Jallo’s secret, by Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi

Onceupon a time, there was a blacksmith called Jallo who was famous all over the land for his smithing skills. People came from far and near to seek him out. He had a number of young apprentices from nearby villages learning the trade from him. Jallo was a rather strict man but he was also very generous and kind. He never shortchanged his customers and he was fair to his apprentices. Whenever Jallo felt any of his apprentices had learnt enough, he would give them money and tools to go and start their own workshop. His apprentices moved back to their own villages or went elsewhere to work. However, no matter what they did, their own products were never as good as that of Jallo. 

One day, all the young men who had worked under Jallo had a meeting. At this meeting, it was decided that there was a mystery behind why they were not as successful as their Master. They all believed that Jallo was adding a secret substance to his metals that made his work superior. There were also some who said Jallo must have a charm that transferred all the good fortune of his apprentices to him. There were different suggestions made at the meeting. Some felt they should approach Jallo directly and ask him.  Another said they should plant a spy in the midst of the current apprentices to find out what the secret substance was. It was even suggested that Jallo be kidnapped and tortured till he confessed his secret.  The final decision taken was that they would consult a powerful medicine man called Bemiwo, who would be in a position to reveal the secret to them. 

On an agreed day, all the aggrieved apprentices met at Bemiwo’s place. After listening to them, Bemiwo asked them to come back the following day, and bring along any tools Jallo had ever given them. The apprentices brought their tools the next day.  Bemiwo examined the tools carefully. He then said a few words into some cowries and threw them on the floor. After peering at the cowries he nodded his head and cleared his throat. ‘Young men, I have some information for you. For the past fifteen years, a certain man has been coming to see me. Each time he comes, he brings tools with him. I recognise these tools as some of them. There is a particular incantation that I prepared for him that we use each time he brings the tools. This is what it is:

I beseech our ancestors to look favourably upon these tools

I beseech Ogun, the God of Iron to hear my pleas

Make these tools strong and firm

The same way the Iroko tree stands tall and unyielding in the forest

Let these tools be as invincible

Just like the earth gives way for the farmer planting his seeds

Please let these tools pave the way to progress for the user

I beg of thee, owner of all that moves and does not move

Make the hands that will use these tools prosperous

As I have learnt this trade and taught them

May they use these tools to teach others

May they never make enemies who will never forgive their misdeeds

May their enemies never rejoice over their failure

I ask of you to bless these tools and the work of their hands

Just as you have blessed mine

The young apprentices stared at Bemiwo in disbelief.  Then they all started to talk at once.  If it is true he did all this for us, how come it is not working? Why are we not successful? Yes, he taught us with these tools but we are not as successful as he is. Why are the prayers not working if it is indeed true that he is the one who has been coming here? 

Bemiwo did some more consultations with his cowries and looked up.  ‘Yes, these are the tools your former boss prayed over on your behalf.  He taught you well. However, did you learn well? Yes, you learnt how to be good blacksmiths. Yet, did you learn the purity of Jallo’s heart? Did you learn his generosity? His patience? The work of your hands can never be blessed without a good character. No amount of prayers or sacrifice will work for you if your heart is not good. Yes, Jallo has a secret ingredient. It is his character. That is why he is famous. Even if there are 1000 blacksmiths in this land, Jallo will be favoured because his heart is pure. There is no sacrifice I can prescribe for you unless you want me to deceive you’. The young men asked Bemiwo what they should do next.  He advised then to go to Jallo, confess their conspiracy and ask for his forgiveness and blessing.  How? They wailed. ‘He will never forgive us, he will drive us away’ they said. ‘Why don’t you go first and see what happens’, Bemiwo replied. 

So all the apprentices went to see their former boss Jallo, who received them warmly. After exchanging pleasantries, they all knelt down, and their spokesman narrated the things that happened and what transpired when they visited Bemiwo. Jallo listened intently. After they had all finished, Jallo responded with a story. He said there was a man who was always having nightmares, waking up in the middle of the night drenched in sweat. He would dream of his bed being full of snakes, scorpions, spiders, and different kinds of poisonous creatures, crawling all over him. The man told his mother about the bad dreams.   His mother asked him if any of the creatures ever harmed him in his sleep and he said no. She told him that every human being sleeps on a bed full of dangerous creatures. The only protection we have against them is our faith and our good character. ‘Be a good man’, the mother told her son, ‘you will always have snakes and scorpions on your bed but you will never see them and they will never hurt you’.

Jallo then said to his guests, ‘I know that not all who have worked with me or who are currently with me have an open heart and mind towards me. However, I sleep well at night. I have no nightmares of things crawling all over me because I do not harbour any ill will towards anyone. I forgive you and I pray with all my heart that you will be successful’.  And so the young men learnt a vital lesson. If you want to be successful wish no one ill. Be content with what you have. Celebrate the success of others, your own time will come. Anyone who can go to bed at night with a clear conscience is a lucky person. May the work of our hands be blessed and may our hearts never cease to delight in all things good. 

‘Jallo’s Secret’ is in ‘Where is Your Wrapper?’ Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, published by PRESTIGE, Farafina books, October 2020.

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