Long ago, Mbe and his wife, Aliyah, had a small misunderstanding. Though neither raised their voice, Aliyah decided to teach her husband a lesson in a gentle way.
The next market day, she bought Akịdị (brown guinea beans), Mbe’s favorite meal. She cooked it until its delicious aroma filled the compound.
When Mbe saw the steaming bowl, his mouth watered.
“My wife,” he pleaded, “please give me some.”
Aliyah smiled and replied, “I will gladly serve you—but first, tell me the name of this food.”
Mbe was speechless.
He loved eating it, yet he had never cared to learn its name.
Rather than quarrel or snatch the food, he quietly set off for the market, determined to find out.
Not wanting the traders to know he didn’t know the name, Mbe pretended to stumble and stepped on a heap of the beans.
The market woman cried out, “Mbe! Why did you step on my Akịdị?”
Without answering, Mbe walked away, singing softly so he wouldn’t forget:
“Akịdị… kịrịdìm… kịrịdìm…
Akịdị… kịrịdìm… kịrịdìm…”
He sang all the way home. But before he reached the village, he stepped on a sharp thorn.
“Chineke m!” he shouted, hopping in pain.
At once, the song disappeared from his mind.
Embarrassed to return to the trader, Mbe continued walking until he met a little child carrying the same beans.
“My child,” Mbe asked kindly, pointing at them, “what are these called?”
The child answered innocently, “Akịdị.”
Mbe beamed with joy and began singing again:
“Akịdị… kịrịdìm… kịrịdìm…
Akịdị… kịrịdìm… kịrịdìm…”
This time, he reached home without forgetting.
Standing before Aliyah, he proudly declared, “It is Akịdị!”
Aliyah laughed warmly, filled his bowl, and they shared the meal in peace.
The elders say: Patience achieves what anger cannot. A calm mind finds solutions where force only creates more problems.
#IgboFolklore #AkụkọIfo #Mbe #Aliyah #Akịdị #AfricanWisdom #Patience #Culture #Storytelling #jollyonyeka
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