Not all that glitters

by Oyepata Hannah (Nigeria)

I didn't expect to find Nigeria

ters all happy all ready for fun heading to my home town(ondo-ikera).then I saw this beautiful rocks all at roles wasn't surprised I was so exited about the trip. I could see everything clearly couldn't sleep there I saw a someone standing on one with a white robe I didn't say anything to anyone I was too excited but curious for that so I kept my eyes all fixed to the rocks. I saw another person standing there with a white robe too this time I couldn't keep quite I called my dad's attention he got angry and told me to whine the glass up which I did. we finally got to the house it wasnt local as I expect I was made to understand grandpa was a fancy man which was funny cause all still looks like old days big men collection. I dropped my things I wanted to ease my self big time I got there did my business. The day was still bright so I went to meet my mom ask if there with is anything she would want me to do she said just go sit down which I didn't do like seriously I wanted to know more about this place I picked my phone went out to the gate . I saw a statue of a woman breastfeeding a baby I was still curious about the statue then I looked back then I saw rocks at the back of our building this time I must get answers I walked forward I saw a vulcanizer everyone was starring at me like I was a statue. I greeted then ask if i could sit down with them . they where asking where I came from I told them I'm d captain's grandchild they don't look surprised they 'said u look like him' . I asked them 'pls what do u no about this rock cause I saw something strange' they where like yes it almost time' I said time for what ,they said to worship the god's. I was like God doesn't need a particular time of worship he should be praised at all time he doesn't need sacrifice but praise they where focused on me they said some people don't believe in God they do Worship other god's the man said years back they offer three cow to the gods of the rocks they said the cow will work up to the rock by it self I felt it couldn't be possible They said the people will sing and dance till the priest tells them to stop then three big calabash of meat still drilling in blood would appear to the priest then they take it to the shrine cook it and share it to the people here I started seeing reasons why my grandpa left the village when he was still very young. I was still surprised I asked them why I saw those peoples on white cloth,he said he doesn't no he never sees them . I was still curios I asked them about the statue opposite grandpa house on the main road . They said there was a time in the river a beautiful lady came out of the river she was naked the women she saw her quickly coverd her asked where she came from she didn't say a word she was starring they felt she was hungry they feed her . The women there left there children with her telling her to play with the children, I was like why will you leave your child to a stranger they where like even they don't know. But the lady was moved by this then she spoke that who ever needs a child should come there the. Next day in the evening they would get a child which the women took serious the next day they where all there they waited for to come but she didn't show up they still waited till night for her some slept there those that slept became pregnant few weeks later , so every year that particular time they go to celebrate her they built a statue to say' iya-abiomo which says mother of children "