THE VILLAGE CALLED AVOR NTIGHA - by Zipporah Nwachukwu

<h1>The Spirit Of AVOR NTIGHA </h1> Long ago, in the heart of Avor Ntigha, a village nestled among the lush green hills and red clay paths of southeastern Nigeria, the people lived in harmony with nature and tradition. Their lives were guided by the wisdom of their elders, the rhythm of the seasons, and the sacred stories passed down through generations. Avor Ntigha was known far and wide for two things: the Ofia Ukwu tree, an ancient iroko said to be the dwelling of ancestral spirits, and the Omenka Festival, a yearly celebration of harvest and unity. The village was led by a council of elders, but the spiritual guide of the people was Dibia Mazi Ogbonna, a wise herbalist and seer whose dreams were said to speak the voice of the ancestors. One harmattan season, a great silence fell over the land. The rivers stopped singing, the wind carried whispers of warning, and even the animals in the surrounding forest grew restless. The people turned to Dibia Ogbonna, who fasted for three days and then climbed to the top of Ofia Ukwu. There, he saw a vision: a girl born under the blood moon, carrying the spirit of change. That girl was Adaora, daughter of the village palm wine tapper, quiet and observant, but often dismissed because she was young and female. From a young age, Adaora spoke of things no one taught her—of ancient traditions nearly forgotten, and new ways to solve old problems. She warned the elders that the stream would soon dry if the sacred grove was not protected. She suggested new farming methods when old ones began to fail. But many laughed, saying, "Nwata na-asụ okwu dị ka okenye!" — "A child speaks like an elder!" But then the signs came true. The sacred Umuohia stream dried up. The yams turned bitter. Quarrels rose between families that had lived side by side for generations. It was as if the soul of Avor Ntigha was slipping away. In desperation, the elders called for a night under the Ofia Ukwu tree, where the village would seek guidance together. Dibia Ogbonna stood and said, “The ancestors speak through unlikely mouths. The one you ignored is the one you must now follow.” With some hesitation, they turned to Adaora. Calm and clear, she led them to rediscover lost rituals of land respect, proposed a council for the youth to advise the elders, and led the replanting of the sacred grove trees. Slowly, balance returned. The rains came. The yams sweetened. The quarrels ended. Years later, Adaora became Nne Avor—Mother of Avor Ntigha—the first woman ever to sit among the high elders. Lesson learn ,: Age does not always hold wisdom, and sometimes the future speaks through the youngest voice.

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