The Rising Earth

By George C. Izuwa

The Rising Earth is a story of two worlds, Umuosisi and Umuocham. At inception, the two worlds were given the same set of circumstances. Each world lived her life based on their understanding, interpretation, and use of natural resources available to her.

The people of Umuosisi lived a life that preserved their natural resources, while Umuocham, out of greediness, lived a life that exploited their natural resources.

At the end, the descendents of Umuosisi lived a life of happiness without diseases, hunger, violence, injustice, or war. They were reputed singers.

On the other hand, the Umuocham people struggled as labourers to improve their life by acquiring various technologies. The more technologies they acquired, the worse their living conditions became. They were ravaged with hunger, unemployment, diseases, wars, rising temperatures, and river dryness.

A nongovernmental organization, Green Earth Initiative, emerged in Umuocham to save them from dying. The organization identified the use of fire as the major factor responsible for their woes.

They hired Emeka to extinguish fire in Umuocham and reverse the course of the Earth.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Partridge Publishing Africa
• Release date: Feb 11, 2016
• ISBN: 9781482861013

George C. Izuwa

The author, Mr. George C. Izuwa, is a Nigerian. He is the author of “Footpath.” The “Footpath” has become an official academic text for Schools in Abia State, Nigeria. The book has passed many reviews, and it is doing very well in African studies.

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Copyright © 2016 by George C. Izuwa.

ISBN:      Hardcover      978-1-4828-6103-7

                Softcover        978-1-4828-6102-0

                eBook            978-1-4828-6101-3

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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CONTENTS

Acknowledgement

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I am grateful to God for the completion of this work. This work came with a lot of challenges that took divine interventions to overcome.

My special gratitude goes to Bukola Ogundipe of GGDSS (1990), Oko-Erin, Ilorin, Kwara State and the young man with her, Chukwuemeka George-Izuwa.

I remain grateful to Celestine Agbara, Friday Nwanosike, Chris Onyeka, Basil Ogbonna, Ndubisi Nwogwugwu, Chikezie Arungwa, Greg Odogwu and Nemi Woghiren.

This book offers me a great opportunity to appreciate Paul Ivan of Partridge Publishing in a special way. He made the vital phone call that opened me up to the world.

Sincerely, I am grateful to Rebecca Carter and Geraldine Samson both of Partridge Publishing. I am happy to have worked with them.

Thank you all.

George C. Izuwa.

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Cover page Design by: George Izuwa.

Drawn by; Inuwa Doga.

CHAPTER ONE

Emeka, arrived the compound at noon. Guests have started arriving in their numbers. Emeka had gone to witness the traditional marriage ceremony of his maternal cousin, Amaka. She hails from Amaekpu and was getting married to Chijioke of Eziala on a Saturday, the ekeukwu market day. Most of the guests that arrived earlier were seated closely to the buildings in the compound. Canopies had been laid out in the open compound but without seats in them.

Children were standing and watching from the compound’s entrance. Some of the children were carrying their little ones. Others were playing with the sand on the ground, half naked. They were enjoying themselves.

Emeka walked into the compound. He noticed that the groom and his party were yet to arrive. He made his way to the main building that contained Amaka’s room. He needed to exchange pleasantries with Amaka now, pending when next they could see each other again. As he approached Amaka’s room, he noticed that many young ladies were standing while some sat by the entrance door. Many others were with Amaka inside her room. The ladies wore various ceremonial apparels.

Emeka drew the attention of the ladies as he approached. He felt shy and skipped a few steps. He waved at the ladies outside and withdrew.

As Emeka turned to go outside the building, he saw Chibuike, Amaka’s elder brother who was coming from the kitchen.

Oh! Emeka you’re here, Chibuike said.

Yes, Dee Chibuike, Emeka answered. It’s not long that I arrived, he continued. I had gone to greet Amaka but I encountered many ladies there so I had to turn back.

Have you greeted my parents? Chibuike asked.

No, Emeka answered.

Where are they? He enquired.

They are sitting behind the kitchen with some women, Chibuike responded. Anyway, let’s leave them we shall see later, Emeka said.

As Chibuike turned to walk away, Emeka asked, why is it that there are no seats in the canopies?

We are waiting for the youths who volunteered to bring the seats from the points where pre arrangements have been made, Chibuike answered.

How long shall we continue to wait for them since our in-laws would arrive soon? Emeka asked.

You are right Emeka, we have to make an alternative arrangement, Chibuike agreed.

Where did you book the seats? Emeka asked.

We arranged with the Qua Iboe and the Apostolic Churches. They agreed to give benches for the occasion and return them after the ceremony, Chibuike answered.

There are many children outside the compound whom we can use, Emeka suggested.

Yes, Chibuike agreed. But as you can see I am very busy, he continued.

No problem, I will handle it, Emeka promised.

That’s good, Chibuike acknowledged.

As Emeka turned to go, Chibuike asked, what do you have in your hand?

Oh! It’s a greeting card I made for our proposed brother-in-law, Emeka answered.

Let me see, Chibuike requested.

Emeka gave it to him and he opened it.

This is nice! Chibuike exclaimed.

This is a woman

The best gift that God

Gave to a man

Take her and be satisfied.

These were the words beautifully printed on the card.

Oh! I love this, Chibuike said.

Mecus! Mecus!! Chibuike hailed. Shake me this is good, he said.

He stretched out his right hand and shook Emeka.

Please, Dee Chibuike, keep it for me in your room. I will collect it when I finish the work, Emeka requested.

I hope you can locate the two churches I mentioned to you, Chibuike sought to clarify.

Yes, Emeka answered. Even if I miss any of them, I will request for assistance, that wouldn’t be a problem, Emeka said.

Chibuike is older than Emeka hence the use of Dee as prefix for Chibuike by Emeka.

Emeka went outside the compound to meet the children.

He called them together and addressed them to volunteer for the service of bringing the benches from the churches.

The children were elated at the offer, they have been recognized and they happily followed Emeka.

When they arrived at the Apostolic Church, the local priest took them to the shade behind the church auditorium where the benches had been packed. Emeka began to pair the children since they were too small to carry a bench each. He positioned each pair before lifting a bench which he placed on their heads before asking them to go. The children already knew what to do with the bench on their heads. They were carrying the benches to fill the empty canopies for Amaka’s traditional wedding ceremony.

Ugo and Ebere come, Emeka called.

The two went forward.

Ugo stand here and look towards the road and you Ebere stand there (pointing to a position) and look at Ugo’s back, he directed.

Emeka lifted a bench, placed it on their heads and they left.

Emeka had requested Chinedu to remain in the open canopies and wait for the children. Chinedu’s responsibility was to take the benches from the children’s heads as they arrived and arrange them in the canopies.

Oya! James and John, Emeka called.

They positioned themselves, took their bench and left.

Odochi and Oluchi

Ikechi and Cletus

Amara and Ogechi

As they took their position, Emeka lifted a bench and placed it on their heads. The other children jeered at them as the bench was about to fall down from their heads. Emeka responded swiftly by stabilizing the bench on their heads. They moved a little and veered towards the bush. Odochi who was in front, was faced to the bush. She couldn’t steer to join the road. Both children stood there helpless, until the other children drew Emeka’s attention to their plight.

Emeka abandoned what he was doing and rushed to help. When he arrived, he got them to face the road again. When they left, Emeka returned to his duty post.

The children started laughing again. Emeka looked up and saw Odochi and Oluchi faced with the previous situation again. They were stuck and faced to the bush.

Emeka ran to meet them, steered them out and they continued.

Before Emeka could rejoin the other children, they burst out in laughter again. Emeka turned and saw Odochi and Oluchi helpless and he walked to them. As he walked, he began to contemplate as to why this particular pair could not go like others. He had spent a lot of efforts on this duo.

When he got to