As they're all still talking, playing, the Hen runs around trying to catch a small flying insect, she had just laid a few eggs. The Eagle is soaring the skies and Ikenga is now chasing Idemmịlị around. A long, fat slippery being slides towards them, they make room for her. She slides around Ani and goes on to rest on her neck. With her tail she pulls Amadioha to Ani wrapping herself round both their necks. From the Waters, a voice arises.
"Ndi Alụsị (Deities), Ndi Agbara (Deities)."
"Chineke Nne, Kadu na Ofili, Udo ga adịlị ụnụ abụọ/nabọ." The first Women answer. The newer deities stand aloof still in somewhat confusion. "Ma ndi Alụsị ndi arụ mmadụ, the Human deities, Ekwensu na ndi enyi a, ndi onyi a."
The Men kneel before the voice they can't see yet while the Women remain standing.
"Gbam! As it should be. Now, the animal around your neck, Ani, is the great land python, Eke keru ụwa. Because of her, where ever you see a snake no matter how big, small, venomous, poisonous or what not, you must never kill or hurt it for she is one of the symbols of Life and creation, Eke bu Okike, the Python is Creation."
"Chineke ụnụ nabọ niile ga adighide." The Women chorus. The Men bow further not knowing what to say.
"The Hawk above that comes along with her, is Egbe, she symbolizes keen vision, focus, wisdom, and spiritual awareness. She is the messenger or guardian that encourages a higher perspective on life. She is the symbol of one's Chi, one's destiny, purpose or success. And she is the symbol of Ikenga. When you see the Hawk, you have seen Ikenga."
"Ikenga ịga adighide." Ani calls out. Ikenga bows towards her in response.
"Ọfuma! The Python is the symbol of Okike, the Hawk is the symbol of Chi, together they make our insignia, they are Chineke." Chineke says again.
A Leopard and a Lion emerge from the waters and go stand by Ikenga's sides and a similar looking snake emerges from the ocean and proceeds to climb Idemmịlị. She wraps herself round her neck.
Chineke emerges finally after the snake and takes the form of Ani but with two faces and three eyes. Ọma extends her left hand to which she grabs interlocking their fingers. She does the same to Ani who extends to Ikuku who extends finally to Anyanwụ and so the five of them are holding hands.
The sea serpent pulls Ekwensu to herself with her tail and wraps his neck and Idemmịlị's neck together. "Eke mmịrị (the Water python) is the symbol of Idemmịlị, the protector of the waters, she is her spirit animal." Chineke announces once more.
"Chi Nneukwu, Chiukwu ịga adighide." Idemmịlị calls out to her. Ekwensu is now standing with her as well as Amadioha is standing with Ani. Ekwensu and Amadioha's heads remain bent.
"You both are bound for procreation." Chineke says to Idemmịlị and Ekwensu. They don't question her, there's no need to, she had revealed their destiny already, she's Chineke, Kadu na Ofili, Fate and Destiny. "Ani and Amadioha, you two also. And this same Eke that came from the land that was here before we knew that which was is the symbol of the Earth Mother, the Earth herself and the Mother of all peoplekind, Ani Nneuwa." Ani and Amadioha turn to themselves and smile. They proceed to fondle each other some more. "Eke mmịrị is related... Ọma."
"Yes Mom?"
"Keep your Sibling in check, please." Ọma nods.
"Yes Mom. Very noted." She replies turning to look at them. She really doesn't know what to do. She has chosen Ani's supposed happiness over her vision. She shakes her head.
Chineke disappears.
"Where did she go?" Idemmịlị asks as Ikenga finally looks up after he's sure that she has gone.
"Don't worry, she's always around, she'll always have something to say, up there, in your head, if you actually calm down to listen." And with a chuckle, Ọma adds. "She never shuts up." The rest three Mothers laugh it all up, they knew what Ọma was talking about.
"And that's why we love her." Anyanwu says.
"That's why we love her biko." Ikuku agrees with a chuckle. "That's her job she's doing."
"Real." Ọma says. She then takes in a deep breath. "At long last, we can all now go begin and continue our destinies. With time, they will call us the ancient ones, because we are, Ndi Gboo."
"Gbam!" They all chorus.
"And remember Ani, Anyanwụ, Ikuku and now you, Idemmịlị, and I, myself, we must never forget the old saying which goes: Abu m maka na anyị bu, I am because we are. It means I'm great because we're great, I'm happy because we're happy, I'm eating because we're eating, I'm full and satisfied because we're full and satisfied, I'm all that I am because my neighbor is all that she is. We care about the next person, we don't hustle alone. All we do we do for each other and not only for ourselves. That's how to maintain a better and peaceful world. I make use of this and I ensure it's cleaner, safer and easier for the next person to use and manage. I lead and leave a better world for they who I'm leading and for the people who are to come lead after me. Likewise, I am because we are. Abu m maka na anyị bu. We Women must stick together now and forever for ourselves and by ourselves." Ọma says. They all nod in agreement soaking up all she has said.
"I couldn't agree more." Anyanwụ says.
"Makachị." Ani adds clenching Amadioha's biceps even tighter.
"Ọma, our Mother, till we meet again." Ekwensu calls out. The snake lets go of Ekwensu and remains on Idemmịlị's neck. He kneels and bows before her. She touches his back and extends her hands to assist him up.
He stands up and watches her as she turns to leave. He's awestruck.
"Ọma, till we meet again, Mother of us all." Amadioha calls out. The Snake holding onto him has released him too but he and Ani continue to interlock fingers.
"Mother, thank you. We're everly loyal, till the time that has no end." Ikenga calls out.
She turns and extends her hands for them to come hug her and all three quickly run into her arms.
"Nne anyị, Daalu." They chorus. She kisses each of their foreheads...
**** ~ ****
"And that, my children is how the world was birthed." Mmaa says. They all yawn in celebration and tiredness.
"Ah, Mmaa, Daalu rinne. Echi dịkwa nụ. Rarụ kwa nụ ọfuma nụ eeee." Amarannem calls out as she arises from the ground.
"Ehen. Ije ọma nụ ụmụ m." Mmaa says getting up. She realizes she hasn't peed in a very long while and heads for the furthest place she can find while Njoku and Anyanwu follow closely behind her with their oil lamps.
Everyone picks themselves up and heads for their various destinations with their own personal palm oil lamps which has been eluminating the location for the longest while. The scent from the smoke it emanated helped distance the mosquitoes, ụmụ anwụnta from them.
"Mmaa, k'ọdịbazia." They chorus.
"Mmaa, k'ọdị."
"Mmaa na gboo."
Ekwensudi grips Anibujuwa by the waist as they move inside her Obị at the other side of the ngwuru (compound).
"Hm! Ekwensudi, ka ije gosi mgbo obi gị ihe iji nwe ebụrụ Ekwensu agbara agha." One of the Elders call out.
"Maazị Golibe, rakwa m aka. Raa m aka, je ka mgbo obi nke gị gosi gị otu osi adị." A few of them who understand let out a loud raucous of laughter while Anibujuwa pulls her husband into the Obi by the wrapper.
"Mgboobi na Dịenyemaka." Maazị Golibe says with a chuckle.
"Mmaa, ngwa nụ echi niile. Ka ọdị." They continue to call out as they leave in various directions.
"Eeee. Oooo, ụmụ m. Ka m je nyụpụ amiri biko nụ. Naa gboo nụ. Echi dị ime. Echi ga aka mma. Ka ọdịbazia nụ."