B .A PROJECT IN TRANSLATION NWIKE, CHRISTOPHER CHINEDU

1 MAHADUM NAIJIR{A, NSXKA FAKQLTI AAT{ NGALABA LINGWISTIKS, IGBO NA ASXSX NAIJIR{A ND{ QZQ ISIOKWU USORO NA NSOGBU A NA-ENWE NA NTXGHAR{ IDUAAZ{:CHIKE AND THE RIVER D{KA EBE MGBAKWAS{ XKWX AHA NWIKE, CHRISTOPHER CHINEDU AKARA 2011/175496 ONYE NTUZI AKA PROF. MRS. R. I. OKORJI JULY 2015 2 ISI NKE MBX MKPQLITE 1.1 Ntqala nchqcha Ntxghar[ bx okwu nke a na-enwegh[ ngalaba amuma akwxkwq a ga-as[ na q bx ha nwe ya. E nwere xfqdx ebe a na-eji okwu a bx ntxghar[ were na-arx qrx. Ha gxnyere: Fiziks nke bx [gbanwe qnqdx ihe qbxla d[ka usoro ya siri d[. Xka katqliki nke bx iweghar[ nnukwu xkqchukwu site n‟otu ngalaba xka gaa na ngalaba xka onye nnukwu xkqchukwu qzq. A ga-ahxta na a na-enwe nnqghar[ qnqdx gaa n‟qzq mgbe qbxla a naeme ntxghar[. Robinson (2007) na Schaffner (2007) hxtara na a b[a na ntqala ntxghar[, na q bx iweta echiche site n‟otu asxsx maqbx olund[ gaa n‟asxsx qzq maqbx olund[. Asxsx nke e ji were dee akwxkwq nzimozi bx asxsx nzimozi ebe asxsx nke e ji were dee akwxkwq nnata ozi bx asxsx nnata ozi, nke a bx asxsx nke e ji mee ntxghar[. Nida (2001) kqwara ya nke qma site n‟ikwu na ntxghar[ bx ibufe echiche d[ n‟akwxkwq site n‟otu asxsx gaa n‟qzq. Bassnett (2008) nyere nkqwa doro anya site n‟ikwu na ntxghar[ bx iziputa echiche akwxkwq nzimozi were gaa na nke nnata ozi, iji hx na mpxtara echiche ha abxq yiri onwe ha. Onye na-eme ntxghar[ bx ya ji aka ya were naeme mbufe echiche n‟xd[ ibufe echiche ahx d[ n‟asxsx nzimozi gaa na nke nnata ozi ma b[a gbaa mbq hx na o mere ntxghar[ otu o kwesiri. Uru ntxghar[ bara buru ibu. Q bxrx na a b[a na ntxghar[, agxmagx enweela qtxtx akwxkwq nd[ a txghar[r[ atxghar[. D[ka Medolu (2010) siri kwu, a txghar[go akwxkwq agxmagx nka, Things fall apart nke Chinua Achebe n‟ihe kar[r[ asxsx nar[ iri atq na ise nke mba xwa. 3 Ikekonwu txghar[r[ Omenxkq nke Nwana dere were gaa n‟asxsx Yoruba. Site n‟qrx ntxghar[, ozioma nke Chineke agaala mba xwa d[ iche iche. Qrx nchqcha a bx ntxghar[ akwxkwq e dere na bekee, Chike and the River nke Chinua Achebe, site n‟asxsx bekee gaa n‟asxsx Igbo. Ntqala iduuazi a bx nke ka nqkwa na ntqala omenaala Igbo iji hx na q ka bxkwa ihe q bx. Ntxghar[ okwu laara okwu bx nke a na-akpq “literal translation” n‟olu Bekee bx ibufe ozi d[ n‟akwxkwq nzimozi were gaa na nke nnata ozi ghara [gba mbq mara ma e webatara echiche a txrx anya na a ga-ewebata maqbx na-ewebatagh[. Asxsx Latin kpqrq nke a “Verbum pro verbo”. Mgbe a na-eme xd[ ntxghar[ a, anagh[ agbasokebe iwu asxsx nnata ozi d[ka o siri d[ n‟asxsx nzimozi n‟ihi na ezi ntxghar[ na-akqwa echiche. Xd[ ntxghar[ a malitere n‟ime senchuri nke iri na iteghete mgbe a na-eme ntxghar[ bekee klasikalu, akwxkwq nsq na akwxkwq xd[ qzq. {maatx, Robert Pinsky ji ntxghar[ okwu laara okwu were mee ntxghar[ Inferno nke Daute n‟ime afq 1994 n‟ihi na q magh[ asxsx nd[ Italy. Q nagh[ ewepxta mma ozi e dere ede, qkachas[ mgbe e ji ya were na-eme ntxghar[ abx na iduuaz[. Ntxghar[ echiche laara echiche bx nke dibu ad[. Ebumnuche ya bx [ghqta, txghar[a ma bufee echiche d[ n‟ozi e ziri site n‟asxsx nzimozi gaa na nke nnata ozi. Onye wepxtara okwu a bx echiche laara echiche nke a kpqrq “sense for sense translation n‟olu Bekee bx Sent[ Jerome (340-420). A hxtara nke a n‟ime akwxkwq o z[gara Pammachius ebe q s[r[ na q kaara ime ntxghar[ okwu laara okwu mana n‟ihi na a b[a na ndoko okwu nke akwxkwq nsq, na e nwere nnukwu ihe omimi d[ na ha. Q mere ntxghar[ a kpqrq “Non Verbum de Verbo Sed Sensum de Sensu” n‟asxsx Latin. Nke a pxtara na q bxgh[ okwu laara okwu kama echiche laara echiche. A hxtara na ihe d[ iche n‟etiti ntxghar[ okwu 4 laara okwu na echiche laara echiche bx nkewa. Oge xfqdx, a hxtara na ha abxq na-agakq qnx. Nwadike (2014) kwuru na ntxghar[ nke nd[ Arab bx nke e nwere ike [s[ na q bx ya debere amamihe na qmxmx ihe nd[ Grik ndx. Ka e merichara nd[ Grik, a b[ara gbakwasa qrx f[lqsqf[ na sayens[ n‟asxsx Arab. Akwxkwq nd[ xka gbara nnukwu mbq na mmalite na nsipuru ntxghar[. Otu n‟ime ntxghar[ nd[ e mere na “West” bx ibufe akwxkwq agba ochie gaa na Grik n‟ime Senchuri nke atq tupu qb[b[a kraist. Ntxghar[ malitere n‟afq 3000 BC tupu qb[b[a kraist n‟oge q bx nd[ ijipt na-ach[. Nwadike (2014) kqwara na q malitere n‟ime mba “Elephantine”, ebe a chqpxtara ihe edide e dere n‟asxsx abxq. N‟ime akwxkwq Nwadike jiri kuziere nd[ afq ngwxcha na ngalaba lingwistik gbasara ntxghar[ n‟ime afq 2014, o kwuru na ka qch[ch[ Moorish dara na mba Spain, xlq akwxkwq Toledo na-ahx maka ntxghar[ b[ara txghar[a sayentifiki na f[lqsqf[kalx k[lasiki n‟olu Arab: Ntqala qgbara qhxx nke nd[ Grik bx nke e wubere site n‟[txghar[ akwxkwq nsq nke Luther n‟afq 1552, ebe ba[bxlx nsq nke King James nwere ihe yitere asxsx bekee na agxmagx. Taa, senchuri nke iri abxq d[ka Nwadike (2014) siri kwu n‟ime akwxkwq nkxz[ ya, bx nke a kpqrq afq ntxghar[. Ebumnuche nd[ mere ntxghar[ afq Elizabeth bx ichqpxta xwa qhxx nke echiche na mma. Ha gbara mbq n‟ebe amxmamx d[, iji kpqghachi asxsx bekee ha azx. Ihe ha mepxtara bx imepxta nke bx ezi mkpqghachi nke bekee na inweghatachi azx mmxq ochie ha. Ntxghar[ ha nyere nd[ England amamihe niile nke agba ochie maka 5 nd[ qchich[ na qnx na-ekwuru ha, na nhaz[ akxkq. Ha mere nd[ odee Grik na Rome ka ha nabata asxsx qhxx ma bufekwaa ya n‟ebe nd[ odee mb[amb[a nq. N‟ihe nd[ a niile, a hxtara ntxghar[ ka aka qrx, qkachas[ nke e ji aka were na-arx. Nchqcha a ga-agbado xkwx n‟ilebanye anya na ntxghar[ Chike and the River nke Achebe (1966), tinyere nsogbu na usoro e nwetara na ntxghar[ ya. 1.2 Nsogbu nchqcha Ntxghar[ e mere n‟ezi usoro bx ezi ntxghar[ ma nke e mere n‟uzo abxgh[ ezi usoro abxgh[ ezi ntxghar[. Nsogbu nd[ e nwegas[r[ ike inweta na ntxghar[ bx:    Nsogbu inweta okwu d[ka o siri d[ n‟asxsx nzimozi maka izipxta atxmatx okwu. Nsogbu ijikqta omenaala asxsx abxq d[ka Bekee na Igbo. Nsogbu akanka. Xzq odee si were dee ihe na-abx nsogbu nyere onye na-eme ntxghar[  Nsogbu okwu qd[naala nd[, na [kqwapxta ya txmad[ mgbe a na-enwegh[ okwu d[ka ya n‟asxsx nzimozi. N‟ihi nke a, ebumnuche onye na-eme ntxghar[ bx ígbò nsogbu nd[ a akqwapxtara site n‟iji Chike and the River nke Achebe (1966). 1.3 Mbunuche nchqcha   {txghar[Chike and the River nke Achebe dere. Ilenye anya na nsogbu a hxtara n‟ime ntxghar[ 6   {mata qnqdx ntxghar[ n‟oge gboo na oge xgbxa {mata xzq ka mma maka iwebata akwxkwq nzimozi n‟asxsx Igbo. 1.4 Ajxjx nchqcha Iji nweta mbunuche e ji eme nchqcha a, maka uru q bara nakwa maka ezi ntxghar[, e kwesiri inwe qs[sa gbasara ajxjx nd[ a:     Kedu ka a ga-esi txghar[a Chike and the River nke Chinua Achebe 1966 dere? Kedu nsogbu a hxtara n‟ime ntxghar[? Kedu qnqdx ntxghar[ n‟oge gboo na oge xgbxa? Kedu xzq ka mma maka iwebata akwxkwq nzimozi n‟asxsx Igbo? 1.5 Ókè nchqcha N‟ihi otu qrx nchqcha a siri d[, qrx a gbadoro xkwx n‟usoro na nsogbu a na-enwe na ntxghar[ iduuaz[ Chike and the River, nke e dere n‟asxsx bekee, bx ihe a txghar[r[ ma bufeta n‟asxsx Igbo. 1.6 Uru nchqcha  Na njedebe qrx a, a ga-achqpxta xzq nke ka mfe maka [txghar[ akwxkwq e dere  A ga-agbakwa nd[ na-eme ntxghar[ n‟asxsx Igbo ume iji were chere nsogbu qbxla site n‟asxsx bekee gaa n‟asxsx Igbo. ga-ama ha aka mgba txmad[ na nke si n‟asxsx mba qzq na-ab[a n‟asxsx Igbo. 7  Q ga-enyerekwa xmx akwxkwq na-eme ihe qmxmx aka [ma nd[iche d[ n‟etiti asxsx abxq e lebara anya.   Akwxkwq nke ahx a txghar[r[ ga-eso n‟ime akwxkwq e nwere n‟asxsx Igbo. Qzq, nd[ nchqcha nwekwara ike iwere ya n‟qba akwxkwq ma rxq qrx. 1.7 Nh[ahx nchqcha Nh[ahx e nwetara na nchqcha a bx e nwegh[ qtxtx nkqwa okwu na qkààsxsx zuru oke e nwere ike iji tap[a maqbx txghar[a xfqdx okwu. 1.8 Nkqwa Iduuaz[: Chike and the River Onye dere Iduuazi Chike and the River bx Chinua Achebe n‟ime afq 1966. Site n‟oge ahx, e bigharigo iduuazi a n‟afq 1974, 1975, 1976 na 1978, b[az[a mee ya n‟xd[ q ga-ad[ mfe maka [gx ya nakwa [ghqta ya. Q bx nd[ xlq qrx “Cambridge University Press bipxtara ya nke nwere akara mbipxta ISBN 0521 040035 n‟ime obodo Britain. Akwxkwq a d[ ihx akwxkwq iri isii na isi nkeji akwxkwq iri na asatq. Akxkq a bx maka nwatak[r[ nwoke a na-akpq Chike, onye naa ya nwugoro q bx naan[ nne ya na xmxnne ya nd[ obere na nwanne nna ya bx nd[ d[ ndx. Nne ya hxrx na q gara Qn[cha site n‟iso nwanne d[ ya. Ka Chike ruru ala Qn[cha, q malitere [ga akwxkwq ma nwekwaa nd[ enyi. Q nxrx akxkq gbasara osimiri Na[ja, o were gbaa mbq [gafe ya. N‟ikpeazx, ebumnobi ya mezuru d[ka o siri chee n‟agbanyegh[ na o nwetara ihe nh[ahx d[ iche iche txmad[ ka q chqrq isi Asaba lqta, mana n‟ikpeazx, njem Chike gara n‟Asaba wetaara ya ihe qma. 8 ISI NKE ABXQ NTULEGHAR{ AGXMAGX 2. Mkpqlite Qtxtx nd[ qkammxta na nd[ nchqcha emeela nchqcha banyere ntxghar[. Qtxtx gbara mbq [kqwa ihe ntxghar[ pxtara. Nkqwa ha nyere gbadoro xkwx na ntxghar[ bx ibufe echiche d[ n‟asxsx nzimozi were gaa n‟asxsx nnata ozi. N‟agba nke a, any[ ga- elebanye anya n‟echiche na atxtx d[ iche iche banyere isiokwu a na-enyocha nakwa qrx nd[ a rugoro metxtara nchqcha a. 2.1 Echiche na atxtx digas[ iche iche banyere isiokwu Andre (1978) kqwara na ntxghar[ bx ihe qmxmx na-ahx maka nsogbu mmepxta na nkqwapxta ntxghar[. Nke bx nke anabatara d[ka mpxtara ntxghar[ gxnyere ibufeta ozi d[ n‟asxsx nzimozi gafee n‟asxsx nnata ozi, ka e nwee ike hx na mpxtara asxsx nzimozi na nnata ozi yiri onwe ha. N‟xzq nke a, agagh[ echezq na amxmamx ntxghar[ gbanyere mkpqrqgwx n‟ihe a na-emepxta. 9 Ntxghar[ pxtara ihe d[ iche iche nyere nd[ mmadx. Larson (1998) hxtara ntxghar[ n‟uzo atxtx na-ekwu na e nwere ike inweta mpxtara echiche akwxkwq ederede n‟xd[ ya site n‟imepxta otu echiche ahx site n‟iji asxsx nnata ozi maqbx L2. Larson (1998) kqwakwara ntxghar[ d[ka qmxmx mkpxrxokwu niile, nhazi okwu, xd[ qnqdx mkpar[taxka nakwa xd[ qnqdx omenaala nke asxsx nzimozi, [kqwa ya maka iweputa echiche ya na imepxtaghar[ otu echiche ahx site n‟iji mkpxrxokwu, na nhazi okwu nke kacha mma maka imepxta echiche ahx n‟asxsx nnata ozi site n‟xd[d[ omenaala ya. D[ka Larson (1998) siri kqwaa, ntxghar[ nke kacha mma bx nke nwere ihe nd[ a:  Nzuruoke nke pxtara imepxtaghar[ otu echiche ahx iji were d[kwa ka nke asxsx nzimozi.  Mkpar[taxka nke pxtara [kqwapxta echiche d[ iche iche n‟uzo q ga-ekwe nd[ qgxx ghqta maka na ḿmá ntxghar[ bx uzo o siri nwetacha ihe nd[ a o kwesiri. Darbelnet (1977) kqwara na ntxghar[ bx ibufe ihe nd[ ahx niile mebere ozi d[ n‟asxsx nzimozi n‟xd[ o siri kwesi ekwesi gaa n‟asxsx nnata ozi. Darbelnet (1977) matara na qrx ntxghar[ anagh[ ad[cha mfe mgbe e nwere nd[iche n‟omenaala asxsx nnata ozi na asxsx nzimozi, txmad[ mgbe o metxtara asxsx bekee na asxsx Igbo. Nke a mere na onye na-eme ntxghar[ ga-ama asxsx nzimozi nakwa asxsx nnata ozi maka ezi ntxghar[. Newmark (1981) kqwakwara ntxghar[ d[ka aka nka na-agba mbq [hx na e tinyeghachiri ihe e dere ede n‟otu asxsx nakwa otu ozi ahx n‟asxsx qzq. Newmark (1981) na-akqwa na ntxghar[ bx iwere ozi d[ n‟asxsx nzimozi gaa na nke nnata ozi. 10 D[ka Catford (1965) siri kqwaa, ntxghar[ bx itinyeghachi ozi ederede d[ n‟otu asxsx (asxsx nzimozi) site n‟iji echiche kacha yie echiche mbx gaa n‟asxsx qzq (asxsx nnata ozi). Pollard (1911:345) kqwara na ntxghar[ bx “ihe ahx na-emepe xzq iji kwe ka qkx chabata, nke na-etiwa ak[ ka any[ were nwee ike taa mkpxrx ya, nke na-ewepx akwa mgbochi, ka any[ were hx ebe nsq ahx, na nke na-ewepx ihe e jiri kpuchi xmi mmiri ka anyi were nwee ike kuru mmiri‟‟. N‟ihe nd[ a niile, Pollard (1911) kwuru maka uru ntxghar[ bara d[ka uzo e si agbasa amamihe na agxmagx. Pollard (1911) na-akqwa na ntxghar[ na-ekpughe ozi d[ n‟asxsx nzimozi were gaa na nke nnata ozi ka e were ghqta ihe d[ na asxsx nzimozi. Catford (1969) hxtara ntxghar[ d[ka itinyeghachi ozi ederede d[ n‟otu asxsx (asxsx nzimozi) site n‟iji echiche kacha yie echiche mbx, gaa n‟asxsx qzq (asxsx nnata ozi). Q wepxtara echiche ya n‟ihe qmxmx ntxghar[ nke bx xd[ ntxghar[ na mbufe ntxghar[. Catford (1969) wepxtara xd[ ntxghar[ atq, ha bx:    Qnqdx asxsx e ji eme ntxghar[ nq Ogo ntxghar[ nke nwere ike ipekar[ otu a txrx anya maqbx ntxghar[ nke e mere n‟uju Ogo ndokq okwu nke mbufe echiche kacha yie onwe ya nke e tinyere n‟asxsx nnata ozi q gbadoro xkwx. Catford (1969) na-akqwa na ntxghar[ bx itinyeghachi ozi asxsx nzimozi gaa n‟asxsx nnata ozi site n‟iji okwu nwere myiri d[ka q d[ n‟asxsx nzimozi na asxsx nnata 11 ozi. Catford (1969) kqwara mbufe ntxghar[ d[ka qpxpx ozi d[ n‟asxsx nzimozi were gaa n‟asxsx nnata ozi. Q kqwara na e nwere xd[ mbufe ntxghar[ d[ iche iche. Ha bx:  Qnqdx mbufe nke na-apxta ihe mgbe ozi d[ n‟asxsx nzimozi nwere ihe ya na ya  Xd[ mbufe ntxghari. N‟ebe a, e kere ya xzq anq, ha bx:   bx otu n‟ime asxsx nnata ozi . Mbufe ndokq ntxghar[ nke pxtara mgbanwe ndokq okwu d[ iche iche pxtara ihe n‟ime asxsx nzimozi na nke nnata ozi Qnqdx mbufe ntxghar[ nke pxtara na oge [ na-eme ntxghar[, na xfqdx okwu nq n‟qnqdx ngwaa n‟asxsx nzimozi nwere ike [pxta ihe d[ka nkqwaaha n‟asxsx nnata ozi  Njikq mbufe ntxghari. Nke a na-apxta ihe mgbe mgbanwe na-apxta ihe n‟ogo ntxghar[.  Mbufe ntxghar[ nke ime. Nke a na-apxta ihe mgbe iwu ndokq okwu asxsx nzimozi bx otu nyere nke nnata ozi. Oge xfqdx, ihe nd[ bx mkpoolu n‟asxsx nzimozi naabx xbara n‟asxsx nnata ozi. Newmark (1988) tunyere aro na ntxghar[ qbxla bx emereme n‟ihe qmxmx Sayens[ asxsx nd[naqrx. Itinye nghqta qmxmx Lingwistik ga-enye aka ma a na-eme ntxghar[. House (1997) kqwakwara na ntxghar[ bx ibufe asxsx qd[nala nd[ mmadx nke bx na ihe e dere n‟otu asxsx bx nke e jiri echiche kacha yie echiche tinye n‟ime akwxkwq nnata ozi. House (1997) kwenyere na echiche d[ n‟asxsx nnata ozi ga-abx otu nyere nke nzimozi. Q txnyere aro na e nwere ike iwepxta echiche akwxkwq e dere ede site n‟qnqdx odee nq 12 z[pxta ya. Q kqwara na q bxrx na myiri asxsx nnata ozi na nke nzimozi abxgh[ otu, [ mara na ntxghar[ e mere ezughi oke. House (1997) na-akqwa na ntxghar[ bx ibufe od[naala nd[ site n‟iji okwu kacha yie nke asxsx nzimozi were gaa n‟asxsx nnata ozi. Gutt (2000) kqwara na ntxghar[ gxnyere [txghar[ echiche ezipxtara site n‟aka òtù n‟otu asxsx were gaa n‟uzo kwesiri nzipxta n‟asxsx qzq maqbx n‟òtú qzq. Darbelnet (1977:27) kqwara na ezigbo ntxghar[ bx nke a kqwara d[ka “ihe gxnyere ibufe ihe niile gbasara echiche site n‟otu asxsx gaa n‟qzq, ma gbaa mbq [hx na ihe ebufere n‟asxsx nnata ozi ka nwekwara echiche asxsx nzimozi d[ka o siri d[ mkpa, ya nakwa [hx na olu odee bx ihe e zipxtara n‟xzq d[ iche iche d[ka omenaala asxsx nzimozi na nke nnata ozi siri nabata‟‟. Q bx ya mere Vinay na Darbelnet (1977) jiri kqwaa na ntxghar[ bx qkaibe bx nke echiche d[ n‟asxsx nzimozi bx otu nyere nke nnata ozi. Ha txnyere aro s[ na q bxrx na e mee nke a nke qma, na q ga-ewepxta akanka ahx d[ka o siri d[ n‟asxsx nzimozi nke mere na q ga-enyere onye na-eme ntxghar[ aka iluso atxmatx okwu, ilu maqbx nkqwa okwu qgx. Iji nweta ntxghar[ zuru oke, onye na-eme ntxghar[ kwes[r[ [ma qnqdx e jiri okwu nd[ ahx d[ n‟asxsx nzimozi were rxq qrx. D[ka Steiner (1975:396) siri kwu, ezi ntxghar[ bx “nke e mere nke qma ebe ajq ntxghar[ bx nke emeghi nke qma‟‟. Ajq ntxghar[ bx ntxghar[ ahx nke ezughi oke d[ka o siri d[ n‟ime asxsx nzimozi n‟ihi nsogbu maqbx nke qzq. Steiner (1975) na-akqwa na ezi ntxghar[ bx nke e mere nke qma ebe ajq ntxghar[ bx nke emegh[ nke qma. Savory (1968) kqwara na ntxghar[ na-apxta ihe site n‟inwe echiche ka were yie ibe ya emepxtara n‟xd[ qzq nke gbadoro xkwx n‟uzo e siri were okwu were mepxta ya. 13 Savory (1968) na-akqwa na tupu e nwee ntxghar[, na echiche n‟asxsx nzimozi ga-ezu ezu n‟asxsx nnata ozi. N‟obere atxtx Sapir (1974) nke q kpqrq Linguistic Relativism, q kqwara na ndokq qnx asxsx d[ iche iche bx nke nwere ike [gbasa agbasa iji gbaa otu asxsx ume iji wee gee nt[ n‟ihe nd[ d[ n‟xwa nyere. Iwu Linguistic Relativism na-akqwa na otu asxsx siri d[ naemetxta xzq nd[ na-asx ya bx asxsx si aghqta xwa. Sapir (1974) kwenyes[r[ ike na asxsx ji igodo nke nghqta echiche xmx mmadx d[ iche iche n‟xwa niile. N‟ihe edide ya, q kqwara na n‟ihi ihe nd[iche d[ n‟uzo ndokq okwu n‟asxsx d[ iche iche, na o nwegh[ asxsx abxq nwere myiri nzuruoke maka imepxta ezi ntxghar[. Sapir (1974) na-ekwu na ebe q bx na asxsx pxtara ihe d[ iche iche, na nd[ na-asx asxsx d[ iche iche ga-aghqtakwa ka asxsx siri d[ iche iche. Atxtx a na-akqwa na nkx d[ na mba na-eghere mba nri. N‟ihi mpxtara omenaala na asxsx d[ iche iche nakwa d[ka o siri metxta nd[ na-asx ya, onye na-eme ntxghar[ nke na-amagh[ asxsx na omenaala asxsx nzimozi, ga-eme ntxghar[ asxsx nzimozi site n‟ihe omenaala na asxsx nnata ozi nwere. Nke a mere Gentsler (1993) jiri nye ndxmqdx n‟ibufe echiche mgbe a na-eme ntxghar[ gbadoro xkwx n‟[ghqta asxsx nzimozi na omenala na asxsx nnata ozi. Halliday na Hasan (1985) kqwara na o nwere ihe nd[ d[bu tupu atxtx akwxkwq ozi. Nke a pxtara na ihe nd[ ahx d[bu bx omenaala maka inweta nghqta zuru oke nyere akwxkwq ozi ahx. Omenaala nke d[bu tupu akwxkwq ozi bx nke e kwesiri ilenye anya nke qma n‟ihi qrx q na-arx d[ka mkpqrqgwx ntxghar[. Iji sonyere echiche a, Catford 14 (1969) kqwara na onye ntxghar[ qbxla kwes[r[ ilenye anya n‟ime asxsx na omenaala ma gbado ntxghar[ ya n‟ihe abxq nd[ a. Catford (1969) kwukwara na e nwere opekatampe ihe nd[iche abxq nke naemetxta myiri ihe a txghar[r[, nd[ a bx asxsx na omenaala. Site n‟echiche Linguistic Relativism, o doro anya na onye na-eme ntxghar[ bx onye qb[a nyere omenaala n‟ime asxsx o ji arx qrx, nke mere q ga-eji nqrq na nsogbu emetagh[ ntxghar[. D[ka House (1997) siri kwu, atxtx ntxghar[ njiarxqrx na-egosi uzo esi eji asxsx arx qrx n‟ime òtù ma kqwakwa otu omenaala na asxsx siri metxta. Qmxmaatx atxtx njiarxqrx d[ka House (1997) siri kqwaa bx usoro njiarxqrx grama nakwa atxtx ntxghar[ nke Catford. D[ka House (1997) siri hxta usoro grama njiarxqrx nke Halliday, q hxtara ihe mebere asxsx d[ka nghqta njiarxqrx nke òtù, nke asxsx b[ara inyere aka. N‟atxtx a, ntxghar[ lingwistik nke Catford (1969) nwere ihe nd[ mebere ya. Grama njiarxqrx bx okwu na ndokq okwu nd[ ahx odee jiri rxq qrx site n‟iji ya were wepxta echiche d[ iche iche na grama ndokq okwu nd[ ahx onye na-eme ntxghar[ jiri wee buru echiche d[ n‟asxsx nzimozi gaa na nke nnata ozi. Wilmer (1995) hxtara ntxghar[ d[ka xzq na-agbanwe agbanwe nke mmadx ga-eji kesaara nd[ mmadx ihe nd[ d[ n‟asxsx ya nke e nwetara n‟xd[ ederede maqbx ekwurunqnx were gaa n‟asxsx qzq. Wilmer (1995) na-akqwa na ntxghar[ bx xzq mmadx si agwa nd[ mmadx ihe o nwere n‟qd[naala ya. Darbelnet (1997) n‟otu aka ahx txnyere aro na ntxghar[ kwesiri idobe ihe nd[ mebere omenaala n‟ime ntxghar[. 15 Maka onye na-eme ntxghar[ ikwesi ekwes[, Taylor (1931) ch[kqtara ma kqwaa ihe ise nd[ kwesiri ekwesi mgbe a na-eme ntxghar[ d[ka Nida (1964:15) siri kwu;  Onye na-eme ntxghar[ ga-aghqtar[r[ nke qma mmebere na mbunuche odee q naatxghar[ qrx ya.   Onye na-eme ntxghar[ ga-amar[r[ asxsx q na-atxghar[ nke qma. Onye na-eme ntxghar[ ga-agbanar[ qnqdx ime ntxghar[ okwu laara okwu maka ime nke a ga-emebi nghqta asxsx nzimozi ma mebikwaa ḿmá nkqwapxta ya.   Onye na-eme ntxghar[ ga-eji asxsx njiarxqrx mee ntxghar[. Site na nhqokwu odee, onye na-eme ntxghar[ ga-agba mbq izipxta ya site n‟ihe nd[ kwes[r[nx. Q bxrx na ntxghar[ bx ikwughar[ otu ihe n‟asxsx qzq, onye na-eme ntxghar[ ga- agba mbq [hx na ihe e nwere n‟asxsx nnata ozi bxkwa ihe e nwere n‟asxsx nzimozi. Onye ntxghar[ ga-agba mbq [hx na e nwegh[ ngwakq asxsx. {maatx, a b[a n‟asxsx Igbo, onye na-eme ntxghar[ agagh[ ekwu “qlx” kama “qrx” (work). Onye na-eme ntxghar[ agagh[ eji ah[r[ mgbagwo maka ezi nghqta. Q ga-agbakwa mbq mara okwu nd[ ahx yiri okwu d[ n‟asxsx nzimozi nke qgxx nwere n‟asxsx ya. Ntxghar[ bx xzq mkpar[taxka nke mmekqr[ta omenaala nakwa mkpar[kqta nd[ na-asx asxsx d[ iche iche. Nwadike (2014) kqwara na e nwere xd[ akwxkwq d[ iche iche e ji eme ntxghar[ nke a kpqrq Text Categorization n‟olu bekee. A b[a na nkewas[ akwxkwq, ha bx:   Ederede gbasara agxmagx – Literary Text Ederede gbasara sayens[ na nkanxzx – Scientific and Technical Text 16  Akwxkwq gbasara ihe qmxmx niile maqbx ihe ndapxta -General/Miscellaneous Texts.  Ederede agxmagx: O metxtara ngalaba iduuaz[, abx na ejije. Asxsx ya anagh[ edocha anya oge xfqdx ma nsogbu a na-ahxtakar[cha n‟xd[ akwxkwq a bx nsogbu atxmatx okwu na nkwenye nke onwe nke onye na-eme ntxghar[ nwere ike q gagh[ ama.  Ederede gbasara sayens[ na nkanxzx bx akwxkwq na-ahx maka asxsx na ihe niile gbasara nkanxzu. Akwxkwq metxtara ngalaba a bx akwxkwq qgwx, xzx, fiziks, ndx, kem[st[r[, ekqnqmikisi na lingwistiks. Nwadike (2014) kwuru na q bx xzq ihe abxq bx ihe na-ebute nh[ahx ntxghar[ akwxkwq nkanxzx. Ha gxnyere:  Enwegh[ nghqta zuru oke maka mkpxrxokwu e nwere na ngalaba a. Imaatx, onye amagh[ xd[ mkpxrxokwu eji eme ihe na ngalaba qmxmx ndx nke a kpqrq “Biology” n‟olu Bekee ga-enwe nh[ahx ime ntxghar[ na ngalaba a. Xd[r[ okwu d[ na ngalaba a na-agbagwoju onye anqgh[ na ngalaba anya [ghqta. D[ka Darbelnet (1977) siri kwu, q kqwara na aghqtagh[ mkpxrxokwu xfqdx naabxkar[ anqgh[ mkpxrxokwu nd[ ahx nso nke na-ebute aghqtachagh[ mkpxrxokwu.  Akwxkwq gbasara ihe qmxmx niile maqbx ihe ndapxta. Akwxkwq nd[ nq n‟okpuru qnqdx a na-enye ozi gbasara ihe qbxla nke metxtara ngalaba d[gas[ ka nta akxkq, azxmah[a, qch[ch[ nakwazi ihe gbasara xka. 17 Ab[a n‟echiche d[gas[ iche iche gbasara ntxghar[, nd[ na-eme ntxghar[ kwes[r[ [bx nkamma n‟ebe asxsx nzimozi na asxsx nnata ozi d[, nke bx na ha kwes[r[ [ma asxsx abxq nd[ a nke qma maka ezi ntxghar[ ya nakwazi [ma ebe okwu e jiri rxq qrx kwes[r[ [bata n‟ime asxsx nnata ozi n‟ihi na q bx qd[naala abxq bx ihe anabatara were rxq qrx, nke gxnyere qd[naala asxsx nzimozi na asxsx nnata ozi. Ezigbo ntxghar[ bx nke d[ka Nida (1964) siri kwu, mbughar[ myitere nke a kpqrq Dynamic Equivalence n‟olu Bekee. Nke a bx ibufeta nke kacha yie echiche mbx a naekwu maka ya gaa n‟asxsx qzq. Emetagh[ ntxghar[ bx ajq ntxghar[ nke mere Steiner (1975) jiri kqwaa ya d[ka nke ezughi oke site n‟asxsx nzimozi. Nke bx ezi ntxcha iji mara ma ntxghar[ e mere abx nke d[ mma bx itxghar[ ntxghar[ gaa n‟asxsx nzimozi iji were mara ma xda na olu ahx e jiri dee ihe a ka d[kwa ya. Q bxrx na q d[gh[ ya, [ mara na o zughi oke, mana q bxrx na nke a emegh[, [ mara na ntxghar[ zuru oke. Odee gbakwasara xkwx n‟xzq ntxghar[ asaa nke Vinay na Darbelnet (1958) were rxq qrx ntxghar[ a. Ha gxnyere:  Mbite okwu (Borrowing): Nke a pxtara iwebata okwu d[ n‟asxsx nzimozi n‟ime asxsx nnata ozi. Darbelnet (2008:85) kqwara na mbite okwu ka mma maka qrx ntughar[.  Ntxghar[ Calque: Vinay na Darbelnet (2000) kwuru na nke a pxtara na a gaatxghar[ okwu nd[ ahx e bitere ka q baa na ndokq okwu asxsx nnata ozi. 18  Okwu laara okwu (Literal translation): Armstrong (2005) kqwara na q bx ibufe otu okwu maqbx echiche site n‟asxsx nzimozi gaa n‟asxsx nnata ozi naachqkwagh[ [ma ma o nwere nghqta maqbx na q nwegh[ nghqta. Odee na-eji ya  arx qrx n‟ebe q kacha dabaa maka iwepxta echiche bx qkaibe. Ntxghar[ Transposition: Nke a bx iji nkqwa qzq nqqrq onwe ya were nqchie anya echiche asxsx nzimozi. Nke a metutara xtqasxsx nke asxsx nnata ozi.  Nhazighar[ (Modulation): Baker na Saldanha (2009) kqwara na q bx nhazighar[  Echiche kacha yie echiche asxsx nzimozi (Equivalance): Nida (1964) kqwara na q  mpxtara echiche asxsx nzimozi d[ka “ka e siri hx”. bx iji echiche kacha yie echiche asxsx nzimozi gaa n‟asxsx nnata ozi. Nnabata (Adaptation): Nke a bx xzq Vinay na Darbelnet (2000) nabatara iji were mee ka okwu qd[naala asxsx nzimozi nwee nghqta n‟ime asxsx nnata ozi. Nke a na-apxtakar[ ihe mgbe okwu d[ n‟asxsx nzimozi adigh[ n‟asxsx nnata ozi. Newmark (1981) kqwapxtara xzq nke e were na-eme ntxghar[ ma kwuo na nke kacha bxrx uzo mpxtara na echiche si adapx bx ime ntxghar[ kar[a ogo o kwesiri [nq nakwa emegh[ ntxghar[ ruo ogo o kwesiri [nq. Nwaozuzu (1985) kqwara na e nwere xd[ nd[ ntxghar[ atq, ha bx:    Onye a txnyeere aro ma gbakwaa ume Onye jiri aka ya kweta ime ntxghar[ Onye na-eme ntxghar[ maka ihe nrite maqbx ego. 19 Nwaozuzu (1985) kwuru na onye kacha mma n‟ime nd[ a na-eme ntxghar[ bx onye jiri aka ya chqq ime ntxghar[, nke nwegoro ihe q mabugoro maka ntxghar[ ma bxrx onye nwere uche ichere ntxghar[ aka mgba. Nwaozuzu (1985) kwukwara na q ga-abx onye nwere ike iche uche ma nwekwaa xzq nka maka imepxta ezi ntxghar[. Steiner (1975:245) kqwara onye na-eme ntxghar[ d[ka “qkwq xgbqala mmxq mmadx‟‟ ma gaa n‟ihu kqwaa na onye na-eme ntxghar[ kwes[r[ [jx onwe ya ajxjx xfqdx d[ka.   A ghqtala m ihe a na-ekwu maka ya, olu odee na ihe gbasara ihe q chqrq [txghar[? A hxla m uzo kacha mma nke a ga-agbaso maka imepxta na [kqwa ihe a na-ekwu maka ya? Robinson (2000) kqwara na ebumnuche xfqdx nd[ na-eme ntxghar[ bxkar[r[ naan[ [txghar[ ozi ahx ka q d[ ka nke odee n‟asxsx nzimozi. Jakobson (1959:54) nq n‟ime akwxkwq edide ya kqwaa na e nwere xd[ ntxghar[ atq, ha bx:    Ntxghar[ n‟ime asxsx (Intralingual) Ntxgahar[ site n‟otu asxsx gaa n‟qzq (Interlingual) Ntxghar[ ihe e ji akara gosi were gaa na nke edere ede (Inter semiotic). Venuti (2001) hxtara na onye na-eme ntxghar[ nwere ike iwere otu n‟ ime xd[ xzq abxq nd[ a, Ha bx:  Ntxghar[ okwu laara okwu maqbx nke kwx qtq (Literal translation/Direct translation)  Ntxghar[ akwxgh[ qtq (Obligue translation) 20 Mgbe enwegh[ ike ime ntxghar[ okwu laara okwu maqbx ntxghar[ nke kwx qtq, a na-eji ntxghar[ akwxgh[ qtq were mee ntxghar[. E nwere xd[ ntxghar[ akwxgh[ qtq. Ha bx:  Mbite okwu, nke pxtara iwebata okwu d[ n‟asxsx nzimozi n‟ime asxsx nnata ozi  Xd[ okwu mbite a kqwara n‟ime asxsx nzimozi ewebatara n‟ime asxsx nnata ozi.   Iji xtqasxsx bx qkaibe were zie ozi d[ n‟asxsx nzimozi n‟ime nke nnata ozi. Ibufeghar[ qnqdx okwu di n‟asxsx nzimozi n‟ xdi qzq, ghara [gbanwe mpxtara ya.   {gbanwe kaesirihx asxsx nzimozi. Ibufe qnqdx abxq site n‟iji xd[ akanka na nhazi d[ iche iche site n‟asxsx nzimozi gaa na nke nnata ozi.  Qnqdx a na-enwe nd[iche n‟ebe qd[naala nzimozi na nke nnata ozi d[. Reiss (1971) wepxtara xd[ akwxkwq d[ iche iche ma kwuo na e nwere xd[ qrx anq akwxkwq na-arx. Ha gxnyere:  Ozi: Ozi d[ n‟ime akwxkwq nnata ozi ga-ad[r[r[ ka nke nzimozi, b[az[a hx na e nwegh[ nd[iche na ya.  Nkqwa: D[ka o siri metxta iduuaz[, mbunuche akwxkwq nnata ozi bx [chqpxta ihe ahx odee bu n‟uche tupu o were dee ihe o dere, n‟ihi na qrx iduuaz[ gbadoro xkwx n‟akwxkwq ahx a txghar[r[. 21  Njiarxqrx: Nke a bx nke nwere ike ime nd[ mmadx ka ha kpaa agwa d[ a]aa, txmad[ mbunuche nyere ha nsogbu mgbe a na-agbasa ozi maka ihe ha amabughi na mbx. Akwxkwq nnata ozi kwesiri [gbakwa mbq imekwa ka nd[ mmadx kpaa  agwa d[ a]aa mgbe e megoro ntxghar[ ahx gaa n‟asxsx nzimozi. Iji okwu na ihe nkiri were gbasaa ozi sokwa na ya. Q ga-ad[kwa otu ahx n‟asxsx nnata ozi. E nwere qtxtx katqrq echiche Reiss (1971) n‟ihi na o nwere ike [pxta ihe n‟xd[ qnqdx d[ iche iche. Nke a pxtara na ntxghar[ akwxkwq agxmagx bx qrx nd[ qkammxta tinyegoro anya, nke bx na e nwere echiche d[ iche iche nke mere na mmadx nwere ike [katq maqbx jx [nabata echiche onye qzq site n‟iwepxta echiche o chere ka mma. Sperber na Wilson (1986) wepxtara Relevance theory. Relevance theory wepxtara ihe nd[ ahx e jiri mara mkpar[taxka site n‟iji asxsx d[ n‟ime omenaala, nke mere ka nke e ji arx qrx doo anya. Q na-ahxtakwa ntxghar[ ka mbxghar[ myitere ma gbado xkwx na nghqta maka ntxghar[. Gutt (2000) kqwara na onye na-eme ntxghar[ ga-eme ntxghar[ ya ka o were nwee ike d[ka nke d[ n‟asxsx nzimozi. Ka Gutt (2000) siri kwu, ajxjx [kwxba aka qtq were mee ezigbo ntxghar[ pxtara ihe na Relevance theory. Aha qzq e nwere ike [kpq ntxghar[ literal bx ntxghar[ okwu laara okwu. Ntxghar[ literal bx ibufe ozi d[ n‟akwxkwq nzimozi gaa na nke nnata ozi n‟xd[ okwu laara okwu; kar[a echiche laara echiche. Oge xfqdx, ntxghar[ okwu laara okwu bx xd[ onye na-eme ntxghar[ na-eme mgbe q na-amagh[ asxsx ahx. 22 Richard (1985) kqwara ahaaka d[ka aha e nyere mmadu, ebe maqbx ihe nke e depxtara site n‟iji nnukwu mkpxrx asxsx were bido idepxta ya ma na-arxkwa qrx pxrx iche n‟ebe agxmagx nq.E nwere xzq d[ iche iche a na-enejere anya n‟iji ahaaka were rxq qrx mgbe a na-eme ntxghar[. Hervey na Higgins (1986) kwenyere na e nwere xzq abxq e ji were na-eji ahaaka were na-eme ntxghar[. Hervey na Higgins (1986) kqwara na e nwere ike hapx itxghar[ aha d[ n‟akwxkwq nzimozi gaa n‟akwxkwq nnata ozi maqbx txghar[a ya ka q baa n‟qd[naala asxsx nnata ozi. Hervey na Higgins (1989) kpqrq [txghar[ aha d[ n‟akwxkwq nzimozi gaa na nke nnata ozi exotism, nke d[ka ka otu ihe nyere ntxghar[ okwu laara okwu, ma kpqkwaa [txghar[ ahaaka ka q baa n‟qd[naala asxsx nnata ozi transliteration. Hervey na Higgins (1998: 29) wepxtakwara xzq qzq ga-enye aka maka iji ahaaka were rxq qrx site n‟asxsx nzimozi were gaa na nke nnata ozi. Hervey na Higgins (1986) kpqrq ya cultural transplantation, nke pxtara iji aha qd[naala asxsx nnata ozi wee nqchie anya aha qd[naala asxsx nzimozi nke ha abxq na-enwegh[ myiri. Leppihalme (1997:79) wepxtara xzq a ga-eji were na-ezipxta ahaaka. Ha bx:  {hapx aha (Retention of the name).  Iji aha ahx d[ n‟asxsx nzimozi were rxq qrx otu ahx n‟ime asxsx nnata ozi.  Iji aha ahx rxq qrx n‟ime asxsx nnata ozi ma wepxtakwa ihe ntuziaka nyere aha ahx e jiri rxq qrx.  Iji aha ahx rxq qrx ma gbakwxnyere ya nkqwa .  Iji aha qzq nqchie anya aha nke mbx (Replacement of the name by another) 23  Iji aha qzq d[ n‟asxsx nzimozi were nqchie anya aha mbx e ji rxq qrx. Nke a pxtara na a ga-eji aha qzq e nwere n‟ime qd[naala asxsx nzimozi were rxq qrx site n‟iji ya wee nqchie anya nke mbx.  Iji aha qzq d[ n‟ime asxsx nnata ozi were nqchie anya aha asxsx nzimozi e ji rxq qrx. Nke a pxtara na onye na-eme ntxghar[ ga-akpx aha agwa site n‟iji aha d[ na qd[naala asxsx nnata ozi were nqchie anya aha asxsx nzimozi.  Iwepx aha (Omission of the name)  Iwepx aha, kama a ga-etinye maqbx bufeta echiche ya. Nke a pxtara n‟aha e jiri rxq qrx n‟asxsx nzimozi agagh[ ad[z[ ire n‟ime asxsx nnata ozi kama a ga-ezipxta ya n‟ud[ echiche maqbx aha izugbe.  Iwepx aha na nkqwa ya. Nke a pxtara na onye na-eme ntxghar[ ga-ewepx aha ahx d[ n‟asxsx nzimozi nakwa nkqwa ya n‟ejighi ihe obula were zipxta ya. D[ka Larson (1998:10) siri kwu, “ntxghar[ okwu laara okwu na-agbaso xd[d[ asxsx nzimozi kama nsogbu ntxghar[ okwu laara okwu na-amalite n‟akwxkwq nke a naekwesighi inye xd[ ntxghar[ a b[a bxrx ihe e nyere ntxghar[ okwu laara okwu. Mgbe nke a mere, ozi ahx d[ n‟asxsx nzimozi ga-bx nke na-apxtagh[ ihe ebe onye na-eme ntxghar[ b[ara ghara ime ihe ntxghar[ ahx uzo kwesiri ka e mee ya‟‟. 2.2 Qrx nd[ e megoro metxtara isiokwu 24 Nwaozuzu (2002) kqwara na a na-enwe nsogbu xda na mkpxrxokwu mgbe a naeme ntxghar[ iduuaz[ site n‟asxsx Bekee gaa n‟asxsx Igbo. Q kqwara na onye na-eme ntxghar[ kwesiri [nabata omenaala abxq nd[ ahx iji mee ezi ntxghar[. Nwadike (1997) kpughere nkatq Emenyonu katqrq ntxghar[ nke George Orwell, nke aha ya bx Animal farm nke q bx Madxka txghar[r[ ya. Q kqwara na naani ihe Madxka mere bx ideghar[ aha isiokwu ya d[ na bekee ma bufeta ya bx akwxkwq n‟asxsx Igbo. Q ghqtara na ihe gbasara ntxghar[ bx na ihe ahx bx ihe a ga-atxghar[ ga-abar[r[ na omenala asxsx nnata ozi. Soyinka (2007) txghar[r[ “The Forest of the Lord of Deities nke q kpqrq Igbo Olodumare nke D. O. Fagunwa dere. Q txghar[kwara The Forest of Impentrable Silence nke q kpqrq Ojola Idakeroro. Soyinka (2007) kqwapxtara na [txghar[ qrx Fagunwa ad[chagh[ mfe, qkachas[ n‟ebe xd[ akanka o ji were na-akqwapxta ihe nke nwere ike ime g[ ka [ pxq gaa n‟asxsx qzq chqrq okwu [ ga-eji were kqwapxta echiche ya. Adeaga (2008) txleghar[r[ qrx ntxghar[ nke Hilskiecher nke q kpqrq The Palm- wine Drunkard nke Tutuola dere, bx nke a txghar[r[ were gaa n‟asxsx nd[ Germany. Q kqwara na o nwegh[ nsogbu na nkqwapxta ihe txmad[ mgbe a na-atxghar[ ya. Adeaga (2008) kqwapxtara na q bx asxsx Yoruba English ka e ji were dee ya, n‟ihi aguzugh[ akwxkwq nke odee. Nke a pxtara na e ji xzq nd[ Yoruba siri wee na-asx asxsx Bekee were rxq qrx n‟ ime iduuaz[ a. Nd[ qrx ntule kqwapxtara na etu e siri dee ya mere ya ka o were nnukwu qnqdx n‟ime qd[naala odee nke mere na q ga-ah[a ahx ibufeta ya n‟qd[naala mba xwa sagoro anya. D[ka Adeaga (2008) siri kwu, q kqwapxtara na xlq qrx bipxtara ya jxrx ibighar[ ya n‟ihi na nhq okwu odee bx ihe mere ka a mara ya bx akwxkwq amara. Q 25 kqwakwara na nke ahx e jiri asxsx Germany were dee agagh[ enwe xd[ òtìtó q natara n‟qd[naala odee n‟ihi na a ga-eji asxsx Germany were sxghar[a ya. Sozaboy bx iduaaz[ Ken Saro-Wiwa dere. Q bx nke akqwapxtara d[ka nke e ji asxsx bekee ad[gboroja dee nke q bx onye ntxghar[ si mba Germany aha ya bx Grotjahn Pape bx onye txghar[r[ ya. Grotjahn Pape kqwapxtara na iduuaz[ a nwekwara otu nsogbu ahx nke ntxghar[ Tutuola nwere. Q kqwara na a txghar[r[ ya gaa n‟asxsx French site n‟aka onye ntxghar[ Thierry Dubost. A txghar[kwara ya gaa n‟asxsx Yoruba site n‟aka Akinwumi Isola. Ha abxq nwechara asxsx French na Yoruba d[ka asxsx qmxmx ha nke bx ezi ntuliaka n‟ebe emereme ntxghar[ d[. Na ntxcha Soyoye na Banigo (2010) mere, ha weere atxtx abxq were mee ya, nke mbx bx nke mgbado xkwx ya bx n‟asxsx nzimozi “source text oriented”. Ha kqwapxtara na aka qrx ha mbx bu n‟ebe asxsx nzimozi d[ nke bx nke e kpuchiri nke qma n‟ebe ntxghar[ d[. A b[a na nke mgbado xkwx ya bx na nnata ozi “target text oriented”, o nwere myiri n‟echiche mkpar[ta zuru oke n‟ime ntxghar[ e mere, na mbunuche mbx ya [hx na e nwere mkpar[taxka na mmekqr[ta zuru oke n‟omenaala nd[ ahx e jiri rxq qrx. Ihe nd[ a Soyoye na Banigo (2010) hxtara pxtakwaziri ihe n‟ebe agwa nd[ ahx odee kpxrx were rxq qrx, nakwa ntqala ebe odee hqqrq maka iji rxq qrx nke bx ihe gbadoro xkwx na ndx nd[ Yoruba. Death and King‟s Horseman nke Soyinka (2007) dere nwere qtxtx ngwakqr[ta asxsx nke mere na qtxtx okwu asxsx Yoruba batara na ndokQ ah[r[okwu bekee. Nsogbu qzqkwa onye French mere ntxghar[ ahx nwere bx enwegh[ okwu nd[ ahx a ga-eji were zipxta ngwakqr[ta mkpxrxokwu nd[ ahx. 26 Site n‟atxtx nke abxq, Soyoye na Banigo (2010) gbasora atxtx nke gbadoro xkwx na nnata ozi, nke na-ekwu na asxsx nzimozi bx naan[ ngwa qrx e ji ewepxta njiarxqrx nke mmekqr[ta. Ha kwuru na onye na-eme ntxghar[ kwes[r[ [gbado anya n‟ime ozi a na-ezi na q bxgh[ akwxkwq ozi. Ha kwukwara na akwxkwq nzimozi ahx nwere qd[naala, asxsx na ozi nke ga-eme na a gagh[ enwe mgbagwoju anya nyere qgxx. Nwaeze (2014) mere nchqcha n‟ihe gbasara nsogbu a na-enwe na ntxghar[ ilu igbo gaa na Bekee. Q kqwara na mgbe a na-eme ntxghar[ ilu, a na-enwe nsogbu d[ iche iche. Nwaeze (2014) kqwara na mgbe e ji ntxghar[ okwu laara okwu were mee ntxghar[, na mbunuche e ji were ilu ahx kwuo okwu agagh[ apxta ihe n‟asxsx nnata ozi. Nwaeze (2014) s[r[ na q bxrx na i kwuo “egwu nk[ta bx onye daara ibe ya, ibe ya adaara ya bx nke q txghar[r[ dika Dogs play require each one falling for the other. N‟ebe a, echiche ebu n‟obi apxtagh[ ihe. Nsogbu Nwaeze (2014) hxtara metxtakwara nsogbu echiche kacha yie echiche nzimozi n‟ime nke nnata ozi n‟ihi ya, ebumnobi agagh[ apxta ihe n‟asxsx nnata ozi. Q hxtakwara nsogbu ndokq okwu n‟ihi na asxsx Bekee na asxsx Igbo abxgh[ otu. Q hxtakwara nsogbu mpxtara echiche d[ n‟asxsx nzimozi were gaa na nke nnata ozi. Ntxghar[ Nwaeze (2014) yitere ntxghar[ a ga-eme n‟ihi na e nwere nsogbu mpxtara echiche d[ n‟asxsx nzimozi txmad[ nke kacha yie echiche mbx gaa na nke nnata ozi ma d[kwa iche n‟ebe qd[naala akwxkwq nzimozi d[. Qd[naala iduuaz[ Chike and the River gbadoro xkwx n‟qd[naala asxsx Bekee ebe qrx Nwaeze (2014) nwere qd[naala abxq. Ha bx qd[naala asxsx Bekee na qd[naala asxsx Igbo. Chidi-Nweloke (2012) mere ntxghar[ Okwe Agbaala site n‟asxsx Igbo gaa n‟asxsx Bekee. O ji xzq ntxghar[ Vinay na Darblenet (1977) mee ntxghar[. Chid-Nweloke 27 (2012) nwetara nsogbu n‟ime asxsx qd[naala asxsx nzimozi were gaa na nke nnata ozi. Ha gxnyere: Hapx ara nne ya ]xwa akpx osisi – leaves the wine and decides to take vinegar; Jide qfq – Be upright without blame; Ihe xtq na-emeketa luwe ilu – No condition is permanent. Ntxghar[ Chidi-Nweloke (2012) nwere myiri ma d[kwa iche nyere ntxghar[ odee mere. A b[a na nd[iche, odee mere ntxghar[ iduuazi Chike and the River nke Achebe ebe Chidi-Nweloke (2012) mere ntxghar[ Okwe Agbaala nke Nwadike. Ntxghar[ odee bx n‟asxsx Bekee ka q d[ tupu o bufeta ya n‟asxsx Igbo ma nke Chidi-Nweloke (2012) bx n‟asxsx Igbo ka q d[ tupu o bufeta ya n‟asxsx Bekee. Ezika (2012) n‟otu aka ahx mere ntxghar[ Oliver Twist nke Charles Dickens. O ji xzq Vinay na Darbelnet (1965) wepxtara mee ntxghar[, tinyere usoro Baker (1974) wepxtara maka ntxghar[, nke bx ntxghar[ nke odee nwetara nsogbu n‟inye agwa aha na ntqala e jiri dee ya nke bx na e were d[ka ntoala na aha agwa si d[ n‟asxsx nzimozi, ntxghar[ agagh[ enwe isi. Ya mere o ji were asxsx Igbo were kpxq aha agwa na ntqala. {maatx Mr Brownlow zara Mz. Xnamba, Giles zara Osita, London zara Qn[cha, America zara Uburuku. O nwekwara nsogbu qd[naala n‟ebe okwu na xtqasxsx d[. Ha bx “gave him a lot of kisses d[ka makxrx ya, Sunday suit d[ka qmar[cha akwa, my aunt d[ka mama dgz. O nwetara nsogbu akanka na ntxghar[ ya. Myiri d[ n‟etiti ntxghar[ Oliver Twist nke Ezika (2012) na ntxghar[ Chike and the River bx na ha nwechara nsogbu agwa, akparamagwa na akanka, ebe nd[iche d[ na ha abxq bx nsogbu qd[naala. Nke a pxtara ihe n‟qrx ntxghar[ Ezika (2012) ma q d[gh[ na Chike and the River n‟ihi na Chike and the River nwere otu qd[naala asxsx e ji were txghar[a ya. 28 Obetta (1994) mere ntxghar[ Chike and the River nke Achebe. O nweghi atxtx mgbakwasi xkwx o ji were mee ntxghar[ kama o kwuru na q mere ntxghar[ ya n‟xd[ na onye qbxla gxrx edemede ya ga-aghqta na ihe niile nwere usoro. Obetta (1994) ewepxtagh[ nsogbu nd[ q hxtara mgbe q na-eme ntxghar[ kama o weputara naan[ nsogbu d[ na ntxghar[. Nd[iche d[ na ntxghar[ Obetta (1994) na nke a odee mere bx na q kpxgh[ aha agwa na ntqala ma nchqcha a kpxrx aha agwa na ntqala na ntxghar[ ya. Aninweze (2012) mere nchqcha n‟ihe gbasara ntxghar[ nd[ na-ahx maka ihe nkiri keezinaxlq bx NollyWood. Aninweze (2012) nwetara nsogbu n‟ebe omume na akparamagwa nd[ mmadx n‟ebe inye ihe nkiri egwuregwu Igbo aha Bekee. Nke a pxtara ihe n‟ajxjx Aninweze (2012) jxrx nd[ mmadx n‟akwxkwq ajxjx a kpqrq questionnaire n‟olu Bekee. Na ntxghar[ Aninweze (2012), o kwuru na site n‟ajxjx nke isii q jxrx nd[ mmadx, na q hxrx na e nwere nnukwu ndehie ndokq aha e nyere. Site n‟ihe q jxrx n‟ajxjx nke asaa gbasara ihe kpatara maka ndehie ndokq aha e nyere, bx nke pxtara ihe n‟ihi ad[gh[ ike nke nd[ na-enye aha ahx n‟xlq qrx nd[ na-emepxta egwuregwu ihe nkiri [nye aha kacha bxrx qkaibe. E ji ihe nkiri aha ya bx ajxm akwamiko were rxq qrx na ntxghari Aninweze (2012) mere. Ntxghar[ a Aninweze (2012) mere na ntxghar[ odee abxgh[ otu n‟ihi na nke Aninweze (2012) gbadoro xkwx n‟ihe nkiri ebe nke a ga-atxghar[ gbadoro xkwx na ntxghar[ iduuaz[ Chike and the River. Idoko (2013) mere ntxghar[ Adaeze nke I. U. Nwadike site n‟asxsx Igbo gaa n‟asxsx Bekee. Idoko (2013) ejighi xzq ntxghar[ qbxla mee ntxghar[ kama o mere ya d[ka Obetta (1994) siri mee ntxghar[ Chike and the River. O ji echiche kacha d[ka echiche mbx rxq qrx. Idoko (2013) kwuru na otu n‟ime nsogbu o nwere mgbe q na-eme ntxghar[ 29 bx enweghi akxrxngwa zuru oke maka qrx ntxghar[ q rxrx. Idoko (2013) kwuru na nke a mere n‟ihi enweghi qtxtx qrx ntxghar[ e mere gbasara [txghar[ iduuaz[ Igbo gaa n‟asxsx Bekee. Idoko (2013) kwukwara na o nwere nsogbu nhazi okwu, mpxtara echiche na ndokq mkpxrxokwu site n‟asxsx nzimozi gaa na nke nnata ozi. Idoko (2013) kwuru na o nwekwara nsogbu atxmatxokwu. Idoko (2013) gakwara n‟ihu kwuo na o nwere nsogbu qd[naala na akanka. Ntxghar[ Idoko (2013) na nke odee nwere myiri n‟ihi na ha bx ntxghar[ iduuaz[, nwekwaa nsogbu ma nwee otu xd[ asxsx njiarxqrx ma d[kwa iche n‟ebe atxtx e ji mee ntxghar[ d[, nkqwapxta nsogbu na xd[ nsogbu d[. 2.3 Nch[kqta ntxleghar[ agxmagx Onye na-eme ntxghar[ kwes[r[ iji xzq d[ mfe zipxta ozi q na-atxghar[, ka echiche d[ na ya nwee ike pxta ma zukwaa oke, ma gbakwaa mbq hx na echiche ahx d[ n‟asxsx nzimozi batara n‟asxsx nnata ozi site n‟iji echiche kacha yie echiche mbx z[pxta ya. Maka ntxghar[ m ga-eme na nchqcha a, odee gbadoro xkwx n‟atxtx Vinay na Darbelnet (1977 na 1958), Leppihalme (1997) na Nida (1964) wee rxq qrx ntxghari. 30 ISI NKE ATQ NTXGHAR{ CHIKE AND THE RIVER 3.1 AKWXKWQ NNATA OZI: Akwxkwq: Chike and the River Odee: Chinua Achebe Xlq qrx bipxtara ya: Cambridge Univeristy Press Afq mbipxta: 1966 Ebe mbipxta: London E tinyere akwxkwq nzimozi n‟azx qrx a 3.2 CHI NA-EDU M ND{NA          Ikem ahapx obodo ya Ikem n‟Ogbeqza Ikem n‟akxkx ikpere mmiri Qkwadike, nwata lara n‟iyi Nd[ zara oku „Amadi ha ‟ Qgwx maka [mxta akwxkwq Ihe e jiri ego ahx mee Nghqtahie n‟etiti Ikem na AKIMO Onye qmxba ego 31          Ikem alqghachi na nke Ikeagwxan Ngara buru xzq, qd[da esowe ya Qkpa akx eri eri Nrq Ikem apxta ihe Ikem n‟ime xgbq mmiri Ikem nq na nsogbu Nsogbu Ikem wee na-abawanye Ihe nd[ ohi ahx mere N‟ikpeazx IKEM AHAPX OBODO YA Ikem na nne ya na xmxnne ya nwaany[ abxq, b[ n‟obodo Xmxezechxa. O teela aka nna ya nwxrx. Nne ya gbara mbq etu o nwere ike, [hx na xmxaka nd[a rijuru afq, yie uwe d[ mma ma gakwa akwxkwq. O ji aka ya akqpxta imerime ihe erimeri ya na xmx ya na-eri d[ka ji, akpx, qka, ak[d[ na xmx akwxkwq nri digas[ iche iche. Q na-azxkwa ah[a azxqkpqq, mmanxnr[ na nkwqqkx. Ikem agbaala afq iri na otu, mana o sibeghi n‟obodo ya gaa ebe qbxla. Otu xbqch[, nne ya gwara ya si ya na q ga-aga Ogbeqza n‟ime afq qhxrx na-ab[anx ka q gaa b[r[ na be nwanne nna ya nke bx onye odee akwxkwq n‟otu nnukwu xlq qrx mmepxta ngwa ahia d[ ebe ahx. Na mbx obi d[ Ikem xtq. Ike ibi n‟ime obodo agwxla ya, ihe q chqz[r[ bx i ga jiri anya ya hx nnukwu obodo. Akxkq gbasara Ogbeqza ejula ya nt[. 32 Nwata na-agbara nwanne ya odibo bx Nwant p akqgoro ya na e nwegas[r[ mmiri pxmpx n‟ezinaxlq qbxla n‟ebe ha b[. Ikem ekwetagh[ na nke a bx eziokwu mana Nwant p ]xrx ya iyi site n‟imetu otu mkp[s[ aka ya n‟ire ma welikwa ya elu. Q]u ekwegh[ Ikem kwuo okwu. Ya bx na q gagh[ na-ekulite n‟isi xtxtx ka ya gaa mmiri. Nsogbu d[ n‟ebe ha na-ekute mmiri n‟obodo Ogbend[da bx na uzo e si aga na mmiri ahx jqrq njq nke ukwuu, mgbe xfqdx xmxaka na-ada ada wee kxr[sie ite mmiri ha. N‟Ogbeqza, Ikem agagh[ ahxkwa ahxhx d[ etu a. Nke ka nke bx na q ga-ebizi n‟xlq elu e ji gbam gbam were rxq, q bxkwagh[ xlq aja qtq, xd[ nke nne ya. Ihe a niile d[ Ikem ka q bx na nrq. Mana ka oge Ikem ga-ahapx nne ya na xmxnne ya wee laa Ogbeqza ruru, Ikem bidoro bewe akwa. Xmxnne ya soro ya wee bee akwa, anya mmiri jukwara nne ha anya. O wee bidokwasi Ikem aka n‟isi wee s[ ya “Gaa nke qma nwa m. Gee nt[ n‟okwu qbxla nwanne nna g[ nwoke ga-agwa g[ ma rubekwara ya isi. Ogbeqza bx nnukwu obodo nd[ ajq mmadx na nd[ ntqr[ juputara n‟ime ya. Ya bx, a waghar[la n‟ebe ahu. Nke ka nke, e mekatala gaa nso n‟ebe osimiri Nk[s[ d[; o na-eri nd[ mmadu kwa afo.” Q gwakwara Ikem okwu ndxmqdx nd[ qzq d[ iche iche. Ikem wee kwe n‟isi, wee kpqkwaa imi ya maka n‟imi na-apxta ya n‟imi. Etu a ka imi na-apxta ya oge qbxla o naebe akwa. Nne ya gwara ya “e bezila akwa”. “Cheta na i togo, nwata toputagoro ka g[ ad[gh[ ebe akwa”. Ikem wee were azx aka ya hichapx anya-mmiri. O wee buru igbe osisi ya nke nne ya zutara ya n‟aka ukpaka, onye kap[nta. Ihe d[ n‟ime Igbe ahx bx akwa Ikem na akwxkwq ya. 33 “Nwanne nna Ikem jibu ndidi were na-eche Ikem gwara ya si, ngwa ka any[ pxq” “Q bxrx na anyi emeghi osisq anyi agagh[ enweta xgbqala”. Ikem wee buru igbe ya n‟isi wee sowe nwanne nna ya nwoke. Ebe ha na-aga bx n‟ebe ala qkpqnkx d[, nke d[ ihe d[ka otu ma[lx ebe ha ga-enweta inyinya nke na-aga Ogbeqza. Q bx xgbqala ochie nke a naakpq “Oje na nwayq”. {r[ ugwu na-abxrx ya nnukwu nsogbu. Oge qbxla o rutere n‟ugwu d[ elu, Odega na-ar[tu n‟ala, gaa n‟azx ya ma jiri nnukwu ihe q ga-etinye n‟azx xgbqala ahx ka q ghara [naghachi azx. Oge xfqdx nd[ niile na-eme njem ga-agba qkpa n‟ala wee tinye aka n‟ikwago Oje na nwayq ahx ugwu. Ije Ogbeqza d[ mailu iri anq ma, q na-ewezu Oje na nwayq awa atq ma q bx kar[a. Oge xfqdxkwa Oje na nwayq a na-akwus[ kpamkpam. O wee bxrx ka njem nke xbqchi ahx siri ga, nd[ mmadu ga-arahxz[ n‟uzo. Ikem nwere ch[ qma xbqch[ ahx q gara Ogbeqza. Oje na nwayq kpara ike d[ egwu, o mebighi ncha. Ihe o medebere bx [kwxs[ ma q r[chaa ugwu qbxla, q kwxs[ ma ñxq otu ite mmiri. IKEM N‟OGBEQZA Na mbx, Ogbeqza edochagh[ Ikem anya nke qma. O nwegh[ ike [mata onye bx onye ori maqbx onye ntqr[ na onye abxgh[. N‟obodo Ogbend[da ebe o siri b[a, a mara onye qbxla bx onye ori, mana n‟Ogbeqza, qbxlagodu nd[ g[ na ha b[ n‟otu xlq, o nweghi onye ma onye bx onye. Odibo nwanne nna Ikem kqqrq ya akxkq otu, otu nwoke si wee nqrq n‟ime xlq be ya nwxq ma onyeqzq ga-anq na-akpq xbq ya. Nke a d[ Ikem ka akxkq ifo. 34 Mana ka qtxtx qnwa gachara, Ikem bidoro matawa ihe gbasara Ogbeqza. O nwegas[r[ nd[ enyi n‟xlqakwxkwq ma bxrxkwa onye a maara nke qma n‟etiti ha. Onye kacha bxrx enyi ya bx Anend . Ha abxq nwere ike [bx qgbq. Anend maara ihe ekwe naakx n‟igba bqqlx. O nwere ike jiri bqqlx gafere onye qbxla ya na ya na-agba bqqlx. Oge qbxla q gbatara bqqlx nke qma, nd[ na-ekiri bqqlx na-akxrx ya aka na-eti A.K.I.M.O A.K.I.M.O. A.K.I.M.O bx aha otutu nke Anend nyere onwe ya. Ezigbo aha ya bx Anend Kenechukwu Iwuchukwu. Ya bx, mkpuru edemede bidochara aha ya bx A. K. I. Otu xbqch[, q chqpxtara na q bxrx na o tinye “MO” na mkpxrxedemede nd[ a, na o gaabuzi AKIMO. O wee mee etu ahx ozigbo. N‟Ogbeqza, nkwenye ha bx na mkpuruedemede nd[ a bx AKIMO na-eweta ch[ qma maka na ihe q pxtara bx “Chebe m q chukwu”. Ikem n‟onwe ya makwaara agba bqqlx, nke a mere ka nd[ enyi ya baa ya aha ozigbo ozigbo. Ha na-akpq ya “Ikem maqbx I. K”. Aha a na-egbu Ikem ka mmanya nke mere na o dere ya n‟azx akwxkwq qgxgu qhxrx ya. Q bx site n‟qnx Anend ka Ikem siri ghqta etu o si d[ mfe mmadx [gafee osimiri Nk[s[ ma laghach[kwa azx. Anend gwara Ikem “emeela m nke a ugboro ugboro site n‟isoro xgbq-mmiri”. „Ihe [ chqrq bx sqqsq kobo [s[[ maka uje na kobo [s[[ maka nlqta, Q gwula‟. Ikem gwara ya „enweghi m kobo isii‟. Anend wee jxq, ya si “G[n[? Na ikorob[a d[ka g[ enwegh[ kobo [s[[. Ekwekwala ka nt[ qzq nx ya. Q bx ihe ihere”. Nke a mere Ikem nnukwu ihere, o wee txqrq Anend as[ ka o were mechapx onwe ya ihere. „Q bxgh[ na m enweghi ego. Enwere m nnukwu ego kama nwanne nna m nwoke ji ya”. 35 Anend gwara Ikem s[ “Gwa nwanne nna g[ ka q chqrq g[ sqqsq otu na[ra n‟ime ya” G[n[ bx na mmadx nwere ego ma o jighi ya gboo mkpa d[[r[ ya?” o wee zaa ya s[, „aga m agwa ya ma na q bxgh[ ugbua”. Anend gwara Ikem n‟olu bekee „oge anagh[ eche onye qbxla‟. Nke a bx ihe ilu onye nkuzi ha na-atx oge qbxla. „Q bx na i nxbeghi, Anend ebidokwa “na e bidogo i runye akwa mmiri n‟osimiri ahx. Ha ga-emecha nke a n‟oge ad[gh[ anya, nke a pxtara na ugbo mmiri ga-akwxsi ime njem n‟elu osimiri ahx”. Ikem anxgori ihe gbasara akwa mmiri ahu a na-arunye. Ihe nd[ a niile Anend kwuchara nyere ya nnukwu nsogbu. Ka ihe d[ ka mkpxrx ubochi atq gachara, Ikem na nd[ enyi ya nq na-akpar[ta xka gbasara osimiri ahx qzqkwa. Ha kwuru ihe gbasara m al r na ngafe osimiri ahx. Anend gwara Ikem s[ „[ maara na ozigbo [ r[datara n‟xgbq amala n‟ m al r , na [ nqz[ n‟agbata Ogbeotu Xmxezechxa‟. Nd[ qzq kwenyere n‟ihe Anend kwuru n‟obi a]xr[. Ha niile agachaala agbata Ogbeotu mbu. Nwata qzq nq ebe ahx, aha ya bx Qkwadike kwuru s[, “i kwenyere na ozigbo [ nq n‟ mxal r , q bxz[ wererem na i ruo m nnach ?, Anendu zara Ee, agafes[a, enweta m m nnach , mana a maara m mxnnach . Q bx ya bx Ogidi. E jebeghi m al r , nke bx m nnach xmx ogbenye”. Nd[ enyi ya nd[ qzq wee ch[a qch[. Oge xfqdx Anend na-ekwu okwu d[ka okenye; nke a mere o jiri bxrx onye a maara nke qma ebe nd[ qgbq ya nq. Obi Ikem nq ebe tere aka n‟ agbata Ogbeotu. Nkeji okwu d[ etu a na-atq Ikem xtq. 36 IKEM N‟AKXKX IKPERE MMIRI Nwanne nna Ikem nke ob[ be ya n‟Ogbeqza siri ike mmadx. Q na-esi ike tupu okwu qbxla apxta ya n‟qnx, ma ya fqdxzia nke [ch[ qch[, belxsq so ma q ]xrx mmanya. Nke a na-abxkari oge ya na otu enyi ya nwoke bx Maaz[ At[ka nq, ma q bx onye qzq n‟ime nd[ enyi ole na ole o nwere. Q chqgh[ iji anya ya hx ebe Ikem na xmxaka nd[ qzq na-egwu egwu. Q kpqrq nke a ntufu oge. N‟uche ya, ihe bx qrx xmxaka bx igx akwxkwq ha ma q bx [mx ihe mgbako na nwepu. Mz. At[ka bx onye agbataobi ya kwenyekwara n‟nke a. Xmx nke ya na-egwu egwu sqqsq oge q nqgh[ ya, mana Ikem nwere nkweye d[ iche. D[ ka onye nkuzi ha si ekwu “anagh[ anq otu ebe ekiri mmxq”. Ikem chqbxrx ime ka nna ya ukwu maara nke a, mana obi esighi ya ike. Otu xtxtx xbqch[ Satodee, obi siri Ikem ike, O wee gakwxrx nwanne nna ya n‟azx wee r[q ya ka o nye ya otu shili. Nwanne nna ya wee txghar[a n‟ebe q na-akpx afx qnx. O ji enyo n‟aka ekpe ma j[r[ aguba n‟aka nr[. Xfxfx ncha d[s[ ya n‟agba ya. O wee jxq Ikem si “Gini ka i ji otu na[ra eme?” “Q gwara nwanne nna ya na Q chqrq i soro xgbq mmiri gaa m al r tupu arxchaa akwa mmiri ahx. Ikem gwara ya nke a n‟atxghi egwu qbxla. Nwanne Ikem wee were iwe jxq ya “{ pxwago ara? Gbapx ebe a tupu m gxta atq. Otu! Abxq!…‟ Ikem wee gbapx. Xbqch[ a bx xbqch[ izizi anyammiri b[ara Ikem n‟anya n‟ime qtxtx qnwa q nqgoro n‟Ogbeqza. Ikem gwara onwe ya, “aga m edere nne m akwxkwq gwa ya ka o zitere m ego ahu”, mana, o chetara na nne ya dqrq ya aka na nt[ s[ ya agakwala osimiri ahx nso. Nke a mere ka o wee iwe nke ukwuu. Ka nke a mechara, nwanne nna Ikem nqrq xbqch[ ahx kqqrq 37 Mz. At[ka etu Ikem si r[q ya ego. Mz. At[ka dotere iko mmanya ya wee chia nnukwute qch[. O wee si, “ m al r d[ nso. G[n[ mere na q chqgh[ [ga Xmxnnachi?‟ Nwanne nna Ikem alxbeghi nwaany[. Odibo ya bx Nwantxpq siri ike ma na-aga qzi niile tara akpx n‟ezinaxlq ahx. Qrx [wa nkx, [ga ah[a, [s[ nr[, [sx akwa na ide ya ede bx ya ka ha d[[r[. Qrx Ikem bx sqqsq [sa efere ma e risie nri na [zakwa ime xlq. Ha bi n‟qnx xlq abxq. Nwanne Ikem na-arahu n‟otu n‟ime ha, q bxkwa n‟ebe ahx ka igbe ha ji etinye ihe nd[ d[ oke mkpa d[, ite ofe ha na xmx ihe nd[ qzq ha ji esi nr[ naad[ n‟okpuru akwa igwe ya. N‟ime nke qzq, oche gbara tebulu gbxrx gbxrx, foto d[gas[ n‟elu aja, redio d[ n‟elu ihe a kudoro n‟ahx aja n‟otu akxkx, ebe a na-awunye akwxkwq na xmx ihe nd[ qzq d[gas[ ebe ahx. N‟ebe a ka Ikem na Nwant p na-arahu. N‟abali, ha na-ebupu oche nd[ ahx wee were ute dobe n‟ala. {rahu n‟ala nk[t[ ad[gh[ Ikem mma, nke a mere na uche ya na-agakar[ n‟akwa osisi nne ya d[ n‟obodo ha. O nwegas[r[ ihe nd[ qzq ad[chagh[ Ikem mma n‟ebe ahx ha bi. Otu n‟ime ihe nd[ a bx chinchi nke d[ n‟ute ha. Oge xfqdx, Nwant p na-awxsa mmanx qkx n‟ute ha iji gbuchapx chinchi nd[ ahx. Mana, e mesia nke a, obere oge, q laghachi wee bidokwa kpawa nri n‟ahx xmxaka ahx. Ihe qzq adighi Ikem mma bx etu nd[ mmadx siri wee juputa n‟ebe niile na ngwuru ahx. Xlq ahx nwere qnx xlq iri ma nd[ b[ na ya kar[r[ mmadx [r[ ise, nd[ ikom, nd[ inyom ma xmxaka. Qtxtx ezinaxlq b[ n‟otu qnx xlq. Esemokwu na-adapxtakar[ n‟ebe ahx n‟ihe gbasara nkx na ihe gbasara [za mbara ezi ma q bx ihicha ebe a na-asa ahx na ebe mposi. Ebe mposi abxq sqqsq d[ n‟ebe ihe kar[r[ iri mmadx ise b[. Otu bx nke nd[ okenye ebe nke qzq bx maka xmxaka. Ha abxq na-eru nnukwu unyi mana nke xmxaka ka njq. 38 Okporoko ijiji na-efeghar[ ebe ahx kacha nd[ Ikem na-ahx n‟obodo Ogbend[da. Ihe nd[ a niile ad[gh[ Ikem mma. Nke a mere ka Ikem ghqta na nnukwu obodo akachagh[ ime obodo mma. Mana, o nwekwarar[ ihe nd[ na-atx Ikem n‟anya n‟Ogbeqza. Oge Satode qbxla, Nwantxp na-aga ah[a [zxta ihe oriri. Oge xfqdx q na-akpqrq Ikem ma q bxrx na ihe q ga-azxta buru ibu. Ikem esoghi azxta ihe qbxla, kama, q na-enye aka n‟ibulata ihe nd[ ahx n‟xlq. Nke a ad[gh[ ya na nwute. Q d[ ya mma n‟obi. Oge Nwant p na-ekwe qnx ahia ihe nd[ q chqrq [zxta, Ikem na-ahapx ya gaa kwxrx na-ekiri oke nk[s[ ahx ka o na-asq agafe. Q na-ahxkwa ka nd[ na-akx azx na-agbago na agbada n‟ime mmiri ahx n‟ike n‟ike. Xfqdx xgbq nd[ ahx nwegas[r[ ebe obibi na ya, ha nwechara xlq ejiri ah[h[a kpuchie elu ya. E mere ka Ikem mata na nd[ a na-akx azx na-ebi n‟ime xgbq nd[ ahx qtxtx izu xka ma q bx qtxtx qnwa. Mana, ihe hxkar[chara ya n‟anya bx ikiriwe xgbqmmiri nke ukwu. Ha d[ ukwuu n‟ezi okwu etu Ikem siri hx ha. Q gbara Ikem ghar[ etu xgbq nke bxkar[s[r[ ibu ga-ad[. Onye nkuzi akqwagoro ha n‟ebe a na-ahxkar[ xd[ xgbq nd[ ahx bx n‟obodo Isiokwe maqbx na Ukpo. Mana, eziokwu, xgbq nd[ a digasi n‟Ogbeqza buchara ibu. Kedu ihe nd[ mmadx j[z[ nke ka nke a nnukwu eme? Q bxnad[ xgbq d[ n‟Ogbeqza buru [bu nke qma. Ka Ikem na-ekiri xgbq nd[ a ka agxx [ga m al r na-agxs[ ya ike. Mana q magh[ etu o ga-esi kwqrq onye ukwu wara, kedu ka ego ga esi bia? Q magh[. Mana, q ka nwere nchekwube. O kwuru n‟obi ya si “otu xbqch[, ihe d[ qkx ga-ajx oyi; nke a putara na otu xbqch[ na ya ga-eme ya bx njem, ihe q sqrq ya pxta. 39 QKWADIKE, NWATA LARA N‟IYI Ikem chqrq inweta ya bx ego n‟xzq abxla xzq nke mere na q fqrq nwant[t[ ka q dabanye na nsogbu. Otu n‟ime nd[ enyi nwoke Ikem aha ya bx Qkwadike bx ajq nwata. D[ka Ikem, Qkwadike bx sqqsq nwa nwoke n‟ime xmxaka ise nne ya mxrx. O nwere xmxnne nwaany[ anq. Nne Qkwadike bx onye ji ego achx ego, na-ere akwa n‟ahia Ogbeqza, ebe q na-enweta nnukwu uru. Mana, q bx nne na-amagh[ ihe. Q na ahapx Qkwadike ka o mee ihe mas[r[ ya, nke mere ka Qkwadike ghqq akar[ogoli. Nne Qkwadike nwere nd[ odibo atq nd[ na-aru qrx niile d[ n‟ezinaxlq ahx. Mgbe xfqdx xmx ya nd[ nwaany[ na-aga ozi d[ ka [sa efere ma q bx ikute mmiri site na mmiri pqmpx d[ nso n‟ebe ahx. Mana o nweghi nke Qkwadike na-eme. Nkwenye nne ya bx na qrx ezinaxlq bx ihe d[[r[ nd[ odibo ahx na xmx ya nd[ nwaany[. Nke a mere ka Qkwadike ghqq ofuogori. Anx qbxla e jiri sie ofe na-aghqrq Qkwadike ihe oriri oge nd[ qzq labachara n‟abal[. Oge qbxla ofe gbara xka n‟xtxtx site n‟aka Qkwadike tinyere na ya, q na-abxkari nd[ odibo ka nne Qkwadike na-ata afxfx. Otu xbqch[, aka kpaara eze aghxghq. Otu n‟ime umunne ya nd[ nwaany[ jidere ya ebe mkpisi aka ya niile bx sqqsq ofe egwusi. Mana Qkwadike ekwetagh[ na nke a bx eziokwu n‟ihi na nne ya dqnyekwara ya ukwu. Ka Qkwadike tolitebere, o bidoro zurube obere ego nne ya. Q na-eji ego nd[ a azxrx mgbadume, Abacha na okpete n‟oge ezumike n‟xlqakwxkwq ha. Xfqdx oge, q na-azxrx Kwulikwuli , Ak[ hausa, achicha maqbx Azx ndx na Akwa nke otu na[ra. Q bagh[ uru [kqwaz[ etu mmadx niile siri mara ya n‟xlq akwxkwx ha. A bara ya aha nke bx „nwa siri ike. Nd[ enyi ya chere na q bx ya nwezi xwa. Mana ha amagh[ na q 40 bx ego nne ya ka q na-ezuru. Otu xbqch[ Qkwadike mere ihe koropuru mmadx niile obi. Nd[ enyi ya chere na nke ahx bx igosi amam[he tutu ruo oge onye [s[ xlq akwxkwq ha mere ka ha mata na q bx ajq ihe ka Qkwadike mere. O nwegh[ onye maara etu Qkwadike siri nweta aha xmxaka nd[ mxokolo atq nd[ chqrq ka ha nweta nd[ enyi ha na ha ga na-edekqr[ta akwxkwq n‟Ogbend[da. O degaara otu n‟ime ha akwxkwq r[q ya ka o zitere ya ego, r[q onye nke qzq ka o zitere ya igwe e ji ese “foto” ma r[qkwaa onye nke atq ka o zitere ya akpxkpq xkwx. O sepxtara etu xkwx aka nri ya ha nke a ga-egosi ka akpxkpq xkwx ahx ga-ara. O kwere ha niile nkwa na ya ga-ezitechara ha akpxkpq mgbada n‟otu n‟otu. Mana, q maara na nke a abxgh[ ihe ya gaemenwu, maka na o jibeghi anya ya hx akpxkpq mgbada na ndx ya niile. Ka otu qnwa gachara, Qkwadike latara shili iri nke otu n‟ime xmxaka ahx zitere ya site na „posta oda‟. O gosiri nne ya akwxkwq ahx e jiri zitere ya ego, o wee tuo ya okpookpo aha “Nwata d[ nko”. Nke a bx otu n‟ime qtxtx aha ntogbx q na-etu ya. Nne ya kpqrq ya gaa n‟xlq nz[kqr[ta akwxkwq ozi bx post qf[s[ ka q gaa nata ego ya. Qkwadike kqqrq nd[ enyi ya n‟xlq akwxkwq etu qkxkq ya siri mxtara ya ewu; ha niile turu ya aha “nwa siri ike nwa siri ike!! N‟ akxkx niile. Xbqch[ ahx, qtxtx xmx akwxkwq nd[ qzq zipuru akwxkwq ozi nke ha n‟obodo mxokolo ozigbo ozigbo. Ikem nwetara akara mmadx abxq nd[ q ga-eji ziga akwxkwq ar[r[q nke ya. Mana o nwegh[ ike idega akwxkwq ozi ya d[ ka nd[ qgbq ya megoro maka na “ego” ad[gh[ q ga-eji zxta „stampx‟. O kpebiri n‟obi ya na oge qbxla ya nwetara kobo isii na ya ga-edega akwxkwq nke ya n‟ mxokolo wee r[q ka e zitere ya na[ra iri maqbx otu 41 akpaego. Nke a ga-enyere ya aka [gafe osimiri ahx ugboro ole mas[r[ ya. Q gbagwojuru Ikem anya etu obodo mxokolo si nwee ego nke na obere nwa nwere ike iji na[ra iri mee ihe mas[r[ ya. Ikem a gxqla akwxkwq ozi ahx e zitere Qkwadike. Aha onye detara ya bx Nwokeqcha. Q d[ afq iri na abxq. Legodu! Sqqsq afq iri na abxq ka q d[ ma nwee ego o ga-etufu. Kedu xrx akpxkpq mgbada ga-abara ya? Nd[ bekee bxkwanx nd[ ara. Q bx ihe mara mma na Ikem enweghi ego stampx Maka na a s[ na o mere nke a, q gaara e soro Qkwadike na nd[ qgbq ya nd[ qzq dabanye na nsogbu. Otu xbqch[ n‟xlqakwxkwq ha, onye [s[ xlq akwxkwq b[ara kpqrq Qkwadike kpqbaa n‟qf[s[ ya. Emesia Q kpqrq xmx nwoke ise nd[ qzq. Ha ncha nqrq ebe ahx ihe d[ ka otu awa. Ka mgb[r[gba xlq akwxkwq kxrx, agxmxakwxkwq kwxs[r[ ebe qbxla n‟xlq akwxkwq ahx. Onye [s[ xlq akwxkwq ahx wee pxta [gwa xmx akwxkwq okwu. Onye lere ya anya n‟ihu ga-aghqta na agwq nq n‟ak[r[ka. O wee bido si “o tebeghi aka m nwetara akwxkwq ozi si n‟aka onye isi ótù xlq akwxkwq d[ n‟ mxokolo”. O wee welie akwxkwq ozi ahx ka mmadx niile hx “Ihe d[ n‟ime akwxkwq ozi a emeela ka ihere menyxq mx anya; amagh[ m na n‟ime anyi ebe a, na e nwere nd[ ohi, nd[ ama, na nd[ qnx qma kpxrx qkpxkpx q d[ ka q bx qsxkwx…” O kwuru ihe gbasara arx Qkwadike kpara n‟ebe q d[ ukwuu. “Chee maka aha qjqq xnx nyegoro xlq akwxkwq a” ka o kwuru nke a, q txghar[r[ ebe Qkwadike na xmxaka ise nd[ qzq nq, ha niile nq na-ele anya n‟ala. “Chee echiche gbasara aha qjqq unu nyegoro Ogbend[da, ala nna xnx,‟ mmadx niile mara qsx oge o kwuru nke a. “Chee etu xlq akwxkwq Xmxokolo ga na-echeta Ogbend[da d[ ka obodo 42 nd[ okwu as[ na nd[ ohi, maka mmadx isii nd[ ekperime a” Xfqdx xmx akwxkwq ch[r[ qch[ oge q kpqrq xmx aka nd[ a aha qhxx bx ekperima. “Ee, ha bx nd[ ekperima”; onye isi xlq akwxkwq malitekwara qzq, “mana ha emebigo aha unu n‟obodo Xmxokolo. Xfqdx n‟ime unu ga-aga [mx akwxkwq n‟Xmxokolo ma unu tolite. Kedu ihe unu chere ga-eme ebe ahx? M ga-agwa unu. Ozigbo [ txrx xkwx ebe ahx wee kqwaa onwe gi d[ ka onye Ogbend[da, mmadx niile ga-ele g[ anya d[ka onye oh[. Nke ahx q bx ihe ziri ezi?” Mmadx niile tie „mba!‟ Ya bx ihe nd[ efurefu a megoro unu. Ha ch[kwara qch[ maka mkpxrxokwu ohxx qzq a bx efurefu. Ahx mara Ikem jijiji mgbe o chetara etu ya kaara isi soro mmadx isii nd[ ahx kwxrx ebe ahx ma a s[ na ya nwere kobo isii [z[ga akwxkwq ozi nke ya. Ebere Qkwadike na nd[ qzq meere ya, mana nke ezigbo enyi ya bx AKIMO mekar[r[ ya. Onye isi xlq akwxkwq gakwara n‟ihu n‟ ihe q na-ekwu. O kwuru na ahxhx nke Anend ga-ad[kar[ mfe, ebe nke Qkwadike ga-atakar[ akpx. Ihe Anend medebere bx na q r[qrq ka ezitere ya igwe eji ese foto, o nweghi mgbe o jiri kwe nkwa akpxkpq mgbada. Mana, onye isi xlq akwxkwq ahx chetaara xmx akwxkwq na ay[yq abxgh[ ezigbo ihe. Q s[r[, na “onye na ar[q ar[r[q anaghi enwe ugwu na nsqpxrx, onye ahx na-abxkar[ onye ihere. Q na abxkar[ ad[gbqrqja d[ na mmadx. Any[ achqgh[ [zxpxta xd[r[ mmadx ahx n‟xlq akwxkwq a” Ka e mechara, a p[ara Qkwadike xtar[ iri na abxq ma a piara Anend isii ebe nd[ qzq bx itoolu. Nne Qkwadike gara n‟xlq onye [s[ xlq akwxkwq n‟oge mgbede wee kpqr[a ya. 43 Site xbqch[ ahx, nd[ mmadx a na-akpqz[ Qkwadike aha d[ iche iche d[ka “Akpxkpq mgbada”, „Ekperima‟ ma q bx „Efurefu‟. Sqqsq nd[ ezigbo enyi ya na-akpqzi ya “nwata siri ike.” ND{ ZARA OKU „AMADIQHA‟ Ka ihe gbasara akpxkpq agx gachara, Ikem enwekwagh[ mmas[ [gafe osimiri Nk[s[ d[ka o si nwebu na mbx. Q hxghi uzo q ga-esi nweta ya bx otu na[ra ma e wezuga izu ohi na [r[q ar[r[q. Olileanya ya ugbua bx na onye enyemaka nwere ike inye ya onyinye ga-apxta otu na[ra ma q bxrx na q r[qgh[ ar[r[q. Ma nsogbu bx, kedu onye q gaar[q ya bx ego? O nwere ike na ihe ga-akara ya mma bx ichefu ihe niile gbasara [gafe osimiri ahx; mana nke a ad[gh[ mfe. N‟xbqch[ ikpeazx a ga-emechi akwxkwq maka agxmakwxkwq nke agba ahx, xmx akwxkwq niile tinyere aka n‟idebe gburugburu ha qcha. Nd[ nwoke na-asxcha ah[h[a d[ n‟ama egwuregwu ebe nd[ nwaany[ na-ehic.ha klassi. Nd[ klass[ Ikem na-arx qrx nke ha n‟akxkx qtx ukwu mangoro nke mkpxrx ya na- eme onye qbxla akp[r[ t[kqm t[kqm, mana ha enweghi ike [ta ya. Ha na-abx otu abx nke nd[ nga ochie ji arx qrx, wee na-efe mma ha etu q ga-adaba n‟abx ahx. Xbqch[ a naemechi akwxkwq na-abxkar[ oge a]xr[ na oge inwere onwe ma bxrxkwa oge oke uche ebe xmx akwxkwq nq, maka na a na-akpqpxta qsisa ule ha xbqch[ ahx. Q bx eziokwu na q bxgh[ ule ngwxcha afq, mana, ule bx ule, o nwegh[ onye q chqrq [da ule qbxla. Ikem nxrx ka onye isi xlq akwxkwq kpqrq “Amadiqha! O were kwxrx qtq ka q hx ihe na-eme. 44 Qtxtx nd[ qzq sokwu wee kwxrx qtq. Nke a bx qnya. Nwoke a kpqpxtara nd[ ahx kwxxrx qtq wee ziga ha ka ha gaa buru ibu nd[ qrx xka gaa obodo Ogbeabq. “Nke a bx xgwq unu ga-akwx maka [chq ka unu marachaa ihe niile. Q gwakwara ha na q bx ka eletachaa mere mgbq ji tx nwa enwe n‟isi”. Xmx akwxkwq ch[r[ nd[ dabara nay a bx qnya qch[. Okporo xzq gara Ogbeabq d[ ma[lx isii. E nwere akwa mmiri gafere n‟okporo xzq ahx. Mana mmiri ozizo emebiela akwa mmiri a. Ibu nd[ ozioma juputara na xgbqala ahx. Mmadx asaa nd[ ahx a kpqpxtara ga-eso xgbqala ahx garuo n‟ebe akwa mmiri d[. Ha ga-aritu ma buru ibu ahx gafee mmiri, ma burukwa ibu ahx gaa ma[lx abxq tutu ha eruo Ogbeabq. Xjq jidere xmxaka nd[ ahx mana onye qkwq xgbqala ahx medara ha obi site n‟[gwa ha na osimiri ahx emighi emi. Mana nke a akwxs[gh[ xjq ji ha, q kachas[ Ikem, maka na q magh[ egwu mmiri. Oge {ny[nya ahx nupuru ije, Ikem nqzi ka onye nq xlq nkpqrq a mara ikpe. Xfqdx n‟xmxaka ahx na-eyi ya egwu site n‟[kqrq ya akxkq maka nd[ mmiri ahx rigoro ebe ha na-achq [gafe. Eyiuche gwara ha s[ “Okwute d[gas[ n‟ala mmiri ahx nke bx na mmadx zqghie xkwx, nke ya agwxla. Eyiuche bx nnukwu nwata mana q magh[ akwxkwq. Xmxaka nd[ qzq na-akpq ya „paapa‟ n‟xd[ ikpa qch[. Eyiuche gwara ha s[ “otu onye gafere mmiri ahx xnyaahx gwara m na ogbu ya ga- ericha ogologo akpara nkwx. “Agagh[ m agafezi” Ikem gwara ha. „Q d[ mma, i nwere ike buru ibu nke g[ nqrq ebe a, chere ka ha rxchaa akwa mmiri. Eyiuche kwuru nke a n‟obi a]uri. Xfqdx n‟ ime xmx nwoke nd[ nnukwu ch[r[ qch[. N‟ikpeazx, ha ruru ebe mmiri ahx d[, xgbqala ahx wee kwxs[, Ikem ekpebigo n‟obi ya na q buru na mmiri ahx erute ya 45 n‟ukwu na ya ga-alaghach[ azx. Ka e buputachara ibu nd[ ahx, Mark kpebiri na a gaekewa ibu ahx xzq asaa ha nhatanha “q bxkwar[ any[ niile nq n‟otu klas[? Any[ niile ha”. Mana onye qkwq xgbqala ahx d[ obi xmeala, wee bunye Ikem nwa obere ibu. Xmxaka nd[ a yipuchara akwa ha wee kekqta ha qnx ma were ya buru ibu n‟isi na-aga. Eyiuche buuru xzq banye n‟ime mmiri ahx. Ikem jiri anya nk[ta ji eri ns[ wee soro Eyiuche banye. O nwere qtxtx nd[ ime obodo qzq si n‟akxkx nke qzq wee na-ab[a. Xmxaka nd[ ahx na-ach[bu qch[ ma na-etokwa qnx nqz[ n‟azx. Mmiri ahx rutere Ikem n‟obi oge o rutere ebe kachas[ ogbu, mana Ikem alachighi azx. Otu ugboro ka q zqghiere xkwx nke mere na q fqdxrx ntak[r[ ka q dabanye na mmiri. Mana q ghqtara onwe ya. Obere oge Ikem agafechaa ebe ahx mmiri d[ njq. Nke a mere ya obi a]xri. N‟otu ntabi anya, q nqz[ n‟elu ala. O wee lee anya n‟azx n‟xd[ ngara ka q hx nd[ qzq ebe ha na ahxhx na-eme. Njem fqdxrx n‟ihu abxgh[z[ ihe akxkq. Ihe [txnanya d[ na njem ahx bx na njem ahx emenla ka Ikem nwee ntxkwas[ obi ebe ike ya d[. O kwenyeziri na onye qbxla nwere ike iji xkwx gafee osimiri ahx kwesiri inye otito. O nwere otu ilu nwanne nna Ikem naatukebe; „Na q bx ihe ihere na onye lugoro qgx be nd[ mmuo wee merie ga-abx onye a ga-emeri n‟qgx na be nd[ mmadx. Nke a putara na onye gafegoro na nnukwu ule ekwesighi [da obere ule. Ikem sitere n‟ilu a mepxta nke ya. Na onye jigoro xkwx gafee osimiri Udide ekwesigh[ itu xjq igafe osimiri Nk[s[ n‟ime xgbq mmiri. 46 QGWX MAKA {MXTA AKWXKWQ Ikem na xmx akwxkwq nd[ qzq bxgara ibu nd[ oziqma ahx laghachiri azx n‟xlqakwxkwq n‟ihe d[ka elekere isii nke mgbede. Oge ahx xlq akwxkwq emechielar[[. Xmxaka nd[ a gara na be onye [s[ xlqakwxkwq ha maka [nxrx qs[sa ule ha. Ikem na xmxaka abxq nd[ qzq gafechara na ya bx ule, ebe Mark na mmadx atq nd[ qzq dara ada. Ozigbo Ikem nxrx na ya gafere n‟ule ahx, o jiri qsq gbapx ebe tere aka n‟ihi na xjq ji ya na Eyiuche ga-eji iwe maka na mmiri tabidoro ya n‟ule ahx wee p[a ya ihe. Ka q gbaruru na ebe d[ ya ka o nweghizi nsogbu qbxla, q kwxsilata, ma gawa ije. O wee cheta otu abx onye nkuzi ha dere. Abx ahu bx nke a: O nwere otu nwata isi okpo nq na klas[ any[ o ]uru iyi n‟obi ya na q ga-agaferiri n‟ule O gugburu onwe ya n‟akwxkwq wee were mkpxrx qgwx ]xq ma mechakwaa bxrx onye nke ikpeazx Onye nkuzi dere nwa obere abx a oge q fqdxrx nwant[t[ ka xmxaka atq ji ndx ha egwu egwu, were aka ha mebie ndx ha site n‟[]x mkpxrx qgwx maka xbxrx [ghq nkq. Xfqdx nd[ agboro na-ere qgwx gwara xmxaka nd[ a na o nwere xd[ mkpxrx qgwx oyibo nke nwere ike ime ka ha ghara ichefu ihe qbxla onye nkuzi ha kuziiri ha n‟xlq akwxkwq, ma nke ha gxrx n‟onwe ha. Nke a mere ka xmxaka nd[ a zxtas[a qgwx nd[ a 47 ma bidokwa ]xwa ha. Mana ka ule ahx na-abia nso, xmxaka nd[ a bidoro kpaba agwa ka nd[ ara, e wee buru ha gaa n‟xlqqgwx. Ha nqrq mkpxrx xbqch[ ise n‟xlqqgwx tupx ha alqta. Onye dib[a oyibo kwuru na q fqdxrx nwant[t[ ka xmxaka ahx jiri aka ha mebie xbxrx ha kpam kpam. Q s[r[ na ha nwere ch[ qma. Ka ule ahx e jiri maka ya gaa xlq qgwx rutere, xmxaka a dara kpam kpam, maka na ahx esighizi ha ike. Ikem lotere xd[ as[r[ niile nd[ mmadx sigoro oge xmxaka nd[ ahx nq n‟xlqqgwx. Tupu ha a lqta, xfqdx s[r[ na onye d[b[a oyibo ahx kwuru na xmxaka nd[ ahx apugo ara kpam kpam. Xfqdx s[kwara na otu n‟ime xmxaka ahx mara onye [s[ xlq akwxkwq xra oge o b[ara ileta ha n‟xlqqgwx. Onye na-ebughar[ as[r[ nke ikpeazx a bx Qkwadike. Ikem chetakwara etu ike siri gwxchaa xmxaka nd[ ahx xbqch[ ha lqtara n‟xlq akwxkwq. Mmadx niile legidere ha anya ka a mara ma o nwere ihe mgbanwe a ga-ahu n‟omume ha. Q bxz[ ka e nyochachara ha qtxtx xbqch[ ka nd[ mmadx bidoro gawa ha nso. Oge a, ule akwxs[la e wee na-echezi xbqch[ a ga-emechi akwxkwq. Q ga-abxr[r[ n‟oge ezumike ka onye nkuzi dere abx a nke o wepxtaara qhanaeze, oge ebidochara akwxkwq. Oge ahx, qtxtx izu xka agaala nke nyere nd[ mmadx ohere [ch[ xmxaka nd[ ahx qch[ etu q mas[r[ ha. Qbxlad[ xmxaka atq nd[ ahx, soro wee ch[a ya bx qch[. Q fqdxrx nwant[t[ ka Ikem ruo ebe o bi. O sila n‟okporo uzo oyibo banye n‟obere uzo nke q na-esi abanye na No 15 Odu stiriti ebe ha bi. Q hxrx otu oroma na-achagh[ acha wee were ya gbara bqqlx na-aga n‟xzq ahx. N‟obi ya, Ikem hxrx onwe ya d[ka otu n‟ime nd[ na-agba bqqlx n‟asqmp[ bqqlx siri ike. O chee etu q ga-akpafe onye ya na ya na-asqkqr[ta mpi, o wee tie Eh! d[ka nd[ na-ekiri bqqlx si eti oge onye nke ha gbatara 48 bqqlx nke qma. Ikem wekwaara bqqlx ahx kpafee mmadx atq n‟ime obi ya, o wee na-agu otu, abxq, atq, q bx goolu! o wee nye golu n‟obi ya. Q chiliri aka ya abxq elu ka o tiri mkpu a. Ka Ikem lepuru anya, q hxrx otu ihe na-amxke amxke nke q gbaliri elu oge q gbapxrx bqqlx ahx. O wee welite mkpxrx ihe ahx na-amxke amxke. Q d[zi Ikem ka xwa na-agba gburu gburu. Anya ya mxghekwa ya qzq. Mana ihe ahx nke bx ego ka d[ ya n‟ime aka kobo isii. O lere anya gburu gburu [chqpxta ma onye nwe ego ahx a na-abia, mana q hxgh[ onye qbxla. O wee were ego ahx tinye n‟aka akpa akwa, O wee gara ije dika dike wee pxq. Mana Ikem amagh[ mgbe o nupuru were qsq gbara lawa. IHE E JIRI EGO AHX MEE Ikem e nwetabeghi ego ha ka nke a na ndx ya. Ego kacha ego niile o nwetagoro na ndx ya bx kobo atq. O nwetara nke a oge ya na nd[ qgbq ya tiri mmxq n‟emume [s[[ta n‟obodo ha. Mmuo ahx, nke na-agba egwu, bx onyendu ha. D[ka omenala si d[, e weere mmxq ahx d[ka nd[ mmxq. Nd[ na-eso ya bxz[ xmxazx ya, ma q bx nd[ odibo ya. Ikem bx otu na nd[ a. Ngwa egwu ha ah[agh[ ahx inweta. Ha nwere otu ezigbo obere [gba nke e ji akpxkpq anx kwenye na osisi wee rxq. {gba nd[ qzq bxs[ mkpq e jiri tinyebu ach[cha oyibo. E ji mkpq anwxrx e tinyere mpekere ihe n‟ime ya were na-eme obere mkpqtx. Nd[ 49 na-enweghi akxrxngwa qbxla na-akx aka. A na-aga site n‟xlq ruo n‟xlq wee na-agxrx nd[ bi ebe ahx egwu. A na-enye ha ego maqbx nr[. Ebe xfqdx na-enyekwa ha ach[cha oyibo. N‟uhuruch[ xbqch[ ahx, ha gxkqtara ego ha nwetara, wee kee ya etu ha ra. Ikem wee nweta kobo atq nke o jiri zxrx ahxekere. O teela aka ihe nd[ a mere. Xgbxa Ikem agbanweela. Q chqgh[z[ iji ego ya zxrx ahxekere. Q chqrq iji ego mejupxta ebumnobi ya. Q bx eziokwu na kobo isii ahx agagh[ ezuru ya; q fqrq out na[ra ka ego njem ya kxrx qnx. Mana, d[ka onye nkuzi ha siri kwu, „t[kqm t[kqm ka mmanya nkwu ji agbaju ite‟. Oge Ikem chetara ilu a, uche ya gbagara n‟ebe otu enyi nne ya bx Ugonne nke na-ere anwxrx n‟Xmxezechxa nq. Ugonne bx onye a maara nke qma n‟ikwu okwu. Okwu ya niile na-edo anya. O nwere otu akxkq q kqrq maka nwa nnxnx na osimiri Nk[s[. Akxkq a txrx Ikem n‟anya nke na q txnyechara ya azx ka q diwanye xtq na nt[. Otu a ka Ikem si ako ya. Otu mgbe, esemokwu dapxtara n‟etiti nwa Ap[a na osimiri Nk[s[. Osimiri a ledere nwa Ap[a a anya nke ukwuu maka na o pere mpe kar[a, wee si ya. „Qbxlagodu Ugo bukar[s[r[ ibu ejughi m anya. Nke gi bx na I d[ m ka otu aja. Kedu ka ogologo gi ha? Ka obere ntu. I makwa ka ogologo m ha? Puku ma[lx abxq na nnari ma[lx isii. Ebe m si ogologo uzo niile sitere ugwu Qd[a b[a, gafetacha obodo ise. Si m n‟ihu pxq!‟ Nwa Ap[a a jiri nwayqq fedata wee were qnx kpxrx mmiri n‟ime osimiri ahx wee felie, wee si osimiri ahx. “Otu qbxla q sqrq g[ hara, e wetugo m ihe n‟ime gi site na nke a m kpxrx n‟qnx. I pekar[z[r[ mpe kar[a ka [ha n‟xtxtx a. B[a jide m ma q bxrx na I nwere ike”. Nwa Ap[a a wee were nganga felie. Osimiri a wee chee ihe nke a wee chqpxta na 50 ihe Ap[a a kwuru bx eziokwu. Q chqpxtakwara na o nwere otu ihe osimiri e nweghi ike ime,-ife efe ka nnxnx. E leghi anya, agxx igafe osimiri bidoro gxwa Ikem ka q nxchara akxkq a. Ugonne na-akq akxkq a ka q d[ mfe. Ikem tinyechara ihe gbasara ogologo osimiri ahx, obodo ise ahu na aha ugwu nd[ ahx. Nke a bx site n‟ihe q mxtara n‟ihe qmxmx Jiografi bx amxmamx akwxkwq Ikem hxkar[chara n‟anya ma q na-achqkwa [gx maka at[las ya. N‟[laghach[ azx n‟akxkq gbasara kobo isii ahx. Ikem kechiri ya na mpempe akwxkwq wee tinye ya n‟ime akpa akwxkwq ya. Ka otu izu xka gachara, Ikem bidoro chewe ihe ya ga-eme ka ego ahx ruo otu na[ra. Otu xzq bx site n‟iji ya zxba ahia. Mana, q magh[ xd[ ah[a o nwere ike iji sqqsq ego ahx zx. Mana etu o sila d[, q maara na nwanne ya agagh[ ekwe ya zxq ah[a qbxla. N‟ikpeazu, Ikem mere ka enyi ya Anendx mata ihe bx nsqgbx ya nke na-echu ya xra. Anendx onye a na-akpq A.K.I.M.O maara akpa agwa d[ka nd[ okenye. Q nqdxrx ala wee dunye aka n‟agba bido chewe echiche. Q jxrx Ikem s[ “{ chqrq ka kobo isii g[ ghqqrq gi otu na[ra?” “Ikem zara ya Ee. O wee jxq Ikem s[ ya, I nwere ike [ga na nke onye na-amxba ego?” “Ikem jxrx ya Kedu ebe o bi”. O wee zaa Ikem s[, “A maghi m, mana e nwere m ike [ chqpxtara g[ ebe o bi echi. Etu a ka ha siri kwekqr[ta ije chqq ebe onye qmxba ego ahx bi n‟echi ya. Tupu nke ahx, ha siri ka ha ga gwuo egwu. Ka ha na-aga, ha gafeere nd[ na-eghe akwa qgazi na anx a pxrx iche a na-akpq sxya. Otu atxmatx b[ara Anendx n‟uche. O ji kobo atq nke ya n‟aka 51 akpa ya. Q gwara Ikem si “ka any[ gaa zxta akwa na sxya nd[ a”, q bxrx na m azxta sxya nke kobo atq, [ ga-azxta akwa nke kobo atq, oge ahx aga m e were xfqdx akwa nke g[, I were xfqdx sxya nke m”. Ikem gwara ya si “mana ego niile m nwere ebe a bx nke m chqrq imxba amxba”. A.K.I.M.O wee s[ ya, „I na-ekwuzi ka nwata, I ga-enwe kobo atq fqdxrx nke I nwere ike imxba ka q bxrx kobo isii”. “Nke a bx eziokwu. E nwekwara m ike [mxbakwa na[ra ahx” Ikem jxrx ya si “g[n[ mere anyi ga-azxtacha nke kobo atq? Ka anyi zxta nke otu tqlq, otu tqlq. A.K.I.M.O mxrx ya amx wee si “okwu xmxaka qzqkwa‟. Otu tqlq ga-azxta sqqsq otu akwa; kobo atq ga-azxta akwa anq. G[n[ bx na any[ ga-ewerecha qkara akwa ebe any[ nwere ike iwerecha abxq abxq? Anyi riri akwa xnyaahx? Kedu ihe bx na any[ ga-ebidebe osimiri ma were asq mmiri na-akwq aka?” Ikem wee kweta. Q ghqtara ilu ahx nke qma. Ikem anubugo ebe a txrx ilu a gbasara Qmaja Ejindx, onye ji ego achx ego. Otu onye kwuru na “Mz. Qmaja Ejindx bi n‟osimiri ma were asq mmiri na akwq aka”. O nwere ego ma na-ebi ndx ogbenye. Ikem achqgh[ ka e were ya tunyere Mz. Qmaja Ejindx. Ya mere o jiri kweta n‟ihe AKIMO kwuru. Q zxtara akwa anq e wee nye ya ego atq d[ka ego mafqrq n‟ego ya. O nyere AKIMO akwa abxq wee tinye abxq nd[ qzq n‟aka akpa ya. Ha wee jee chqba ebe ha ga-azxta suya. Q d[z[ Ikem ugbua ka o toola. Q d[beghi oge o jiri kobo atq zxrx ihe otu mgbe ma ya fqdx nke sqqsq ya [tacha otu ogologo suya. Sqqsq ihe d[ka otu mkpxrx maqbx abxq nke AKIMO na-ad[ na-enye ya ka q tagoru. Mana tata, q ga-atacha otu ogologo suya sqqsq ya. 52 AKIMO maara xzq nke qma nke mere na o teghi aka ha enweta ebe a na-ere sxya. Uzo e siri kwado sxya nd[ a txrx Ikem n‟anya. Anx ebechara irighiri irighiri ka adunyechara n‟obere osisi d[ ogologo wee tinye ya n‟ime mmanx etinyere ose, nnu na mmanx ahxekere. E tunyechara osisi nd[ a n‟ala n‟akxkx qkx nke na-ami anx nd[ ahx am[. AKIMO kwxrx kobo atq wee weta ogologo suya abxq, nke na-eme onye qbxla hxrx ya ka akp[r[ ya mewe tikqm tikqm. Nwa obere ihe ka Ikem gbaba egu a]xr[. Q chqrqr[ iriwe nke ya ozigbo ozigbo, mana AKIMO s[r[ ya mba na q ga-aka mma ma ha gaa n‟otu ukwu ube nqdx ala. “Any[ agaghi eri ihe d[ ka nd[ azxghi azx, iri ihe na-aga n‟uzo ad[gh[ mma” AKIMO kwuru nke a. Nke a mere Ikem ihere. O wee kweta ka ha gaa nqrq ala etu AKIMO siri kwu. Ha wee nqrq ala n‟mkpqrqgwx osisi mangoro ahx wee gbawara onwe ha keresimesi n‟ike n‟ike. NGHQTAHIE N‟ETITI IKEM NA AKIMO Ka ha tachara suya nd[ ahx, AKIMO txrx aro ka ha jiri akwa ha gwuo obere egwuregwu. O lelere akwa nd[ ahx ka q chqpxta nke s[kar[r[ ike site n‟iwere ha kxq n‟eze ya n‟otu n‟otu, nke a ga-enyekwara ya aka imata etu xda ya si d[. AKIMO kpuchiri otu akwa nd[ ahx n‟ime aka ya nke na sqqsq akxkx akwa ahx nke p[r[ ap[ ka e nwere ike [hx site n‟oghere d[ n‟etiti isiaka ya na mkp[s[ aka ya nke mbx. O wee gwa Ikem ka o were otu akwa kxkqta na nke ya. 53 “AKIMO gwara Ikem s[, q bxrx na akwa nke g[ akxwaa,. Q ghqzie nke m mana nke m kxwaa, q ga-aghqrq nke g[”. Ikem wee were otu n‟ime akwa ya abxq lelecha n‟eze ya wee hqpxta nke d[ ya ka q bx ya s[kar[r[ ike. Oweere ebe ike ya chie n‟aka ya. “AKIMO gwara ya, e gbxla oge m”. Ikem wee were akwa nke ya wee kxkqr[ta na nke enyi ya nwoke. Akwa nd[ ahx mere mkpqtx ka o nwere nke kxwaranx. Mana, onweghi onye maara onye nke ya kxwara. Ikem lere nke ya anya, o nweghi ebe q kxwara, o wee lee anya hx na q bx nke AKIMO kxwara. O wee malie elu n‟q]x. N‟obi iru uju, AKIMO nyere Ikem akwa nke ahx tiwaranx. Nke ya fqdxz[r[ naani otu akwa. “Ka anyi jiri abxq nd[ fqdxrx mee otu ihe ahx” Ikem txtara alo nke a, mana AKIMO jxrx ajx. “Anendx gwara Ikem n‟olu bekee nakwa n‟iwe s[ Pxq!”. “Ikem zaghach[r[ ya Bata!”, ka o ji nwayqq na-atxcha akwa ya. O jxrx Anendx s[ “kedu ihe I na-ebere akwa, o bxkwa gi wetara atxmatx ahx? AKIMO jxrx ya, Onye na-ebe akwa?. Q gwakwara Ikem n‟olu bekee si ya „kpachara anya gi‟ Ikem wee na ach[ qch[ ebe q na-eri akwa chi ya nyere ya. AKIMO wee kxwaa akwa nke ya n‟ahx mgbqrqgwx osisi mangoro ahx wee riwe ya d[ka onye eze ad[gh[ n‟qnx. Ikem bidoro gxwa egwu maka otu nwata nwoke nke na-ebe akwa oge qbxla mmiri tabidoro ya n‟ihe egwuregwu qbxla. AKIMO wee kwxrx qtq bido chqghar[wa ihe n‟ala. Q txtara otu mpxrx mangoro rere ere d[ n‟ala ebe ahx. O nwere arxrx tachagoro akxkx ahx mangoro ahx n‟otu akxkx. N‟akxkx ahx, arxrx a banyere ya n‟ime. AKIMO weliri mangoro ahx elu na nti ya wee ch[a qch[. O wee nye ya Ikem. Q gwara ya s[, „o nwere ihe 54 na-ekwe egwu n‟ime ya, gee nti nke qma”. Obi esichagh[ Ikem ike, o wee wepu ya ewepu ebe nti ya d[. AKIMO ch[r[ ya qch[ “Onye xjq”. Ube q na-ata mmadx arx? Q bxrx iri akwa k[ta I mewe ngara”. Ikem wee weta mangoro ahx nso na nt[ ya. Ka q mere nke a, o maghi oge o ji were aka ya mechie oghere ahx. N‟oge ahx, ihe gbara ya n‟ aka, O wee txrapx mangoro ahx wee bewe akwa. AKIMO wee ch[a, ch[a, ch[a, wee kpq Ikem “onye ime qhia”. Obo aka Ikem na-afxs[ ya xfx nke ukwuu. O wee kwadobazie ila be ha. AKIMO wee chigharia, wee gakwuru ya si ya „Ndo‟. Na mbu Ikem atxpxrxgh[ ya qnx. Mana AKIMO r[qsibere ya ike, o teghi aka ha ad[r[kwa na mma qzq. Ebe ahx a]u gbara Ikem wee belata n‟[fx ya xfx. Tupu ha e ruo xlq, Ikem nyere AKIMO otu akwa site na nke ya. ONYE QMXBA EGO N‟echi ya, AKIMO jewere ileta nne ya na-aria ahx n‟xlqqgwx qhanaeze. Nke a mere na o nweghizi ike iduga Ikem na nke onye na-amxba ego. Mana, q kqwachara Ikem xzq q ga-esi gaa na be nwoke ahx, Ikem wee gawa n‟onwe ya. Ebe ahx ah[agh[ ahx [chqpxta. Ihe e dere na sa[bqdx d[ n‟okporo xzq be nwoke ahx bx Qkammxta Ikeagwxan[ onye amans[, onye mkpqrqgwx na-mkpa akwxkwq a maara nke qma, onye b[a mbx, q ga-ab[akwa qzq 55 Ikeagwxan[ d[ mkpxmkpx ma yiri uwe ime ahx nke sigoro n‟qcha q dibu pxq. Uwe obere mkpiri qkpa o yi kar[r[ ya. Uwe a siri ike ka tapolinx, nke mere o ji asxkq asxkq ma q nqdxsia ala. Ikeagwxan[ jxrx Ikem si “kedu ihe [ chqrq? “Ikem s[r[ ya “a chqrq m ka [ mxbara m ego”. „ego ole?‟ „kobo atq‟ Kobo gini?‟ Ikeagwxan[ jxrx ya na mgbagwoju anya. Ikem a si ya: kobo atq, q gwxla ego niile mx nwere. “Ha ha ha. O wetara kobo atq ka Qkammxta Ikeagwxan[ mxbaa. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha”. Q mxria. “Sqqsq ya ka m nwere” Ikem gwara ya qzq “O d[ mma, ahxrx m g[ n‟anya nke ukwuu, Ikeagwxan[ jxrx Ikem, “g[n[ bx aha g[?” “Q zara ya. „Ikem! Ahxrx m g[ n‟anya. G[n[ ka nna g[ na-arx? Ikem zara ya „Nna m anwxqla!‟. Ikeagwxan[ gwara Ikem “Nke a bx eziokwu, a mara m mana achqrq m inyoche g[! Nke a gbara Ikem ghar[. O gosiri na nwoke a bx oke d[b[a n‟eziokwu. “Qkammxta Ikeagwxan[ anagh[ amxba kobo atq mana a ga m enyere g[ aka. A ga m enye g[ otu ihe ga-ewetara g[ nnukwu ego. Lee m anya”. Ikem wee lee ya anya. Nwoke a wee site n‟aka akpa akwa ya wee wepxta otu ntu toro ogologo nke ukwuu wee tinyebe ya n‟anya-imi ya tutu ha niile abanyechaa n‟imi. „Kpqq m Qkammxta Ikeagwxan[ . “Ikem akpqq ya Qkammxta Ikeagwxan[ ” „ya bx aha m, a bx m qkaa omee: Abrakadabra” „Txtxta mpempe akwxkwq ahx d[ n‟ala”. 56 Ikem wee txtxta nwa mpe mpe akwxkwq ruru unyi wee nye ya nwoke ahx. „Lee anya nke qma” Qkammxta Ikeagwxan[ wee firie akwxkwq ahx n‟obo aka ya abxq wee tamuo okwu xfqdx nke sqqsq ya maara ihe q pxtara. Oge o mepere aka ya, mgbanaka apxta. O wee nye ya Ikem si ya “oge I ruru xlq tinye ya na mmiri ugboro asaa. I werezie ya tinye n‟okpuru ihe i ji ehi isi n‟akwa g[ oge I ga-arahx xra. N‟xtxtx, q ga-ewetara g[ nukwu ego”. Ikem kelere Qkammxta Ikeagwxan[ nke ukwuu wee were mgbanaka ahx kulizie ka q laa. Mana Ikeagwxan[ gwara ya si nd[ mmxq chqrq ihe n‟aka g[” Ikem gwara ya na o nwegh[ ihe ya nwere ma q bxgh[ kobo atq ahx. Q si Ikem “o ga-ezuru ha; echi, nd[ mmxq ga-akwx g[ xgwq. Ikem nyere Ikeagwxan[ ego ahx mana obi esichagh[ ya ike. Oge Ikem ruru xlq, o mere etu a gwara ya mee. O tinyere mgban aka ahx n‟ime mmiri ugboro asaa wee tinye ya n‟okpuru ihe o ji ehi isi. O tetara ugboro abxq n‟uchichi chee na chi efogo. Na nke atq, q kpqtere Michael wee jxq ya ma chi efola. Nwantxpq tamuru n‟iwe wee dqq Ikem aka na nti ka q ghara inyekwa ya nsogbu ebe ya na-arahx xra. Ka chi mechaz[r[ fo, Ikem ka nq n‟elu akwa na-arahx xra. Nwantxpq wee kpqte ya. O wee kulie, hie aka n‟ihu. O nwere ihe d[ ya n‟uche mana o nweghi ike [kqwa ihe q bx. Ozigbo, uche ya eruo ebe mgbanaka ahx d[. O wee nupu ihe ahx o jiri hie isi ebe o debere ya. Mana mgbanaka d[ etu o debere ya n‟enwegh[ mgbanwe qbxla. IKEM ALAGHACHI NA NKE IKEAGWXAN{ Chi nke xbqch[ ahx eforogh[ Ikem etu o siri chqq. O metughi nr[ xtxtx ya aka. Nwantxpq chqrq [jxpxta ya ihe bx iwe ya mana q gwara ya na o nweghi, ma were iwe na- 57 eme ihe qbxla q na-eme. N‟oge ehihie, Ikem gara [kqrq Anendx etu ihe siri debe imi na qnx, maka na ka o sila d[, q bx ya gosiri Ikem be Ikeagwxan[. AKIMO na-eriri onwe ya gari na ofe qkwxrx oge Ikem rutere. Ihu efe AKIMO niile bxz[ ofe qkwxrx ofe qkwxrx maka na q na-esiri ya ike igbochi nke a site n‟etu o si edebe aka wee na agwqr[ ya bx ofe. Xd[r[ azx d[ n‟ofe ahx mere ka akp[r[ Ikem mebe t[kqm t[kqm. “B[a soro m rie nr[” AKIMO gwara Ikem nke a ka q na-eri nr[. Ikem zaghach[r[ ya „Mba, I meela, agxx anaghi agx m‟. Mana nna AKIMO gwara ya s[ “gaa soro ya rie nr[“. Nna Anendx dina n‟oche akwa ya. Ikem achqgh[ ka a r[qkwaa ya qzq, ozigbo, q kwqrq aka ya wee bido daba nr[ ahx qgx. Ikem maara etu esi edebe aka eri ofe qkwxrx; nke a mere na mgbe o richara nr[, efe ya ka d[ qcha etu q d[bx. Ikem achqgh[ ka nna AKIMO mata ihe gbasara ije ha na Ikeagwxan[, ya mere o jiri kpqrq AKIMO pxq n‟ezi tupu q kqqrq ya ihe q b[ara maka ya. Akxkq ahx were AKIMO iwe nke ukwuu nke mere na q ]xrx iyi na ya ga-agwa nwoke ahx ihe qkx ji nt[ oke eme. Ikem jxrx ya si “o nweeela oge nwoke a mxbaara g[ ego n‟xd[ qbxla AKIMO zara ya si “mba, a na m enweta ihe qbxla m chqrq n‟aka nne m. Nke a mere na a nagh[ m achq [mxba ego qbxla”. Qs[sa O nyere Ikem ejughi ya afq mana qchqgh[ [gaba n‟ihu. Ikem jxrx ya “Kedu ka ahx d[ nne g[?”, AKIMO a za ya si „q na-ebelata, nsogbu ya bx agbaikpere‟. Ikem jxrx ya „G[n[ bx agbaikpere?. AKIMO gwara ya s[ “amagh[ m ihe bx agbaikpere. Q bx or[a na-ar[akar[ nd[ okenye. Xkwx ya na afx ya xfx”. 58 Xmxaka abxq a sitere ebe ahx wee nupu ije gawa na be onye d[b[a ahx. Ikem gwara AKIMO ka ha gasie ike ka ha nwee ike [laghach[ azx qs[sq tupu nwanne ya alata qrx. Anendx jxrx ya s[ “[ gwara ya maka ije a”. Ikem siri ya “mbanx, kedu ka m ga esi gwa ya”. Oge ha ruru na nke Ikeagwxan[, q na-ata ak[ bekee na gari e tinyere mmiri. Ka Ikeagwxan[ hxrx ha, o jiri iwe jxq ha s[ “kedx ihe xnx chqrq?” Ikem s[ ya “a bx m Ikem onye b[ara ebe a xnyahx”. Ikeagwxan[ were gwa ha s[ “a ghqtagh[ m ihe [ na-ekwu”. Ikem wee s[ ya, „mana g[ nyere m mgbanaka”, o wee wepxta mgbanaka ahx gosi ya. Ikeagwxan[ a jxq ya s[ “na mx nyere g[ ihe ahx? Ara q na-apx g[? AKIMO cheteere ya s[ “q bx m zitere ya ebe a xnyaahx ka [ mxbara ya kobo atq nke o nyere g[”. N‟iwe q jxrx AKIMO s[ “ahxsiela m anya n‟xwa a, ma g[ sokwa n‟onye b[ara ebe a xnyaahx nye m kobo atq?” Anendx wee za ya s[ „esogh[ m ya b[a kama…” “S[nx ebe a pxq qs[sq tupu e gosi m unu onye m bx. Legodu! G[n[ mere na xmxaka ugbua ad[gh[ atx xjq. Ya bx na xjq atxgh[ xnx nke [ b[a na be m bia mee xd[ mkpqtx a. Nna unu bx onye zuuru kobo atq unu, q bxgh[ m. Cherenu m ebe ahx ka m bia”. O wee gbabaa n‟ime xlq, wepxta mma zararam n‟ala. AKIMO wee che iru ebe o chere azx, Ikem wee sochie ya anya. NGARA BURU XZQ, QD{DA ESOWE YA Ka ihe gbasara mmxba ego gas[r[, AKIMO bidoro ikuziri Ikem etu e si anya igwe n‟oge ezumike ha. Anendx enweghi igwe nke aka ya, kama, q na-ebute nke onye na- edozi igwe bi n‟xlq nna ya. Onye qdoz[ xgbqala igwe a na-anqkar[ n‟okpuru osisi d[ n‟ihu xlq be Anendx ha wee na-arx qrx ya. Qtxtx nd[ mmadx na-ebutere ya xgbqala igwe ha 59 n‟ebe ahx ka o doziere ha. Qtxtx oge, q na -abxkar[ idozi bureki ma q bx isuchi tubu naeri eri. Nwoke a bx qka[be n‟qrx qbxla ewetaara ya gbasara igwe. Mgbe qbxla [gafere ebe ahx, nwoke a ga-eyiri akwa qrx ya ruru unyi wee na-arx igwe. Nwoke a na-ad[ na-atxghar[ igwe qbxla q na-arx qrx atxghar[ wee mee ka xkwx ya abxq d[r[ n‟ikuku tupu q rxba qrx. Ihe o dere na sa[bqdx q madoro n‟ukwu osisi bx Dib[a Igwe Nwoke a nwere ihe d[ka xgbqala igwe ise ma q bx isi nke aka ya; nke q na ebunye nd[ mmadx n‟xd[ mgbazinye n‟qnx kobo isii maka otu elekere. Q bx otu n‟ime nd[ a ka Anendx gbazitere n‟aka nwoke a. O meghi ka nwoke ahx mata na q chqrq iji igwe ahx kuziere mmadx. A s[ na odoziigwe ahx maara nke a, q gagh[ ekwe. Igwe ahx bx nke nd[ okenye, ya mere o jiri d[ elu kar[a etu Ikem chqrq, mana Ikem na-emeta nke qma na ya. Ikem nqdx ala n‟oche d[ n‟igwe a, qkpa ya ad[gh[ eru n‟ebe nzodo xkwx. Ya mere o ji na- anq xd[ nke a na-akpq onodu enwe. Q na-akwxrx n‟ebe nzodo xkwx wee nqrq otu akxkx, nyara na-aga. Ka ihe d[ka otu izu xka gachara, Ikem bidoro nyawa igwe nke qma, nke na o nwere ike [nyaru ebe tere aka ma ya adagh[. Q na-ad[ na-abx abx ma q na-aga. Nke a txrx Anendx n‟anya nke mere na o wetere atxmatx na Ikem ga-aga mata ma o nwere ike [nya igwe n‟okporo xzq oyibo, q bxgh[z[ nke obom egwuregwu. D[ka Anendx siri kqwaa. „Q bx n‟okporo uzo oyibo ka a na-amata onye maara anya igwe. Na mbx, obi esichagh[ Ikem ike, mana o kwetara na ya ga-anya n‟otu xzq nke xgbqala anaghi aga nke ukwuu. Ikem mere n‟xd[ txrx ya n‟anya. Nke a txrx Ikem n‟anya nke na q magh[ mgbe o bidoro gxr[wa egwu n‟ike n‟ike wee na-azq igwe ahx etu q gaadabanye n‟egwu ahx. A]xr[ na ngara juru ya afq, nke mere o jiri jxba n‟obi ya, ihe mere 60 xfqdx mmadx j[ as[ na [nya igwe na-esi ike. „Q d[ mfe kar[a iri ofe qkwxrx‟ Ikem chere nke a n‟obi ya. Ozigbo, otu obere xgbqala e si n‟otu obere uzo wachapxta wee b[awa n‟ihx Ikem. Obi mapxrx Ikem nke mere na q sxkpunyere igwe ahx n‟akxkx uzo ebe mmiri si aga. Nke a mere ka igwe ahx kxq n‟osisi qkx latr[k[ nke mekwara ka igwe ahx mebie nke qjqq. Ahx Ikem niile bx sqqsq mmiri ruru inyi oge o kulitere n‟ala. O meruru obere ahx n‟ikpere, aka ya na nke xkwx ya, mana nke a abxgh[ nsogbu. Igwe ahx mebiri nke qjqq. Xkwx iru ya na bureki ya kxgqs[r[ akxgq. Az[za ya xfqdx gbajikwara. Ikem na Anendx chqrq ka ha dozie xgbqala igwe a n‟aka ha mana q d[gh[ ofele. N‟ikpeazx, ha kpebiri iburu ya bugara onye nwe ya ka kpqrqkpqtq gbaa n‟ihu ehi. Ebe q bx na xkwx iru ya kxgqrq akxgq, o kweghi [kpx n‟aka. Ihe ha mere bx [ buli xkwx iru ahx elu wee were xkwx azx buru uzo. Ihe a wutere onye odozi igwe ahx nke ukwuu nke na o kwubiri na Ikem ga-akwx xgwq ihe o mebiri. “Mana e nweghi m ego” Ikem r[qrq ya. “Biko gbaghara ya; o nweghi ego” Anendx r[qkwara ya. Mana ihe nwoke ahx kwudebere bx “q bxrx na o nweghi ego, kedu onye gwara ya ka q nyaa igwe m?, b[a gosi m ebe i bi. Q bxrx na i nwegh[ ego, nd[ mxrx g[ gaakwx xgwq ihe nzuzu g[ buteere g[.” Ikem r[qgidere nwoke a ka q gbaghara ya mana o kweghi. Nwoke ahx gwara ya s[ “[ na-egbu oge g[”. B[a gosi m nne g[ na nna g[. Q bxrx n‟imeghi qs[sq, a ga m akpxga g[ na nke nd[ uwe ojii. Ikem wee buwe uzo, o were xgbqala igwe na-eso ya n‟azx nwayqq nwayqq. Xjq ekweghi Ikem duruo nwoke a na be ha. Ihe o cheputara n‟obi ya bx iduru ya na-aga gburugburu uzo qbxla. Ha s[ n‟xzq nke a ha baa na nke qzq. Nwoke a wee jxq ya s[. 61 “Kedu ebe [ s[r[ na i bi?” Ikem zara ya na q magh[ akara xlq ha, mana q d[ ya ka q d[ n‟ihu”, O wee txq aka n‟ihu ha. Ha jegidere wee laghach[kwa azx ebe ha bidoro. Nke a were nwoke a iwe nke ukwuu nke mere o jiri chqq iti Ikem [he. Iwe na-asx ya n‟obi mere na q magh[ mgbe o jiri buru igwe ya wee kutuo otu nwaany[ bu ibu wee si ah[a na-alqta. Ngwongwo niile nwany[ a bu na nkata ya ghafusiri n‟ala. „Ozigbo, nwany[ a ch[r[ ákwà ajx ya wee kedosie ike n‟ume wee chqq iba nwoke a qgx. O jidere nwoke a n‟akwa ya wee na-akpq ya [y[. “Nwaany[ a kwuru “e nwere ngwa ah[a ruru otu nnx ego n‟ qnx egq, nyem ya ugbua”. Nd[ mmadx bidoro gbakqtaba, xfqdx na-atxtxta ihe nd[ d[ n‟ala wee na-etinye ha n‟ime nkata ahx. N‟ime nkata ahx, ihe d[ka tqmatq, ázx-qkpqq na obere ji d[gas[ n‟ime ya. Mana nwaany[ gara n‟ihu na-eti mkpu. O mere ka o doo nwoke ahx anya na ya agagh[ eji ihe atxtara n‟ala wee sie nri. Ihe q chqrq bx nnx ego ahx. Ka ogbaghara a na-aga n‟ihu, Ikem jiri nwayqq m[chapx, wee gbaa qsq otu q gbabeghi na mbx wee laa be ha. QKPA AKX ERI ERI Agxx [gafe osimiri Na[ja ka d[ Ikem n‟obi, mana ka ihe siri kwxrx, q d[z[ ka o nwekwagh[ uzo ego ahx ga-esi b[a. O chere n‟uche ya s[ “kedu uru q bara na m na-arq nrq?” D[ka nne ya si ekwu: „ogbenye ekwesigi[ irq nrq osikapa. Otu xbqch[, Ikem hxrx Maz[ Qmaja Ejindx ka q na-agx qkpxrxkpx akwxkwq ego. Q mabeghi na e nwere ego ha ka nke ahx n‟xwa a. Ikem chere n‟obi ya s[: „q bxrx na Maaz[ Qmaja Ejindx nwere ego ha etu a, g[n[ mere o ji ebi xd[ ndx ntaramahxhx a? 62 Nwoke a na nwunye ya tinyere xmx ha ise bi n‟otu ime xlq. Nr[ ha na-esikar[ bx sqqsq gar[. Oge nwunye ya mekatara tinyere ya qtxtx azx na nr[, mara na qgx ga-ada. Xmx ya na-eyi akwa kara nka aga akwxkwq. Ha na-abxkar[ nd[ ikpeazx n‟[kwx xgwq akwxkwq. Nwoke a na-anya otu nk[r[ka igwe nke e nweghizi akwxkwq ikike. Q na-eburu igwe a bxbaa n‟ime xlq ihe d[ka otu izu xka maqbx abxq oge qbxla q chqpxtara na nd[ uwe ojii na-ejide nd[ mmadx maka akwxkwq ikike. Nd[ agbataobi na-akpq ya “ego amaghi uzo” mana nke a na-abx n‟amaghi ama ya. Otu Ikem si chqq ego mere o jiri chee na Mz. Qmaja Ejindx nwere ike inyetx ya. Nke a mere na oge Qmaja Ejindx siri ahia lqta n‟echi ya, Ikem gakwuurx ya wee kelee ya ma kpxrx igwe ya. Q zaghach[r[ Ikem “nwa m” wee mxr[a. Ikem mere nke a na mgbede qbxla ihe d[ka otu izu xka. Mana Maaz[ Qmaja Ejindx akpabeghi agwa ka onye chqrq inye Ikem ihe qbxla, naani otu oge ka o tinyere aka n‟aka akpa „kak[„ uwe ogologo qkpa ya. Ikem chere na ch[ ya chqrq [za ekpere ya. Maaz[ Qmaja Ejindx weptara aka n‟akpa ya, o wee bxrx sqqsq, mkpxrx ahxekere atq ka o nyere Ikem. O nweghi ebe qzq echiche Maaz[ Qmaja Ejindx na-aga ma q bxgh[ n‟ebe ihe gbasara uru na qghqm d[ n‟ah[a d[. Nke a mere o ji na-eme mgbako na mwepu n‟uche ya mgbe qbxla. Otu xbqch[, Ikem kelere ya „xtxtx qma, sa‟. Ihe q zara ya bx “Na[ra iri”. Aha nwoke a n‟uju bx Maaz[ Qmaja Ejindx. A maara ya nke qma n‟obodo ahx. Q na-agach[ xka anya. Kwa xbqchi xka qbxla, q na-eyiri uwe agbada ya, wee soro nd[ ezinaxlq ya gaa xlq xka d[ nso na be ha. N‟xbqch[ Fra[de qbxla q na-agakwa ihe qmxmx akwxkwq nsq. Q gbara Ikem ghar[ etu onye d[ otu a si wee nwee obi qjqq ma bxrxkwa onye xka. 63 Mgbe xfqdx Maaz[ Qmaja Ejindx ga-ahapx xlq ya n‟ime ndeeri ma laghach[ azx na chi ofufo. Nd[ mmadx na-ekwu na nwoke a so nd[ otu nzuzo nke na-ezuko sqqsq n‟oge abal[. Otu abal[, afq na-asa Ikem site na mangoro achagh[ acha nke q tara. O wetara aka n‟ihe d[ka elekere anq nke xtxtx, Ikem kuliri ka q gaa mposi. Mana ka o mepere uzo, q nxrx nzq xkwx nd[ mmadx n‟iro. O wee mepee uzo ahx obere wee lepu anya. Nd[ q hxrx bx Maaz[ Qmaja Ejindx na otu onye qzq nke q maghi, ebe ha si otu ebe alqta. Ha kwxrx n‟iro wee kpaa obere xbxbq tupu ha agbasaa. Ikem amatagh[ ihe nke a pxtara oge ahx, mana o na-echata nke a n‟qd[n[hu. NRQ IKEM APXTA IHE Ohere dapxtaara Ikem mgbe q txgh[ anya. Nke a mere n‟otu xbqch[ nd[ qrx oyibo dum nwere ezumike. Nke a mere na nwanne nna Ikem gara Xmxezechxa nke q ga-alqta n‟echi ya. Ikem richapxrx nri ehihie ya ngwa ngwa wee gbara gawa n‟akxkx osimiri n‟atxpxrxgh[ Michael qnx. Ebe q bx na o nweghi ego, o nweghi mgbe o jiri chee maka [gafe osimiri ahx qzq. Sqqsq ihe q chqrq bx [k[r[ xgbq mmiri. Ka o ruru n‟ akxkx ikpere mmiri, q hxrx qtxtx xgbqala nke na-eche ka xgbq mmiri bufee ha. Ka o lepuru anya; q hxkwara ka xmxaka atq na-asa xfqdx xgbqala nd[ ahx. Q hxkwara oge xmxaka nd[ a natara xgwq qrx ha ka ha sachara xgbq nd[ ahx. Ikem wee jxq onwe ya s[. “G[n[ mere na m echegh[ echiche maka nke a na mbu?” Q gbapxrx qsq, gaa weta boketi na obere akwa q ga-eji saa xgbqala. 64 Iwe were Ikem oge q lachitere wee chqpxta na xgbq mmiri nd[ ahx apxchaala. Sqqsq nnukwu xgbqala ole na ole dizi ebe ahx. Mana nwant[t[ oge, xgbqala nd[ obere bidoro b[awakwa qzq, nke a mere ka obi ruo Ikem ala. Xgbq nd[ a di atq bata, mana nd[ a bxcha obere xgbqala. Ikem chere na q ga-akara ya mma [sa nnukwu xgbq nke nd[ akaj[akx. N‟obere oge, otu xgbqala b[ara.. Ikem gbagara ebe ahx ozigbo. Onye nwe xgbqala ahx d[ka onye d[ mkpa n‟obodo. Eleghi anya q ga-abx onye m[n[sta. Ikem juziri oyi xgbx a. Q kwxrx n‟akxkx xgbq nd[ ahx wee na-eche ihe q gaeme. Mana, ka q kwx ebe ahx, otu n‟ime xmxaka nd[ qzq b[akwutere nwoke ahx, wee jxq ya s[ “ka m saara g[ xgbq ala g[ qga?” na mbx, nwoke ahx eleghi ya anya, mana nwata ahx r[okwara ya qzq s[, “qga, xgbq a ruru unyi nke ukwuu, e nwere m ike [sa ya nke qma. Nwoke ahx lere ya anya wee kwee n‟isi. Nwata wee mxr[a ma bido qrx ya ozigbo, Ikem wee taa aka n‟qnx gwa onwe ya s[ „q bxrx na nwata a nwere ike [rx qrx a, a ga m arunwu ya.” O teghi aka obere xgbqala qzq abata. Ikem achqgh[z[ igbu oge qbxla maqbx [hq xgbqala. Q gakwuuru onye nwe xgbq ahx wee gwa ya n‟olu bekee s[: “ka m saara g[ xgbq g[ a, qga? O ruru inyi n‟otu aka ahx [ na-aga Xmxnnachi. Nwoke ahx wee mur[a s[: “gaa n‟ihu” Ikem gara ozigbo kute mmiri na mmiri pqmpx d[ nso wee bido qrx ya. Ka Ikem sachara xgbq ahx, q gara gwa nwoke ahx na ya emechaala. Mana nwoke ahx elegh[ ya anya ya na enyi ya na akpar[ xbxbq. Nke a mere na uche ya ad[chagh[ ebe Ikem nq. Ihe o medebere bx na q s[ ya “i meela”. Wee kpar[ba xka na eleghi Ikem anya. Ikem wee kwxrx n‟ebe ahx. Q kwxkata n‟otu xkwx q kwxrx n‟xkwx nke qzq. N‟ikpeazx, nwoke ahx tinyere aka n‟akpa akwa ya. Obi Ikem bidoro tiwe kpum kpum. Nwoke a ch[pxtara mkpxrx ego juru ya aka wee nye Ikem otu n‟ime ha. 65 „I meela‟, Ikem kelere ya. O wee lee mkpxrx ego ahx anya nke qma wee hx na q bx otu shinin. N‟obi a]xr[; o kelekwara nwoke ahx qzq. „Qga i meela, Nwoke ahx azaghach[gh[ ya, ya na enyi ya nwoke ka na-akpar[ xbxbq, ya na xtaba oyibo q kpx n‟qnx. IKEM N‟IME XGBQ MMIRI A s[ na nwata rie ihe q na amxrx anya xra atxwa ya. Ihe ahx Ikem na-achq kemgbe eruola ya aka; n‟ikpeazx q hxrx ohere [ga Xmxalqr[. Q maliri elu ugboro ugboro wee bxq abx. Nke a bx otu n‟abx nd[ q mxtara n‟xlq akwxkwq O. M. U. Oyeakpx sukulu, Xmxezechxa. Ikem sooro nd[ na-aga njem wee kwxrx n‟ah[r[. Ka oge ya ruru [kwx xgwq njem, o nyere onye na-anakq ego naira nke ya wee natakwa ya akwxkwq ikike a na-enye onye kwxrx xgwq na kobo isii, ego mmafq. Obi Ikem xgbxa bxzi sqqsq a]xr[. Nke taa gasia, o nweziri ike [gwa nd[ qgbq ya s[, „a gaala m Xmxalor[ lqta? Q fqdxz[r[ Xmxnnachi„. Xgbq mmiri nke Ikem ga-eso apxtagh[ n‟oge. Nke a mere ka ahx na-atakasi ya. O wee na-agaghari na-agxr[ egwu: Hapu nwunye gi soro nd[ agha q otu osimiri ka a ga-agafe q fqdxrx otu osimiri a ga-agafe. N‟ikpeazx, xgbq mmiri ahx b[ara. Onye hxrx ya oge q nq ebe tere aka ga-asi na o pere mpe. Obi Ikem bidoro na-eti kpum kpum. Q nq ala n‟otu mkpirisi osisi d[ ebe ahx, Q 66 nqkata q kwxrx qtq. O wepuru anya n‟ebe xgbq ahx na-ab[anx d[, o chere na nke a gaeme ka xgbq ahx rute nso qs[sq. Q mxch[r[ anya wee gxba qnx qgx site n‟otu rxq na nar[ abxq. O mere ihe niile o nwere ike iji hx na oge gafere qs[sq kar[a. N‟ikpeazx xgbq mmiri ahx rutere. Nd[ njem si bidoro wee r[pxtaba, xfqdx bu ibu n‟isi. Ka ha pxtachara, xgbq ala nd[ obere na nd[ nnukwu bidoro pxtaba n‟ah[r[ n‟ah[r[. Qtxtx n‟xgbq nd[ ahx ka etum mere maka ogologo njem ha megoro site n‟ Xmxnnachi. Nke a mere ka Ikem jxq n‟obi ya s[ “ya bx na etum d[ ma na Xmxnnachi?” O chere na obodo ukwu d[ ka Xmxnnachi enwegh[ etum. Ka xgbqala nd[ si Xmxalqr[ pxtachara, xgbq ala nd[ si Ogbeqza bidoro banyewe. Oge xfqdx, q na-ad[ ka xgbq ahx gaadabanye na mmiri, mana, o nweghi nke dabara. Ikem hxrx ka xgbqala nke ahx q sara banyere n‟ime xgbq mmiri ahx. Q d[ qcha, ma d[ka nke a zxrx qhxrx. Ikem bu akara xgbqala ahx n‟isi NW7005. Xgbqala nke ikpeazx na nd[ banyere n‟xgbq mmiri ahx nwere redio, nke onye kwq ya kpqghechara wee na enwe a]xr[ ebe q bx na qga nwe ya bx xgbq anqgh[ ya. Q chqd[r[ [bxga nd[ mmadx n‟qnx ego d[ ala. Ka xgbq ala ikpeazx a banyechara, onye isi na-ahx maka njem xgbq mmiri nke yi akwa qcha na efeziri nd[ mmadx aka ka ha banyewe. Nd[ mmadx bidoro zqba uzo nke qjqq maka oche. Ikem so na nd[ mbx gbabatara n‟ ime xgbq. Igwe na-enye xgbq mmiri ukwu a qkx wee sxba n‟ike n‟ike. Opi ike dara n‟elu. Mgb[r[gba wee kxq n‟ime xlq igwe qkx xgbq mmiri. Q dara nnqq ka nnukwu igwe mgb[r[ngba. Xgbq mmiri ahx bidoro gawa azx. Ka q gafechara elu ala, mgb[r[gba ahx 67 kxkwara qzq, igwe qkx ahx wee susibe ike. Xgbq ahx gbara okirikiri we nupu ije gaba Xmxalqr[. Q d[zi Ikem ka q bx na nrq ka nke a na-eme. Q gbara ya ghar[[ ma nke a q bx eziokwu. O chere n‟obi ya s[, “ya bx na m bx onye a?”, Ikem Anene, nke Xmxezechxa, mpaghara Mba[nq, okpuru qch[chi Ogbeoza, Ogbeotu Ogbend[da, qd[da anyawx Af[r[ka, mba xwa, Elu xwa. Etu a ka o siri dee aha ya n‟akwxkwq qgxgx q zxtara qhxrx. Nke a bx otu n‟ihe nd[ q mxtara n‟aka enyi ya nwoke bx Anendx, nke a na-etu AKIMO. N‟oge njem ahx, obi xtq Ikem nwere d[ka nke d[nta gbagburu enyi. “Nke a bx osimiri ahx n‟ikpeazu?” Ikem were aka tie onwe ya n‟obi ka q bx ya nwezi osimiri ahx, wee kutuo ume. Ikuku qma nke ndx na-eku. O chetara abx qzq nke q mxtara n‟xmxqf[a wee bido gxwa ya Kpaa kpaa kpara xgbq mmiri g[ nwayqq nwayqq na-agbada na mmiri a]xr[, n‟a]xr[, n‟a]xr[ xwa a bx sqqsq nrq. Oge ike [bx abx gwxrx ya, o bidoro chewe echiche gbasara Legos[. O chere ihe akwa mmiri Kata d[ ka ya. Q nxbugo ka a kqwara maka akwa mmiri a na redio. Q makwara ihe gbasara Okonkwo, Atxanya, Qkafq, Ebe igwu mmiri, Ogbunike, Xlq steeti na ebe nd[ qzq. Mana ebe kachasi ya mkpa [hx bx obom egwuregwu nke siti, ebe a na-anq agbas[ bqqlx niile q nugoru maka ya. O nweghi ihe na-enye Ikem obi xtq d[ka oge a na- 68 akqwapxta etu e si asq mp[ bqqlx na redio O.N. M. Oge qbxla enwere asqmp[ bqqlx, nd[ mmadx na-ab[a igere nt[ na redio nke nwanne ya nwoke. Q na-ad[ ha ka ha bxrx onye naakqwapxta asqmp[ nd[ ahx. Oge qbxla o tiri mkpu “q bx goolu!” mmadx niile e tie, “q bx goolu” Xfqdx na-amal[ elu wee kwekqr[ta n‟aka. Nke a na abxkar[ oge nd[ nke ha nyere goolu. IKEM NQ NA NSOGBU N‟ikpeazx xgbq mmiri ahx bu Ikem rutere m al r . Nd[ njem niile soro ya rute m al r wee r[databa. Ikem lere anya gburu gburu ya. O kwetagh[ na ihe anya ya naahx bx eziokwu. Q d[zi ya ka q nq n‟xwa qzq. “Q bx ebe a bx m al r ahx m na-anx maka ya kamgbe?” O nweghi ihe d[ ebe ahx. Sqqsq mkpqmkpq xlq obibi d[ ebe ahx. Q bxgh[z[ ihe o chere ka q hxrx. Ikem sooro nd[ njem nd[ qzq wee gbagoro n‟ xlq ah[a d[ ebe ahx. Ka o ruru n‟ah[a, ihe bidoro gbanwebe. Q txrx anya ihe kar[r[ nd[ a. Ah[a nke ahx d[ n‟ m al r abxgh[ ihe a ga-eji tunyere nke d[ n‟Ogbeqza. O nwegh[ ebe yiri „Oye agx‟ n‟ m al r , ebe mkpqtx egwu awant[lq anagh[ ekwe nd[ mmadx nxrx ude xgbqala. Ikem wunyere aka ya abxq n‟aka akpa uwe ya d[ka onye qcha na-elele xlq akwxkwq, wee gafecha ah[a ahx. Site n‟akxkq Ikem nugoro banyere m al r , q txrx anya na m al r ga-ad[ qcha kar[a ebe qbxla q hxgoro na ndx ya. Uche ya bx na, Agbata Ogbeotu d[ iche na Ogbeotu Obosi ebe o siri b[a. Mana xgbxa, q matala na ikuku niile bx otu, nd[ mmadx naagaghar[kwa d[ka e si eme n‟Ogbeqza. 69 Ka Ikem bamiwere n‟ime ime obodo, o bidoro hxwa ezigbo xlq obibi. Mana nke a abxchagh[ ihe a ga-etiri mkpu; xlq nd[ d[s[ n‟Ogbeqza kas[ ha mma, qkacha nd[ e wuru n‟okporo uzo otu Nkwq Ogbeqza. Ka o s[na d[, otu ihe na-eme Ikem obi a]xr[. Ihe ahx bx na o nweziri ike [kq akxkq gbasara m al r d[ka nd[ qgbq ya si eme. Chi na-ejizi nke qjqq. N‟obi Ikem, ihe q hxrx gbasara m al r ezuogoro ya, q chqz[r[ [laghach[ azx n‟Ogbeqza. O meturu aka n‟aka akpa akwa ya, q bxrx na ego xgbq ya ka fqrq nke q ga-eji laa Ogbeqza. Q txghar[r[ laghach[we azx n‟akxkq osimiri ahx ebe q ga-enweta xgbq mmiri ga-ebughachi ya azx n‟ Ogbeqza. Ka q na-alaghach[, q d[z[ ya ka ebe ahx teziri aka kar[a. Ikem bidoro gbawa qsq. Mana ka o rutere n‟akxkx osimiri ahx, o nweghizi xgbq nke q hxrx. O lepuru anya wee hx ya ebe q gategoro aka n‟elu osimiri ahx. Ya bx xgbq a galar[ qkara njem ahx. Xjq jidere Ikem. Q hxrx ka onye na-ahx maka njem xgbq mmiri na-emechi qf[s[ ya. Ikem gbagara ebe ahx wee r[q ya n‟olu akwa s[, “biko, qga, a chqrq m [laghach[ Ogbeqza”. Nwoke ahx jxrx ya s[ „[ chqrq [laghachi Ogbeqza? Q chqba igodo ukwu igodo ya.” olu nwoke a jiri kwu okwu a d[ka q ga-enyere Ikem aka. Nke a mere Ikem obi a]xr[. Ikem sara ya s[ “ee nna m”. Nwoke ahx gwara ya s[. “Q d[ m mwute, mana, i nwegh[ ike [laghach[ Ogbeqza taa. Xgbq mmiri nke ikpeazx alaala. B[a n‟xtxtx echi”. Ikem r[qrq ya “mana o nweghi onye m mara n‟ebe a, e bi m n‟Ogbeqza”. Oge a nwoke ahx akpqchiela uzo ya. Sqqsq ihe o kwuru bx “nke a d[ m mwute! O wee pxq, Ikem wee kwxrx ebe ahx na-ebe akwa. Ka q na-ebe akwa n‟ebe ahx, otu nwoke siri ebe q na-asa ahx n‟osimiri ahx pxta, nwoke a ma akwa-nh[cha ahx n‟ukwu. Q gwara Ikem na „[b[a m al r abxgh[ nsogbu 70 mana [laghach[ azx bx nsogbu‟. Onye hxrx nwoke a ga-ama na q bx ekperima; nke mere ka nnukwu xjq jide Ikem nke mere ka o si n‟akxkx osimiri ahx pxq. Ikem bere akwa wee laghach[ n‟ah[a m al r . Q gara wee nodebe otu xgbqala ochie d[ ebe ahx wee na-ebe akwa ime mmxq. Q na-ataz[ onwe ya xta, a s[ na ya nxrx ndxmqdx nne ya nyere ya ka ya ghara [gafe osimiri ahx, o chetakwara okwu nne ya qzq nke bx na „ibe akwa a naghi egbo mkpa qbxla‟. Nke a mere na kama o ga-ebebe akwa o bido chewe ihe q ga-eme. Ihe mbx echiche ya gwara ya bx ka q gaa r[q onye nwe otu n‟ime qdx ah[a d[gas[ n‟ah[a ahx ka q nabata ya ka ya rahu n‟ime ya. Mana uche ya ruru na nwoke ahx nwere ike [bx onye ohi na onye ntqr[. N‟ikpeazx, Ikem cheputaziri ka ya rahx n‟ime otu xgbqala ochie nd[ ahx. Ka o lebara xgbq nd[ a anya, q chqpxtara na otu n‟ime ha ka e dere AKIMO No. 1, o wee d[ ya mma [rahu na ya maka aha ya ahx. NSOGBU IKEM WEE NA-ABAWANYE Ikem achqgh[ [ba n‟ime xgbqala ahx oge nd[ mmadx ga-ahx ya. Nke a mere o jiri gaghar[wa ruo mgbe qch[ch[r[ b[ara. Q hxrx ka nd[ ah[a na-akpqch[ qdx ah[a ha wee buru ngwo ah[a ha na-alas[s[. Nwant[nt[ oge, ah[a niile tqgbqz[ chakoo. Qch[ch[r[ wee gbaa ebe niile. Ikem wee gaa n‟azx xgbqala ochie ahx wee rigoro nwayq. Na mbx, o d[na n‟otu ogologo osisi e jiri mere oche n‟ime xgbqala ahx mana, q nqkatara chee na q ka mma ka ya zoo onwe ya n‟okpuru ya. Q r[datara zoo onwe ya n‟okpuru oche nd[ ahx. Echiche ya ruru ebe nne ya na xmxnne ya nq n‟xlq, nke mere ka nsogbu ya bawanye. Agxx na-agx ya nke qjqq, anwxnta ekwegh[ ya jiri nti nxrx ihe. Q chqgh[ igbu 71 ha maka na q maara na ha d[ n‟igwe, qzqkwa, itigbu ha ga-ebute mkpqtx. Ikem kechiri onwe ya ka ngwugwu, were aka yie isi ya ma were nke qzq fanye n‟etiti xkwx ya abxq. Xjq ekweghi ya rahx xra. Qtxtx oge ka q na-ad[ ya ka q nxrx nzqxkwx nd[ mmadx. Ikem kpere ekpere, bee akwa n‟ime qch[ch[r[ ahx, mana o mere nke a na-emeghi mkpqtx qbxla. Ka ogologo oge gachara, Ikem rahxrx xra. Mana q bxghi xra miri emi. Q rqrq ajq nrq nke nyere ya nsogbu. Q rqrq nrq ka ajq mmxq na ajq mmadx na-achxghar[ ya. N‟ime nderi, Ikem tetara xra n‟ike. Xmx nwoke atq na-ekwu okwu n‟akxkx ebe ahx o dina. xjq jidere Ikem. Xmx nwoke nd[ ahx dakwas[r[ n‟ahx xgbqala ahx Ikem nq n‟ime ya. Ikem nxrx ka ahx ha na-emetxta n‟ahx xgbqala ahx ka ha na-akpar[ nkata n‟olu d[ ala. Mgbe xfqdx n‟asxsx Igbo, mgbe xfqdxkwa n‟asxsx p[j[n. Ikem ghqtachara ihe niile ha na-akpar[. “O nwere nchekwube na anyi ga-abia ma mgb[r[gba xlq xka kxq n‟elekere atq” Otu n‟ime nd[ ahx kwuru nke a. Onye qzq wee s[, “i chere na nwoke ahx bx onye a gaatxkwas[ obi?” Onye nke mbx ahx wee saa ya s[. “Atxkwas[r[ m ya obi”. Mana onye nke abxq gwara ya si “I maara na xfqdx n‟ime ha nwere ike [gwa g[ ka [ b[a, ma gaa kpqq nd[ uwe oji ka ha jide g[?” Onye nke atq kwuru n‟olu pijin s[ “Any[ ga-eji n‟aka na q bx onye eziokwu. Q bxrx na any[ ejighi ya n‟aka ka any[ ghara [ga, achqgh[ m nsogbu nd[ uwe ojii”. Mana onye nke mbx kwuchiri ya qnx s[, “[ na-atx xjq kar[a, obere ihe mee, i bido mawa ririri ka xmx nwaany[. Sqqsq oge iri ego ka [ na-egosi ihe [ j[ bxrx nwoke”. 72 “Qga, q bxgh[ xjq n‟ihi na nd[ oyibo kwuru s[ na mgbochi qr[a ka qgwxgwq ya”. Onye nke abxq kwuru nke a. onye nke ahx ha na-asi „qga‟ wee s[, “inweta ego ad[gh[ mfe, ego d[ n‟ogwu, egbe kepu kepu a m ji n‟aka abxgh[ n‟efu”. Xjq jizi Ikem xgbx a nke na iku ume bxxrx ya nsogbu. Q maara nke qma na ya mee obere mkpqtx n‟oge ahx na ndx ya agwxla, nke a mere ka q nqrq juu d[ka nwa oke. Ka nd[ ahx nq ebe ahx na-akpar[ xka mgb[r[gba ahx kxrx nke elekere atq. Onye nke mbx ahx wee s[ “ngwa, bianx ka any[ gaa, site n‟ike nke chineke, ihe niile ga-aga nke qma”. Obi tqrq Ikem xtq oge q nxrx “b[anx ka any[ gaa”. Mana obi mapxkwara ya oge otu n‟ime ha rigotere n‟ime xgbqala ahx. Ikem mepere qnx ka o tie mkpu mana o nweghi ike ya. Qs[sqq jxrx ya ahx ebe akp[r[ ya kpqrq nkx. O mechiri anya ya ka otu n‟ime ihe d[ abxq mee. Igwe eji anya xgbqala ahx bidoro sxba, o wee bido gawa. Ikem mepere anya ya mana qch[ch[r[ ekweghi ya ka q hx uzo nke qma. O wee mechikwa ya qzq, ahx bido mawa ya ririri. Otu onye ahx nke bakwutere ya n‟azx xgbqala ahx bidoro kwawa xkwara, naatamukwa okwu nke sqqsq ya na-anx. Xjq ekwezigh[ Ikem mara ka ogologo uzo ha gagoro d[. Mana q maara oge xgbqala ahx bidoro gawa nwayq nwayq. Q banyere n‟otu ebe, gaa obere, wee kwusi. IHE ND{ OHI AHX MERE Ka xgbqala ahx kwxs[r[, nwoke ahx nq n‟azx ebe Ikem nq r[datara. Ikem meghere anya ya ma o nweghi ike ihx ihe qbxla. Xmx nwoke atq nd[ a na-akpar[z[ xka n‟olu d[ ala. Oge ahx, onye na-anya xgbqala ahx txghar[r[ ihu xgbqala ka o chee ihu ebe o chere 73 azx. Ebe niile dara jxx. Ekpere Ikem bx ka nd[ a jetee aka obere ka ya nwee ike r[data ga zoo. Mana ha apxgh[. Nke ka nke bx na onye qzq b[aziri soro ha nke mere nd[ ohi a mmadx anq. Site na nkata ha na-akpar[, Ikem chqpxtara na onye nke ikpeazx ahx bx onye „nche abali‟. Onye nke na-akpa agwa ka onye ndu ha gwara onye nche ahx okwu si. „I hxrx egbe a mx ji n‟aka, ejighi m ya na nk[t[, q bxrx na i tiwere m mmxq a na- akwa aka, any[ na g[ ga-anwx‟. „Onye nche ahx jxrx ya, g[n[ ga-eme ka m tiere g[ mmxq a na-akwa aka?‟ „i chere na inwe ego na-asa m afq? Ka, q bx n‟qrx nche a ka m ga-eji zxq nwa m na kqleji?. Onye ndu ahx wee s[ ya. “Ngwa b[a gosi any[ qnx xzq ahx”. Q gwakwara onye qkwq xgbqala ahx, nke aha ya bx Ekesiobi, ka o buputa oche ogologo ahx d[ n‟ime xgbqala ahx. Qfqdxrx ntak[r[ ka Ikem koropu obi oge q nxrx nke a. Q nxrx ka nwoke ahx na-ewepe mgbo xzq azx nke xgbqala ahx, mana nwoke a abanyeghi n‟ime xgbq ahx ozigbo, maka qchich[r[. Q gara n‟ihx xgbqala ahx ka o weta qkx q ga-eji hx uzo. N‟otu ntabi anya, Ikem ridatara wee pxq. Q magh[ ebe q na-aga. Qch[ch[r[ d[ nke ukwu mana o jisiri ike were ije nwamba jewe nwayq otu o nwere ike. Q bx chi qjqq mere na Ikem meturu otu mkpq komkom xkwx nke mere nnukwu nkpqtx. Onye na-anya xgbqala we tie „onye?‟. Ikem gbara obere qsq. Xgbu a qch[ch[r[ ahx amarana ya ahx. Q hxrx ihe d[ka qnxuzo wee gbabaa ebe ahx. „A siri m, onye?‟ onye na-anya xgbqala ahx jxrx qzq wee gbaa qkx tqch[ ahx. 74 E nwere obere qnx xlq d[ ebe Ikem banyere. Ka q na-ebighari aka, q chqpxtara n‟ ebe ahx d[ka akpat[ nke nwere qnx uzo. Q chqrq isi ebe ahx pxq, mana nd[ qzq b[akwutere onye na-anya xgbqala ahx, o wee na-akqrq ha etu ya siri nx nzqxkwx mmadx ka ya na-achq iweta qkx tqqch[ n‟ime xgbqala ahx. Ikem mechisiri anya ya ike n‟ebe q no. Nd[ ahx bidoro chqghar[wa ebe o zoro, mana onye nche abali ahx gwara ha na o nweghi onye o kara obi igaghar[ n‟ebe ahx n‟xd[ oge ahx. Q gwara ha na o nwere ike [bx otu nwamba nke bi n‟ebe ahx. Nke a mere ka ha hapuzie ichq onye nwe nzqxkwx ahx. Obi Ikem na-asxz[ ka ite nr[ d[ n‟qkx. N‟obere oge, q nxrx ka nd[ ahx na-adqnye ibu n‟ime xgbqala ahx. Nke a were ha nnukwu oge. N‟ikpeazx, xgbqala ahx sxbara, ha wee nupu ije, laa. Obi ruru Ikem ala ugbu a. Q d[zi ya ka ya bxwa abx, mana uche ya ruru n‟ebe onye nche abali ahx nq, na q ga-anqr[r[ nso n‟ebe ahx. Obi koropuru ya qzq. Ikem yqrq chukwu ka o zite chi ofufo ma zqpxtakwa ya. D[ka a ga-as[ na chukwu maara ihe q bx n‟obi ya, qkxkx kwara akwa n‟ otu ebe d[tx anya. Mana ka chi foziri, Ikem amagh[z[, ya na xra ka na-eme site n‟ike qgwxgwx nke mere ka q kwxrx qtq rahx xra. N‟ IKPEAZX Ihe kpqtere Ikem nke ugboro abxq n‟xtxtx ahx bx mkpqtx nd[ mmadx. O mepere anya n‟xjq. Obi tqrq ya xtq oge q chqpxtara na chi efola, o siri n‟ime nnukwu igbe ahx pxta, ma nyo anya n‟akxkx ahx mkpqtx s[ abia. Nke a abxgh[z[ mkpqtx ntamx ka nke nd[ ohi. Ikem gara ebe ahx mkpqtx s[ ab[a. ihe q hxrx ebe ahx gbara ya ghar[. E kedoro otu 75 nwoke n‟ukwu osisi ube. A chifere ya aka azx wee kee ya agbx. E ji akwa ojii kechie ya qnx. O nweghi ike ikwu okwu maqbx meghar[a ahx ya. Ihe nke a txrx nd[ gbakqrq ebe ahx n‟anya. Otu onye chqrq itoghe nwoke a agbx ahx, mana xfqdx gwara ya ka o chere ka nd[ uwe ojii b[a. Ikem chere nnukwu echiche banyere ihe q na-ahx, mana q ghqtagh[ ihe na-eme ebe ahx, ike gwxrx ya nke qjqq. N‟ikpeazx, nd[ uwe oji abxq b[ara. A tqpxkwara nwoke ahx agbx ji ya. O wee daa n‟ala nke mere ka Ikem chee na q nwxqla. Otu onye butere mmiri oyi nke a wxrx ya n‟ahx. Nke a nyere aka maka na nwoke ahx bilitere qtq wee nqdx ala. O were ya ogologo oge tupu o nwee ike [kqwapxta ihe mere ya. Kemgbe ahx Ikem ka nq n‟oke echiche. Mmadx niile nqzi na-eche ka ha nxrx akxkq nwoke ahx a tqpxrx agbx. Ka nwoke a zxchara ike, ]xq mmiri, o bidoro kqwa akxkq gbasara ihe mere ya. Nwoke a siri na ya nq na-echere onwe ya nche abali mgbe nd[ abal[degwu wakporo ya, kedo ya n‟osisi wee gaa kxkaa xzq ahx. Q s[r[ na ha ruru mmadx asatq, na ha jiri xgbqala qhxrx wee b[a. Ka nd[ uwe ojii na-akwado [ga hx ebe ahx e zuru ohi, otu nwata tiri mkpu s[ “Nwoke ahx na-ekwu okwu asi, a huru m ha”. Mmadx niile juputara ebe ahx wee lee anya ebe nwata ahx nq. Nwata a bx Ikem. Nd[ mmadx wee jxq s[, kedu ihe q na-ekwu maka ya?. Mana Ikem ka na-ekwu ihe q na-ekwu, “a hxrx m nd[ ohi ahx, nwoke a nyeere ha aka. A nxrx m oge ya na ha na-akpar[ xka”. Nd[ mmadx nq ebe ahx ewechagh[ okwu Ikem eziokwu, mana nk[r[ka agwa onye nche ahx kpara mere ka e gee Ikem nt[ n‟olu nke qma. 76 Ozigbo nwoke a nxrx ihe Ikem kwuru, q gbagara ebe Ikem nq wee gbado ya aka n‟akp[r[. mana otu n‟ime nd[ uwe ojii a zqpxtara Ikem wee kwapx nwoke ahx ebe d[ anya. Omume onye nche a wutere nd[ mmadx. Nd[ mmadx a na-ajx [ chqrq igbu nwata ahx?. Nd[ qzq as[ „q d[ ka ihe nwata a na-ekwu bx eziokwu‟. Nd[ uwe oji jxrx Ikem ihe okwu ya pxtara. Obi xtq nke a nyere Ikem ekweghi ka q kqq akxkq a nke qma. Mana otu q kqqrq ya mere ka nd[ mmadx kweta n‟ihe q na-ekwu. Q gwara ha na akara xgbqala ahx bx “AKIMO nke mbx‟, na aha onye na-akwq ya bx xgbq bx Ekesiobi. O gosikwara ha ebe ya zoro ka ya siri n‟xgbqala nd[ ohi ahx gbapxta. Q bx igbe sent[r[ nke d[ n‟qdx xgbqala. Ka Ikem na-akq akxkq a onye nche abali ahx bidoro mawa ririri. O jiri aka ya kpuchie ihu ya iji zonahx anyammiri. Ikem bxzi onye a na-asqpxrx nke qma. Otu nwoke buliri ya elu wee buru ya n‟ubu. Nd[ qzq wee na-akx aka. Ha s[r[ na a hxbeghi nwata kpara ike d[ka Ikem. Nd[ uwe ojii jidere nd[ ohi ahx xbqch[ ahx. Ha natatakwara ha ihe nd[ ahx ha zuru. Akwa nd[ ahx e zuru n‟ohi ruru puku kwuru puku na[ra. Onye nwe xlq ah[a ahx kwere Ikem n‟aka ma kwekwa ya nkwa na ya ga-emere ya ihe qma. Ka e mechara, o nyere Ikem ihe oriri wee were xgbqala nke ya buga Ikem n‟akxkx osimiri ebe q ga-abanye xgbq mmiri maka [laghachi Ogbeqza. Ebe qbxla bxzi ihe gbasara Ikem ka a na-ekwu. Foto Ikem pxtara n‟akwxkwq akxkq. A na-akpqkwa aha ya na redio. 77 Ka e kpesiri onye nche na nd[ ohi atq ahx ikpe ma txkwaa ha nga, Ikem nwetara akwxkwq ozi sitere n‟aka onye nwee xlq ah[a ahx. O mere ka Ikem mata na xlq qrx nwe ebe ahx nd[ ohi wakporo enyela ya ohere agxmakwxkwq n‟efu nke ga-eduga ya na koleji. Ya bx, ije Ikem n‟osimiri Nk[s[, fqdxrx nwa obere ka o dubanye ya na nsogbu ma mechakwa were chi qma kwxq ya xgwq. Ije ya mekwara ka a mata onye bx, maka na q bx ya bx onye ndu nd[ abalidiegwu ahx. maja Ejind 78 ISI NKE ANQ USORO NA NSOGBU NTXGHAR{ Mgbe qbxla a na-eme ntxghar[, a na-enweta nsogbu d[ iche iche, txmad[ n‟ebe asxsx nzimozi na nke nnata ozi d[ nakwa omenaala asxsx abxq nd[ ahx e ji arx qrx ntxghar[. Ka onye nchqcha mere ntxghar[ Chike and the River, o nwetara nsogbu d[gas[ iche iche, nke o sipxtara n‟akwxkwq a o jiri rxq qrx. 4.1 USORO NTXGHAR{ Achebe dere akwxkwq Iduuaz[ Chike and the River n‟olu Bekee ma odee txghar[r[ ya were gaa n‟asxsx Igbo. Onye nchqcha gbadoro xkwx n‟echiche Eugene Nida (1964), Leppihalme (1997) nakwa usoro Vinay na Darbelnet (1977 na 1958) rxq qrx ntxghar[. Onye nchqcha ji ngwaqrx d[ iche iche were mee ntxghar[. Ha gxnyere English dictionaries, Igbo-English dictionaries, Qkaasxsx Igbo nakwa akwxkwq iduuaz[ Chike and the River nke e dere n‟olu Bekee. Iji hx na qrx a bx qkaibe, odee nyere onye qkammxta n‟qrx ntxghar[ ka q gxghar[a ya ugboro ugboro, iji hx na q d[ etu a txrx anya ya. 79 AHA AGWA ONYE NCHQCHA JI RX QRX. Tebulu nke mbx Asxsx Nzimozi Chike Samuel S.M.O.G Ezekiel James Okeke Drivers mate S.M.O.G – A.K.I.M.O Ignatius Tinubu Marina Tafawa Belewa Johnsmith Mark Sara Chandus Pita Nwana Michael 4.2 Asxsx nnata ozi Ikem Anendx A.K.I.M.O Qkwadike Xkpaka Odega Anendx Kenechukwu Iwuchukwu Ekesiobi Okonkwq Atxanya Qkafqr Nwokeqcha Eyiuche Ugonne Ikeagwxan[ Qmaja Ejindx Nwantxpq NSOGBU A HXTARA NA NTXGHAR{ NSOGBU NTQALA Asxsx akwxkwq nzimozi nwere aha obodo a hxtara na ya bx akwxkwq iduuazi Chike and the River kama asxsx nnata ozi enwegh[ ya n‟ime asxsx ya. N‟ihi nke a, onye nchqcha weere okwu d[ n‟ime asxsx Igbo were zipxta aha obodo o nwetara n‟akwxkwq asxsx nzimozi. Ha bx nd[ d[ n‟okpuru: 80 Tebulu nke abxq Asxsx nzimozi England London Bright street Statehouse Midwestern Onitsha River Niger Asaba Lagos Brutu Class No 15 Odu Street Bar-Beach Yaba Carter Bridge Nigeria Okiikpe River Nk[s[ Futa Jalon General Hospital Port Harcourt ihu 16 ihu 9 ihu 49 ihu 56 ihu 9 ihu 5 ihu 6 ihu 9 ihu 10 ihu 14 ihu 21 ihu 23 ihu 48 ihu 48 ihu 48 ihu 20 ihu 20 ihu20 ihu 26 ihu 32 ihu 14 Asxsx nnata ozi Xmxokolo Ogidi Oye agx Xlq steeti Ogbeotu Ogbeqza Nk[s[ Xmxalqr[ Xmxnnachi Ukpo Klaas[ No 15 Ikej[an[ Ebe egwum mmiri Ogbunike Akwa mmiri kata Ogbend[da Ogbeabq Mmiri udide Ugwu Od[a Xmxezealqr[ Isiokwe NSOGBU QD{NAALA Nke a metxtara nsogbu nd[ a kqwapxtara site n‟iji ihu aha akwxkwq q d[ nakwa xzq e ji were tinye ya n‟asxsx nnata ozi. Q bxrx na [ b[a n‟asxsx, e nwere xzq d[ iche iche asxsx qbxla si ewepxta echiche n‟ime qd[naala asxsx ahx maka na Arxs[ obodo na-efe bxkwa ihe na-egbu ha. Nsogbu qd[naala na-apxta ihe n‟ihi na xzq nzipxta ihe n‟asxsx abxq onye nchqcha ji arx qrx txmad[ mgbe e si na asxsx nzimozi gaa na nke nnata ozi. Nke a pxtara na e nwere ike izipxta ihe n‟asxsx na omenaala qzq, ma a b[a n‟ asxsx nnata ozi, omenaala ya agagh[ anabata ihe ahx nke nzimozi nabatara, nke a ga-eme ka e nwee 81 nsogbu. Q bx nke a ga-eme ka onye nchqcha webata echiche nzimozi nabatara were z[pxta ya. Q bxrx na a b[a na Animal farm, a hxtara Ezi dika anxmanx maara ihe mana a b[a n‟ asxsx Igbo, q bx Mbe bx anxmanx a hxtara d[ka nke maara ihe. Mgbe a na-eme ntxghar[ ihe d[ etu a na-ebute nsogbu nyere onye nchqcha. N‟ihi nd[iche d[ n‟etiti asxsx nzimozi na asxsx nnata ozi, txmadi n‟ebe atxmatx okwu na ah[r[okwu d[, a na-enwe nsogbu d[ka: Tebule nke atq Asxsx nzimozi …too thrilled for words… …this nose was running… …Broke down …nick name… …one way… Soap suds …revolted him… …come what may… …red-hand… …needless to say… …scallywags… …nincompoops… …rained abuses… …take his mind off… …unloaded… …short cut… …imagining goal… …fulfilling his ambition… Ihu aha akwxkwq n‟asxsx nzimozi Isi nke 1, ihu 5 Isi nke 1, ihu 6 Isi nke 1, ihu 6 Isi nke 2, ihu 8 Isi nke 2, ihu 10 Isi nke 3, ihu 11 Isi nke 3, ihu pg 13 Isi nke 3, ihu 14 Isi nke 4, ihu 15 Isi nke 4, ihu 16 Isi nke 4, ihu 17 Isi nke 4, ihu 18 Isi nke 4, ihu 18 Isi nke 5, ihu 19 Isi nke 5, ihu 21 Isi nke 6, ihu 23 Isi nke 6, ihu 23 Isi nke 7, ihu 25 Asxsx nnata ozi …qnx ekwegh[ ya… …imi na-apxta ya… …kwxs[ kpam kpam… …aha otutu… …werere… …xfxfx ncha… …nd[ a niile ad[gh[ ya mma… …ihe q sqrq ya pxta… …jidere… …q bagh[ uru… …ekperima… …efurefu… …kpar[a ya… …ichefu… …buputachaa… …obere uzo… …nye golu n‟obi ya… …mejupxta ebumnobi ya… Xzq a nabatara Nnabata (adaptation) Nnabata Nnabata Nnabata Nnabata Nnabata Nnabata Nnabata Nnabata Nnabata Nnabata Nnabata Nnabata Nnabata (adaptation) Nnabata Nnabata Nnabata Nnabata 82 …beneath my notice… …alias… …whole… …it will do touched… …barely touched… …equal to the job… …threadbare… …rave and curse… …choosy… …siren… …brightened up… …froze… …pitch dark… …sentry-box… Isi nke 7, ihu 26 Isi nke 7, ihu 27 Isi nke 8, ihu 30 Isi nke 9, ihu 33 Isi nke 10, ihu 35 Isi nke 11, ihu 37 Isi nke 12, ihu 41 Isi nke 12, ihu 41 Isi nke 13, ihu 44 Isi nke 14, ihu 46 Isi nke 15, ihu 49 Isi nke 16, ihu 52 Isi nke 17, ihu 55 Isi nke 18, ihu 58 …ejugh[ m anya… …onye a naakpq… …o nweghi ebe q kxwara… …q ga-ezu ha… …gban[r[… …qkaibe n‟qrx… …nk[r[ka akwa… …qgx ga-ada… …{hqba xgbqala… …opi ike… …bidoro gbanwebe… …xjq jidere ya… …nweghi ike [hx ihe qbxla… …igbe sentiri Nnabata Nnabata Nnabata Nnabata Nnabata Nnabata Nnabata Nnabata (adaptation) Nnabata Nnabata Nnabata Nnabata Nnabata Nnabata N‟ihe omxmaatx niile odee zipxtara, q bx xzq nnabata (Adaptation) ka odee jiri rxq qrx n‟ime akwxkwq nnata ozi n‟ihi na qkwx nd[ ahx d[ n‟asxsx nzimozi ad[gh[ n‟ime asxsx nnata ozi nke mere e ji were okwu ahx bx nke d[ n‟ime asxsx nnata ozi were wee zipxta echiche a na-akqwa n‟ime nke nzimozi NSOGBU AGWA Iji hx na odee bufetara echiche akwxkwq nzimozi n‟ime nke nnata ozi, q b[ara were aha Igbo weere kpxghar[a aha agwa d[ n‟akwxkwq nzimozi, iji hx na echiche a txrx anya ya na e nwetara ya. 83 Tebulu nke anq Asxsx Nzimozi Abraham Samuel James Okeke Drivers mate Ignatius Tinubu Marina Tafawa Belewa Johnsmith Mark Sara Chandus Michael ihu 19 ihu 8 ihu 6 ihu 6 ihu 55 ihu 48 ihu 48 ihu 48 ihu 17 ihu 20 ihu 26 ihu 32 Asxsx nnata ozi Amadiqha Anendx Xkpaka Odega Ekesiobi Okonkwq Atxanya Okafqr Nwokeqcha Eyiuche Ugonne Ikeagwxan[ Nwantxpq NSOGBU AKANKA N‟ihi nd[iche d[ n‟qd[naala asxsx abxq onye nchqcha ji rxq qrx, xd[ akanka onye nchqcha akwxkwq nzimozi ji were dee akwxkwq h[ara onye ntxghar[ ahx nke ukwxx. Nke a pxtara ihe n‟asxsx agwa e ji were rxq qrx n‟akwxkwq nzimozi. E ji okwu d[ka onye nke abxq maobx onye nke atq (Reported or indirect speech) kar[a ikwu okwu kwx qtq d[ka onye nke mbx (direct speech). Odee haz[ghar[r[ nsogbu a n‟xd[ q ga-adaba n‟qd[naala asxsx nnata ozi: Asxsx nzimozi: Stop crying, said his mother. Remember you are now a big boy and boys don‟t cry. Ihu 6 Asxsx nnata ozi: Nne ya gwara, e bezila. Cheta na itogo, nwata topxtagoro ka g[ ad[gh[ ebe akwa. Asxsx nzimozi: What do you want a shilling for? He asked. Ihu 11 84 Asxsx nnata ozi: O wee jxq Ikem si, gini ka I ji otu kobo eme? Asxsx nzimozi: Why I go play you turn-turn game? Asked the watchman. Ihu 55 Asxsx nnata ozi: Onye nche abali jxrx ya, gini ga-eme ka m tiere g[ mmxq a na-akwa aka? 85 ISI NKE ISE NCH[KQTA NA NTUNYE ARO 5.1 Nch[kqta Nsogbu kacha pxta ihe n‟akwxkwq a onye nchqcha txghar[r[ bx nsogbu qd[naala, agwa, ntqala na akanka n‟ihi na e dere akwxkwq nzimozi a n‟asxsx Bekee ebe odee ji asxsx Igbo wee nata ozi ahx d[ n‟akwxkwq nzimozi. Na ntxghar[ a, odee lenyere anya n‟atxtx d[gas[ iche iche nd[ qkammxta mere kama odee gbadoro xkwx n‟atxtx Vinay na Darbelnet (1958 na 1977), Leppihalme (1997) nakwa Nida (1964) were rxq qrx ntxghar[ a. Mgbe qbxla a na-eme ntxghar[, txmad[ n‟ebe ihe ederede agxmagx d[, onye naeme ntxghar[ kwesiri [ma na mbunuche e ji were na-eme ntxghar[ bx ichekwa ozi ahx d[ n‟asxsx nzimozi were gaa n‟asxsx nnata ozi maka n‟aghqtagh[ ozi d[ n‟asxsx nzimozi bx ihe kacha bxrx nsogbu na ntxghar[ agxmagx ederede. 5.2 Ntunye aro  Onye na-eme ntxghar[ agxmagx ederede kwesiri iwere qrx ntxghar[ o mere nye onye qrx ntxghar[ qzq maqbx qkammxta n‟qrx ntxghar[, iji hx na qrx ahx a rxrx bx akwaa akwxrx.  E kwes[r[ ibido nkuzi n‟qrx ntxghar[ na Sekqnd[r[ iji hx na ha maara ma nwee echiche tqrq atq maka ntxghar[ nke bx na ha bata na Mahadum, q d[r[ ha mfe [bx qkaibe n‟qrx ntxghar[. 86  Nd[ na-eme qmxmx na ngalaba asxsx Igbo kwes[r[ [gba mbq wepxta qka asxsx  E kwes[r[ ka a na-akxzi xtqasxsx Igbo na xtqasxsx Bekee nke qma n‟ihi na q bx n‟okwu nd[ ad[bxgh[ n‟ime qka asxsx Igbo. ya bx ihe onye na-eme ntxghar[ ji arx qrx. 87 Akwxkwq Nrxtxaka Achebe, C. (1966). Chike and the river. 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