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‘All right, you go away, Nwafo; he doesn’t like you – you are not a good person. He wants Obiageli.’

And truly Amechi climbed on to Obiageli’s back without any trouble.

‘You see,’ said two or three voices together.

Obiageli raised herself to her feet with difficulty, bent slightly and made a sudden jerk with the waist. This threw the child further up her back and she walked away.

‘Softly,’ said Ezeulu.

‘Don’t worry yourself,’ said Anosi. ‘She knows what to do.’

Obiageli went out in the direction of Edogo’s compound singing:

Tell the mother her child is crying

Tell the mother her child is crying

And then prepare a stew of úzízá

And also a stew of úzìzá

Make a watery pepper-soup

So the little birds who drink it

Will all perish from the hiccup

Mother’s goat is in the barn

And the yams will not be safe

Father’s goat is in the barn

And the yams will all be eaten

Can you see that deer approaching

Look! he’s dipped one foot in water

Snake has struck him!

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; He withdraws!

Ja – ja . ja kulo kulo!

Traveller Hawk

You’re welcome home

Ja – ja . ja kulo kulo!

But where’s the length

Of cloth you brought

Ja – ja . ja kulo kulo!