Superstition Dance And Mama's Fears

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"Bia (come)" I watched Mama beckon to me.

But I wasn't done admiring myself in the mirror.

It was a full moon on a Christmas night and it was 'Igba nkwa (Dance)' night at the village square where everyone gathered and watched different masquerades and dance groups dance and a winner was announced later.

"I said come here, this boy! What have I told you about staring in the mirror at night? Do you want spirits to take your soul.?" She yelled. I could see the veins on her face protruding like a big belly button underneath light clothing.

I immediately walked towards her. She removed an affix pin from her bag and pinned it to my clothes.

"Why, Mama?" I asked, always being curious.

Mama stared at me. Her eyes reflected from the hunter's lamp grandma kept in the room which produced smoke like the exhaust of Papa Abigail's car. "Protection from bad men and evil spirits. On no account should you remove it."She warned me "Go and call your siblings let's go.".

I shrugged. "Okay, Mama". I replied, nodding my head and walking out of the room to call my siblings as Mama commanded.

Mama was a staunch Christian but I always knew Mama to believe in superstition and evil spirits. More reason she barely brings us back to the village for Christmas. She believes that her children might be bewitched.

In fact, she forbade us from going to the dance if not Grandma had pleaded with her to allow us to go. According to Grandma, it wouldn't make any sense that we could go home from the city for Christmas and not join any of our peers to enjoy the various ceremonies that come with Christmas.

After long contemplation, Mama had agreed to let us go but she made sure she would go with us just in case anything happened. Already, I was looking forward to the 'Igba nkwa' night so I didn't care what she put in my clothes. As long as I'll be at the village square.

"Ngwanu (Now), let's go," she said. Picking up her torch and holding my hands. She asked my other siblings to make sure they keep up with her and never leave her side. Then we stepped out of our house into the dark night though a nush path that led to the village square.

We had passed the first compound which belonged to Grandpa's second wife when a black cat swiftly ran across us into a bush path. Mama paused and squeezed my hands tight. I flinched in pain then she said.

"No, no, no. A black cat?" She looked at us. "That's a bad omen. Back to the house"

I heard my siblings grumble
"But Mama it's just a cat" I realised they wanted to go to the dance too.

But Mama didn't care, she dragged us all back into the house muttering repeatedly "Black cats are bad luck. We can't take any chances."

"But Mama..." My eldest sister tried countering, Mama quickly slapped her mouth and that ended the argument.

The rest of the night was spent grumbling for me and my siblings.

A few days later, my eldest sister fell sick and Mama blamed it on the black cat. She said it had brought the sickness upon her daughter. She also blamed herself for listening to Grandma and trying to take us to the 'igba nkwa' night.

But when Papa called from the city, she told him about my sister's illness and the cat. Papa told her to take her to the hospital. Mama insisted that a pastor was a better option.

After a little disagreement between Mama and Papa. Mama finally gave in and drove us all to the hospital. My sister was examined by the doctor and it was discovered that she was sick with malaria.

I watched the disappointment on Mama's face when she realised that the cat had nothing to do with her daughter's illness.

"Doctor are you sure because....?" She tried asking.

"Madam I've been in this practice for twenty years now. Your daughter has malaria." The doctor assured her. "I'll prescribe a few drugs for her and she'll be fine "

And just as the doctor said. My sister was back to her usual self in a few days. Even though Mama realised that the black cat had nothing to do with her daughter's sickness, she didn't want to take chances anymore.

We travelled back to the city immediately. And she vowed never to take us home anymore for Christmas. Although Papa tried to make her see reasons why we should be close to our culture.

It's been six years now and we haven't been to my village. I long for it, but Mama has forbidden it. Maybe not now, maybe when I'm an adult to make decisions for myself. Then I'll travel home as much as I wish.