NSISUA - why parots live in cages

NSISUAWhy parrots live in cages  A long time ago, in the land of the birds, Nsisua was invited to a ceremony organized to honor good birds. He had been nominated for an award. He went to some of his friends to borrow their feathers for this occasion, but they refused .He needed more feathers because his own had been badly burnt during an attempt to save some chicken caught in a bush fire. Inim finally agreed to give him feathers but with a condition, “You must not lose any of my feathers.” Nsisua replied, ”I will try not to”. Inim added “If you do I will cut off your heard” “Please don’t be so hard on me” Nsisua pleaded. Inim said gravely “You see, my feathers are my life. I don’t joke with them” Nsisua reassured Inim that there would be no problem. His carefulness and honesty were renowned throughout the land. He accepted the condition and collected Thirty-three feathers to adorn his tattered ones for the ceremony. Some of the birds resented Nsisua’s nomination for the award. They felt that if he was to accept the award, he would start to exert his good qualities and that they would lose in their effort at controlling the land with their corrupt practices. They contrived plans to eliminate him. They couldn’t do it before the ceremony. His absence at the scene would cause a stir and they would surely be the losers. They pushed their plans forward. On the day of the ceremony all the birds were seated on the trees by the field stretching to the sea north of the equator, around the Bight of Biafra. Nsisua flew in with Thirty-three additional feathers casting the colors of a rainbow across the horizon. All the birds flapped their wings in unison and praised of his grand entry. The ceremony started with the parade of participants and sparrows gave testimonies on each and every bird that was present. Birds were commended for their roles in improving the natural well being of their environment. Even the vultures were commended for choosing to feed on corpses as they actually assisted nature’s process of disintegration and decay. Some were praised for being good swimmers; good divers and others were praised for their morning and evening songs. Some were also commended for being friends to both the hunter and the hunted. The ceremony stretched for days with drinking and feasting. When it came to the turn of Nsisua, he was praised for almost everything. He was certainly the best bird in the land. He was led to sit amongst the most powerful birds. He was awarded the title of the “Grand Commander of the Order of birds”(GCOB).This meant that he was eligible for election to the highest office- that of the ruler of the birds. The general election was only a fort night ahead.Nsisua was very happy At least his years of good work had been recognized.” I am ready to serve my nation in any capacity given to me”Nsisua responded with humility. While the ceremony was going on, some bad birds whose names are not worthy of mention due to their crimes went to Nsisua and pretended to be celebrating with him. They shared drinks, meals and jokes with him. They praised him further and requested to work with him. Unknown to Nsisua, these bad birds stole one of the borrowed feathers and painted another with charcoal mixed with oil. Some of them plotted to poisoned him but they failed as one was caught trying to do the deed. This bird was caged pending when this case would be heard. When the ceremony was over, the birds started going home. Some other groups of birds approached Nsisua to tell him that they had heard a distress call coming from the south. There were some distant Islands located south of the equator in the Atlantic. They knew that Nsisua would not hesitate to help anybody who was in trouble no matter under what the conditions. As they could not kill him, they wanted him to get into some trouble especially as the weather was very bad at sea during rainy season. As they were talking to him, the wind was blowing high and the clouds were moving towards the sea. Nsisua flew swiftly out of the ceremony arena into the sky to the admiration of other birds that saw him as the defender of the nation of birds .He flew far to the Island of Bioko and asked if they had heard any distress call or “May Day”. To his astonishment every bird in Bioko was un aware of any danger, they were happy and in good spirit. They offered to give him food and asked him to rest a while but he told them he had to go. He thanked them and flew further South across the equator to St. Helena. He was also told that they knew nothing of any distress call. He flew further down south to Ascension Island. There, the birds in spite of his goodness, some of his kin had bad plans for him. They confided in him that they had heard of some rumors to eliminate him. He thanked them for their warnings and promised to watch out for danger. Nsisua decided to fly straight for an early return. He avoided the Islands of St. Helena and Bioko. He flew heading north to the mainland of Africa. The south westerly wind blew across the Atlantic colliding with the Trans Sahara trade wind blowing south causing a tornado which caught Nsisua unawares. He struggled to free himself from the whirlwind. He struggled for what seemed like ages. When he finally freed himself, he was not aware that he had lost yet another feather to the wind. It was evening when he arrived at his home in the grassland Savannah region of Abuja. He made fire to warm himself. He ate some food and counted the feathers. To his disbelief he counted only thirty-one; this meant that two were missing. He was not sure of the black oily feather amongst the thirty-one. He counted again and again. The number remained thirty feathers and one odd feather amongst those borrowed from Inim. Cold fear ran down his spine. The missing feathers only meant one thing, his heard would be cut off his body as agreed with Inim. He was sad, very sad as he did not know what to tell Inim. He couldn’t sleep all night but sat weeping knowing that he was going to die in the morning. When Inim did not see Nsisua in the late morning of the following day, He sent his messenger to him to collect his feather and he warned the messenger that if any one missed he should come back with Nsisua’s head. The woodpecker arrived at the residence of Nsisua just before the sun was fully ahead. He perched on the tree across the yard and pecked out his song on the wood “Nsisua, Ndiduogho who lives across the sea in the forest has come. I have come on Inim’s errand. I have come to collect the feathers Thirty-three feathers. If one misses I will cut off your head” There was no answer. He flew from the trees to the yard and repeated the song, this time pecking it out on the bamboo fence that encircled the yard. There was no reply. He moved to the door and pecked on the door frame repeating the song. Yet, there was no reply. When he entered the hollow, Nsisua’s lifeless body was hanging down in the center of the room. The woodpecker removed thirty-one feathers from his body. He cut off his head with his beak and returned to Inim. When he handed over the feathers, he told his story. The news of the death of Nsisua spread fast like wild fire. The birds were very sad. They summoned a meeting of birds to investigate his death. They kept vigil and sang songs in praise of him. Those found guilty in having any thing to do with his death were tried and punished. Inim was sentenced to a life jail in a cage. Those who were after making money took advantage of this decree or sentence, they moved into the bush to hunt for Inim. Today, Inim are caught in large numbers and shipped overseas to be put in cages either for domestic or industrial use. What are the bird watchers of Africa saying?
 That is why our Inim, the parrot is always seen in a cage. He is either a pet in a cage or understudied for research. The Eagle was elected to rule. He was implored to demonstrate the qualities of Nsisua. This is hard to do as the Eagle still preys on other birds. The nation of birds is a little disappointed because they missed those noble qualities of Nsisua existence and it is difficult to have another bird as good him. Nsisua is an adaptation of Ibibio folk tale. ‘Akpan Abassi Udo’ See song below   Ibibio                                      English Akpan Abasi Udo (2 times)              Akpan Abasi Udo (2 times)Ndiduogho Edem Inyang edi-o       Ndiduogho who lives across the river has comeKrang krang                                        Krang krangEdim aya ubong                                 The rain will beat youKrang                                                    KrangInim eke odong eyen utom               Parrot sent me on an errandKrang krang                                         Krang krangEdim aya ubong                                 The rain will beat youKrang                                                    KrangEte ndi bo ngwa isok                         To come and collect his feathers for himKrang krang                                         Krang krangEdim aya ubong                                  The rain will beat youKiet ekpe osop ubo Iwuot                  If one misses I should collect your head        Krang krang                                          Krang krangEdim aya ubong                                  The rain will beat youKrang krang                                          Krang krangKra-a-ang                                              Kra-a-ng