by Tony Hemrix

In a small village nestled in the heart of the African savanna, there lived a man named Athé. A successful and respected merchant, he believed only in science and modern medicine. To him, traditional practices and beliefs in the invisible world were mere superstitions.

But one day, his fate took a dramatic turn.

Upon returning from a long business trip, Athé felt an overwhelming fatigue accompanied by severe headaches. Thinking it was just exhaustion, he rested. However, as days passed, his pain worsened—fever, night sweats, loss of appetite… He decided to visit the nearest hospital.

Doctors conducted thorough examinations but found nothing abnormal. They prescribed him medication and sent him home. At first, he felt better, but as soon as night fell, the pain returned stronger than ever. His body seemed trapped by an invisible force.

Day after day, he underwent countless medical consultations and treatments, spending all his savings on ineffective remedies. The more he sought medical help, the worse his condition became. Soon, he became so weak that he could no longer walk without assistance.

In the village, the elders murmured:

— This is no ordinary illness… He has been bewitched.

But Athé, devoted to his rational worldview, refused to believe them. Meanwhile, his business collapsed, his lands became barren, and many of his relatives abandoned him, tired of his endless trips between the hospital and home.

When modern medicine reached its limits, Athé found himself alone, ruined, and dying.

One evening, an old man named Kossivi, a respected healer and guardian of traditions, came to visit him. With wisdom, he said:

— My son, your illness does not come from this world. You are the victim of a spiritual attack. If you want to heal, you must call upon our ancestors and follow the sacred rites.

Weak and out of options, Athé finally relented:

— Do whatever it takes, just save me…

Kossivi led him to a sacred forest, near a giant baobab—the tree of spirits. There, he prepared a purification bath using kpatiman leaves, a plant known for its mystical properties. He added bark from the silk-cotton tree, a symbol of rebirth, and chanted ancient incantations.

Athé was immersed in the water, and at that very moment, he let out a cry. A dark shadow fled from his body, screaming. It was the evil spell that had been draining him for years.

The healer then gave him a bitter herbal potion to cleanse his blood and performed a ritual sacrifice in honor of the ancestors, severing the malevolent connection once and for all.

Within three days, Athé regained his strength. Within a week, he could walk again. In a month, he was fully healed.

Grateful, he thanked Kossivi and the village spirits. He finally understood that the world extended beyond what was visible and that African traditions carried an ancient wisdom that could complement modern medicine.

From that day on, he became a devoted guardian of ancestral knowledge, organizing ceremonies to honor the spirits and teaching younger generations the importance of preserving traditions.

In his village, his story is still told today as a reminder that true healing is not found only in hospitals but also in spiritual knowledge and respect for the unseen forces.

Thus ends the tale of Athé, the man who doubted but found the truth in the wisdom of his ancestors.