Mola Mbua Ndoko: Wisdom and Ways of the Bakweri People: 56. “isosi je Eso”

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November 22, 2008

56. “isosi je Eso”

To continue to claim to be innocent even after being caught red handed

Tales of the Animal World.

Yasi nanu. Wolinyama were at a Conference when Kpwae Inoni wailed from the the path of a latrine:

“Wolinyama come out immediately. Here is Eso devouring Yonja Wuve”

(“Wolinyama e-fuse kpwa ee !
e-je kasi-kasi ee !
neni maongo ee) !
Eso mono a-veli, a-laa Yonja Wuve ee” !

On arrival at the scene security guards were surprised that even though they met Eso still chewing the body of Yonja Wuva, Eso claimed that it was not Yonja Wuva that he was chewing. The guards arrested Eso and presented him to the Conference. Eso was still carrying in his mouth feathers of Yonja Wuve who he had already swallowed. The face of Eso was covered with blood. Yet Eso continued to say:

“Wolinyama You are prosecuting me without reason. I have not eaten Yonja Wuve

“Wolinyama,
eno nwa ndi ngundu,
nhwe ! nasa-leli Yonja Wuve” !

In the face of continuing stout denials by Eso the Conference decided to confine Eso at the bottom of a tree called Wululu so that they would be examining for nine consecutive days all substance that Eso expelled from his bowels. If at the expiration of nine days he did not expel feathers he would be set free. Security guards tied Eso firmly on the trunk of the tree and surrounded him at day and at night.

Two days later Eso expelled faeces that contained feathers. In spite of the further evidence against Eso, he continued to claim that he did not devour Yonja Wuve. He claimed further that it is usual with him to expel feathers from his stomach.

Responding the Council of Wolinyama told Eso:
“You are making senseless denials.
How do you expect that your denials will be accepted in the face of the overwhelming evidence against you” ?

The Council found Eso guilty of murder and then decided to apply the requirements of the law. Eso was then hanged until he died.

“isosi je Eso”

Literally: To continue to claim to be innocent even after being caught red handed.

Lexicon:

eso = a fox.

kpwae = a specie of birds that has very close resemblance to domestic chicken.

Wolinyama = all animals; the Animal World.

yonja wuva = an adult hen.

vesai = feathers.

vesai ve wuva = feathers of a fowl.

Oma nanu.

Imba

Mola Mbua Ndoko
P.o Box 38 Buea, South West Province
Cameroon, West/Africa.
Email:[email protected]
Website: http://www.mbuandoko.com

Posted at 01:45 PM in Bakweri Folktales (Maito ma Mokpwe) | Permalink

Tags: folktales, Law, Proverbs, Technorati Tags: Africa, Technorati Tags: Bakweri, Technorati Tags: Bakweri Culture & Society, Technorati Tags: Cameroon