Chapter 4: The Mountain and the Charm

One time, dem shoot film for inside mountain—a place wey get plenty bad story and spirit gist. Director insist say make we use real Ifa ritual, even do spirit-calling rites wey dey attract things wey no suppose show.

The mountain itself cold, air heavy like say rain wan fall. That night, dog wey dey for village dey bark nonstop. Old women for set dey tie wrapper for head, dey recite Psalm 91 under their breath.

To avoid wahala, my master travel go Oke-Idanre, collect palm-wood charm from one babalawo wey don dey there for decades. The baba carve am by hand, soak am for river water seven days, bless am make e dey chase evil. My master wear am for body all through the shoot, and everything go well.

I remember say the babalawo talk say, 'If you dey fear, na him evil spirit dey win.' My master carry that charm everywhere—even sleep with am. Since then, I dey believe say juju get level.

After that film, my master just retire. He talk say if he continue, na death sure pass. That charm na him life insurance, he no gree sell am even when people offer big money. Now, he come dey give me.

The way he hold the charm for him palm, like say he dey pass him whole future to me. I collect am, my hand dey tremble. Na so tradition dey pass—one man to another, for night, with secret prayer inside mind.

Normally, I for shame collect am. But as I dey suffer, I just swallow my pride, collect am. My master still give me one red thread, say make I tie am for my waist, no ever remove am.

He even draw sign for my palm with white chalk. 'Ogbaju ti e ba fi ni, omo, no use left hand collect blessing.' He give me kola nut, make I break am, touch ground, then stand up.

After I greet my master and see my wife and pikin for hospital, I join the crew. I know say this work go hard, but I no expect wahala to start immediately.