Journal Pages

Date: Friday, June 20, 2008

Page: 77

Quote: "Ekwefi then became defiant and called her next child Onwuma-- "Death may please himself." And he did.

Because Ekwefi had an Obanje. It died young and returned back to the mother's womb to be born again. It was a repeated cycle that Ekwefi quickly lost hope in. She had many children of the same, and they all died. She became defiant and called her next child Onwuma meaning "death may please himself," and he died too. When she finally had a child that did not die swiftly as the others had, a quiet hope had been born in her heart. She attended this child every step of they way, for it had not one wish to die as it had before. Her love for her child was so great, that she put her whole life into this new life. When this child grew sick, it recovered each time and lived another day. Ekwefi's hope and love had strengthened her child's hopes and aspirations to live.

Date: Friday, June 20, 2008

Page: 86

Quote: "You must watch the pot carefully," he said as he went, "and don't allow it to boil over. If it does its power will be gone." He went away to his hut and Ekwefi began to tend to the medicine pot almost as if it was itself a sick child.

The one time Ekwefi's child grew sick, she tended the medicine pot almost as if it was itself a sick child. She was terrified that she would once again lose another child. Her child, Enzima, had conquered death for quite awhile and she was not bound to give in. She had become ill and her mother grew very terrified at losing her love. She watched the pot carefully as Okonkwo had commanded, and she did not allow it to boil over. It was only a minor sickness for the people had already cured Enzima of being an obanje. Things went smoothly, besides Chielo taking Enzima to the mountain caves to speak with Agbala. Ekwefi feared her daughter's safety and went after, and so did Okonkwo. Ekwefi's love for her daughter seems to be the tightest bond that could conquer all evil including death.