of th

gh bushes and nearby farms he stopped by, watched and muttered to himself and continued h

ended inside. “Nze”, he exclaimed, “welcome”. They exchanged greetings, he sat down with him for a while, cracking gags before h

e”. “No wonder it tastes different, you know Agbara is the only man in Amueke that knows how to tap palm wine without tapping dead the palm wine tree”. He nearly licked the cup before dropping it and cleared his throat. before I drink and forget, the reason of my coming, the elders have meeting today at the Ogbako as usual”. “When did the elders hold a meeting without me be

ue needed to be deliberated on. Everyone was on set, excluding Nze and Obika. At last, they appeared, the

on this matter, we can no longer wait till his son decides to choose a wife from the festival or not. In this case, we, the Elders will decide for him”. “Yes!” they nodded in agreeme

, Oboh spoke with a tiny voice, corded with despair. “We have not heard from you, concerning the festival”. “I am short of words”, the king replied, “he has refused to participate in the festival, so I need not to proceed when he is not yet ready”. “Then, he should be persuaded to p

e”. “I think you are right”, he pondered. “It is the truth Dimgba. Certainly, they do it in Achi and Ika and they see it as no sacrilege because they do not allow the tyranny of ignorance and superstition to go under the cloak of tradition”. Ekwe explained. “It is our ancient practice, what would happen if you were allowed to change our ancient practices as we like? For us, tradition is not a passing thing, it is the earth on which we live and the air which we breathe, it is what makes us different from any other village. If we do not respect tradition, how can our village stand? How can we be proud of our forefathers and pass on our pride to our children? Therefore, there is no way we can break the traditional rul