Myths/Stories

THE LAME BOY STEALS FIRE FROM OBASSI OSAW

In the beginning of the world, Obassi Osaw made everything, but he did not give fire to the people who were on earth. One day, Etim Ise said to the Lame Boy, “What is the use of Obassi sending us here without fire? God therefore and ask him to give some.” As so the Lame Boy set out. Obassi Osaw was very angry when he got the message, and sent the boy quickly to earth to reprove Etim Ise for what he had asked. When Etim Ise heard that he had angered Obassi Osaw, he set out himself for Obassi Osaw’s town and said: “Please forgive me for what I did yesterday. It was by accident.’ Obassi Osaw would not pardon him, though he stayed for three days begging for forgiveness. Then he went home. When Etim Ise reached his town the Lame Boy laughed at him. “Are you really a chief, said he, yet you could get no fire? I myself will go and bring it to you. If they will not give me none I will steal it.” That very day the Lame Boy set out. He reached the house of Obassi Osaw at evening time and found people preparing food. He helped with the work, and when Obassi began to eat, knelt down humbly till the meal ended. Obassi saw that the boy was useful and did not drive him out of the house. After he had served for several days, Obassi call him and said, “Go to the house of my wives and ask them to send me a lamp. The Lame Boy gladly did as he was commanded, for it was in the house of the wives that fire was kept. He touched nothing, but waited until the lamp was given him, then brought it back with all speed. Once, after he had stayed for many daysamong the servants, Obassi sent him again, and this time one of the wives said to him, “You can light the lamp at the fire yourself.” She went into her house and left him alone. The Lame Boy took a brand and lighted the lamp, then he wrapped the brand in plantain leaves and tied it up in his cloth, carried the lamp to Obassi and said, “I wish to go back to Nsii for a certain purpose.”

            The Lame Boy went to the bush outside the town where some dry wood was lying. He laid the brand amongst it, and blew till it caught alight. Then he covered it with plantain stems and leaves to hide the smoke, and went back to the house.Obassi asked, “Why have you been so long?” The Lame Boy answered, “I did not feel well. That night when all the people were sleeping, the Lame Boy tied his cloth together and crept to the end of the town where the fire was hidden. He found it burning, and took a glowing brand and some firewood and set out homeward. When the Lame Boy reached earth, he went to Etim Ise and said: “Here is the fire which I promised to bring you. Send for some wood, and I will show you what to do.” So the first fire was made on earth. Obasi Osaw looked down from his house in the sky and saw smoke rising. Obassi Osaw said to his eldest son Akpan Obassi, “Go, and ask the boy if it is he who has stolen the fire.” Akpan came down to earth, and asked as his father had bidden him. The Lame Boy confessed, “I was the one who stole the fire. The reason why I hid it was because I feared.”