Every locality has its ownn fair share of urban legends which/that have been passed down through generations they are legend that are often shrouded in mystery and very captivating.They are stories,legendary ones so we commonly refer to it "urban legends",here in my locality of the most popular urban legends is that of the "Bush Baby.
So,heres it about the story of "egbere" or " omo inu igbo"that's how its been called in Yoruba(Bush baby),as we were told while growing up,It resided in the very deep in the bush,cries like a baby at night. The cry is said to be so real that it can deceive even the most discerning ear and many people claim to have heard the cry of the Bush Baby, and some even claim to have seen it,and the fascinating part is that a ccording to legend if you respond to the cry of the Bush Baby,it always goes around with a mat,it will give you the mat and promise you wealth only if you can keep the mat for seven days without the creature taking it back,because it would cry its way back to you for the mat.
I remember hearing this story from my grandparents and some other elderly people in my community. They would tell the story with such conviction and with this seriousness in their expresssions that it was hard not to believe it,that even now as an adult, I still get chills whenever I hear or remember the story of "omo inu igbo"(Bush Baby).
But do I believe it? Honestly speaking I am not sure. If it were when I was still a child,then I definitely did believe it,cos then I do fantasize about meeting it at least once,I would lie awake at night listening for the cry of this bush baby,hoping and wanting to catch just a glimpse of it.But as I grew older I kind of question the validity of the story,I mean, if the bush baby was real,wouldn't someone have caught it on camera by now? Or someone should have been able to collects its mat and show it.But sincerely,though i still have my doubts on it,but maybe because of thay which has been told and has grown with us right from when we were small,I can't say if its truly real or not,I am sincerely not sure.
Though there was a time a hunter came home unexpectedly shouting,screaming,he was a neighbor, when everybody asked him what's wrong,he claimed to see the "bush baby" everybody was like wow,we did not want to believe,but seeing an adult run and do that,he could have definitely saw something, in his recounting what happened, he wanted to snatch the mat and see what happens,but this bush baby wouldn't let go.....thay was about 4 years ago now.....is it now real,
I still can't say.
Despite my doubts the story of " omo inu Igbo" the bush baby remains a very fascinating one.it is a proof to the power of storytelling and the human imagination,so even if the bush baby is not real the story we heard itself is very real as it continues to capture the hearts and minds of people.
And about how this story came to be,unfortunately, the origins of the story are till today unclear,as the story itself was a mystery so is it's origin,as there are different things people say,some people say it dates back to the days of our ancestors who has seen and had believed in it,saying it's a spirit that does wield power,but always crying like a baby,and its ability to make be is in its mat,which the creature always carry around,others say it is just a legend/story born out of the imagination of some clever story teller.
For a short clipvisit source
But regardless of its origins the story of this "omo inu igbo"bush baby,has become an essential part of our legend.It shows the power of story telling to captivayr,legends like the story of the bush baby are an important part of us,culture.They add richness and depth to our lives.even if we don't believe in thems,they still remain an important part of our imagination.
Posted Using InLeo Alpha