THE STORY OF ONYAGYE DAUGHTER OF OKWODO: IDOMA NOKWU (ALAGO)
January 22, 2021 at 1:50 pm,
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By
Okwoli Moses Elaigwu
Onyagye the daughter of Chief Okwodo is a beautiful young princess who was admired by men in the community. The sound of her Okpono (waist beads) alone called the attention of men in the land. In the entire Idoma Nokwu the story of her beauty was head far and wild. No man look at her without falling for her, she became the spills of the day.
Chief Okwodo took pride of his daughter and opening brag on her beauty. He throws challenge to the men of the community for anyone who could win the heart of the daughter. Chief Okwodo does not know much about the daughter’s personal life and her magic. Whenever she put on her Okpono (waist beads) men loses control of their selves. Unfortunately, one of the men she fell in love with was a deity of magic. He cried out get him because he is a believer and a deity of magic. The enchantment cutup with her and she acknowledges to enslave men with her charms and magic. She confuses her through love for Omeri the deity of magic and was ready to turn down her magic then let go of her first love was well as those under her magic spare.
This strange behavior of falling in love with two men and putting others under spare were seen as a way of prostitution by the Idoma Nokwu (Alago) women who began to spread the news in the community. The rumor gets to chief Okwodo then two of them women were arrested and brought before him. As gossiping against the royal blood was considered a crime against the throne, therefore were brought before Chief Okwodo for judgment.
Enokori was asked why the spread of fake news against the princess she denied and said it was Ogaya who told her of Onyagye having two boyfriends, a way of prostitute and charmer of men with magic. Chief Okwodo sent message to the princess to appear before the throne. the narration was repeated for her to plea her case which she admitted that she had been into magic and had two boyfriends but her heart is for Omeri now and she had adjure all her wrongs.
It was a heart broken moment for Okwodo who love his daughter so much but couldn’t turn down the judgment for the sake of her daughter. Judgment was passed on the two women for having gossip against the throne. They were punished by doing work at the village square for fifteen days. The chief turned to the daughter and cried bitterly then said to her, “you have broken my heart and have bewildered the community therefore; you would be shamed and banished from the community”. He places a curse on her and she remains unmarried as she lived in the forest until her death.
Below is the lyric chant of the story in Idoma Nokwu (Alago):
1. Onyagye K’okwodo
=Onyagye daughter of Okwodo
Gbehye ko kwodo
= has two lovers
Ogbagye epa le
=she has two lovers ooo
Inyagye hin in gyelo
=I was on my own I don’t know
Ogaya pin kadami la
=it was Ogaya who told me
Chorus repeat after the poet.
Ojugba Jugba
2. Ojugba jugba ya gini ome?
=ojugba jugba where are you going to?
Olultu lutu ya gin i me
=fearless one where are you going to?
Onyagbaza gbumeka
=a prostitute woman do me juju
Eka ya nmwu lo owa bakpa
=juju will not kill me because you aMuslim.
Chorus
Onyagye K’okwodo
=Onyagye daughter of Okwodo
Ogba’ gya epa
=she has two boy friends
In yagye hin
=I stay on my own
In gye lo
=I don’t know
Ogaya pini ka da mi la
= it’s ogaya who to me.
Ojugba Jugba
= Your charming work
3. Olutu lutu
=fearless one
Onyagbaza
=prostitute woman
Gbu me ka =chant your magic
Lo ya nmwu =the magic will not kill me.
Owa bakpa =because you are a Muslim
References:
Agbo, Ose Jero (2019), Alago songs of oral poets (Audu Ommname) as instrument of social Mobilization
Vol. 5