The Village Witch Doctor

by Amos Tutuola

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Justice

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This tale unfolds with a timeless motif: justice meted out in the end, where the wicked meet their doom and the virtuous bask in rewards. It is a realm where malevolence is countered with retribution, and goodwill is celebrated. Enter the witch doctor, a cunning figure who hoodwinks three generations of men, siphoning away their family legacy. Yet, in a twist of fate, his wrongdoings rebound upon him, for he becomes the architect of his own downfall.

In this world, destiny weaves its own tapestry, casting Osanyin, the witch doctor, as the unwitting culprit of his demise. When Aro incants a malediction upon the thief of his hidden treasure, Osanyin, burdened by his clandestine deeds, must affirm the curse’s inevitable truth. This act of mockery weighs heavily upon him, as he inadvertently curses himself, ensnared by his own treachery. His deceitful machinations, spun intricately over time, come crashing back upon him.

The web of lies Osanyin spins entangles Ajaiyi, Aro's descendant, with tales of divine messages blaming Ajaiyi's destitution on his deceased father’s theft of ancestral wealth. Osanyin, with guile, instructs Ajaiyi to sacrifice nine rams at his father's grave to reclaim his heritage. Yet, the witch doctor’s greed knows no bounds; he creeps to the burial site, absconding with the rams for his feast.

But the tables turn, for Ajaiyi has his own trickery in store. Concealing himself within one of the sacks meant for the offering, armed with a machete, he startles Osanyin at his own lair. In this dramatic confrontation, Ajaiyi uses fear as his weapon, confronting Osanyin with his own mendacity. Pretending that Osanyin is the very specter of his father, Ajaiyi inverts the lie to reclaim his fortune. Thus, justice prevails, with the deceitful ensnared by their own fabrications, and the justly deserving reclaiming what is rightfully theirs.

Family and Inheritance

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Generational Saga of Wealth and Woes

In a sweeping narrative that spans three generations, the tale intricately weaves together the lives of men and their spouses as they traverse the turbulent tides of fortune. At the heart of this saga beats the enduring theme of family. The legacy of wealth—or its absence—cascades down a paternal lineage, each son inheriting the financial fate of his father. This perpetual cycle is ominously underscored by Aro's curse, proclaimed with fervor as he stands upon his father's grave. "My money will be recovered in the near or far future from whomsoever has stolen it, by my son, or my son's son, or one of my generation!" Aro vows, his words a haunting promise of retribution through the ages.

The inevitability of this vengeance manifests when Aro's grandson, Ajaiyi, triumphantly reclaims the family fortune from the thief who once took it. Within this narrative, the concept of family intertwines with the intricate web of pride and social standing within the village. Ajaiyi, son of Jaye, faces the daunting task of acquiring sufficient wealth to secure a bride—a quest made necessary by his father's inability to fulfill this traditional duty. "According to our tradition, it is a father's duty to make a marriage for his son," Jaye laments, highlighting the depths of their impoverishment.

Following Jaye's passing, Ajaiyi is once again thrust into financial struggle as he seeks funds for a dignified funeral ceremony, striving to escape the "shame" of failing to bury his father properly. Thus, family emerges not only as a binding force but also as a determinant of one's financial and social stature, shaping the very fabric of individual lives within this narrative.

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