22/05/2026
Going through my gallery, I saw pictures of my cousins and I couldn't help but remember the times we spent growing up together in the village.
One of such memories was the ones we were always sitting at Nne-Ukwu's feet every evening listening to stories of things that happened years passed or stories that were told to her by her own grandmother.
It was such a beautiful time but such doesn't happen anymore because there's little or no more "community" and the children would rather play games on their phones than gather around an old woman (who most of their mothers term witches) to listen to stories.
I have taken it upon myself to retell one of such stories.
Once upon a time, in the shimmering depths of the sea, lived a curious mermaid named Ekemma.
Unlike her kin, who revelled in the enchantment of the ocean, Ekemma longed for adventure beyond the waves.
The tales of humans, of their laughter, their music and their vibrant world, filled her heart with a yearning she could no longer ignore.
One day, filled with determination in her heart, Ekemma swam to the surface, her shimmering tail glistening in the sunlight. As she broke through the water, she caught sight of a majestic kingdom up on the hills - her new world awaited.
Wandering along the sandy shore, Ekemma marvelled at everything - the colours, the sounds, the scents of flowers in bloom, these things fascinated her. She stumbled upon a young man playing some music with a flute. The music soothed her soul.
It was here that fate led her to Prince Ekwedike, a kind-hearted young man with laughter that echoed like music. Their eyes met and in that instant, an unbreakable bond formed.
Ekemma claims to have run from a far away kingdom because she was being married off to a wicked old man. The prince took her to the village and made some of the women get her a hut and provide all she needed.
As days turned into weeks, Ekemma and Ekwedike explored the kingdom together, sharing dreams and secrets under the moonlit sky. Their love blossomed like the most beautiful flower and soon, they were wed in a grand ceremony that united the land and sea unknown to the rest of the people.
The villagers adored Ekemma, unaware of her true nature, as she brought joy and warmth to their lives plus she used her magical powers to heal them of many illnesses.
But beneath the ocean, a storm brewed. The Ocean Queen, Ekemmaโs mother, felt her daughterโs absence deeply.
With a heart full of anger, rage and worry, she summoned her magic to locate her wayward daughter. When the queen discovered Ekemmaโs happiness in the human world, she was furious and determined to bring her back.
One fateful evening, as Ekemma and Ekwedike revelled in their love at the riverbank while others went about their businesses like washing and fetching water, they heard a disturbing sound from the water, there seems to be a storm and before long the Ocean Queen appeared before them in a swirl of seafoam and light.
The villagers and the prince gasped, filled with fear fell on their knees and begged to be pardoned by the ocean queen because they had heard how brutal she could be.
But Ekemma didn't feel surprised but disdain.
The prince asked her why she was not referencing the ocean queen but before she could speak the queen revealed that Ekemma was her daughter and everyone looked shocked to know that their calm and passionate soon to be queen is the daughter of the brutal ocean queen.
โEkemma! You are a daughter of the sea and your place is with me!โ she commanded, her voice resonating like thunder.
The villagers were shocked, their hearts heavy with sorrow. They had grown to love Ekemma and Ekwedike and the thought of losing her was unbearable.
Ekwedike, with tears in his eyes, pleaded, โPlease, let her stay! She belongs here with us and we love her too!โ
But the Ocean Queenโs heart was unyielding. โYou must come home, my daughter. You cannot abandon your true nature for these mortals.โ
With a heavy heart, Ekemma faced the impossible choice. She looked at Ekwedike, his anguish mirrored in her own. Together, they had built a life filled with love and laughter and now, they had two beautiful children who were the embodiment of their love.
โI cannot leave them,โ she whispered, her heart breaking into pieces within her chest. But the queenโs magic was powerful.
In a flash of light and a crashing wave, Ekemma found herself transformed back into her mermaid form, the pull of the ocean overwhelming her.
As she swam away, a deep sadness enveloped her. She turned back to see Ekwedike and her children on the shore, their faces filled with tears. The ocean swallowed her and she felt the weight of her decision crush her spirit.
Though she ruled the sea as the Ocean Queenโs daughter, Ekemma's heart remained tied to the land and the family she had left behind.
Day after day, she gazed towards the surface, the laughter of her children and the warmth of Ekwedike forever etched in her memory.
And so, the mermaid who once sought adventure found herself trapped in a world of sorrow, a bittersweet reminder that some choices come at a price, leaving an indelible mark on the heart.
But she was comforted by the daily adulation poured on her by her earthly family and the villagers and in turn she blesses them.
The other mermaids and mermen were jealous and angry that she gets all the prayers and praises but the ocean queen warned them not to disturb Ekemma nor the villagers because that was their only consolations even though she also wanted such for herself but she loved her daughter too much to be jealous of her.
THE END
โ๏ธ Joyful Tales, the storyteller with the wildest imaginations.
