Lineage

Titilayo Fatimilenyi Part 1

How they came about is remains a mystery, but they have been there since the existence of humanity. They have been there, lurking in the dark. They have been there causing pain, sickness, poverty, madness, and even death. They seek power to oppress, to punish, to subdue, to control. They have been among us, in our family, passing it on from generation to generation. These are the real witches. Do not let what you see on TV deceive you. There isn't anything good or glamorous about them. They are simply evil in human form.

Mrs. Kemi Fatimilenyi, but everyone calls her Mummy Tolu or Iyanla (Iyanla means Big mama). The name Iyanla is not because of her size, Mrs. Fatimilenyi is a petite woman, barely 150 cm with a slender frame. She is called Iyanla by those who do because she is a force to be reckoned in that village. She is highly respected and feared by many. Mummy Tolu has two daughters, Tolu and Titi. Tolulope fondly called Tolu is 10 years older than Titilayo (short form Titi). Mr. Taiwo Fatimilenyi was a tall and slim man with a quiet disposition and a gentle soul. Just like his wife, everyone calls him Daddy Tolu.

Mr. and Mrs. Fatimilenyi had six children, but the rest died before they got to the age of nine. It would appear that the Fatimilenyi's children were plagued with sickness between the ages of seven and eight. Titi was about seven years old when she fell ill suddenly and almost died as well. Daddy Tolu, her dad was by her side throughout those three days she was unconscious and she had survived. He hadn't been around when her other siblings fell ill. His business entailed his always being away from the village. Mummy Tolu claimed it was a family sickness from her side of the family. According to her, when the sickness comes, the child either lives or dies. His mother-in-law had confirmed this. Now when Titi turned seven, he refused to do any business that would keep him away from his daughter. This decision had caused a lot of quarrels between Mr. and Mrs. Fatimilenyi as it would affect the family income. But he did not care; he would not be away and return to find his child dead. In their family, Tolu was their mother's favourite. She spoils Tolu silly that sometimes Titi wondered if she was actually the biological child of this woman she calls Mother. Titi knew her father loved her very much, and so it divided the family into two teams. Unfortunately for Titi, because her father was out of town a lot, she got maltreated often.

It was during one of his trips that Daddy Tolu met a strange woman called Iya. He had a business appointment in the market square and had been waiting for the person under a tree. It was the agreed spot as it an open space to sit and watch people as they go about their shopping. It during his wait that Iya approached him.

"Good day to you, sir," she greeted him and he replied.

He knew he did not know this woman, but she kept, talking.

"I am sorry to bother you. I came over to tell you something I saw just now. You have lost four children in sudden death and you might lose the last one if you do not do as I tell you," she spoke with concern in her voice.

"Your last child, a girl would be seven in a few days, you must not be away from home. When she falls sick and is unconscious, you must stay by her side always and talk to her. Tell her to be strong and that you are here for her, also tell her to come back because you love her."

Daddy Tolu did not know what to say. He was nervous. He had been greatly devastated by the loss of four children already.

"Please ma, what can I do to stop her from falling sick," he asked.

In response, Iya told him that there was nothing he would do. The forces at play were very close to home and are powerful. However, when she recovers from the illness, his daughter would not be quite the same and if he knows he would not be around to keep an eye on her, then he must send her to his relative that is good and kind. The individual would be able to influence her on the right path. The plan of those responsible for her sickness is to put something in his daughter to make her evil, and then they raise her to be wicked. Iya emphasized that his daughter's future and those of her children depend on him and his daughter's upbringing. This encounter made Daddy Tolu take the drastic decision of not to travel, which his wife did not like.