🌊 The Fish from the Forbidden River

The Hunter and the Forbidden Waters

Long ago, in a forest in Africa, there was a river no man dared to touch. Hidden deep within the trees, it was said to belong to the spirits of the old religion. No hunter drank from it, no fisherman cast a net upon it. The elders warned that whoever disturbed its waters would carry curses home.

But one hungry man, Nnanna, burdened by poverty, wandered into the forest. He had a child at home—weak and starving. When his eyes caught a glimmer in the river, a large fish moving slowly, his stomach tightened with need. Against every warning, he struck it dead with a stone, wrapped it in leaves, and hurried home.

The Night of Disturbance

That night, as the fish roasted over fire, his child’s eyes shone with hunger. But when the family slept, the man’s dreams turned dark. Old spirits came—figures with hollow eyes and ancient voices.

They asked him:
“Why did you kill what was ours? Why did you bring it from the forbidden waters?”

He woke drenched in sweat. The fish was gone from the pot- strange indeed. His child wept from hunger once more.

The Spirits Demand Payment

Every night after, the spirits returned. They spoke of debts and curses, of rivers that must not be touched. His crops were attacked by pests and failed. His neighbors gossiped about him. Poverty, already his burden, grew heavier.

At last, the man carried his suffering to the village elders. But they turned their backs, reminding him:
“It was forbidden. You disobeyed.”

The Child’s Innocence

One day, his eight-year-old child, Olisaemeka, wandered alone into the forest searching for fruit. The spirits came again—but this time, they saw innocence. The boy had done no wrong.

He laughed at the whispers of birds, his small prayers asking the spirits for forgiveness. By the river, he sang sweet songs that softened the hearts of the old religion.

Instead of curses, they placed a gift in his path: a shell that gleamed like a precious stone. Curious, Olisaemeka picked it up, smiling at its glow. To him, it was only a pretty stone, but he carried it home.

Nnanna trembled at the sight, fearing another curse. But when the villagers carried it to wise men in the city, they gasped:
“This is no ordinary stone—it is a treasure the world has rarely seen.”

That discovery turned famine into abundance. Food became plentiful. Coins filled the hands of villagers. Houses of quality rose from the earth. And the child who once starved was crowned king.

The Reward Beyond Tragedy

The spirits of the old religion had punished the man, but they spared the child. Through Olisaemeka’s innocence, the household was lifted from misery. The village marveled, and Nnanna never set foot in the forbidden forest again.

The poor child became the blessed one—the reminder that even tragedy, when endured, can turn into reward.

A Stranger Arrives with a New Religion

King Olisaemeka ruled his kingdom for decades with prosperity and honor. Once, the people served the old traditional religion. But when a white man arrived, something unimaginable happened.

All the villagers gathered to see him. But upon seeing him, something unimaginable happened that shocked everyone.

👉 See Episode 2 for the complete story.

🌊 The Fish from the Forbidden River

Episode Two: The Stranger with the New Religion

The Arrival of the White Man

When the villagers gathered, they saw a pale-skinned man dressed in long flowing robes. In one hand he carried a book, in the other a wooden cross. His language was strange, yet his voice carried peace. The people whispered among themselves, some curious, others afraid.

King Olisaemeka sat upon his throne, staring at the man with calm eyes. He remembered his childhood, how the old spirits had punished his father but spared him. He wondered—could this new stranger be sent to bring yet another message to his people?

The Clash of Faiths

The priests of the old religion grew angry.
“Do not listen to him,” they cried. “Our fathers worshipped the spirits of the river, the trees, and the stones. Whoever abandons them will be cursed.”

But the white man lifted his cross and spoke softly:
“The God I bring is not of rivers or stones. He is the Maker of the heavens and the earth. He is greater than all spirits. He is love, and He sent His Son to give life to all who believe.”

The words cut into the villagers’ hearts like a sharp spear. Some covered their ears. Others leaned forward, hungry for hope.

The King’s Dream

That night, King Olisaemeka could not sleep. He dreamt of the forbidden river once again. The old spirits appeared, warning him:
“If you allow this man, our power will vanish. Your kingdom will suffer.”

But then, a brighter vision followed. A gentle light shone from the sky, and a voice whispered:
“Choose life, choose truth, and your people will find freedom.”

The king awoke trembling. He had to choose between the spirits of his fathers and the promise of a new God.

The Trial of Fire

The priests of the old religion demanded the stranger be cast out. To test him, they built a great fire in the village square.
“If your God is real,” they mocked, “let Him save you.”

The stranger did not run. He knelt before the fire, holding his cross high. The flames roared, but as they leapt forward, the wind turned suddenly and the fire died out. The people gasped. The priests of the old religion fell silent.

The Test of the River

The forbidden river lost its power after the white man went into the forest to pray and set the land free, saying:
“You may now fish from this river, and no spirit will hunt anyone who does so.”

The next morning, a brave fisherman took a net and cast it into the forbidden river while the villagers stood watching in silence. Every heart pounded with fear, waiting for spirits to rise. But nothing happened.

When he pulled the net, it was heavy with fish. He trembled, expecting a curse—but instead, he smiled through tears. His wife ran forward, shouting, “No spirits! No curses!”

One by one, other men cast their nets. The river, once feared, became their blessing. Children danced on its banks, and women sang songs of freedom. For the first time in generations, the village ate without fear.

A New Dawn for the Kingdom

King Olisaemeka rose and declared:
“From this day, our land will follow the God who has power over fire, rivers, and all spirits. The old ways brought curses to my father Nnanna, but this way brings freedom.”

The people cheered, some with joy, others with fear. The stranger’s message spread, and slowly the kingdom began to change.

Some people obeyed him. Indeed, no spirits returned to torment them. Instead, peace and prosperity filled the land.

But the head of the priests of the old religion ran away from the village. His name was Obeagu, the servant of the seven mistresses of the forest river deities of the old ways. He promised King Olisaemeka that his return would bring doom to his reign and all the people.

Immediately, the king ordered Obeagu’s arrest, but he disappeared mysteriously and was nowhere to be found. The white man calmed everyone down and declared:
“Obeagu is making an empty threat—no one should worry.”

The Seeds of Conflict

And so, the child who once starved, now a king, became the bridge between an old world of fear and a new world of faith.

But soon, war broke out between the old religion and the new. The villagers divided into two groups of worshippers. Not everyone followed the white man’s teaching, but they enjoyed his gifts.

Opponents tried many times to eliminate him. But each time, he said with courage:
“The Holy Spirit is with me.”

The Real War Broke Out from Obeagu’s Return

(The clash between darkness and light)

👉 See Episode 3 for the continuation