Krapper is the nick name of the man who narrated this story to me when I was a tutor at Ughoton Secondary School, Ekekhuan in the early 80s. He was physically challenged in one leg. He was amiable and quite sociable. He married and had three children but unfortunately his wife died thereby leaving him alone to bring up and care for the kids with no exact means as he had no paid job.
As it was common with hard working male rural dwellers, he set traps any where in the surrounding and far away bushes. Luck smiled on him one day when one of his traps caught Esi (Bush Pig). He killed it and brought it home. He dissected, dried the pieces, kept some for his family and sold the others. The news got to the elders in the community and Krapper was summoned to a meeting with the council of elders. One elder asked him why he should not be disciplined for breaking the taboo which was decreed by the God of the land that the big animals,Esi and Eni (Elephant) shall have the rest of the community shared a part of them when ever they are caught or hunted and brought home.
Krapper got up to begin his defence. “Since my wife died, I want all of you to tell me now how many of you have bothered to visit me and the little children, or worse still, has this community ever thought it it wise to bring food or clothing if not for me but for the little children I now struggle to fend for?” As the only response he got was murmuring and silence, Krapper said he threw in a deeper bombshell question. “Is it as if the God of this community (Ovia) is blind enough not to see what I have been going through for the sake of these children that you all now wish to invoke his curses on me for not blindly obeying the injunction. He revealed that he had sold much of the parts of the Esi and used it to look after his motherless children, and whatever the elders wished to do to him, they should feel free and go ahead. He asked sarcastically, “is it not the one who is going to farm or market that worry about children he left at home.What about the one who is passing away to the great beyond?” He concluded.
The very elder who had challenged him retorted. ‘It is true the Gods are not blind and another elder added. ‘We are not blind too.” Yet another elder counsel that he should be left in peace and prayed for him. “May those children grow up to be somebody for you and our community”. From another,” May they never lack and shall not take a step, on the path of death, ahead of you”. Krapper was forgiven and the gathering broke up and has since lived in peace with the Gods.
Emokpae Odigie
The Personal Assistant To The Oracle Of Ogbe
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