Ngozika and The Magic Pot of Water
(in memorial tribute to my beloved mother, Gladys Onuamaighiuwa Eke, Nee Ugwubujo of Umuuda Nsigwu, Umuahia North, Abia State, Nigeria. Her mother was potter)
When Ngozika lost her water pot at the stream, she was afraid to return home, because her mother would scold her.
She was weeping until sunset and was alone.
Mammy Water, the mermaid emerged from the stream after turbulence.
"Don't cry Ngozi!ka."
Ngozika was trembling at the shocking signt of the mermaid.
"Stop weeping. I have brought you another water pot. A water pot that will never lack water even in the dry season," said Mammy Water.
"Take the magic Udu Nmiri Ataata."
Ngozika collected the water pot and stopped weeping
She thanked Mammy Water and returned home carrying the magic water pot on her head.
Ngozika and The Magic Pot of Water
Chapter 1
She was having malaria and lying on a raffia mat inside the bedroom and very troubled that her beloved daughter had not returned from the stream since noon. If she had not been very ill and unable to walk, she would have gone to the stream flowing into the Oti river to look for her. And none of the neighbours had come to see how she was doing since majority of them joined her accusers pointing accusing fingers at her as they falsely accused her for causing the untimely death of her hardworking husband Ndudirim, a farmer and palm wine tapper. He had fallen from the top of the palm tree whilst tapping palm wine and his back was broken as he fell down to the hard ground.
He was carried back home injured and in pains. The Dibia, the village native doctor rushed to treat his wounds, but he became bedridden and never recovered.
The Anya Unmuo, eyes of the spirit witch doctor of Umu Udara village consulted the oracle of AFA divination and concluded she caused the death of her husband two months ago. Onye Isi, Chief of Umu Udara and this council of elders wanted to banish her to return to her own village, Umu Okazi. But Anya Unmuo said the oracle decided that she must remain ostracized in the village as a widow until Ngozika would be old enough for marriage and her first male child would bear the name of her father to preserve his lineage. Ngozika's mother must not be allowed to remarry and no man must sleep with her again till her last days on earth.
"Any man who dares to sleep with her will be cursed to die like her late husband," said Anya Unmuo.
Nneoma was speechless.
To be banished to her own village would have been better than to be ostracized in Umi Udara. Her consolation and joy of her life was Ngozika who was already known as the prettiest girl in the village and would become the most beautiful maiden for the competition of many suitors.
The sun was disappearing in the horizon, when Ngozika returned with the pot of water.
"What happened Ngozika? You want to give me heart attack?"
"Mother, I am sorry. I lost my water pot when I slipped after fetching water from the stream. It fell into the stream and the water carried it into the Oti river," said Ngozilka as she put down her water pot at a corner in the bedroom.
"Then how did you get this water pot," her mother asked
"Ahaa! Mother! Our Chi is the God of compassion and mercy," Ngozika replied.
"I was weeping and others at the stream only felt sorry for me and said I should return and tell you what happened,' she added.
"Yes. You should have come back and take another pot to fetch water," her mother said.
"Mother, I was afraid that you would scold me in anger "
"So, would scolding kill you?"
"No. But I was just weeping and weeping by the side of the stream until others left and I was alone."
"Then how did you get this water pot?"
"Mother, as I was still weeping, when suddenly, the stream became turbulent with ripples in circles. I was scared and wanted to run away, when Nwayioma Nmiri, the beautiful mermaid of Oti river appeared from the circles of ripples of water with a pot of water."
Her mother gasped in awe.
"You saw Nwayioma Nmiri!"
"Yes, mother. She was smiling and said, don't cry Ngozi!ka. I was trembling at the sight of the mermaid. And she said, stop weeping. I have brought you another water pot. A water pot that will never lack water even in the dry season,"
"Oh! Chim o! My God!" Her mother exclaimed.
"Take the magic Udu Nmiri Ataata. Nwayioma Nmiri said giving me the pot of crystal clear water."
"Chineke!" Her mother exclaimed.
"I collected the pot and stopped weeping. I thanked Nwayioma Nmiri and she went under the water."
"Nobody saw you?"
"No one. Everyone has gone. I was alone."
"Let me drink the water," said her mother excitedly.
Ngozika used a cup made from dried gourd to give her mother the water.
She collected the cup with shaking hands and slowly drank the water.
As she drank the water and gave Ngozika the cup, her fever stopped and she felt strengthened.
"Ngozika, my beloved daughter. Lekwam o! Look at me! See what is happening to me! I have regained my strength.The fever is gone! I am well!"
She was able to rise to her feet and stand up lifting up her hands gladly.
"Chineke Obasi be na eligwe imela! God Almighty who dwells in heaven thank you," she said loudly.
"Mother! It is a miracle! The water heals!
It is a not ordinary water" Ngozika exclaimed joyfully.
"Yes! Ngozika! Nwayioma Nmiri has given us a magic pot of water that heals illness! I have been cured! I have been healed instantly. This is the miraculous water of Nwayioma Nmiri!"
She began to dance with agility as she felt healthy and rejuvenated.
"Thank God!" Ngozika said dancing with her mother.
"The news of my rejuvenation will shock the entire village. The good news will silence my mockers. They expected me to be bedridden and die. But Almighty God has healed me and saved my life with the extraordinary water in the magic pot from Nwayioma Nmiri."
"Yes, mother "
"Yes. But shhhh. Ngozika. The village must not know the source of our drinking water from udu nmiri ataata of Nwayioma Nmiri of Oti river. This is our secret. We thank Almighty God "
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Story by Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima
Produced by Screen Naija Cinema
Generated by Google Gemini Omni.
Saturday, August 9, 2026.
Uyo, Akwa Ibom, Nigeria.
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