Omitoro was once a kingdom in the Yorubaland. In Omitoro, there was a culture that was strictly followed. Whatever the town crier said must be followed or there would be calamities. Because of the aforementioned, the town crier was always well informed before he is allowed to take his gong to spread the information to the inhabitants of the kingdom.
Omitoro once had a mighty king who had twins as sons. During the king's reign, Awire was the town crier. Awire was a very responsible and modest man. He earned the trust of the king and his subjects, even the people loved him because he knew how to deliver his messages well.
The king's sons, Fade and Bade, had all the luxury and respect they deserved. They had it to the extent of thinking they had the world under their feet. They disregarded the common people to their good father's dismay.
Awire was one of the many people disrespected by the twin sons of the king of Omitoro. He was often mimicked and called the village gossip. Awire's son, Irawe, deeply hated the princes. Irawe himself was not less mocked by the princes even though they had the same birth date.
The king could not stop them. He wished their mother was still alive, maybe they would not have been that way. Only the king could rebuke them without caution, every other person, including the chiefs, took caution when rebuking them.
Then one bleak day, Awire fell ill and the king resulted into letting his sons act as the town crier till his father recovered. However, just a week after Awire fell ill, the king also fell ill. It was so serious that the palace healers suggested they consult the Ifa oracle.
The chiefs summoned the Ifá priest and he consulted the gods of the land. The gods spoke and instructed them to send one of the princes to get some herbs in the kingdom's forbidden forest.
According to the Ifá priest, they must allow the princes to decide who would go between them. And the gods assured them of the safety of the prince that goes. However, if the two goes, they might not return. The priest also said the prince that goes would be the next king after their father grows old and dies. In addition, no one in the kingdom was to go outside on the day the chosen prince would go into the forbidden forest.
The chiefs spoke to the princes and Bade decided to let go of the kingship for his brother, Fade. Bade had never showed interest in ruling the kingdom. After that had been solved, the chiefs sent Irawe to go and announce to the people that Fade would be going to the forbidden forest in three days time and that no one in the kingdom must leave his or her house on that day.
Fade stayed in the priest's shrine for fortification while Irawe went to the people around every clans and villages. Irawe went about telling the people a different tale.
“In three days time, our princes will both be going into the forbidden forest to pluck some herbs for the king's healing. And whoever returns first will be crowned the king after the demise of our present king. The gods have promised their safety so there is no need to fear. All you have to do is stay in your various homes on that day as anyone who goes out may not return inside. Have I spoken well or not?”
“You have spoken well!”
The chiefs were dazed when they heard what Irawe had told the people.
“Why have you twisted the words of the gods?”
Irawe later disclosed why he had lied to the people. The princes had been completely ill-bred and he wanted to teach them a great lesson.
“Do you know how grievous what you have done is? If they both go, they both may never return. Isn't that much of a payback for their disregard? Why claim their lives?”
“And you know your words are either the words of the gods or the words of authority; no one must go against them.”
It was then that Irawe knew how great his offence was. He was thrown into the prison but that could not avert what he had said to the people. The princes still had to go. The princes were terrified. They saw their lives about to waste because of their arrogance.
Awire heard of what his son had done on his sick bed. It broke him. Irawe had always been a great child. He had been sweet and everyone had liked him. He knew Irawe had not done that because of himself but because of him, his father. It hurt him badly to think of what calamities would befall the royal family.
A day to the chosen day, Awire sneaked out of the palace. He used all his strength to move round the villages with his gong.
“Tomorrow, Prince Fade is going to the forbidden forest to get the herbs which will be used in healing the king. Only Prince Fade is going. Everyone must stay indoors.”
It was at his last stop that a sudden rush of wind swept against Awire. When the wind stopped, Awire was vomiting blood. He slumped to the ground and breathed his last.
When Irawe heard of his father's death, he was devastated. He was finally alone in the world. He nearly went mad. The people understood him. They knew how disrespectful the princes were.
The princes deeply regretted their actions. Irawe was released and allowed to bury his father.
Fade went for the herbs and returned safely. Afterwards, the king was healed. When the king became aware of what had happened during the course of his illness, he was heartbroken.
The whole kingdom mourned the death of Awire for days. The princes became respectful from then.
Awire's story fascinated everyone in Omitoro for years. Even after Irawe, their descendants learned from the story of the town crier who laid down his life to prevent calamities.