Wednesday, March 23, 2011

'Agbero' By Adesina Ogunlana

If you are an aficionado of “African Magic Yoruba” Channel on the DSTV, then you cannot be a stranger to (at least seeing) fetish practices and display of supernatural powers.
It is common to see on AMY Channel, fantastic occurrences, for example a tortoise can be heard speaking Portuguese, while a doorway can become a dense, impenetrable forest. All too easily a human being can become a squirrel, while a mere look can render an opponent dumb and deaf. Regularly the dead do wake up to debunk the popular saying that “Dead men don’t talk”. In AMY they not only wake up, they exact terrible vengeance on their murderers. There are potions you are made to drink on AMY that loosens the tightest tongue. Thus a hitherto stubborn, evildoer determined to keep sealed lips turns canary.
Whenever I see any fantastic AMY scenes, I re-assure myself that they can only happen in the television world of make belief otherwise it would have been terrible indeed. If for example a malevolent neighbour in a fit of pique could turn one to an “Idumota Statue” or if a mere child can become an ogre chasing one about with a pestle.
However my confidence became terribly shaken a few days ago after learning that it is quite possible and very easy to have AMY scenes in real life.
I was told that right in the premises of a magistrate court, a legal practitioner saw a magistrate whom he had known way back in school (University) as a faculty mate.
Hailing the magistrate, the lawyer stretched out his hand to the judex wearing a wide happy smile and clearly expecting an equally warm response.
Alas, the magistrate did not deem a response necessary or appropriate and calmly walked past the obviously stunned lawyer who suffered the “Agbero” effect for at least two minutes as his outstretched hand hung in the air. He tried his best to bring it down but just could not. In shock, in awe, in wonder.
How could Lagbaja do this to me? Is it because he is now a Magistrate? Ha? ha? Lagbaja of all people, Lagbaja that we used to rub shoulders with in school.
He was still wondering when the high and mighty Magistrate disappeared from sight.

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