Long ago in the land of
Bojuri, a small village not far from Ogbomoso, a land of the mischievous and
mysterious, a land of strange happenings. A land where evil is raw, lived Masukun,
the baby who never cried.
Alabi went through hell
before she could marry Adunni, his dream lady. He wasn’t the most handsome or
richest neither did he come from a family with an enviable reputation but
Adunni had chosen him over 18 other men in Bojuri.
After their wedding,
they expected to live happily ever after but they were wrong. It was just
another chapter of their hellish story. They were a source of mockery in Bojuri
because of their childlessness after six years. Even after adopting a handsome
boy, Ajala, the mockery didn’t quell.
Adunni heard about a
powerful fetish priest in another village who had helped many barren women in
conceiving. They left the next day to
visit Akilapa, the powerful priest of Imole.
Akilapa explained that
Adunni’s womb was tied by a powerful witch who didn’t want the couples married.
Alabi suspected Isokale who was all over him before he got married to Adunni
but he never told his wife.
‘Once you conceive this
one, the doors of children would be opened and you would conceive as much as
you want to. You see we are all spirits and after death we shall return to the
spiritual homes. I know a child that is available and can be conceived in the
next 9 months but the question is: ‘Can you take of her?’ she is precious’
Akilapa said.
‘Yes, we would do
anything to take of her’ they responded.
‘Her name is Masukun.
She doesn’t cry. If she does, she will die and death by crying signifies pain.
A whole lot of evil will befall you if she dies’ Akilapa expalined.
‘I would ensure she
doesn’t cry’ Adunni cut in. ‘I just want this barren tag off my back. I can’t
even stand among my peers’.
They were given some
black portions by the priest and the couple used accordingly. Less than two
months later, Adunni’s belly started swelling. She was seen at every corner in
Bojuri. Her enemies envied her. The only thing they had over her was children
but now she was going to be a mother.
Seven months later, she
gave birth to the most beautiful baby ever born in Bojuri. The baby was shining
gold and delicate.
‘Adunni’s beauty is of
the gods’ exclaimed Mori whose husband had only married her after he failed in
his attempt to marry Adunni.
‘Don’t worry, the child
will not see the light of day’ Isokale responded.
Despite all the charms
thrown at Masukun, she grew up and was more beautiful with age. ‘It’s easier to
adhere to not making this angel cry’ Adunni thought, ‘she’s so beautiful. I
think I wouldn’t have a problem pleasing her’ but she was wrong.
Masukun grew into a
terror in Bojuri. Every child that played with her sustained one injury or the
other. Her parents turned deaf ears to every complaint on their daughter as
they never wanted her to cry. She knew this and she threatened, ‘I’d cry oh!
Heee heee’ whenever she started this, her parents would rush and beg her.
Her parents were
bothered about her attitude but they let her go away with her antics. They dare
not reprimand her, else she cries and they couldn’t get rid of her despite the
trouble she brought to them.
Every child in Bojuri
avoided Masukun because she was a bad child. She had once influenced a bunch of
kids to imitating the notorious gang, jagunjagun ole, in stealing. Parents
warned their children against association with her.
‘They are useless
parents, they have spoiled that girl’ the villagers’ gossiped. If only they had
known why, maybe they could have saved them from what happened.
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