A bird merchant named Usman arrived in a new village, carrying within his cages a winged secret that would test the boundaries of faith and freedom.
Usman, a renowned bird merchant who is fond of travelling and relocating from one village to another in search of conducive environments to nurture his numerous species of birds, embarked on yet another journey to Ketiti village, which he found so good, but this land has a peculiar belief; seagulls are revered as gods, and the community strictly forbids anyone from caging them.
Upon arriving in the village, Usman was greeted with curiosity and cautious eyes. The villagers had heard of his reputation as a bird merchant and were wary of his intentions. Nevertheless, they approached him with a mixture of curiosity and concern, informing him about their deep-rooted reverence for the seagulls, but he turned a deaf ear.
One day, upon returning from the local market where he went to sell some chickens, Usman was shocked to find his gate locked with an unfamiliar set of keys. Additionally, a red fetish ribbon was intricately tied around his house.
He came down from his motorcycle, dropped his emptied box on the ground, and wanted to remove the ribbon, but his senses reminded him that it could harm him.
"Could this be the handiwork of these villagers?" He stood on the spot and pondered.
As he stood in front of his house, trying to unravel the mystery, a group of five men with Chief Yusuf, the mouthpiece of the community gathered around him, their expressions a mix of agitation and resolve.
"Usman, since you've refused to adhere to our warning, you can't enter the compound," one of them said agitatedly.
"I'm very surprised at the low IQ of this village. Does it mean that strangers can't come and settle in this land?" Usman lambasted, and he was rushingly shunned by one of them, "You dare not insult this village; one such word from you again and you'll have yourself to blame".
"Are you referring to the truth as an insult?" He chuckled and continued, "I just came in a few days ago and was told to kill the set of seagulls in my custody because of your so-called tradition. Who does that?" He raised his voice once more while pointing his fingers at them.
Chief Yusuf, the most matured among them calmed down the situation with his voice filled with wisdom, "Usman, we are trying so hard to see if we can settle this amicably. We didn't tell you to kill the birds; all we said was for you to release the seagulls because our tradition forbids caging them."
Usman, however, was taken aback by their request. He explained that seagulls were incredibly valuable, each fetching a substantial price of $1,800, and he has multiple seagulls in his possession.
"We'll give you another two days to free the seagulls; otherwise, it won't be funny." They unlocked his gate, removed the ribbon, and left.
Usman smiled and entered the room untroubled.
The villagers, determined to protect their beloved seagulls, persisted in their demand. They expressed their respect for Usman's expertise but urged him to understand the cultural significance of these birds to their community. They spoke of how the seagulls symbolised freedom, grace, and connection to the divine in their belief system.
In all these, Usman remained adamant because there's no way he would lose such fortune just because of a mere traditional belief.
Conflicts arose as the situation escalated; the disturbance on Usman became too much, but he refused to give in, believing that he was acting on his rights and would use his wealth to see the situation through to the end.
He decided to get the police involved to arrest the few villagers that are always approaching and threatening him, and on his way back from the city, he went to hire police. He met his regular troublemakers at the gate of his house, waiting for him with policemen too.
"Officers, arrest all of them, including the policemen," Usman ordered, and Yusuf responded quickly, "officers, arrest him and these policemen!"
The two sets of policemen became surprised, and they just stood to watch the two exchanging words.
The villagers reported Usman's actions to the local authorities. The legal system was called upon to mediate the dispute between Usman and the villagers. Tensions ran high as the case gained attention, drawing the interest of bird conservationists and animal rights activists.
Recognizing the sensitivity of the situation, the legal proceedings sought to strike a balance between the villagers' beliefs and Usman's financial interests. Numerous discussions, negotiations, and hearings took place over several weeks, during which emotions ran high on both sides.
Ultimately, after much deliberation, an agreement was reached. The villagers acknowledged Usman's investments and the value of the seagulls he had acquired. In return, they agreed to compensate him for his birds, acknowledging their cultural significance and the need to protect them. The amount settled upon was a fair sum that both parties deemed appropriate.
With the agreement in place, Usman released the seagulls from their cages, allowing them to soar freely in the skies once again.
In the end, Usman, too, learned a valuable lesson about the importance of cultural sensitivity and the need to consider more than just financial gain. As he continued his journey as a bird merchant, he carried with him a newfound appreciation for the intricate connections between people, animals, and their spiritual beliefs.
