She must walk through the village this way to save her daughter’s life #africanfolktales #folks – Ty

Just to help her cheating husband for something terrible he did that put the life of their only daughter in danger she has no choice but to walk naked through the village this happened in a village called uaba where there was a woman named epa she was very beautiful and everyone in the village loved her epa was the daughter of the village chief but she didn’t live with her parents she stayed with her uncle who had taken care of her since she was little one day it was time for epira to find a husband she met a man named amadi

Amadi was very handsome all the girls in the village liked him and wish they could marry him but amadi only wanted ep pera she liked him too he made her heart feel warm and she was so happy to have him but when epa brought amadi home her parents didn’t like him her mother especially was worried she told epa this man amadi is not good i feel something bad about him his family has strange traditions please my daughter don’t marry him but aa loved amadi too much she told her parents amadi is different he is kind to me and he will be a good

Husband i don’t care what you say i i will marry him epa’s parents tried to warn her they said we are your parents and we know what is best ahadi’s family has a history of bad things if you marry him something terrible could happen but epa didn’t care she was so in love with amadi that she said if you don’t support me i will marry him without you and just like that epa decided to marry amadi not listening to her parent par warnings she started planning the wedding with her uncle who didn’t mind because he loved

Money and just wanted to see the marriage happen now everyone wondered what would happen could there be danger ahead for epa when the wedding day came she didn’t invite her parents instead she asked her uncle to act as her father her uncle loved money and he didn’t care about the warnings from epa’s parents he agreed quickly and smiled all through the ceremony the wedding was big and the whole village came to celebrate epa and amadi were now husband and wife soon after the wedding epa became pregnant and in no time she gave birth to a

Beautiful baby girl epa and amadi were so happy their house was filled with joy and laughter then just 3 years later ep peraka gave birth again this time to twins they had three children now and epa’s heart was full everything seemed perfect she would sometimes think about her parents and laugh inside her heart they were wrong she thought nothing bad has happened my life is good but even as aera felt happy something was quietly changing around her she didn’t know it yet but misfortune was slowly coming closer after the twins were born things

Started to change amadi who used to be home early began coming back late at night when aa asked him where he had been he always had an excuse i had a meeting he would say there was work to finish but deep down epa knew something wasn’t right amadi was spending too much time away from home and his excuses didn’t feel true epa didn’t like this change she worried about amadi coming home late and started feeling lonely one night she decided to talk to aadi’s family she hoped they could help so she went to them and told them everything

But instead of helping am’s family just laughed they said why are you complaining you’re a wife in in this family in our family a wife should never question her husband or his actions didn’t amadi tell you that before you married him epa felt so helpless no one was on her side her uncle didn’t care her parents weren’t involved and now even ahadi’s family wasn’t helping she cried and cried wondering how she could make things better one quiet afternoon ep made a decision she needed to know the truth so when amadi left the house

She followed him she stayed hidden watching him from afar and that’s when she discovered something terrible ahadi had another wife in a nearby village he had been living a double life all this time a pera’s heart broke she couldn’t believe that the man she loved the father of her children had betrayed her like this the next morning she confronted amadi how could you do this to me she cried her voice shaking with pain but amadi wasn’t sorry instead he was angry don’t you dare question me he shouted i am the man of this house and i

Can do whatever i want and with that he beat her aerus pain wasn’t just in her heart anymore it was on her body too she felt broken but she didn’t know how to escape this life but little did she know that this is just the beginning as things are about to get even worse with ahadi’s family years went by and epa’s life was filled with silent pain she endured ahadi’s betrayal his coldness and the burden of raising her children alone while he spent his time with his other wife she kept it all to herself hoping things would one day get better

But something far worse was waiting in the shadows their first daughter ella was turning 10 and epa wanted the day to be special she arranged a small celebration and surprisingly ahadi stayed home for the first time in years someone who usually ignored his family suddenly decided to stay home he acted like he cared ahadi even invited his friends and family to celebrate ella’s birthday it was unusual and epa didn’t understand why epa felt a small spark of hope maybe things would be different now the day was full of joy and laughter

Ella was happy and epa was glad too thinking the family was coming together at last but little did she know her happiness was about to be shattered because as night fell after all the guests had left ahadi and his family gathered around epa ahadi and his parents sat her down their faces serious the air felt heavy and epa’s heart began to rise there is something you need to know ahadi’s father began his voice cold now that your daughter has turned 10 it’s time for you to know the family secret he paused for a while

And then he continued in our family there’s an ancient tradition when the first child reaches 10 years old the mother must perform a ritual to keep the child herself and her husband alive epa listened confused what tradition what could they possibly want ahadi’s mother lean forward her voice dropping to a whisper for the child to live you the mother must walk naked through the village from sunrise to sunset if you refuse your daughter will die and not just her you too will lose your life amadi will also be cursed a pera’s heart

Stopped her blood ran cold what she gasped her voice shaking walk naked through the village no i can’t i won’t she felt like she couldn’t breathe but ahad’s parents showed no mercy it’s the way things have always been they said their eyes unblinking if you don’t your daughter has 7 days to live after that she’s gone and so are you terror gripped epa’s heart she couldn’t believe what she was hearing was this a nightmare how could they ask her to do something so terrible the very thought of walking through the

Village naked for all to see made her feel sick to her stomach but if she didn’t her daughter would die she looked at amadi hoping he would speak up for her defend her but he didn’t he only stared back at her his eyes cold and uncaring you don’t have a choice he said flatly it’s the tradition if you want to live you’ll do it epa’s world was spinning her heart pounded in her chest she was trapped airica was in shock the thought of walking naked through the village haunted her she couldn’t sleep she couldn’t eat how could she it was a

Nightmare come true the next morning she fell to her knees pleading with amadi please amadi don’t make me do this there must be another way i can’t face such shame she cried her voice trembling but amadi didn’t even blink he looked at her her with cold uncaring eyes you have no choice he said sternly this is our tradition if you refuse we all die you will walk or the child’s blood will be on your hands his words cut through her like a knife aa’s heart sank she had nowhere to turn desperate she decided to do what she should have done long ago

She went back to her parents as she stood out outside the door her body shaking she knocked softly at first there was silence then her mother’s voice came from inside sharp and bitter go to your uncle he’s the one who gave you away to ahadi’s family we warned you but you didn’t listen but aa didn’t leave she fell to the ground and begged i’m sorry mama i was wrong i should have listened but now i’m in danger my daughter’s life is in danger please help me her father’s voice was hard and filled with anger you made

Your choice a pera we warned you about aadii we told you something terrible would happen but you didn’t listen now you come to us for help tears stream down epa’s face as she fell to her knees in front of the door please i beg you i’ve lost everything i have no one else if i don’t do this our daughter will die i will die for a long moment there was silence then the door slowly opened and her father stepped outside his face was stern but his eyes softened as he saw the broken look on his daughter’s face come inside he said

Quietly epa’s parents listened to her story they were horrified by what ahadi’s family demanded of her though they were still hurt by her disobedience their heart softened her mother sighed deeply and said the tradition of ahadi’s family is dark if you do this it will ruin you but if you don’t the curse could take your child her father nodded we can’t fight their traditions directly but there may be a way out you must leave the village tonight if you escape before the seven days are up the curse will not follow you epaa looked at them

In disbelief escape with my children how can i do that her father placed a hand on her shoulder we will help you when night falls you will take your children and run you must get far far away before anyone notices you are gone as darkness fell epa’s parents prepared her for the escape it was a night so so quiet that even the trees seemed to hold their breath epa’s parents had packed everything food blankets and her three children ready for the escape the plan was simple run far enough beyond the village boundary and the curse would

Lose its power run as fast as you can her mother whispered her eyes filled with worry do not look back but as epa stepped out into the night with her children her heart raised little did she know that this escape plan would even get matters worse because her chances were slim epa’s heart raised as she clutched her children’s hands stepping carefully through the darkness her only thought was escape freedom from the terrible ritual that awaited her with each step she felt both fear and hope swirling inside her like a storm as they

Approached the edge of the village the moon peaked from behind the clouds casting faint light over their path the boundary was just a few steps away epa’s heart pounded louder in her chest they were almost there but then out of the shadows a voice roared where do you think you’re going it was amadi epa froze her blood turning cold ahadi had returned early from visiting his other wife and there he stood his eyes burning with fury he saw the packed bags the children clinging to their mother and he knew what she was trying to do you dare try

To run amadi shouted his voice filled with rage without warning he grabbed epara by the arm yanking her back toward the village her children cried out terrified please amadi epira beg tears streaming down her face i can’t do this i can’t walk naked through the village but ahadi’s face was twisted in anger you have no choice you belong to me and you will follow our tradition if you try to run again i’ll make sure you never see the light of day amadi dragged her back home and aa’s heart shattered into a million pieces all her hope for

Escape had vanished in an instant the shame the humiliation she had been trying to avoid now seemed impossible to escape the next morning word spread quickly through the village that epa had tried to flee ahadi’s family knowing the escape had failed began preparing for the dreaded ritual immediately as d broke the village was eerily quiet the sun rose slowly as if even the sky felt the weight of what was about to happen a paricus pleased for mercy echoed in the small room please amadi don’t make me do this i’m begging you she cried her voice

Shaking i will die of shame if i walk naked through the village have mercy but ahadi and his family had no pity his mother looked down at her coldly and said this is our tradition epa you agreed to it when you married into this family it is the only way to save your child and yourself the ritual must be done amadi stood by unmoved it’s too late to beg now he said sharply you’ll do what’s required or the curse will take us all epa’s heart felt like it was breaking into pieces she knew she couldn’t refuse if she did her

Daughter’s life would be taken and hers too there was no one left to help her no one would listen the family began preparing for the ritual they brought out the ceremonial items the drums and the cloth that would be removed from her body the village had been informed and soon everyone would be watching with trembling hands epa was stripped of her clothes she stood there exposed vulnerable her body shaking in the cool morning air her heart pounded so loudly she could hear it in her ears then ahadi took her by the hand and led

Her to the center of the village the walk was slow and painful each step heavier than the last the villagers gathered their eyes filled with shock and pity as they watched the once admired daughter of the chief walk naked through the streets epa’s face burned with humiliation her eyes lowered to the ground trying to hide her shame but she couldn’t there was no hiding from the stairs the whispers the laughter of some who delighted in her suffering she felt her dignity slipping away with every step for the entire day epa was forced

To walk exposed to everyone she blamed herself for not listening to her parents for marrying into disgusted family she could hear the voices of her mother and father in her mind warning her but it was too late but this wasn’t the end because what was about to happen next the way ahad’s family later went on no one had seen it coming in fact their next act was even more heartless than walking naked and everyone was shocked and pied epa even more you see after the ritual was done things didn’t end there epa’s heart was shattered she had walked

Through the village naked and and humiliated with the eyes of everyone upon her now as she stood at the door of her home she felt empty like a part of her had been taken away never to return little did she know the gravity of what awaited her next her once bright spirit was gone replaced by a deep sadness that weighed her down she knew she couldn’t stay in uaba anymore how could she when everyone had seen her in such a shameful state the village which had once been her home now felt like a place of endless judgment and whispers she could

Hear the murmurs in her mind even when no one was around the shame followed her everywhere erea walked through her home in silence gathering her few belongings her children who had seen her broken but didn’t fully understand watched quietly as she packed their things too she didn’t want them to grow up in this place where the shadow of the ritual would always hang over them she made up her mind she would leave she had to leave a pera wrapped her children in blankets picked up the few bags she had and stepped out of the house for the

Last time she didn’t look back the village that once celebrated her marriage to amadi that had once admired her beauty and grace now felt like a cage she needed to escape with each step away from umab the weight of her decision grew heavier she had no idea where she was going but she knew she couldn’t stay the road ahead was unknown and filled with uncertainty but it was better than living in a place where her spirit had been crushed as she walked into the unknown with her children by her side epa’s heart whispered the question she

Couldn’t ignore where will i go now epa walked away from oma with her children by her side the village fading into the distance as she left her parents who understood the depth of her pain sent her their blessings with heavy hearts we forgive you our daughter her father said softly we know you cannot stay here but where whever you go we pray that you find peace her mother wiped away tears knowing that this was the only way epa could heal start a new life epa don’t let this shame follow you forever she whispered epa nodded grateful for their

Forgiveness even though it came too late to save her from what had already happened with her parents blessings ep pera set off determined to build a a new life far from the whispers and judgment of the village she didn’t know what the future held but she knew she had to be strong for her children the past couldn’t be changed but she was ready to create a future when no one knew of her shame after leaving the village epa knew one thing for sure her marriage to amadi was over the love she once had for him had been destroyed by the pain and

Humiliation he had put her through without hesitation she divorced him never looking back ahadi’s betrayal had cut too deep and she could no longer live under the shadow of his cruel family and their dangerous traditions she moved far away to a place where no one knew her story where she could start fresh with her children in this new land there were no reminders of the past no villagers to whisper about her no cold eyes to judge her slowly epa began to heal she found work made new friends and created a life where she

Could hold her head high once again ahadi meanwhile and his family never felt any guilt for what they had done they acted heartlessly to them the ritual was just a part of their tradition something that had to be upheld no matter the cost they never understood the pain they caused aera nor did they care in their eyes tradition was above everything even if it meant breaking a person’s spirit but a paraka was finally free free from the oppressive family free from the traditions that had nearly destroyed her and free to live a life of her own

Choosing though the scars of the past would always be there she knew she had made the right choice by walking away her story filled with pain love betrayal and resilience became a quiet warning to those who heard it it spoke of the dangers of ignoring the wisdom of elders of rushing into choices without understanding the consequences most importantly it reminded others that even in the darkest moments there is always a chance for a new beginning i i hope you enjoyed the tale if so please like the video share

It with your family and friends comment on it and don’t forget to subscribe to the channel and turn on the notification bell for more enchanting tales like this one goodbye

The Shocking Taboo That Forced A Beautiful Wife To Stand Naked In Front Of Her Whole Community

Article:

Imagine make you stand for di center of your own village, di place where you grow up, where everybody know your face, your name, and your family house. Everywhere quiet like graveyard, but thousands of eyes dey look you. The cold morning breeze dey beat your bare skin, and you no wear single thread of cloth. Tears of deep shame and regret dey roll down your face as you dey take one heavy step after another on top of di dusty ground. You fit hear di whispers, di mocking laughter, and di heavy sighs of pity from di same villagers wey once dey sing your praise. This no be dream o, and e no be play-play. This na di real life horror where Epera, di beautiful daughter of di village chief, find herself. How did a proud chief’s daughter, once celebrated for her beauty and grace, end up walking completely naked through di entire village from sunrise to sunset? Wetin her husband do wey put her inside this kind terrible corner? The secret behind this heavy sacrifice dey hide inside one dark ancestral curse wey nobody see coming, and di truth wey we go reveal at di end of this story go show say sometimes, di people wey we love pass fit be di ones wey go drag us enter di deepest pit of shame.

Inside di ancient village of Umaba, beauty get name, and that name na Epera. Epera na di kind of girl wey if she pass, even di birds for top of tree go stop to whistle. She be di daughter of di village chief, but because of some family reasons, she no live with her parents. She grow up with her uncle, a man wey take care of her since she dey small. Epera uncle be person wey everybody know say he like comfort, but he also get one heavy weakness: he love money pass anything. Even with that, Epera respect am, and she grow up to become di pride of di village. Every young man for Umaba want make Epera be him wife, but she no look dem.

Until one day, she jam Amadi.

Amadi na di kind of man wey paint hand. He handsome, he get sweet mouth, and him body build like warrior. All di girls for Umaba dey write his name for their heart, hoping say one day he go look their side. But Amadi get only one target, and that target na Epera. He start to follow Epera, dey speak sweet words into her ears, telling her say she na di only star wey dey light him dark sky. Epera, who never feel that kind warm passion before, fall head over heels inside love. Anytime she see Amadi, her heart go dey beat like traditional drum. She believe say she don find her prince charming, di man wey go make her life look like paradise.

But as dem say, all wey dey shine no be gold.

When Epera carry Amadi go her parents house to introduce am as di man wey she want marry, di atmosphere turn cold instantly. Epera papa, wey be di chief, look Amadi with heavy eyes. But na Epera mother first feel di bad energy. As a mother wey get spiritual eyes, she look Amadi see say a very dark shadow dey follow am. After Amadi leave, Epera mother hold her hand, her voice shaking with worry: “Epera, my only daughter, please listen to me. This man Amadi where you bring come house, my spirit no carry am at all. Something very dark and evil dey hang around him. His family get strange, scary traditions wey nobody for this land fit explain. If you marry am, you dey buy big trouble with your own money. Please, tell am say you no do again.”

Epera papa join head with her mother. He tell Epera say: “My daughter, we be your parents and we want di best for you. Umaba chief palace no dey support this union. Amadi family history get dirty stain of bad things. Abeg, comot your eye from his body.”

But love don blind Epera. The sweet words wey Amadi don pour inside her head don build wall where her parents advice no fit break. She squeeze face, look her parents with vex, and say: “I no care about what una dey say! Amadi na good man, he handsome, and he love me. He is different from other men, and he go make a perfect husband. If una no want support me, I go marry am like that. I don make my decision!”

Her parents try to beg her, dem talk, dem shout, but Epera carry ears of brass. She pack her things, run go her uncle house, and tell her uncle say she want marry Amadi. Epera uncle, wey be money-monger, no care about any dark family history or spiritual warnings. When he hear say Amadi family ready to pay heavy bride price, him eyes tear. He tell Epera say: “No worry my daughter, your parents just dey jealous. I go stand as your father, organize di wedding, and we go chop Amadi money together.”

And na so di plan for di big wedding start.

On di day of di marriage, everywhere red. People from all over Umaba and neighboring villages gather to see di chief daughter marry di most handsome boy for land. But two important people no show face: Epera papa and her mother. Dem sit down for palace dey cry, knowing say their daughter don walk with her two feet enter trap. But Epera no care. She stand with her uncle, wey dey smile up and down because of di bag of money wey Amadi family give am. The wedding sweet, food boku, palm wine flow like river, and by di time night reach, Epera and Amadi don become husband and wife.

At first, life be like dream. Amadi dey treat Epera like queen. He dey buy her fine wrappers, carry her for head, and make her feel like di luckiest woman on earth. Not long after, Epera get pregnant, and she born a very beautiful baby girl. Dem name her Ella. Ella eye shine like morning star, and her laughter dey bring joy to di house. Epera go sit down for her veranda, look her baby, and laugh inside her heart. She go think say: “My parents talk say Amadi no good, see me now. Nothing bad happen to me, my life sweet pass honey.”

Three years later, Epera take second pregnancy. This time, she born double blessing—beautiful twins! The house full, three children, plenty food, and a husband wey dey provide. Epera feel say she don beat di system. She no know say di shadow of misfortune wey her mother warn her about no dey run; e dey just wait for di perfect time to strike.

Shortly after di twins reach one year, the sweet song inside Epera house begin to change.

Amadi, wey used to run come home early to play with di children, start to come back late at night. Sometimes, he go return when third cock don crow. If Epera ask am say: “My husband, where you go wey make you stay till this time?” Amadi go just frown face, look her with cold eyes, and say: “I go meeting. Work plenty for town.” But as a woman, Epera feel say something dey happen. Amadi voice no get that sweet tone again. He dey look her like stranger, and he no dey touch her or play with di children like before.

Epera start to feel lonely. The mansion wey once full of laughter come dey cold like morgue. She decide say she no go keep quiet. One morning, she dress up, go Amadi family house to report him behavior to his parents, hoping say dem go caution their son. But when she narrate her story, instead of Amadi mother and father to frown, dem just burst into loud, mocking laughter.

Amadi father look her with eyes wey dry like sand: “Epera, you be chief pikin but you no get sense? Who tell you say wife dey ask husband question for this family? For our tradition, a wife must never question her husband actions or ask where he dey go. Didn’t Amadi explain our rules to you before you jump enter this house?”

Epera stand up, her body shaking, tears running down her cheeks. She realize say she dey alone. Her parents no dey with her, her greedy uncle don collect him share of bride price and forget her, and her husband family join head to oppress her. She cry all di way go house, wondering where her sweet paradise fly go.

But di worst never even start.

One quiet afternoon, Epera decide say she must find out di truth with her own eyes. After Amadi dressed up and comot, she wait small, then she start to trail am from back, hiding behind bushes and trees. She follow am reach one neighboring village. Amadi branch enter one compound wey big. Epera hide behind one banana tree, dey look.

Wetin her eyes see almost make her faint.

Amadi enter di house, and one young, beautiful woman run out with joy, hug am, and call am: “My husband!” Amadi carry her up, kiss her, and start to play with some children wey dey di compound. Epera heart break like glass wey fall on top of concrete. Her head spin. The man wey she fight her parents for, di man wey she sacrifice her family relationship for, get another wife and another family for nearby village! He don dey live double life all this years.

The next morning, Epera could not hold di pain. As Amadi wake up, she stand for him front, crying and shouting: “Amadi, how could you do this to me? After everything I sacrifice for you! You get another wife for next village, you make me look like fool!”

Instead of Amadi to beg or feel remorse, his face turn dark like storm. He stand up from bed, grab Epera hair, and shout: “You dare track me? You dare ask me questions? I be di man of this house, and I get right to marry twenty women if I like! You no get right to question my movement!”

And with that, Amadi begin to beat Epera. He beat her like say she steal goat. He slap her, kick her, and throw her on top of floor. Epera pain no be only for her heart again; her body black and blue with heavy bruises. She look herself for mirror, crying, realizing say her mother warning don finally catch up with her. But she still no know how to escape, because she get three small children wey she no want make dem suffer.

What would you have done in this situation if you discovered your husband had a secret family and then he beat you for asking?

Years roll pass like slow cart. Epera swallow her tears, bear di beatings, and focus her life on her children. She accept di coldness of Amadi, who now spend seventy percent of his time with his second wife. Epera only joy na her first daughter, Ella.

One day, Ella reach ten years. Epera happy. She say make she organize small birthday party for her daughter to make her feel special. Surprisingly, for di first time inside many years, Amadi stay home. He no go his second wife house, he no go any meeting. He even act like caring father, inviting his friends, his parents, and other family members to come celebrate with Ella.

The party sweet. Ella laugh, Epera cook sweet rice, and for a brief moment, Epera feel say maybe, just maybe, Amadi don dey change. She look her daughter wey dey dance, and hope rise inside her heart say a new dawn don start.

But as night fall, and all di guests leave, the atmosphere for di house change from celebration to horror.

Amadi, his father, and his mother come enter Epera room. Dem sit down, their faces serious like judges wey want pass death sentence. The air inside di room turn cold, and Epera heart begin roll drum.

Amadi father look Epera, him voice cold like ice: “Epera, sit down. Now wey your first daughter don reach ten years, it is time for you to know di Family Secret.”

He pause, look Amadi mother, then he look Epera again: “In this family, we get one ancient tradition. When di first child of any marriage reach ten years old, di mother must perform a very important ritual. This ritual na wetin dey keep di child, di mother, and di husband alive. If you no do am, the consequence dey very bloody.”

Epera look dem, she confuse: “Which tradition? Which ritual?”

Amadi mother shift close, she drop her voice to one scary whisper: “To make sure say Ella no die, and make you and Amadi no lose your lives, you, di mother, must walk completely naked through the entire village of Umaba, from sunrise to sunset. If you refuse, your daughter has only 7 days to live. After 7 days, she go die, you too go die, and a heavy curse go fall on Amadi.”

Epera blood turn water. Her head roll. “Walk… naked? Through Umaba? The whole village where everybody know me? The village where my papa be chief? No! Never! I can’t do this! I won’t do this!” She shout, her body shaking with heavy panic.

But Amadi parents no look her face. His father stand up, his eyes dry: “It is not a matter of whether you want to do it or not. That is di rule of our family. Our fathers do am, our mothers do am. If you refuse, Ella blood go dey on your head, and inside 7 days, we go prepare your burial.”

Epera look Amadi, hoping say he go fight for her, say he go tell his parents say: “No, my wife no go do this kind abomination!” But Amadi just sit down there, his eyes cold and dead. He look her say: “You don’t have a choice, Epera. It is our tradition. If you want us to live, you go do am.”

Terror grab Epera. She feel like make ground open make she swallow. How she go stand naked for front of elders, young boys, women, and children of Umaba? The shame go kill her before di curse even strike! She run go her room, lock door, and cry till her eyes red like pepper.

The next morning, Epera run go Amadi, fall on her knees, hold him legs: “Please Amadi! I be your wife, di mother of your children! Don’t make me pass through this kind shame! There must be another way! Let us sacrifice goat, let us pay money, but please, no make me stand naked for road!”

Amadi push her away with him boot: “You dey waste your time. This na tradition. If you no do am, Ella go die. Will you bear her blood?”

Epera heart sink. She realize say she dey inside house of monsters.

With desperation, she decide to do wetin she suppose don do long ago. She run go her parents house.

As she stand for front of di palace door, her body dey shake like leaf. She knock softly, crying. After some minutes, di door open small. Her mother look her from inside, her face bitter: “Go to your uncle! He na di one wey collect Amadi money and sell you give that family. We warned you, but you carry brass ear. Go meet your uncle make he help you.”

But Epera no run. She fall flat on top of di ground, crying and begging: “Mama! Please! I beg you in di name of di gods! I know say I disobey you, I make mistake, but please no reject me! My daughter Ella life dey in danger! My own life dey in danger! Amadi family want make I walk naked through di village to break curse! Please help me!”

Her papa, di chief, walk comot from inside palace. Him face stern like rock: “Epera, we told you. We warned you say Amadi family tradition get dark mouth. You told us say you love am, say we dey jealous. Now you don see di trouble wey we dey run from.”

Epera wep, she hold her papa feet: “I am sorry Papa! I was foolish! But please, don’t let my pikin die! Don’t let me suffer this shame!”

As her papa look her broken state, her clothes dirty, her eyes swollen, him heart melt. He look her mother, and di mother also start to cry. The chief bend down, carry Epera up: “Come inside, my daughter.”

Inside di palace, Epera narrate di whole story to her parents. Dem shock and vex for di kind heartless demand of Amadi family.

Epera mother sigh: “Amadi family tradition na purely demonic. If you walk naked, your dignity don finish, you can never raise your head for this village again. But if you no do am, we don’t know di kind power wey their curse get over Ella.”

Epera papa nod: “We cannot fight their spiritual tradition directly with physical force, but we can bypass am. There is only one way out. You must escape from Umaba tonight. If you and your children run cross di boundary of this village before di 7 days expire, the curse go lose its hold over you, and you go be free.”

Epera look her papa with hope: “Escape? How? Amadi go find us.”

The chief place hand on her shoulder: “Leave that one for me. We go prepare everything. When night falls, you go take your three children, run pass di forest road. We go give you food, money, and blankets. Run far away, start a new life, and never look back.”

As darkness cover di sky, Epera parents pack her bags. Everywhere quiet, even di trees no dey shake, as if dem dey help Epera hide her movement. Epera, carrying Ella and di twins, step out of di palace softly. Her mother hug her one last time: “Run as fast as your legs can carry you, my daughter. Do not look back!”

Epera start to run through di dark forest path, her heart beating fast. She feel say she almost reach freedom. The boundary of Umaba dey just few steps away. She fit see di old boundary tree.

But as she step closer, a heavy voice roar from di shadow: “Where do you think you’re going?”

Epera freeze. Her blood turn ice.

Amadi step out from di darkness. He was returning early from his second wife village, and he spot Epera carrying bags and di children. His eyes dey burn with devilish anger.

“You dare try to run?” Amadi scream, rushing her.

Without mercy, Amadi grab Epera hand, yank her back so hard say she fall on top of ground with the twins. The children start to cry, terrified of di dark and their father voice.

“Please Amadi! Let us go! I cannot do this ritual!” Epera cry, holding his clothes.

Amadi slap her face: “Shut up! You belong to me and you must follow our tradition! If you try to run again, I go kill you myself before any curse strike!”

He drag Epera and di children like sheep wey dem dey carry go slaughterhouse, lock dem inside room for his house. All Epera hope for escape scatter into a million pieces. She realize say her shame na something she no fit escape.

The next morning, news don fly cover di whole village say chief daughter try run from her husband tradition. Amadi family, knowing say escape don fail, start to prepare for di ritual immediately.

As day break, Umaba village quiet like graveyard. The sun rise slowly, as if the sky itself no want see wetin dey cook.

Epera dey inside room, crying: “Please Amadi, have mercy on me! I will die of shame!”

But Amadi mother look her with stone eyes: “This is our tradition, Epera. You agreed to it when you married our son. Strip her clothes!”

With cold, heartless hands, Amadi family strip Epera naked. She stand there, completely bare, her body shaking from the cold morning wind and the deep fear inside her soul. Her heart beat so loud say she dey hear am inside her ears.

Amadi carry her hand, drag her comot for house, lead her go di village square.

The walk was di longest and most painful walk in human history.

As Epera take her first step naked on di red earth of Umaba, the villagers gather. Some look her with deep pity and tears for their eyes, because dem know say she be chief daughter wey get good character. But others, di wicked ones, begin to whisper, laugh, and mock her beauty wey don expose to daylight.

Epera bend her head down, her eyes fix to di ground, tears dropping like rain on top of di dust. Her body dey burn with di worst humiliation. Every street she pass, eyes dey look her, young boys dey make noise, and her dignity dey melt away with every step. For a whole day, from morning till the sun sink for night, Epera walk naked through di entire Umaba village, bearing di shame of a husband wey no get single molecule of love or respect for her.

As she walk, her mother voice and her papa warning dey ring inside her head: “We warned you, but you did not listen.” She realize say indeed, disobedience na di mother of regret.

But wetin happen next after di ritual finish, and di way Amadi family behave later, na wetin shock the whole village pass, making everybody to pity Epera even more.

After di sun finally go down, and they allow Epera wear her cloth back, she return home. But she was no longer Epera. Her soul don die. Her body was there, but her spirit don comot. She look her home, and she know say she no fit stay Umaba again. How she go take look people face for market? How she go take walk pass di palace of her father?

She make up her mind. She must comot from this cursed land.

She gather her children, pack her bags quietly. This time, Amadi family no stop her, because in their mind, di ritual don complete and Ella life don save. To dem, Epera na just used wrapper wey dem fit throway.

Epera carry her children, walk go palace to say goodbye to her parents.

Her papa and mother, with tears for their eyes, look her broken state. Her papa lift him hand, bless her: “We forgive you, our daughter. We know you cannot stay here. Go, and may di gods of our land follow you, guide you, and give you peace.”

Her mother kiss her forehead: “Start a new life, Epera. Don’t let this shame define you forever. You be strong woman.”

With her parents blessings, Epera turn her back on Umaba. She divorce Amadi completely, throwing him name and his family inside trash bin. She travel go a very far land where nobody know her face, her name, or her story.

Do you think Epera’s choice to walk naked was the only way to save her child, or did she suffer for a curse that wasn’t hers to bear?

Inside di new land, Epera start fresh. She work hard, buy a small house, and raise her three children with dignity. She make new friends wey respect her for her sweet character, and slowly, her laughter begin to return. Although di scar of that dark day go always dey her body, she finally found di peace wey her parents pray for.

Amadi and his family, on di other hand, never felt any single guilt. Dem continue their life with their dark traditions, forgetting say any debt wey person buy with tears, nature go always collect am back with interest. Epera story become a warning to all young girls wey dey follow handsome face and sweet words without checking di root of di family dem want marry enter.

Obeying the wisdom of those who love you is the ultimate shield against the storms of life.

Oya, share this message with your friends and family make dem learn from Epera story.