The Laughing Gods and Other Stories

By Ben Bioku

This is a collection of African/Nigerian stories with the laughing gods leading the rest. It is mainly for kids and adults who find children stories interesting. There are historical fictional tales and contemporary fictional tales. There are glossaries for each story and there are nine stories inside.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jan 19, 2020
• ISBN: 9781794828544

Ben Bioku

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The Laughing Gods and Other Stories

The Laughing Gods And Other Stories

Ben Biokuku

Copyright © 2020 by Ben Bioku

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review or scholarly journal.

First published:2020

ISBN: 978-1-79482-854-4

Ikorodu Lagos State

Dedication

To my kid sister, Stella Bioku (Obas), who always made us proud with the display of her intelligence academically and otherwise. 

Acknowledgements

I want to recognise everyone who, in their own little and/or big way, contributed to the success of this book.

Special thanks to my editor, Leo (Eze), who, with a patient heart, rode with me through the cause of each story in this book.

To Mercy Bekibele, a special soul, who encouraged me in many aspects. She always wanted to read the stories as I wrote, and gave me feedback that encouraged my will.

To Kimberly (Ebruphiyo), who always asked after my stories to know how they were faring — as if they were babies.

Princess Okirhieri, who always didn't care much about reading my stories, but always prayed that they got out there so multitudes could read.

To Dimeji Fagbemi, my closest companion at a time that was right. Though a small mind, but a teachable heart who wanted the best for himself, for others and my stories.

And lastly and most importantly, my father, Mr. Emmanuel Oghonemu Bioku, from whose genes the gift of storytelling found me.

The Laughing Gods

Omonda was a village situated at the eastern part of the country in the early days of Nigeria when the colonial masters were still in the country; it was completely encircled by evergreen trees, shrubs and herbs. Its trees were the largest in the country and as such, people came from other parts of the world to tour their village. There were hills and mountains and caves; the sight of Omonda's waterfall was beautiful. The main occupation was farming as a result of the fertile soil. It was a village in which quite many people lived, made up of mud bricks and thatch-roofed houses. The people of Omonda were brave people who were always ready to protect their own.

It was said that the markings in their rocks and caves were embedded by ancient Omondans who waged war against many villages just to protect the richness of their land; it was a place even the colonial masters only admired from a distance. There was once a time when the village was under a siege for over thirty-seven days. The army which surrounded Omonda later fled due to confusion among them. Omonda had survived a lot in its history and had printed its name in the sands of time.

This was the birthplace of Okonkwo, the Chief of Omonda, a just man who had a wife and son, all in a humble abode—he had been an inspiration to many. Okonkwo's duty was to take care of the affairs of Omonda like a king would for his kingdom. Omonda was not ruled by a king, only a chief. Okonkwo was proud to be called the chief of such a great village and he was careful with every single thing he did.

Okonkwo in his prime was a smart thinker who did not always believe in conservative rulership; since he became Chief, he did what he regarded as new and advancing. And of course, he had been loved by the people.  Because of all of the attacks Omonda received from different villages and hamlets around her in time past, there had been a long standing hatred between themselves and, approximately, the rest. But during the first month he was made chief, Okonkwo dedicated his time to settling the spite that existed within them. While other elders thought it a wrong decision, he told them the quarrel was not caused by the present people, but those long gone.

And by the time it was a year into Okonkwo's rulership, there was oneness between them and the neighbouring villages and hamlets. There was peaceful trading, sharing of ideas, and also barter trading where Omonda would exchange some of their valuables for other important things. It turned out Omonda wasn't the only village with very valuable things. Okonkwo found out the people around them were also very skillful. They made palm oil from palm nuts, clothes from animal skin as well as a lot of other things.

Okonkwo was satisfied with his decisions and even the elders came to realise the benefit of his actions. Omonda was open to several visitors once again, with Okonkwo doing as much as he could to build relationships all around.

One day, great merchants from the cities beyond visited Omonda, and they met Okonkwo in his house where he was having a meeting with the village elders. He was pleased that something among his decisions had brought great men from respected cities even outside the country to Omonda. At the end of his meeting with the elders, he called his visitors to dine with him. They ate and discussed about the richness of Omonda, even the developments in the cities the colonial masters had taken total control of. While he was outwardly settled, Okonkwo was worried; he suspected the colonial masters might have grown an interest in Omonda.

Amongst his five visitors, two white men and three blacks, a white man named Maxwell started a topic. We've come to Omonda because of one of its great treasures. We have not come to steal it, but to purchase it. It was a pure British accent.

Okonkwo, out of mere curiosity, said, What might it be? There are quite a lot of things Omonda is rich in, which one of them could it be?

Another of the white men took up from the other, Omonda has harboured these things for some time now, and still, you haven't found a way to use these things. A lot of them have died without being used, but we've come to help you dispose of them. There was a chuckle amongst Okonkwo's visitors and a little smile on his face.

Still not satisfied with how they were cunningly talking, he replied, We must have lost a lot all these years if this treasure you make mention of can die. But what treasures might these be?

The huge Omonda trees.

Okonkwo, who had food in his mouth, nearly choked from laughter. Trees?

Yes, trees. The huge trees in the Omonda bushes.

He was stupefied for a while before he finally spoke. I mean, yes, the trees are inarguably huge, and we use some of them for the logs we sit on, as well as, our houses. There are enough trees to serve more than a dozen villages. You want to buy them? He wasn't excited, he was wondering.

Exactly, we want to buy them, one of the Nigerians who sat quietly replied in a satisfied manner. The way the men sat, it was obvious the trees were important to them.

Okonkwo had a very long discussion with them; he asked them what they needed the trees for and they had told him they would return with what they used the trees for if Okonkwo sold to them. He told them to return in a fortnight, after which he must have discussed the new development with his cabinet.

It did not take long before Okonkwo convinced his people of what the merchants had offered. They all agreed it