Abu bo… abu-bo… aabu bo
Abu bo… abu-bo… aabu bo
Abu bo… abu-bo… aabu bo
Were the call and the rejoinder
And the song as we ran and walked
Toward the far off Mpkukpa[2] stream
To fetch of the pure sweet water
Flowing from mouths of stones
Our ancestors drank of it
And our fathers too and lived long
Udenkwo, my father’s mother…
Mma dere uli[3], wouldn’t spill Mpkukpa
From the earthenware where she kept it
And a whip man with leave branches
Would dictate the pace as he pursues
Singing Abu bo abu-bo in a suspenseful rhythm
While we ran all eyes, marking the pathway herbs
Finger ready to grasp one if he sings…
Say, ‘abuba akpu’[4] as his preference
Lest he whips one as he still hunts for it
Such was the game of the stream path
And with gallons tied with wrung aju[5] behind
Or a bump of used clothes, ran we the song
Yet, neither the hot dry igwugwu[6] sand could impede
Nor the mowing of the sacred Ehi[7] Mpkukpa
Which sometimes charge down the stream!
Either to scare or rather to quench its thirst
Thus far, in the neighbourhood of breathless twinkle
The long pathway subtly dwindles behind us
Narrowing down towards our different homes
And the song gives way to dauntless stones ahead
As we chatter down o’er pebbles of symbolic textures
With caution, we would deploy our customary steps
Down and down the rocky, steeply stream
Over our heads stand trees in gangly clusters
Here and there squirrels’ squeaks shrieking
And many other unidentified chirps and sounds
The small white plate or nkata[8] by the three crossroads
Raising ones hairs and pulling off some wits
Further, you can hear the water’s voices
Tinkering and echoing in the womb of Mkpukpa
So calmly, and cool even before the hottest sun
Little wonder the belief that spirits also visit Mkpukpa
Thus at lonely early hours, especially at mgbachi[9]
They trip to the friendly stream to bath, fetch and drink
That no one ever dares walk down without iku ene[10]
By way of shouting down half away into its heart
“Let spirit’s children be gone, for man’s children is come!”
And it’s believed with ears stretched sharply
One could hear stalks and leaves ruffle as they disperse
Moreover, we would wallow into Ofia[11] Mkpukpa
While awaiting turns if the toll is lengthy
Looking for some edible bush-fruits and leaves
One might pluck aku-ofia or the surgery utommirikpo[12]
Or the rare ukasi used in cooking delicious egusi or oha[13]
Priceless to grateful proud mothers at home
Yet, coming up would be like a cow climbing hills
Clenching on trees and stones to hold up and on
Although, I once fell off a crest into a foliage decked ditch!
Such was the day a lad went home bruised without water
But grandma would patch my gallon with her mma ekwu[14]
And a chunk of smoked okpo[15] fish on my palm
She squeezed onugbu[16] leaf to heal my pains
Meanwhile we would stop over at some shades
To ease off our stiffened necks and heavy legs
At times to stifle a little quarrel or play kpokpo[17]
Whereof cashew seeds are piled up by a few boys
And whoever shoots out any number from the circle
Taking turns from a marked distance
Would take all till all are spent!
We might as well rest again at the Mbara[18] Mkpukpa
Or not, if we had beaten a bet of the unweakened!
Here we would climb black pod ickeku[19] or udaranwenwe[20]
To pick and eat their fruits while we rest
Here too wandered the beautiful mad Ugoada[21]
With dirty dreadlock and dangling breasts
Often soliloquizing, and friendless in her solitude
Then we would walk home slowly and fast
For though the eulogy at home spurred on and on
Yet the Abu bo abu-bo calls more to stream duty
Than the Nna m de eme, dalu oru[22] of pleased parents
Such that even the sick would wish they were not unwell
To run the run in the tune of the song of the stream
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[1] Abubo means leaves or herds in Igbo language
[2] The deity Mkpukpa is a spring water at Nimo, Anambra State- Nigeria
[3] Mma dere Uli lit. A beautified beauty! for she was so that the village folk called her Ugegbe{Mirrow}
[4] Cassava leave
[5] A piece of cloth used in padding off the weight of loads. E.g. The gallons
[6] Sandy sand
[7] Sacred cow
[8] A little local basket made of the bark of palm fronds, used in offering sacrifices to gods, spirits, etc.
[9] Around 12 at noon
[10] To create attention
[11] Bush
[12] A hard edible nut and a yellowish-red berry
[13] Ukasi and oha {soup} are edible leaves, and egusi {soup} is melon
[14] A locally made kitchen knife
[15] A species of the catfish
[16] Edible and herbal bitter leave {Onugbu soup} is Nimo’s favourite
[17] Cashew nut
[18] Spacious playground where Mkpukpa’s feast is celebrated
[19] Icheku is a light pod covered fruit with beady hard nuts. Its leaf is often eaten for its sour-sweet taste
[20] A Capsule- like edible fruit. Green in colour, but yellowish when ripened. Lit. means Applemonkey
[21] Ugoada lit. means Eagle’s daughter- her beauty hid behind her not too old age
[22] Lit. My father good job, well done!
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