Moonlight Series: Ewang and his Father

Moonlight Series: Ewang and his Father

By Bassey B. Eshiett

Once upon a time, there was a man. He had a son called Ewang. One day the man prepared to go to a farm very far away from his village. His son said to him:
                      'Ete, I want to accompany you to the farm '. The father replied, 'Ewang, I am going to a farm very far away from the village. I have to pass through many forests. I won't take you along because you will be very tired on your way back '.
            Ewang was not happy about this. He collected ash from his mother's cooking place and put it in a corner of the basket that father would take to the farm. Early in the morning, Ewang's father set off on his journey to the farm. As he went along, the ash that Ewang put in the basket left a trail on his path. After he had gone a distance, Ewang followed him using the ash trail. He later got to the farm.
           Ewang's father was very surprised to see his son in the farm. Not long after, Ewang said he was hungry. He and the father started hunting for some grubs (a chafer beetle larva which invades dead palm trees). Ewang got very large ones but his father got very tiny ones. He greedily collected Ewang's grubs and ate. Ewang started to cry. This made his father very angry. He took his matchet and cut off Ewang's head and threw it into a nearby pond. When evening came he returned home.
           Ewang's mother asked her husband, 'Where is Ewang? '
           Ewang's father replied, 'I should even ask you. I left Ewang here when I left for the farm'.
           Ewang's mother and her co-wife set off for the forest. On arrival they shouted:
           'Ewang, Ewang O!'
           Ewang's head sang:
           'Yes my mother
           Here lies my body on the farm
           My head is singing in the pond
          This is the work of my father
          No  more shall Ewang eat your meals
          No  more shall Ewang sleep in your hut
          Ewang is gone Mother, Ewang is gone '.
          Ewang's mother wept and wept. Her co-wife wept with her. They went back to the village and asked Ewang's father why he killed Ewang. He denied ever seeing Ewang in the farm. The next morning, the villagers went with Ewang's mother to the farm. When they got there, Ewang's mother cried:
         'Ewang O! 'Ewang O!
         The water in the pond was disturbed once more then Ewang's voice sang:
          'Yes my mother
           Here lies my body on the farm
           My head is singing in the pond
           This is the work of my father
            No more shall Ewang eat your meals
            No more shall Ewang sleep in your hut
            Ewang is gone Mother, Ewang is gone '.
            The villagers were very convinced that Ewang's father had killed him. They returned to the village and ordered Ewang's father to pack out of the village. Till today, Ewang's father has not been allowed to return to his homeland again. You sometimes see Ewang's father at street corners but mistake him for a mad man. His clothes are usually torn and dirty. He has nowhere to take his bath. When you see him, listen carefully. You will hear him say:
           'No, I didn't kill Ewang. No, I didn't kill Ewang'.

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