LOVES NOT IN HER DICTIONARY

IN ALL HIS GLORY.

" You are looking nothing less than what I had imagined, My lady. Sincerely speaking humbly, you look extra ordinary. The destined Mama Ga truly. No one would better fit than you. if you had been born in real-time old era? you would have been the best befitting looking Queen mother ever."

"Thanks Togui " she expressed her gratitude for his praises. if Jennifer were to be from that of a white origin her skin would have exposed vulnerability. she would have turned a deeper shade of red like a completely ripened tomato fruit from excessive blushing. Even without this turnout her coquettish grin says it all. Truth be told, whereas other expecting mothers involuntarily stray away from their beauty, it was the exact opposite for Jenn. she became more enhanced aesthetically in her looks. As the days goes by, does she become more and more exceptionally breathtaking. one could not tell the difference from a Jenn not expecting and a heavily pregnant Jenn. It seemed the condition enriched her perfect body skin tone even more like a boost of some sort from the source of rejuvenating vitamins in her system. It was all well suited for her indeed.

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He applied the paste to her delicate body gently in beautiful meaningful traditional patterns spread on various portions evenly. A grin from an ear to the other envelope mansa's face, she could not help but admire her friend so much. she truly looked the name. she was happy yet could not overthrow the pain tagging at her chest for not being the one in that position.

The next item was amaa gbe. This was to test her endurance, how long she could hold her speech. Significantly a good Queen mother was one who knew how to listen, observe, when to air her opinion constructively and when to hold her peace.In summary the control of her tongue. Her lips would be sealed from the moment they herb was placed on her lips. The herbs would be sandwiched between her lower and upper lip. she was not allowed to utter a word! failure to hold her words at any given point of the ceremony for any reason whatsoever? meant everything had been rendered null and void. Togui sounded this warning respectfully with utmost exigency to Jennifer. He gave her a few minutes to prepare hitherto approving the seal of her flap.

"Shall we begin?" Togui asked

"Of course!" she responded

"Step forward my lady. kindly part your lips."

Togui asked Jennifer to step in her front yard barefoot after which replaced the amaa gbe on her lips. The singular act of taking her words into custody to be released after the ritual. The act of taking off her slipon empties of any spirit specifically negative, inhibiting her or hoovering her surroundings. Moreso, it is symbolic of emptying her of stagnant bad energy then availing her to the entity they would be calling on to help. As in enable entry into her body to work on her. Stepping on the bare earth connected her to mother earth, thus mother nature the source of Life to vitalize. Seeds may be thrown on many surfaces but any that falls on the Earth is sure to germinate! It may not necessarily last but it is sure sprout. At the end of the day it sees the light of day initially before eventually dying. symbolic of a new life.

He then proceeded to mix a reasonable amount of the ewor- local corn powder in a half full calabash of water. The solution he throws in front of Jennifer, first to her left, to her right then straight ahead of us signifying the beginning of the ritual. He did this whiles saying complicated incantations. This is done to call calm of spirits for, during and after the ceremony. It was time to break the schnapps seal. What is a traditional ceremony without 'AKPETESHIE' (local name for hard liquor)? Without it the ritual would be viewed as unsuccessful plainly unwholesome. It would have been better not to have performed any rites at all. The offering of liquid, not just

any ordinary liquid but a hard one particularly strong alcoholic beverage in that case.

He poured libation thanking the gods for life. All the wonderful things they have bestowed on them. Namely the in coming little princess, most importantly making it possible for the ritual to be finally taking place. There was so much more he would have wanted to appreciate them for which he did, but time would not permit him state all. Nevertheless, he could not move on without showing gratitude for old Soldier's life and safety through out the hustle till then. This he expressed by offering a token of (BISI) local name for cola as offering. He went ahead to call out gods and some of the ancestors of the Land of Anglo Ga Srogbe in a chronological order of importance and invoked the presence of the gods to come bear witness to the ceremony, to make it successful. He had two bottles of schnapps, one in each hand as he stood gallantly ready to fall in his life's role. The true chief priest of a mighty man of a mighty land. There was nothing in this earth he derived joy from doing most than wielding his power in assistance to the needy. The pleasure for him was euphoric. In that moment, that notable space and particular time? he was no longer the simple old wise man they interacted with seconds ago but the respected, dreaded, unbeaten man of valor; the strong man of prowess. The traditional spiritual protector of the land of Anglo Ga Srogbe and everything therein. When it was time to deliver? he need not be told double; falling into character was as simple as slipping on flip flops. He was a disciplined man, entertaining no jestery when it came to delivering on his service. For this he was judged to be uptight yet it suited him well . A man with his strength could not exist haphazardly but live with caution. Togui never tried to remold into what people said, instead walked with his chin up, shoulders high and a straight back! embracing the fullness of himself. Confidence could have never looked any perfect on anybody.

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He began to pour the libation starting off with accolades alongside gratification.

"Oh! Compassionate mother earth! we call you mother because because nothing every single gift you receive returns back in multiple folds. A characteristic of a woman! to you we offer a drink for giving us a footing as well as bountiful harvest's to satiate our hunger.

To you oh! ruler of the wide high roof above do we offer a toast of gratefulness for the provision of luminescence by day (Sunshine), a guide light by night so we may not stumble or miss our way home. (Moonlight), the nourishment to our crops in there bosom of mother earth (Rain) a beautiful formidable umbrella over our head. Nothing less in the caliber of a devoted father plus more we may be unable to list but is etched in out chest.

Mama Ga Sogbo Lisa herself! oh ye! epitome of beauty. A woman, a warrior an empathetic Foster mother not less than a biological life giver. We thank you for being the touch that lit the path of desolate forefathers through the turbulent seas, raging storms, dry deserts to a consolatory land filled with goodies we call our own home. Our roots would have dried out dehydration and burnt under the unforgiving scorch of the eternally blazing sun if not for your nurturing. Today we your children invite you for a drink.

Ever stunning Mame Dosu! Queen of the waters. You an unmatched beauty of the deep refreshing Waters. For untangling our nets, multiple bountiful catch, a safe sail of our boats and vessels across your vast oceans. we offer you drink in appreciation.

To our heroic ancestors who took the mantle of leadership over a bunch of lost sheep. Shepherding them until your last breaths. Taking the battle front fearlessly to protect their honor, interest, home and life against the oppressor. Ruling in affection in hand with structure. FIAGA DENGLOR, FIAGA DENGLOR I & FIAGA DENGLOR II', my beloved friend in whom I attained a brother like no other. All ye! departed fore runners who released the baton of a tall rich history of beautiful cultural legacies we may yet reach. We your descendants raise this bottle of hard liquor to you! To your bravery, endurance, courageous hearts and selflessness. We stand in ceremony today in salut with utmost respect and reverence to thank you all; for your collective effort in your widows might to make life easy for us all your children left behind. Thank you for the gift of Life especially. Today we convene humbly before their presence to right wrongs. we ask for effective guidance and witnesses meekly to this auspicious ceremony. we peacefully seek the warmth of your companionship from the offset, during and after this auspicious ceremony. we humbly ask you to see this ceremony to a successful end. Ase!" He continued to pray, letting loose some dangerous incantations after which he had a divination. He carried on smoothly, going through each step steadily. Every sentence he spake never went cold before a the lips of the earth was wet with Akpeteshi (alcohol). His hands clutching the bottles firm yet ever so gently went intermittently spilling their guts out in measured proportion onto the earth in specificity. It was a beautiful display of dexterity in culture as well as perfection in one's field of knowledge. There was no other best orchestration he could have implemented to tell the entrenched untainted tale of his unnumbered years of his life work. He carried this out amidst performing the rituals.

All too soon the ritual was at the final stages with signs of supernatural presents almost visible to the blind naked a eye. In a blink, there was change in the climate. The air became increasingly freezing cold making Jennifer Shiver a little not to last long though. Before she would register what was happening, a baby tornado erupted from the ground before her, between her bare feet, gaining momentum in size and speed encircling her mesmerisingly in plain sight. It's soft gentle tap of a kiss to her sensitive skin felt fluffy in texture whiles remaining therapeutically warm in feel on her; soothing her chilly impasse moments before. A symbolism of sweeping around her, as in clearing all the clogged evil aura from her. Moving alluringly in hypnotic twirl like a breath taking masterpiece of winding decorative staircase of artwork causing involuntary fixation. Drawing the attention of the oblivious on looker whilst tactically concealing it raging nature inwardly. In destruction it rages on within, swooping it unwanted target violently beneath the captivating service. Jennifer could only see above the waters an entrancing phenomenon she still felt euphoric about. It all had a surreal touch to it. A peaceful dreamy sensation yet deep down in her gut lay the truth of the nature of such an exposition. she asked psychologically if she was seeing things not there in a daze or in reality. If reality? how come there was no chaotic scene. Nothing was disturbed when this gust of wind roved all around her contradictory to real prove. if she had not oath her silence. she sighed.

The sky which was not long ago, a peaceful clear light blue with one or two pure white fluffy cotton dispersed clouds? almost immediately turned into a sky covered in heavy dark clouds with aggressive thunder. Rolling cyclically accompanied by rippling lightning strips like the unforgivable whips of a whip on the bare back of a culprit sentences to punishment by strokes of a refined whip. All around her non-stop, not devoid of spine cuddling boomerangs. That slashing graze that tears the flesh open, sending droplets of blood mixed with pieces of skin splattering in dispersion was the nature of lightning bolt briefing by.