A sharp cock-crow serenaded the entire ldheze kingdom. Mayowa was already at his backyard sharpening his two machetes and a hoe. His family joined him and greeted him. He dashed into the bush, singing excitedly on his way to his traps and farm.
The early morning dew soaked his cloth as he produced heaps upon heaps on his newly acquired fifteen acres of land. He worked very hard like a powerful farmer he was. He stood up and looked around himself with satisfaction; he had almost covered half the large farm. lt was only yesterday that he began the clearing of the land. This was the very land others had refused to farm on the pretext that the land was too hard and would not be productive. He had ventured into it. ‘No venture, no gain’, he said.
Kunle, his eldest son of eighteen years came to call him as the sun was about to rise. He was surprised how his father had progressed.
“Good day, father," Kunle prostrated.
He knew his father did not like to be disturbed, especially when working on a new farm land. But he had to eat his lunch.
“Father, excuse me, I am so sorry to have disturbed you. Mother sent me to call you. The yam porridge is ready."
He heard but ignored him. He had promised himself to; at least, cover twelve acres before lunch. Now he felt defeate again. He stood up to survey the remaining land, smiled to his son and stoop to continue.
Kunle had no choice but to join him as they worked in silence. His muscles were twisting.
"Kunle,you are a man, let us go to your mother. First, go in to the hut, l have four bushmeat in there, I have already smoked them."
Kunle was very relieved to drop his hoe. He cleared his throat, smiling to his father without waiting to hear further instructions.
"Father, these are the biggest antelopes l have ever seen. But, how did you catch them?"
“My traps in the cassava farm caught the biggest one and with bare hand, I tiptoed to kill it. lts young ones ran away. l did not chase them, I reserved them for another day. l wanted them to have them to grow to mature, strong stubborn antelopes before I will use them to cook pepper soup porridge."
They discussed until they got to the next farm a little distance. He was proud of his wives as they continued working. He didn’ t go for lunch yet
His three wives were dear to him in different ways. Biola, a pretty bulky real African woman, was very hardworking in spite of her size. Her father, a fisherman, taught all his eleven female children how to fish and within a short while, they were adjudged the best female fishers in Uro Kingdom.
It was during one of Uro Kingdom’s festival that Mayowa met her. He was amazed by her cultured-manner. She addressed him “my lord" when she served him a cup of palmwine, kneeling down. He looked through her pretty eyes in lust and admiration and when he got home, he told his father about her.
“Father! Kindly help me to see her parents. I am a hard-working farmer. I promise to take good care of her if only she will agree to be my wife."
lt took him only eight days to satisfy his son. Mayowa was always remembering the day he paid Biola's bride price. He walked tall amongst his friends.
His second wife Omolara, an epitome of the goddess, was presented to him by King Ogiso in appreciation of his loyal dedication and hardwork after he helped Uro Kingdom to conquer Bethel Kingdom to restore their kingdom and lost ancient antiquities back to them to the delight of kings all over lsoko race. .
Adeola, his third wife, was bestowed to him when his elder brother who had already paid her bride price died four days before she was to become his bride. According to the custom, she was given to Mayowa as the immediate younger brother.
He had done a great job to take good care of his good family.
Just like a new wind of change, Mayowa's life changed for better after he got married. He worked harder and reduced his outings. He became much more serious. His success was extended to his family and friends all over ldheze Kingdom.
During a bounty harvest, he also shared the harvest with King Ogiso, the chiefs, his friends and his family. The king always prays for him to be successful next season. Every new yam festival, his harvest had alway been the biggest to the envy of mates and farmers. Yet he loved everyone cheerfully.
Also, his games were shared to the king who personally prayed and blessed him. Every evening under the moonlight, he would gather children for moonlight stories and to share pieces of fried bush meat to each of them before sending them home to their parents.
He nodded as he inspected the farm. The yam and the cassava grew very well like those ones in the agric farms.
“Well done, mother of the farm, this is good work you are doing, you have weeded the six acres clean like a living room," he teased and praised the hard work of his beloved wife.
“Oh, my husband, father of these farms, how far have you gone? You must be hungry. I sent for you that we have prepared your favourite porridge," Biola said to Mayowa who had now sat down under a tree decorated with cone chairs and tables for that purpose.
“I can't wait to eat, it has been almost a week that we haven't tasted porridge, the worms in my stomach will celebrate today," beating his stomach with both palms.
“Yesterday, you said the same thing, tomorrow, i pray those worms should come out to complain," Adeola teased as she lay the table with ten calabash plates. They prayed and sat down to eat with relish.
“This is a delicacy, l love its taste,"
Mayowa congratulated his wives when he finished eating.
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