Bottled Freedom

Ajusi, a young healthy man in his early twenties, was returning from his father’s farm alone one evening. Suddenly, five hefty men emerged from the bush, where they had laid ambushed waiting for any passerby along the bush path. Having grabbed him, their leader stepped forward and produced a little container from the wrapper he was tying. He poured out a white dusty substance on his left hand and blew it unto Ajusi’s face. Within the twinkle of an eye Ajusi fell asleep. The men lifted him onto their shoulders and carried him away. Ajusi was taken to a distance land, far away from his hometown and being someone who had never gone beyond his community, the new environment he found himself on regaining consciousness eluded him. He was captured into slavery. He was made to do menial jobs until some years later, when he was summoned by the village head and assigned to be the priest of their deity, ‘Akolo’. A secluded land was provided for him near the shrine of Akolo. He was to stand as an intermediary between the people of Odoakolo, whose culture and language he was beginning to comprehend. A separate house, farmland and other facilities were provided for him.