.. A True-Life Experience That Challenges Skepticism By Dansu Peter For centuries, the Yoruba concept of Àkúdàáyà has been shrouded in m...
.. A True-Life Experience That Challenges Skepticism
By Dansu Peter
Recently, a fiery debate erupted on social media after a well-known social critic and Facebook influencer, Iyen Na Nice, publicly questioned the existence of Àkúdàáyà. His skepticism prompted a response from a follower, Fatai Akanni Aiyemojuba, who shared an unsettling, firsthand account of encountering what he believed to be an Àkúdàáyà within his own family.
The Haunting Tale of a Lost Son
According to Aiyemojuba, his family's brush with the inexplicable began on September 28, 1993, when his eldest brother, aged 35, passed away. Prior to his death, their second-born brother had recently completed his apprenticeship, a milestone traditionally marked with a graduation ceremony (freedom). A photographer was hired to document the event, and as was common at the time, the pictures and video recordings were to be collected later from the studio in Lagos Island.
Weeks passed, and when the promised photos did not arrive, their father decided to visit the photographer in person. What he discovered left him shaken. The photographer insisted that the deceased eldest son had already come to pick up the photos and videos himself. Assuming it was a case of mistaken identity or deception, the father sought out the musician who had performed at the ceremony, hoping to obtain a copy of the footage from him instead. Again, he was met with the same shocking revelation—the musician claimed that the deceased son had personally collected the video.
The eerie occurrences did not stop there. The family later learned that this same son had also collected the balance payment for a plot of land their father had sold. The money was reportedly sent home through an acquaintance who, oblivious to the man’s death, had handed it over as instructed.
The most unsettling twist came when a woman arrived at their home, claiming she had been impregnated by the deceased brother. Was this merely an elaborate case of mistaken identity, or was there a far more unexplainable force at play?
A Craftsman’s Posthumous Return
Aiyemojuba also recounted another bizarre encounter that reinforced his belief in Àkúdàáyà. In 1997, his father had commissioned an aluminum craftsman for a construction project. Unbeknownst to the family, the craftsman had passed away before completing the work. Yet, he mysteriously appeared to finish the job. When the work was done, he instructed the father to deliver his payment to his wife at a specific address.
Following the directions, the father arrived at the house—only to be met with yet another shocking revelation. The man had reportedly died two months before completing the project. How then had he returned to finish the work?
The Enduring Debate
Despite the chilling nature of such accounts, many religious groups dismiss Àkúdàáyà as either folklore or a trick of the devil. Some Christian and Muslim scholars argue that such manifestations are merely illusions or deceptions designed to manipulate human consciousness. Others believe they are spirits or djinns taking on human forms to mislead the living.
Yet, stories like Aiyemojuba’s persist, reinforcing the belief that there may be more to Àkúdàáyà than mere myth. Are these accounts proof of life beyond death? Or are they the result of fear, superstition, and human imagination?
While science and logic demand evidence, cultural experiences suggest that some mysteries may never be fully explained. The question remains: Àkúdàáyà—myth, fiction, or chilling reality?
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