Every community has its own traditions – some harmless, some strange, and some so terrifying that people wonder how anyone survives them. But in the quiet village of Umu-Oku, tucked between rolling hills and thick ancestral forests, a particular tradition stood far above the rest.
This is a work of fiction.
It was known simply as “Iju-Echiche” – the Test of Intentions.
And this was the test that Chidubem, a calm young man from the neighboring village, was asked to take before he could marry Adaora – the woman who had captured his heart from the very first day he met her.
The Price of Love
Chidubem knew marriage rites could be demanding. He was ready to provide the drinks, the palm wine, the clothes, and even the long list of items Adaora’s family would require.
But nothing could have prepared him for the real requirement.
One chilly evening, Adaora’s father invited him into the obi (ancestral hut).
The elders sat with stern faces, their red feathers glowing in the dim firelight.
The oldest among them cleared his throat and said:
To marry our daughter, you must go into the sacred forest and have a tête-à-tête with Ogbuagiliga, the python of the gods.
Sit with him for two hours.
If your intentions are pure, you will return alive.
If not, the forest will decide your fate.”
Chidubem felt his heart slam against his chest.
A python? A deity? Two hours?
He glanced at Adaora, who looked at him with a mixture of fear and hope.
“I believe in you,” she whispered.
Into the Forest
On the morning chosen by the elders, the villagers gathered as Chidubem was led to the edge of the sacred forest.
The trees stood tall and ancient, their branches whispering secrets older than anyone alive.
A small path opened before him—narrow, dark, and unsettlingly quiet.
He took a deep breath and stepped inside.
The deeper he went, the colder the air felt. Birds were silent. Even the insects seemed to respect the presence of the unseen.
After what felt like an eternity, he reached a small clearing where a large flat stone sat in the center.
That was when he heard it.
A slow, heavy slide… like a drumbeat rolling across leaves.
Then it appeared.
Ogbuagiliga—the python of legend.
Thick as a palm tree trunk.
Longer than the village road.
Eyes golden and unnervingly calm.
The massive creature circled once, then curled beside him.
The test had begun.
Two Hours of Truth
Chidubem sat still, barely breathing.
He wasn’t allowed to stand.
He wasn’t allowed to scream.
He couldn’t run.
The elders had told him the python was not just a creature—it was a judge of character.
It sensed fear, lies, hidden intentions, and the secrets people buried in their hearts.
Minutes felt like hours.
At one point, the python lifted its head and stared directly at him, its tongue flicking out as though tasting his soul.
Chidubem closed his eyes and whispered a prayer—not for survival, but for Adaora.
For her happiness.
For a peaceful home.
For strength to be a good husband.
Something in that moment shifted.
The forest wind eased.
The air warmed.
The python’s heavy body relaxed beside him like a sleeping guardian.
And then… nothing.
Only silence and time.
When finally the two hours passed, the python slowly uncoiled, slid back into the darkness, and vanished.
The test was over.
Love, Proven
When Chidubem walked out of the forest, the villagers gasped.
Adaora burst into tears and ran into his arms.
The chief elder nodded firmly.
Your intentions are pure.
Prepare for the marriage.
The gods have accepted you.
The ceremony that followed became one the village would talk about for years.
Some said Ogbuagiliga rarely approved anyone.
Others said Chidubem’s courage was what convinced the deity.
But Adaora believed something else entirely:
The gods always honor a heart that loves sincerely.
This story is a work of fiction inspired by African folklore and cultural imagination.