FICTION || Ebenezer Mowete: Hope

Penned in Rage Journal, Amplifying Marginalized Voices

 The humid Enugu air clung to us like a second skin as Nneka and I weaved through the stalls of the Kenyatta Market on a beautiful Saturday morning. Laughter spilled from overflowing bowls of palm fruit, bargaining calls intertwined with the rhythmic thrumming of highlife music from a nearby stall. Nneka, ever the explorer, pointed towards a commotion near the back of the market.

"Looks like there's a show," she said, her eyes sparkling with mischievous curiosity.

We pushed through a throng of bodies, the scent of roasting corn and sizzling suya mingling in the air. There, amidst towering stacks of colourful Ankara fabric, stood a young man, no older than twenty, his face contorted in concentration. A weathered suitcase lay open before him, its contents were a mix of trinkets, talismans, and wilted herbs.

"Ezigbo ndi Enugu!" he boomed; his voice surprisingly deep for such a slender frame. "Do you seek answers hidden from the ordinary eye? Does love elude you, or your business stagnate? Then step right up, for I, Chibuike, the O menemme, the Oracle of the Marketplace, can reveal your destiny!"

A ripple of amusement ran through the crowd. A woman with a mischievous glint in her eye nudged her friend. "Maybe he can tell me why my husband keeps disappearing to his mama's house on weekends," she quipped.

Chibuike, unfazed, continued his spiel. "With the wisdom of the ancestors and the guidance of the spirits, I can see your past, present, and future! Just a small token, and your troubles will be no more!"

Nneka, ever the pragmatist, rolled her eyes. "This is nonsense," she muttered. But the glint in her eyes betrayed a flicker of curiosity.

Suddenly, a woman, her face filled with worry, stepped forward. Her simple cotton dress hung loosely on her slender frame. "My son," she croaked, her voice barely a whisper. "He's been missing for weeks. The police say there's no trace. Can you help me find him?"

 A hush fell over the crowd. Chibuike closed his eyes, his face adopting a calm expression. He reached into the suitcase, emerging with a collection of cowrie shells. He rattled them in his hand, muttering something under his breath. Then, with a flourish, he threw them onto a worn animal skin spread on the ground.  

 The shells scattered, some landing upright, others face down. Chibuike studied the pattern for a long moment, his brow furrowed. Finally, he looked up at the woman with an intense gaze.

"Your son is alive," he declared, his voice firm. "He is lost, yes, but not harmed. He is with water, near a place of healing."

A gasp escaped the woman's lips. Tears welled up in her eyes. "A place of healing?" she echoed, a sliver of hope flickering in her voice.

Chibuike nodded, his expression grave. "Seek out the village by the Ezu River, where the palms utter secrets to the wind. There, you will find him."

The woman sagged in relief, tears streaming down her face. She reached into her purse and pulled out a crumpled wad of naira notes, pressing them into Chibuike's hand. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice trembling.

As the crowd dispersed, a murmur of speculation hung in the air. Nneka nudged me, a smile playing on her lips. "Well," she said, "that was certainly unexpected."

I couldn't help but agree. The marketplace oracle gave hope to a desperate mother. This was Enugu, where the line between reality and the fantastical often blurred, leaving us with more questions than answers, and a lingering sense of awe.

Translation

"Ezigbo ndi Enugu": "Dear People of Enugu"

"O menemme": "He did it"

About Writer

Dr. Ebenezer Mowete is a Nigerian writer, medical doctor, and communications professional whose work spans literary fiction, long-form journalism, essays, and editorial writing. His writing explores culture, identity, faith, medicine, and the lived experiences of ordinary people with depth and nuance. His work has been published in The Republic, Lost Art, Tint Journal, FAMSA SCOPA, Red Rose Thorns Journal, and Oozezi Creative Collective, among other platforms. His fiction, essays, and criticism have received recognition in literary competitions and anthologies, and he has been nominated for the Best of the Net Anthology. Alongside his literary work, Dr. Mowete is passionate about editorial development, mentoring writers, and building thoughtful literary communities. He currently practises in the field of Paediatrics.

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This Piece Was Read by Bridgette James

"Ebenezer’s flash is loaded with mysticism. It humanises the market and gives it agency. It works because a market setting West Africa is a very busy one, oozing an air of mystic.