11/01/2025
Story time
The Snake girl:
In a distant village at the edge of the great Mbem forest, there was a mysterious legend passed from one generation to the next. The villagers whispered of a beautiful maiden who was part human and part snake. Her name was Ndidiamaka, meaning “patience is best.” She was said to have the body of a woman but the soul of a serpent—a being of great power and beauty.
The Birth of Ndidiamaka
Many years ago, a humble farmer named Okeke lived near the sacred Mbem forest. One day, while tilling his fields, he rescued a large green snake caught in a hunter’s trap. Instead of killing it, Okeke gently released the snake and watched it slither away into the underbrush. That night, as he slept, a beautiful woman appeared in his dream. Her skin shimmered like scales under the moonlight, and her eyes glowed a vivid green.
“You have shown kindness to me,” she said, her voice like the rustling of leaves. “I am the spirit of the forest. As a reward, I will bless your family. Your first child will be special—one who carries the strength and wisdom of the serpent.”
Soon after, Okeke’s wife, Adanma, gave birth to a daughter, Ndidiamaka. She was a strikingly beautiful child, but there was something otherworldly about her. Her eyes were a deep green, and her hair glistened like dew at sunrise. She grew up faster and stronger than the other children, and she had an uncanny ability to communicate with the creatures of the forest. But Ndidiamaka had a secret—when she was alone, she could transform into a serpent, her true form.
The Forbidden Pool
Ndidiamaka loved the forest and often wandered deep into its heart. There, hidden among ancient trees, was the Forbidden Pool, a shimmering body of water said to be enchanted. It was here that Ndidiamaka would shed her human form and swim as a snake, her long emerald body gliding gracefully through the water.
One day, a young hunter named Obinna stumbled upon the pool. He had heard of its legends but had never dared to approach it until now. As he peered through the trees, he saw Ndidiamaka, her serpent form glimmering in the sunlight. Mesmerized, he watched as she transformed back into a human, her long hair cascading over her shoulders like a waterfall of black silk.
Obinna gasped, and the sound startled Ndidiamaka. She turned, her green eyes narrowing. “Who are you?” she demanded.
“I—I mean no harm,” Obinna stammered. “I was hunting and… I saw you. Who are you?”
Ndidiamaka considered him carefully. For reasons she could not explain, she felt no anger toward the hunter. Instead, she told him her story—of her birth, her connection to the forest, and her secret.
Obinna listened in awe, his heart captivated by her beauty and courage. “I will tell no one,” he promised. “Your secret is safe with me.”
The Bond of Love
Over time, Ndidiamaka and Obinna grew close. He would meet her by the Forbidden Pool, and together they would laugh, talk, and share stories of the world beyond the forest. Despite her serpent nature, Obinna saw only the goodness in her heart, and Ndidiamaka, for the first time, felt the warmth of love.
But their happiness was not to last. A jealous rival of Obinna named Ezeokoli, who had long sought to marry Ndidiamaka, followed him one day and discovered her secret. Consumed by envy and fear, Ezeokoli ran back to the village and spread the word that Ndidiamaka was not human but a snake spirit who bewitched Obinna.
The Village’s Wrath
The villagers, terrified of what they did not understand, stormed into the forest with torches and weapons, determined to kill Ndidiamaka. When they reached the Forbidden Pool, they found her waiting, her serpent form coiled protectively around Obinna.
“Leave her alone!” Obinna shouted. “She is not a monster. She has done nothing but protect this forest and our village.”
But the villagers would not listen. They attacked, and in the chaos, Ndidiamaka was forced to defend herself. Her serpent form grew larger and more fearsome, her eyes glowing like fire. The villagers fled in terror, but Ezeokoli, driven by hatred, threw a spear at her. It struck her side, and she let out a cry that shook the earth.
In her pain, Ndidiamaka called upon the spirits of the forest. The trees came alive, their roots entangling the villagers, driving them away. Obinna rushed to her side, tears streaming down his face. “Stay with me,” he begged. “Don’t leave me.”
Ndidiamaka smiled weakly. “My time here is over,” she said. “But the forest will always remember you, Obinna. And so will I.”
With that, she transformed into a great green snake and slithered into the pool, disappearing beneath its waters. The pool shimmered once more, and then it was still.
The Legacy of Ndidiamaka
Heartbroken, Obinna returned to the village and told the story of Ndidiamaka’s sacrifice. Over time, the villagers came to see her not as a monster but as a protector of the forest. They built a shrine by the Forbidden Pool to honor her, and it was said that those who showed kindness to the creatures of the forest would hear her voice in the rustling leaves.
As for Obinna, he never forgot Ndidiamaka. He would often visit the pool, leaving flowers by its edge, and some say that on quiet nights, a green snake could be seen gliding through the water, watching over him from afar.
And so, the legend of Ndidiamaka, the snake girl , lived on—a story of love, sacrifice, and the bond between humanity and nature.