(dramatic music)
Downloaded from YTS.MX
(words scribbling)
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- [Narrator] This is Calabar City today.
144 years ago in 1876, this city and its environs
was a different world of superstition
and barbaric practices, until a bold Scottish missionary
named Mary Slessor arrived in the land in the same year.
Mary's mission to change the world she found there
lasted for close to 40 years.
In the late 1876 to 1915, Mary Slessor,
a Scottish Christian missionary, lived
in south eastern Nigeria, where she
carried out missionary work.
Mary lived among African tribes that murdered twins.
They believed that one of the infants was fathered
by the devil.
As it was not known which of the infants
was the devil's child, both were condemned to die.
The kids were usually forcibly taken from their mothers
and thrown away in the forest and left to die,
either from the elements or eaten by wild animals.
Mary crusaded against this practice and rescued
hundreds of twins.
She adopted nine herself.
"The Twins Killing Forests" is an adaptation
of Mary's work to stop the cruel practice.
(upbeat music)
(words scribbling)
(upbeat music)
(woman singing in foreign language)
(upbeat music)
(babies crying)
(men chanting)
- [Men] Pass away evil child, pass away, evil child.
Pass away, evil child.
Pass away evil child.
Pass away, evil child.
(woman crying)
(woman singing in foreign language)
(babies crying)
(upbeat music)
(dramatic music)
- Get him down.
Give me your machete.
In the bush. Bush, bush.
(dramatic music)
(man laughs)
This boy is healthy.
(people speaking in foreign language)
- Sure he does.
He will complete the number of the people
we're taking down to the big boat to the white man country.
- You're right.
- I'm happy he is unconscious.
- Two of you will take care of him,
while we go and hunt for more people.
Let's go.
♪ When I think about the world that we live in ♪
Let's go.
♪ It's a crazy world full of superstitions ♪
♪ When I think about the world that we have built ♪
♪ It's a wicked world ♪
- Jesus died for us so our sins would be forgiven.
Nobody can see the kingdom of God unless they repent
their sins and stop pagan worship.
We must give our lives to Jesus Christ and stop all
the brutality and fetish acts in our villages
and in our lives.
Yes, Nse!
- Ma, our husbands won't listen.
They continue with the ritual sacrifices every day.
- [Women] Yes.
- Can you do something to make them stop?
- Yes.
- Nse, we'll continue doing what we are doing to encourage
them to change their ways.
♪ When I think about the world- ♪
We'll continue praying for them.
We will have a bible study tomorrow,
bring your husband along.
- Thank you, ma.
- Nkese.
(woman speaking in foreign language)
- Our husbands said they will never agree to come with us
until they use their eyes and see that Jesus
that you are always talking about.
- [Women] Yes.
- Even my husband said so.
- Mm! Nkesse, Nobody can see him.
He is an unseen spirit, He is God.
No one can see God.
Eme.
- Ma, what about the children? Does Jesus love them too?
- Yes, Eme, Jesus loves the children.
He loves everybody.
That's why he died on the cross for our sins.
You remember the hymn I taught you last time?
- [Women] Yes. We remember.
- Let's sing it. Let's sing it.
One, two, three, go.
♪ Stand up, stand up for Jesus ♪
♪ Ye soldiers of the cross ♪
♪ Lift high his royal banner ♪
♪ It must not suffer loss ♪
♪ From victory unto victory ♪
♪ His army he shall lead ♪
♪ Till every foe is vanquished ♪
♪ And Christ is Lord indeed ♪
♪ Stand up, stand up for Jesus ♪
♪ Stand in his strength alone ♪
(babies crying)
- Ekaete, it's alright.
May the devil not plant devilish twins in your womb again!
(woman crying)
- This is the fourth time they have taken my twins
and thrown them into the forest.
- May twins never come to you again!
- Mama, don't you think we should take her home so
that she can stay with us.
There is no essence staying here.
- You have heard what my daughter said.
Why not follow us to my house?
- No, I have to stay back.
(woman singing in foreign language)
- Brave warriors of Nsan.
- [Group] Brave.
- We must punish the People of Akpet.
- Yes.
- For killing one of our own.
- We must fight.
- Because he was returning from the market in Akpet,
they seized the opportunity to kill him.
We will teach the people
of Akpet a lesson, Yes.
they will never forget in a hurry.
- Yes, we must go for war.
- We must fight. - we must go for war.
- Eneneka?
- Yes.
- [Man] Chant me the song of war.
(men singing in foreign language)
- Akpet warriors, are you ready to fight?
- [Group] Yes we are.
- Akpet warriors, are you ready to fight?
- [Group] Yes, we are.
- Akpet warriors, are you ready to fight?
- [Group] Yes, we are.
(man chants)
(man speaking in foreign language)
- I learned from a close confidant about the surprise attack
being hatched by Nsan people.
One of their kinsman who was killed here
and thrown into the river was a thief.
Yes! He stole cassava from one of our cassava farms.
- I thank the gods that we need heads for our shrine.
And the head of those stupid Nsan people
will be good for the shrine.
- Befitting indeed, befitting indeed!
(men laughing)
Akpet warriors, in that case, we shall all be
by the boundaries,
yes and wait for them.
- [Man] You are right.
- Let me hear you shout.
- You are right. (laughs)
(men speaking in foreign language)
(man speaking in foreign language)
- Warriors of our land, now you have the protection
of our gods on you.
No weapon shall pierce or touch you,
as you take the fight to those wicked men.
You will go and you will come back alive.
Now, this night, go home, sleep well but keep away
from your wives.
Tomorrow, you go in confidence and bring us the victory.
(man speaking in foreign language)
Let's go.
You may go in confidence.
(upbeat music)
(men chants)
(men thudding)
(upbeat music)
- [Man] Who else?
(upbeat music)
(men thudding)
- Great warriors!
- [Group] Great.
- May the gods be praised for giving us victory.
- Yes.
- This is their leader.
- [Man] I see.
(man speaking in foreign language)
- We have come to give you this one for you to use.
- Leave him here. I will deal with him.
(man speaking in foreign language)
Great warriors.
- Great.
- You can now go home and enjoy your wives.
(men laughing)
(man speaking in foreign language)
- So Victoria.
- Yes.
- They've tried to take away your twins from you?
- They tried ma.
I told them I am a Christian, and they beat I
and my husband up.
They even tried to snatch the twins away from us.
- They almost broke my head when I wanted to run away
with the boys.
Please ma, you must help me protect them.
They will soon be here. Don't let them take my boys.
Please!
- Essien, You can count on me on that.
They are going nowhere.
I've preached many times against this evil custom,
but it still persists.
Children are gifts from God, no matter if they come in ones
or twos as twins.
This evil must stop.
(upbeat music)
- There was a twin birth in this village yesterday.
We must go now and seize them.
- It is our duty as the youth of this community
to protect our custom and tradition.
- You are right, but I hope that white woman will
not be there to frustrate us.
Lately she has been showing up herself to take the children.
See, we might have to kill her.
- If she dares us this time.
If she tries us this time, we won't hesitate to kill her.
- We can't have a stranger come here to destroy
our custom and tradition.
- Never.
- A woman for that matter! Never!
- [Man] Never.
- Edet.
♪ A wicked world a world of culture abuse ♪
- Yes.
- Ema, Ema please pull yourself together.
The warriors are already close here to take our twins
away from us.
Please.
- I don't want anything to happen to my children.
- Ema, nothing will happen to our children.
Just listen to me.
Listen, I want you to take them across the river.
I will come and meet you there.
Do you understand!
- Okay.
- Ema go. Just go, go now.
(dramatic music)
- [Man] Nsuk.
Nsuk.
- Let them come, I'm waiting for them here.
They will kill me first before taking
my children away from me.
- Go there and bring them out.
- Why are you shouting my name like a mad man?
- Etim, a mad man?
- You heard me.
- Where are the twins?
- What twins are you talking about, Etim?
- I can see movement from the back.
- Where?
- From the back. - Who?
- I can see a woman with the babies.
- Go after them immediately.
Go, go. Go.
- You have to kill me before you take away my child.
- Get him down. Get him down.
Where are the twins?
- My babies.
- Where are the twins?
Where are the twins?
How dare you.
- You are wicked.
- You called me, Etim, a mad man!
Where are the twins? Where are the twins?
(dramatic music)
(upbeat music)
(woman singing in foreign language)
(man speaking in foreign language)
- Oh gods of our land, how long shall this continue?
How long shall we allow foreigners come into our land
to desecrate our tradition, turning down our customs
with foreign ideas?
How long? How long?
How long?
- [Etim] The chief priest of our land.
(men speaking in foreign language)
- Youths of our land, you're welcome.
Please come in.
(ominous music)
Please sit down.
(ominous music)
I know why you are here.
I am also as worried as you are.
This white witch is testing us. She is testing our strength.
I have asked the gods to kill her, yes.
This is our land.
She cannot come from her country to tell us
what to do in our land.
- Did you hear that?
(man speaking in foreign language)
You see that woman, she is mad.
She is stupid.
She is an idiot.
I will make sure that we teach her a lesson
that she will never, ever forget in her life.
- Please, we have to be very careful,
because I know what these British people can do
to anybody that harms white people.
I have witnessed where they destroyed a lot of villages
in Igbo land, just to punish such people.
Please, we must be very careful.
- Edet, are you now afraid?
Eye of the gods, as for me,
I will make sure that we take them down
to the last man standing just to preserve
our custom and tradition.
- Yes, Chief Priest,
we must preserve our custom and tradition.
I even heard that she went and took the twins
that were thrown into the bush,
and they now live with her.
- That is the problem.
- Abomination!
- You all are aware how the harvests were late last year.
The rains were very poor last year.
It's all because of the presence of
those abominable children in her place, yes.
We will go to her place, we will invade there
and we will remove all those abominable devil children
living with her, so that our land shall be cleansed.
- Wise one, when are we going to do that?
Because as for me, Etim Etukudor, I am ready tonight.
(speaking in foreign language)
- Chief Priest, whatever it's going to take,
we shall be ready to give.
I am ready.
- Edet, you're not saying anything.
(man speaking in foreign language)
- Anyway, I will give information as to the day
and time of the attack.
Let me commune with the gods.
You may go in peace.
May the day break.
(man speaking in foreign language)
(upbeat music)
- The eye of the gods.
- You may leave now.
(upbeat music)
- Mary, I am very much concerned about your safety
in the middle of this one-woman revolution
you are leading to stop the evil twins killing,
in these primitive tribes.
I swear they will all burn to ashes in hell
for killing God's lovely kids.
- William, they are generally good people.
They will not do any harm to me,
though I have received reports from these women
of great hostility towards me by one of the stubborn men.
- Anyway Mary, I will talk to the British consul
to make arrangements for your protection.
- I don't think that's necessary, William.
- Why? I insist.
- I will be fine.
- Mary, I insist.
We can't afford to lose you.
The missionary work here will suffer
a great loss without you.
(upbeat music)
- [Mary] Good evening!
- [Guards] Good evening Mistress.
- I guess William told the British Consul
to send you here, right?
- [Guards] Yes, Mistress.
- I told him he didn't have to do that.
- Mistress, these people are wicked people, very stubborn.
Mistress, you need us here.
If anybody should come, we finish them.
- No, no! I want no bloodshed.
- Mistress, we are Adamawa people.
We don't kill our twin children.
These people here do.
If they come here, we will kill them.
- No. I don't want to see any killing of anybody here.
Christianity forbids that.
- Mistress, as for me, I am a Muslim.
It is an eye for an eye.
If anybody should kill, the person deserves
to be killed, too.
- I've told you, no killings.
(upbeat music)
- We will invade that house this night.
We will not kill that foolish white woman,
but we will take all the children in that house
and move off into the night.
- Wise one, please on the contrary,
I suggest we kill this woman,
with that we can get rid of all these problems
once and for all.
- [Okon] I agree with you. I agree with you.
- That will be foolishness.
We can't allow what happened in faraway kingdom
to happen to us.
We have to act smart.
- Chief Priest, he may be telling us the truth.
I have verified the authenticity of his claims
and I have found out that he has been telling the truth.
We do not need to shed blood.
But by this action, after this action of stealing twins
into the night, we will stop the white lady's foolishness.
- Listen, I Edet Ndifreki, I was there when
the attack took place.
The British demanded that they stop slavery,
but they refused and fought the British people.
Then what happened at the end, they destroyed the villages
and killed a lot of them.
Please we can't allow that to happen to our village.
We can't just watch our people being killed.
- Stop talking nonsense, young man.
Go and do what you have to do.
It's your duty to protect the customs and traditions
of our land.
Go.
- Wise one please, I suggest we kill this woman
once and for all
so we can get rid of all these problems.
- [Man] Go.
- Chief Priest, I know what I'm saying.
- Go.
(cricket chirping)
(ominous music)
- Who is there?
- Stop there.
I say Stop.
- Attack!
(gun fires)
- Why are you running?
(upbeat music)
(woman singing in foreign language)
- My husband, is everything okay?
(finger snapping)
(man speaking in foreign language)
- Nkoyo, my wife!
- Yes.
- Do you know I almost got killed yesterday
at that white woman's house?
- What! What did you go there to do?
- What else?
We went to invade her house
so that we can pick the evil twins
that she kept in her house.
- But, my husband, I attended this church just last week,
and I was made to understand that
killing of innocent children is a sin.
- What!
Nkoyo, what did you just say?
Wait! You went to that woman's church without my permission.
Huh! Now I know, now I know.
She has inculcated nonsense into your head, Nkoyo!
- No one has inculcated nonsense into my head.
My husband, this church preaches about
a man called Jesus Christ.
He is the savior of the world.
And you won't make heaven if you don't accept him
and drop this your pagan religion.
- Shut up! Be still.
How dare you! What effrontery!
What audacity!
Nkoyo, oh, oh, she must have deposited more nonsense
into your brain than I even thought.
Huh!
- Let me ask you a question,
if I give birth to twins, will you throw them away, too?
(man speaks in foreign language)
- May the gods forbid you delivering evil for me!
(speaking in foreign language)
♪ It's a wicked world, a world of abuse ♪
♪ What is a mother to do ♪
(woman screaming)
- [Woman] Push, push, push.
Sorry. Sorry.
(woman screams)
- [Woman] Push, just breathe in. Breathe in.
- Push. - Push.
- It's coming, it's coming.
Take it easy, take it easy.
Just breathe.
(woman screams)
(baby cries)
- Etim, (speaking in foreign language).
Congratulations.
(both laughing)
- Hey, (speaking in foreign language)
Is it a baby boy or a baby girl?
- Your wife delivered two bouncing baby boys.
(babies crying)
(Etim speaking in foreign language)
- May the gods forbid!
(babies crying)
♪ When I think about the world that we live in ♪
♪ It's a crazy world, full of superstitions ♪
- Etim, I'm glad you converted at the right time,
so your twins could be saved.
- I know.
I also know there will be pressure on me
to do what our custom requires of me to do.
- What are you going to do?
- I am going to keep the babies.
Throwing them away will not be an option for me.
- I could help you keep them if pressure will break you.
Nothing must happen to those innocent babies!
- Mary Slessor, never mind, don't worry about that.
You have my word on this.
Thank you, thank you!
Thank you very much.
My wife.
- It's like Nkoyo knew she was gonna have twin babies.
That was why she dragged Etim to church
to become a Christian.
Now we have three people for Christ,
Etim and his two babies.
Praise the Lord.
- [Group] Hallelujah!
- You have all heard about Etim's twins and his refusal
to comply with the tradition of throwing them away.
But we are going to do it for him.
We will not allow him to continue being deceived by
that foolish white woman
and all those who follow her strange religion.
- Chief priest, I heard Etim has become a Christian
and has followed those foolish women to that place
they call church.
- Etim is not a problem, he is a weak man.
His wife put the strange religion in his head.
We will take those babies from him.
Unlike the white woman, he has no police man
guarding his house.
- Exactly! That was what I wanted to say.
You took it from my mouth.
- Well, our community has charged me to uphold
our customs and tradition,
and Etim must be made to comply.
- [Group] Yes.
- Chief Priest, since we are all in agreement,
then we must do the needful.
- Yes. - Yes.
(gentle music)
- Now, we will attack the hut and steal the children,
steal the twins.
- It is time for us to give up this superstitious beliefs.
Anyone who dares to come close to this house
will lose his head.
Now!
- What if he resists?
- Then we'll cut off his neck.
- Remember the British law.
They will hang us if we are caught.
- Who cares!
We will die preserving our custom and tradition.
- You have to kill me first before you take them.
And I'm not ready to lose the fight just to protect them.
I know you're here.
- Let's go.
- I know these bushes are surrounded.
I know you're here, but this my machete
is ready to chop off your head.
Try me! Try me!
You know what I can do.
I, Etim Etikudor, I am waiting for you.
You know the head warrior of this land.
I am waiting for you.
I am ready for the fight to protect my kids.
Relax, there is no cause for alarm.
I am here. I am the warrior.
I am the lion.
I am waiting for you. Come!
- Did you hear that? Did you hear that?
Does he think his boasts can save him?
He is nothing but a goat.
A goat.
Now let's see, let's see what this boast will bring to him.
We must attack him now.
- No, wait.
He could die and the British Consul will come for us.
I think the best thing for us to do is to go back
and come back when he has gone to the farm.
- No, no. Attack him now.
- I say it's better we meet him on in his farm.
- No. No retreat, no surrender.
We attack him now.
You go this way, I go this way.
- [Man] Yes.
(dramatic music)
- I know you're here.
(upbeat music)
- How dare you?
Pride goes before a fall.
Take him.
(Etim speaking in foreign language)
- Me, Etim?
(men thudding)
(man crashes)
(Etim speaking in foreign language)
(upbeat music)
(men thuds)
(Etim speaking in foreign language)
(men speaking in foreign language)
(upbeat music)
(Etim speaking in foreign language)
Where are they?
You people want to try me.
I Etim Etikudor, the head warrior of this land.
No problem.
(woman singing in foreign language)
Nkoyo, Nkoyo, are you okay?
(woman singing in foreign language)
- Another practice that will surely send these people
to hell is the human sacrifice.
Can you imagine they bury the wife of a great man or chief
with him when he dies?
Absolutely nonsense!
- William, I am working very hard on that one, too.
I received a word from one of my workers
on such a burial this evening, few miles away from here.
I want to go there and stop it.
Will you come with me?
- I can't, I'll be tempted to kill all involved.
- William, we will change these people by persuading them
and teaching them the better Christian alternative.
- If you say so.
(upbeat music)
- Be watchful so you don't step on a snake.
Mary I am serious,
I'm serious! - William.
- Don't worry. - Yeah.
If I step on the snake, you will protect me.
- Oh, of course, of course.
William is here for you.
William is here.
Wow! Wow!
This is the deadliest jungle in this part of the world.
My goodness! My goodness!
I've been to East Africa, I've been to Southern Africa,
I've never seen such massive and intimidating jungle.
- It such a blessing for people who live here.
- Yes of course.
- It's a great economic boon if smartly harnessed.
- Yea, yea! You're right.
You're right.
- The whole world could be supplied with timber from here.
- Yes of course. Yes.
Yes, of course. Wow!
This is beautiful.
- Anytime I walk here, I really get to admire this place.
- Oh my God! Yeah.
It's really great. God is great.
Let's go.
(upbeat music)
- I am sorry. The tradition must take its course.
- [Woman] Please, have mercy.
- You must be buried alongside with my late brother, yes.
- [Woman] Have mercy. Have mercy.
- Stop it.
Come on, stop it both of you.
- What do you want?
- We have come in peace here, with the word of God.
You must let these women go.
- Go where?
They are the wives of my late brother, Bassey.
A great man we lost.
And Bassey will be buried tonight.
And they shall be buried alongside
with my late brother, Bassey.
- Why?
Bassey is already dead.
What will dead wives do for him?
- They will serve him in the other world,
where he has gone.
- There is no such world.
There is only Kingdom of God.
And there is no slavish practice there.
- Have you been there before?
- The word of God tells us all we need to know
about heaven.
- I will blow your skull off! Release them.
Let the dead be buried in peace.
Release them now!
- William, William, calm down.
Please calm down.
- I will blow your skull off if you don't release them now.
- Calm down, William.
- Okay. Okay.
Since you are here, you are the eyes of the British Consul.
We will release them to you.
(woman singing in foreign language)
- Listen to me, you people in his village should stop
this evil and barbaric practice,
because it is ungodly.
It is against the Holy Bible.
It is against God. You should stop it!
Do you get me?
(women crying)
(woman singing in foreign language)
- Hey! We must bury my late brother Bassey this night.
- Yes.
- And with two female heads.
What do we do?
What do we do? What do we do?
- Okay, Ekpo, we must go for hunting this night.
In fact, now!
Because we have to- - I think you have a point.
bury Bassey with these two ladies, these two women.
- You have a point. What are we waiting for?
♪ When I think about the world that we have built ♪
Oh Bassey, my brother, fare thee well among our ancestors.
The two women right there with you in the grave right now
may not be your lovely wives, Eno and Atim,
but they will sure serve you well.
That ignorant white woman took away your lovely wives,
Eno and Atim few hours ago.
No one will deny you the women you deserve.
Kufere and I had to make replacement.
Fare thee well my brother.
(speaking in foreign language)
♪ God please save us ♪
- Sorry. You will be fine.
- Thank you.
- Sorry ma.
You can help me rob her the medicine.
Sorry.
- [Woman] Sorry, sister Mary.
- Sorry.
Sorry.
- Sorry.
- My biggest challenge here in Efik country
is all these fevers I get all the time.
Since I arrived here in 1876,
it has felled me too many times.
I may head back to Scotland again to regain my health.
- You will be well again Sister Mary,
God will heal you in Jesus name.
- Amen.
- Sister Mary, God will heal you.
Nothing will happen to you.
Even the pagan gods here know the good you have brought
in our lives.
All the twin children you rescued in this village
will never forget you.
I promise you.
- May God bless you ma, in Jesus name.
- [Group] Amen.
- Thank you very kindly, Eme.
Thank you Nse and Nkesse for always being by my side.
- You're welcome.
- And helping me to heal.
- Thank you. - No problem.
- There is still a lot of work to do here.
I pray my health gets better so the work will continue.
- It will. - It will continue.
- Sorry.
You will be fine.
- I must go to Okoyong land in the north of this region.
I must affect the lives there as I have here.
They must stop killing twins.
- Sister Mary, you want to go to Okoyong?
Is it not too dangerous?
- Mary, are you out of your mind?
Are you not aware Okoyong land is a very dangerous place
to be, and they are killing male missionaries?
Yet, you still want to go there?
- William, I am aware.
We're trying to stop them from killing the twins.
But also, we need to reach them with the word of the Lord.
- If that is what you want, I don't have a choice.
But I will advise you to make sure you take military escort
to protect you.
- I don't need one. I'll be fine.
I'm just a harmless woman.
They will do no harm to me.
- Mary, if that is what you want.
Anyway, I will be traveling tomorrow to Calabar.
And if things get tough, and there is cause for alarm,
get across and send me a message please.
- I will. Thank you, William.
- You are welcome.
- Thank you for spending time with me.
- [William] You're welcome, Mary.
- I hope to see you in Okoyong country sometimes.
- Amen.
- Thank you.
(woman singing in foreign language)
(ominous music)
- Please. Please.
- Next time I will find you both in a place like this
called church, I will burn you like this hut.
- [Women] Sorry please, you will not see us.
- Now get up and run away.
Come on, run.
Anywhere they set up these churches,
we are going to burn it down.
We don't need their strange religion anymore.
- Yes, we'll set it ablaze.
(fire burning)
(upbeat music)
- Chief Edem, I am delighted to be
in your Okoyong community.
- Welcome to Okoyong.
(speaking in foreign language)
What have you come here for?
- I've come here to make friends with you
and also bring good news for your people
about the word from our Lord Jesus Christ.
- This will bring more problems here.
My people do not want this religion.
There has been problem in the past in my kingdom
because of this religion.
We do not want any more trouble.
(men speaking in foreign language)
- But, there will not be any trouble.
I won't allow that to happen.
- What else brought you here?
- I want you to help me to stop killing the twins.
They are innocent babies.
They are children of God.
- You mean children of your God.
The same God you have come here to preach to us about?
We do not believe in that God.
We only believe in our own gods
and they have commanded us never to accept twins
in our community.
(men speaking in foreign language)
- Chief Edem, I will win you over some day.
- I do not think that will ever be possible.
(man speaking in foreign language)
(woman singing in foreign language)
- Jesus Christ is the son of God.
He was crucified on the cross and died for our sins.
He rose on the third day from death and went to heaven.
We must all repent from our sins so we can make it to heaven
and see the Lord.
Are you all ready to give your lives to Jesus Christ?
- [Women] Yes, we are ready.
- And stop the pagan worship.
Are you ready to help me to stop the killing
of twins in this land?
(women speaking in foreign language)
- Mary, I want to have a word with you.
- Okay.
Please ladies, excuse me and Eme for a few minutes.
- [Man] Our stupid Edem allowed this woman
in this community
and now she is poisoning the minds of our women
with her strange religion.
I will cut off their heads one by one.
- Mary, I can see you want to bring some light to our land.
I will help you.
I am my brother's most trusted confidant.
I will get him for you.
But I am not going to convert to become a Christian.
- Thank you so much Eme, but why won't you convert?
- I don't want to take that step yet,
but I am going to help you to make your stay
easier in Okoyong land.
- Okay. God bless you, Eme.
- Thank you! Thank you.
(women speaking in foreign language)
Let's sing one of our hymns together.
♪ Rock of ages cleft for me ♪
♪ Let me hide myself in thee ♪
♪ Let the water and the blood ♪
♪ From the riverside they flow ♪
♪ Be of sin the double cure ♪
♪ Let me hide myself in thee ♪
♪ Rock of ages cleft for me ♪
♪ Let me hid myself in thee ♪
♪ Let the water and the blood ♪
♪ From the riverside it flow ♪
♪ Rock of ages cleft for me ♪
♪ Let me hide myself in thee ♪
♪ Let the water and the blood ♪
♪ From the rivers ♪
♪ Be of sin ♪
(women screaming)
(upbeat music)
- Edem, I feel the white woman means well for us
in this land.
- How do you mean?
- I have heard of the good life in Calabar town,
of those who can read and write
in the white man's language.
Let us allow her to bring such light to us here.
- And tomorrow, one of those educated people will come here
and challenge our family for the throne of this village?
- Eh ah!
Let her start by teaching your children.
(speaking in foreign language)
Edem, my brother, you know I will not be part of anything
that will take away the throne from us.
But I can feel, I can feel it that the future belongs
to those who can adopt to the white man's ways.
- You mean the white woman's ways.
- It is the same, man or woman.
(speaking in foreign language)
(lighthearted music)
- I have heard that you have something they call school,
where you teach people how to read and write
in your language.
I also heard that in the big city of Calabar,
those people that were taught how to read and write
are now enjoying their life.
So, can you replicate the same thing here in Okoyong?
- Yes, I can, but you must promise to become a Christian
and order a stop to the practice of killing twins.
- That is impossible.
Me, stopping the killing of twins.
It was handed down to me.
This tradition was handed down to me by my forefathers,
and as the king, it is my prerogative to uphold
and protect that tradition.
But I can ask them to stop the harassment of Christians.
- There is this one I am told his name is Efiong.
He has caused the small church community so much grief.
- I will order him to stop.
So when can I send my children to come
and start lesson with you?
- Very soon! I will come back and tell you.
- Okay.
(woman singing in foreign language)
- A.
- [Group] A.
- B.
- [Group] B.
- C.
- [Group] C.
- A, B, C.
- [Group] A, B, C.
- D.
- [Group] D.
- E.
- [Group] E.
- F.
- [Group] F.
- D, E, F.
- [Group] D, E, F.
- A, B, C, D, E, F.
- [Group] A, B, C, D, E, F.
- G.
- [Group] G.
- H.
- [Group] H.
- I.
- [Group] I.
- G, H, I.
- [Group] G, H, I.
- J.
- [Group] J.
- K.
- [Group] K.
- L.
- [Group] L.
(woman singing in foreign language)
- I gave birth to them yesterday and they took them away
from me and brought them there.
- Don't cry anymore.
We'll go and get your babies now.
We'll rescue your children.
- (sobbing) Thank you ma! Thank you!
Can I come and stay with you and care for them there?
They will come and take them away from me again
if I go home with them.
- Yes, you can.
You can.
I am building a mission center where all the women
with their twins can stay unmolested.
Don't worry.
- (sobbing) Okay. Thank you, ma.
Thank you.
May our gods protect you and give you everything you want.
Thank you!
- Your gods are pagan gods, but that's okay.
I accept your appreciation.
You stay here. We'll go and rescue your children.
- Okay ma. Thank you!
♪ What's a mother to do ♪
♪ Mother love babies, bye, bye ♪
(ominous music)
- You are accused of killing your neighbors baby boy.
- Yes, she did it.
- I have not done a thing like that.
I am one of the member of Sister Mary's church.
We don't do things like that.
- Very well, then you will prove your innocence
by drinking this (speaking in foreign language).
If you are innocent, you will live,
but if you are guilty, it will kill you.
- I will not drink this liquid.
I did not do anything.
- You are already guilty by refusing to drink this.
- I am not guilty. I will not take anything.
- In that case, I will notify the Chief
about this encounter.
You will either be banished or you will be killed.
Now, leave my shrine.
- Thank you, Chief Priest.
(woman singing in foreign language)
(man speaking in foreign language)
- What are you doing in the shrine?
- I am here as a Vice Consul to look into disputes.
You've concluded on no evidence the woman killed
the baby boy in his sleep, when she was not
even in the house where the baby boy slept.
How did you conclude such?
- I concluded such by virtue of being a witch doctor.
That woman turned into a bat in her sleep and went
and ate the child.
- Turned into a bird?
- Yes.
- That is fantastic.
How is that even possible?
- It is possible because I see things that you do not see.
- The woman is a member of my church.
She is a Christian that gave her life to Jesus Christ.
She is not capable of doing things that you accuse her of.
Nothing must happen to her.
- I have already told the chief,
she must leave this land or we will kill her.
- I am going to the chief's house now to stop any action
against this innocent woman.
And you should abandon what you are doing now
and join my church.
You will love the story of Peter and Matthew
that abandoned their occupations for Jesus Christ.
- Listen to me white witch, you're talking nonsense.
Leave here now for your own good.
♪ When I think about the world that we live in ♪
♪ It's a crazy world full of superstitions ♪
(upbeat music)
- [Woman] Easy.
- Nkesse.
- Yes, Sister Mary.
- That's a great soup you made.
- Thank you Sister Mary, I was being careful
with the pepper because of you.
- Don't worry about me.
Since I started eating local food,
it has become part of me.
It's been years now.
So you can put as much pepper as you want,
yes if the food will be tasty.
- No problem sister Mary.
I'm glad you're enjoying the food.
- Ma, you have really made progress enlightening
the people of Okoyong.
- I knew it would happen.
We did it in Calabar, so there was no reason
it couldn't work here.
- May God bless you, ma.
- Amen. - Amen.
- Eme.
- Ma.
- Have you eaten today?
- Yes ma.
- You sure?.
- Yes ma. - Okay.
- May God bless you, ma.
- Thank you, Nse.
Now, that was what I wanted from the woman
whose babies were rescued.
Not these pagan gods of Okoyong who delight in the flesh
and blood of twins.
Soon, these gods will be history in Okoyong.
- Amen.
(upbeat music)
- What can I do for you?
- The King demands your presence at the palace now
for harassing the white woman's followers.
- Why has the Edem decided to punish me for upholding
the culture of Okoyong, and allowing the white woman
to poison the mind of my people
in the name of so called religion called Christianity?
- Shut up Efiong.
Explain that to him when you get to the palace.
- She is now a friend.
She is bringing education to Okoyong community.
That's what the King wants and you are spoiling it.
The King will deal with you.
- (speaking in foreign language) has decided to bring shame
in Okoyong land.
He can kill me, but I promise you,
Okoyong culture will never die.
- [Eyinbo] Then you will die.
Move, move, now!
(woman singing in foreign language)
- Didn't I order you to stop harassing the white woman
and her followers?
Why have you continued to pursue them?
You inflicted cuts on some of the women
that were leaving the lady's house.
Why?
- I was only helping to keep Okoyong culture, my king.
- I told you that that lady is here to bring
the white man's education and culture to us.
We want to learn the white man's education
so that we can live like those ones in Calabar.
Tonight, your head will be cut off.
- I plead with you my King, please do not take my life.
I promise not to bother the Christians again.
(speaking in foreign language)
- Guards.
- [Guards] My king.
- [King] Take him away from here.
- My King, (speaking in foreign language).
(upbeat music)
(group speaking in foreign language)
- Let me start by apologizing for this impromptu meeting
being called by this time of the night.
We all know that it has been one year
since we allowed our white friend access to our land
for her work.
I think we are better off now.
- Yes.
- What do you say?
- (speaking in foreign language), I do not believe so.
I am afraid the gods will punish us one day
for allowing her stay here.
(man speaking in foreign language)
- I agree that our gods are not happy.
(speaking in foreign language)
(man speaking in foreign language)
- Have you not people seen Calabar town, Duke town,
or even Creek town?
How they are developing just because of the white man's
education and ways?
My brother took the right decision.
- Guard.
- My king.
- Go and bring my children.
(upbeat music)
My children, tell me about your experience
with the white woman today.
- We love the white woman because,
now, we are learning her language
and we can read and write in her language.
- Very good! Very good.
Okay, show us one of the things you were
able to learn today.
- [Children] A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H,
I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P.
(man speaking in foreign language)
- It's wonderful.
(man speaking in foreign language)
(men speaking in foreign language)
- Now you can see it.
They are being prepared for the future I see.
The white woman is the best thing that happened to us.
(men speaking in foreign language)
(upbeat music)
Edem, ignore these elders. You are doing the right thing.
(speaking in foreign language)
- Thank you very much, my sister.
I had doubts before, but you have convinced me
about this future which belongs to those
that have studied the white man's ways.
- Look at Calabar and Creek town.
Okoyong must be like those towns.
- Yes.
- And it will only happen through this white man's ways
and what he is bringing to us.
- I agree with you.
- I see a future so bright.
I see light all over Okoyong.
And it can only happen through the white man.
(woman singing in foreign language)
- Hello Mister!
Please I want to go to Okoyong land.
How can I get a canoe to cross me over there?
- I have one.
- Do you have one?
- Yes sir.
- How far is the journey to Okoyong land?
- It's far from here.
- I hope we'll get there before night.
- I hopeful, we'll get there before night.
- What do you do for a living?
- I am also a fisherman.
- Wow! That's wonderful. That's beautiful.
Have you given your life to Christ?
- No sir!
- Wow! Don't worry my friend.
I promise you before the end of this journey,
I will lead you to him.
I promise you this.
- Thank you sir.
- You're welcome.
Can we go?
- [Fisherman] Let's go.
- Okay.
(woman singing in foreign language)
Mary, congratulations on your appointment
as the Vice Consul in Okoyong Territory.
Actually, His Royal Majesty considers you worthy
of this post.
Yes, because of your courageous work in the community.
- Thank you, William.
It's a great honor for me.
The job comes with great responsibility.
We have a lot of work to do, massive work,
but the authority I have now makes it a little easier.
Tell me, how was your trip up here?
- Actually, it was scary.
And it's normal when you are in the jungle,
but you know I have my pistol to protect myself.
So, how are you doing, too?
- William, it's difficult, but rewarding as we change
the primitive ways of people here.
We continue losing the twins, but it's far more less,
comparing to the first time I came here.
We are spreading the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ
and the reception continue grow every day.
- Wow! I'm impressed.
But Mary, how did you do it?
The Okoyong people have been killing our missionaries.
Many of them, yet you succeeded in implementing your goals.
- Being thoroughly knowledgeable of Efik culture,
traditions and practice was an ice breaker for me.
- Yeah.
- I came here as one of them,
and they were really amazed how I knew so much about them.
- This is wonderful! Do you know what?
God will continue to bless you for your work.
- Thank you William.
- And I promise you this, your work, your effort
must be known to the entire British Empire.
And I promise you, I will see to that.
- God bless you, William.
- God bless you too Mary. Well done.
- You must be thirsty, should I bring you water?
- Yeah, yeah! Please.
Thank you. - Okay.
- Why do you always deny me my right?
(solemn music)
Why did I marry you?
(woman screaming)
Today, I will kill you in this house.
- Is anybody there?
- What do you want?
- I am Mary Slessor, a new Vice Consul
of Okoyong Territory.
May I come inside?
- No, don't come in.
- As the new Vice Consul, one of my jobs is
to settle disputes and prevent the breakdown
of law and order.
May I come inside?
- Okay, you can come in.
(woman crying)
- What is your name?
- My name is Utuk.
- Utuk?
- Yes.
- I have received several reports about you
from my church community.
You have been beating your wife all this time.
She wanted to join the church and you stopped her.
You've thrown away the twins she bore.
What is wrong with you?
- She is my wife.
I am the one who paid for her dowry,
so I can do with her whatever that pleases me.
- She is your wife. She is not your slave!
- Who are the people telling you all these things about me?
The ones who are against our gods?
The ones you call Christians huh?
The ones who go inside the bush saving twins
that our gods command us not to.
These useless people!
- Why do you want to know how the information got to me?
And no, Christians are not useless.
- I will teach them a lesson.
Because of them my wife refuses me
of my marital rights on Sundays.
I can no longer access her.
You!
- Utuk, if you beat her next time,
or you do any harm to my church people,
you see these policemen outside?
Check.
They will come for you, Utuk.
Think about changing your life.
Cry no more. He won't touch you again.
- Thank you (sobbing)
(gentle music)
Women of Okoyong Territory.
- [Women] Yes.
- Sorry for bringing you out this late!
But I have good news to share with you.
Today, I have someone that is a woman like you,
appointed by His Majesty's government
as the Vice Consul of your land.
(women claps)
Today is a great day for women.
I will stop all the abuses against women in this land
and make sure your right to life,
the life of your twin children,
and to live happily are protected.
(women cheer) - God be praised.
- My office is open to you at any time for your requests,
reports and anything that will make your lives better.
You are to enroll your daughters in school,
not just your sons.
It is a great day in Okoyong.
Let us praise the Lord.
(women cheering)
Let us praise the Lord.
I will like you to sing a song in your dialect.
(women singing in foreign language)
(women crying)
(speaking in foreign language)
- Itoro, my brother, my only brother.
The indefatigable warrior!
The tireless worker.
Itoro, you fought a good fight,
but the cold arms of death snatched you away from me.
Itoro, Itoro, you have succumbed,
succumbed to the cold hands of death, my brother.
Keep the faith.
Be strong brother, for I know we shall meet to part no more.
(speaking in foreign language)
Itoro!
Tell me, tell me how do I give my only brother
a befitting burial.
His only servant ran away when he found out
that he would not survive through the night.
No, my brother cannot be deprived of a servant
in the world he is in right now.
(sobbing) His wife died only last month
and she has gone ahead of him.
Huh, Itoro!
- It's okay.
It's okay.
Please be a man. It's okay.
Be a man.
The white woman, I was told she is now living
at Okoyong village.
As for the burial, there won't be much fuss
in getting a replacement servant, yes.
- How do we get one?
How do we get one for my brother?
- I think I have an idea.
We will kidnap one.
- Yes.
- Itoro!
(women crying)
Itoro! Itoro! (speaking in foreign language)
(ominous music)
(man screams)
- [Man] Praise the Lord.
- [Church] Alleluia.
- [Man] Praise God.
- [Church] Hallelujah.
- Are we not happy that God sent us Sister Mary Slessor?
Are we not?
- [Church] We are.
- [Woman] Thank you Jesus.
- Can't you see the good and the changes she has brought
to our people?
Do we have brothers and sisters from Okoyong Kingdom
in our midst today?
- Yes, we have.
- Good! Brothers and sisters from Okoyong, we welcome you.
- [Church] Thank you.
- We thank Jesus for saving us from darkness
and evil of twins killing and human sacrifice.
- [Church] Thank you, Jesus!
- May we never go back to our old ways!
- [Church] Amen.
- May we continue to spread the gospel in our lands!
- [Church] Amen.
- May God continue to bless Sister Mary Slessor!
- [Church] Amen.
- May all our twins saved from death continue to grow
and be great people in our lands!
- [Church] Amen.
- Praise the Lord.
- [Church] Hallelujah.
- Sister Ama, can you step forward with your testimony?
- Praise the God!
- [Church] Hallelujah.
- Praise God!
- [Church] Hallelujah.
- I am a testifier of the mercies of our Lord Jesus Christ,
our Savior.
He sent Sister Mary six years ago
to save my children six years ago.
- [Church] Wow!
(church claps)
Look at them now, they are big,
and they give me joy every day.
They are not and never evil children
as our people wrongly believe.
They are God's children.
Praise God.
- [Church] Hallelujah.
- Praise God.
- [Church] Hallelujah.
(church cheering)
- [Narrator] Slessor was one of the brain behind
the establishment of the Hope Waddell Training Institute
in Calabar.
Which provided practical vocational training to Efiks.
This helped to enlighten them on a number of things.
Slessor's impact went beyond Calabar to a town
on the far west of Calabar, called Arochukwu,
the present day Abia State, Southeastern Nigeria.
Calabar and Arochukwu shared some customs
and the killing of twins was one of them.
And as the practice stopped in Calabar,
so did it in Arochukwu.
Slessor's missionary work in Okoyong earned her
the Efik nickname, Ogbukayong,
which means Queen of Okoyong.
She died on the 13th of January, 1915
and she was buried in Calabar.
A number of projects are named in her honor,
some of which are Mary Slessor Road in Calabar,
Mary Slessor Roundabout, Mary Slessor Church.
Statues of her carrying twins
at various location in Calabar.
A female hostel in University of Nigeria Nsukka,
is named after her.
And even in Ghana, a girls hostel, Slessor's House,
was named after her in Achimota School, Ghana.
(upbeat music)
(woman singing in foreign language)