Chapter 6: The Great Sage Returns

As I dey talk, monkey just appear for air.

E wear golden crown with eagle feather, fine green robe for body.

Golden chain armor, red skirt tie with gold belt.

Cloud-walking shoe for leg; hand hold golden staff.

E eye dey shine—three part wild, seven part king.

No visible power, but him presence just dey choke.

If you dey near am, e fit be like when masquerade dey enter village square, all pikin dey run, women dey hide, but heart dey happy.

Old mama for stand remove her scarf, kneel down, dey pray—“Ogbo, abeg fight for us!”

Everybody just gasp.

Shock too much, even heart skip beat.

All Naija people just dey look the figure, like say dem turn stone.

That moment, their eye bright.

Na our Naija god be this—

Handsome Monkey King from Palm Grove Hill.

The same monkey wey scatter Sky King throne, wave hand change destiny, burn eye for Elder Baba furnace, scatter Fruit Banquet for Heaven.

Na the same Fighting Spirit wey follow Priest Tunde pass eighty-one wahala.

He no dey tie, he dey fight evil like enemy.

Na big hero for every Naija heart.

He dey inside every Naija pikin childhood, give us mind to fight back.

Him image deep for our heart—na Naija strongest cultural sign.

Hundred years back, storytellers dey talk am; e dey for market, crosstalk hall.

Hundred years ago, e dey novel, dey opera.

Now, you go see am for film, market, poster, cartoon, WhatsApp sticker.

...

We, too, forget am before.

But as Great Sage scatter Celestial Palace, e help Naija people remember our gods.

At last, all Naija gods go return.

If you listen for breeze, you fit hear, "We dey come. Our story never end." Na only the beginning be this—tomorrow go shock the world.