Chapter 1: The Spirit King Don Kpeme

The Spirit King of the Niger Delta don kpeme.

As the news go round, you for see as elders for di creek dey knock head for ground, women dey tear wrapper, even the stubborn fishermen drop net, mouth open like say dem see juju for broad daylight. That kain death, e no be ordinary. Elders for creek dey cry, dey call ancestors: "Abeg, no let our lineage scatter." People dey whisper say, "Wetin we go tell our children? Say our own spirit king just kpeme like fowl?" For the air, wahala thick pass oil, and elders for waterside dey pour schnapps and palm oil, dey mumble incantation, their prayers heavy with fear and anger.

One massive spirit corpse, as big as Olumo Rock, fall from sky with serious force, make river water rise high like say e wan touch heaven. The river smell change, like when rain dey beat fresh fish market.

All the canoe people for river, even those stubborn ones wey dey smoke shisha for jetty, run leave paddle as water carry dem waka. Pikin dey cry, mama dey shout, "Jehovah, na wetin be this!" The ground tremble, palm trees bend, harmattan breeze blow, sand dey fly for air, and even ageless crocodile raise head come see the tori. Na so the ancestors for water begin dey restless, their songs turn to wailing. Their song turn cry: "Oh river, carry our pain!"

Odogwu Zeus stand like Baba for village square, hand behind back, no fear for face. "Na ordinary long lizard be this—e dey call himself real spirit? Abeg, shift! Na me be oga for here."

Zeus no even shake body. The way e fold im wrapper and stand gidigba, you go think say na market fight e come. The other gods wey dey with am just dey hail, dey make mouth: "Na Greek god be this, no be your mate!" For corner, small boys dey peep, dem dey fear but dem no fit commot eye from the fight.

That time, news scatter everywhere like harmattan dust for the whole country.

Even radio for taxi, driver dey sweat for hold-up, but never off am since two days. "Wetin kill Spirit King?" Na so dem dey argue for beer parlour, dem dey argue as Star beer dey flow. Some dey blame river gods, others dey say, "No be juju wey pass juju dey cause am?" Even for mosque and church, pastors and imams dey add prayer points, "May Western gods never see our head for market!" Everywhere, gist choke.

"Zeus, King of the Western gods, use only one spear finish the Spirit King of the Niger Delta. E be like say the gods from this side don dey lose power?"

Even children dey draw spirit corpse for sand, dey act the scene. For WhatsApp group, memes full everywhere: Picture of Zeus with caption: "Spirit King no reach!" All the local newspapers carry am for front page, headline bold: "Western Power Pass Niger?"

"The wahala wey the Spirit King of the Niger Delta start don bring serious pain for people wey dey live near the riverbank. Make we hold the river gods responsible?"

Na so elders gather for chief palace. "We go pour palm oil for water? Abi na another sacrifice?" Women dey pray, fishermen dey curse, say, "Na which kain wahala be this, river dey turn red?" Some say make dem carry goat go Atakpo river junction, others dey blame am on Western wahala.

"The gods from Oke-Agbara don talk say, na Western spirits be the real spirit family, make Niger gods know their level."

Oke-Agbara people dey talk, "No let dem use us do pepper soup." Those proud mountain folk dey form say dem no fear Western spirits. Dem dey boast: "Our own juju pass their own." But for night, even their chief dey burn incense, call on Sango and Ogun. For market, you go hear, "Abi dem wan turn us to slaves for spirit world?" Everywhere, tension thick.