Characters
Ajaiyi
Ajaiyi stands as the proud son of Jaye and cherished grandson of Aro. When illness grips Jaye, rendering him incapable of tending to his fields, the mantle of responsibility falls heavily upon Ajaiyi's shoulders. At thirty, with dreams of matrimony in his heart, Ajaiyi finds himself thwarted by the chains of poverty. To secure a wedding, he must barter the only asset he possesses—his own labor. "A beautiful lady" becomes his bride, yet joy is soon overshadowed when the specter of death claims his father. Another pawned labor follows to honor his father's memory with a funeral. Bound to two different masters, Ajaiyi's days are consumed in toil for others, leaving him mere scraps of time to nurture his own land. Thus, the inheritance of poverty tightens its grip.
In desperation, Ajaiyi seeks wisdom from Osanyin, the village's enigmatic witch doctor. The advice: present nine rams in nine sacks upon his father's grave to conjure the family's lost fortune. Yet again, Ajaiyi pawns his labor, only managing to procure six rams. Together with his wife, they plot to offer this as a first installment, hoping the remaining three will come from the promised bounty of the past. When hope falters, and the plan fizzles, Osanyin suggests completing the offering. In a bold gambit, Ajaiyi conceals himself with a machete within one of the sacks. When Osanyin's servants transport the sacks, Ajaiyi springs forth, assuming the guise of his father's spirit, and demands the family fortune. Overwhelmed by fear, Osanyin relinquishes the stolen wealth back to Ajaiyi.
Ajaiyi's Wife
Adorned with beauty, Ajaiyi's wife captures his heart, compelling him to pawn his labor for their union. Once wed, it is she who suggests seeking Osanyin's counsel to lift the veil of poverty shadowing their lives. Faced with acquiring only six of the nine rams recommended, her quick thinking leads them to present this as a down payment to the deceased father. Despite setbacks, she persists, urging Ajaiyi to consult Osanyin anew. Though Ajaiyi hesitates, it is his wife's unwavering resolve that propels him forward.
Aro
Aro, Jaye's father and Ajaiyi's grandfather, is introduced as a man birthed from wealth. Upon his own father's passing, he inherits a bounty of riches, sprawling farms, and treasures beyond compare. One fateful night, with Osanyin by his side, Aro seeks to safeguard his fortune in two great water pots buried in the wilderness. Yet when he returns to claim his hoard, he finds it vanished. Turning to Osanyin for guidance, he's told the startling tale of his own father, now beyond the grave, pilfering the wealth.
Aro, consumed by loss, curses the thief, proclaiming that his riches will be reclaimed by his lineage, whether by his son, grandson, or a future descendant. Aro’s once abundant life dwindles into destitution, ultimately succumbing to poverty and leaving an empty legacy to Jaye. However, his curse lingers through the ages, until fate aligns with Ajaiyi’s daring retrieval of the fortune, fulfilling the prophecy in a twist of fear and fortune.
Jaye
Jaye, the inheritor of Aro's misfortune, weds "a very wretched lady," with whom he fathers Ajaiyi. Despite relentless toil, poverty becomes his constant companion. As time passes, weariness overtakes him, forcing Ajaiyi to shoulder the task of maintaining their farm. Tragedy strikes anew as Jaye succumbs to illness shortly after Ajaiyi's marriage. Lacking funds for the burial, Ajaiyi once more trades his labor to honor his father’s passing. The cycle of inherited destitution deepens with each generation's struggle.
Jaye's Wife
Known as "a very wretched lady," the origins of Jaye's wife are shrouded in mystery. Together,...
(This entire section contains 951 words.)
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they bring Ajaiyi into a world where poverty's grip tightens with each passing year. Her life concludes as it began, in the stark shadows of deprivation, leaving behind a legacy of hardship.
Renowned far and wide, Osanyin, the enigmatic witch doctor, holds sway over the village and its neighboring lands. Known for the mystical arts he practices, his reputation precedes him. One fateful evening, his trusted companion, Aro, seeks his aid in concealing a substantial inheritance—two massive water pots brimming with wealth, hidden beneath a tree in the heart of the bush. Under the cover of night, Osanyin returns alone a few months later, unearthing Aro's treasure, only to rebury it before his deities within the sacred confines of his shrine.
When Aro, distressed and anxious, approaches Osanyin with news of his stolen fortune, the cunning witch doctor feigns concern. He advises Aro to return home, promising to commune with the gods for guidance. Yet, without invoking any supernatural counsel, Osanyin fabricates a tale, claiming that Aro’s deceased father had spirited away the riches. Distraught, Aro visits the original burial site, laying a curse upon the unknown thief. Meanwhile, Osanyin, despite his façade of innocence, harbors a growing unease, fearing that his duplicity might soon be unveiled.
Years later, the shadow of inherited hardship looms over Aro's grandson, Ajaiyi, who seeks Osanyin's guidance to lift the family's curse of poverty. With a deceitful heart, Osanyin instructs Ajaiyi to leave nine rams on his father's grave—a barter for reclaiming the lost wealth. Seizing the opportunity, Osanyin, with his aides, clandestinely spirits away the first installment of six rams, transforming them into a feast.
When Ajaiyi seeks further counsel, Osanyin repeats his demand, asking for the remaining three rams. However, Ajaiyi, determined and clever, concocts a plan of his own. Disguising himself within one of the sacks meant to hold the rams, he awaits discovery. As Osanyin and his men carry the sacks home, Ajaiyi bursts forth from his concealment, brandishing a machete, compelling Osanyin to relinquish the ill-gotten fortune back to its rightful heir.
