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- [00:09]
Host
Hickory dickory dock. I told that fool to stop. When he said no, I let him go. Hickory dickory die. Listen to Spook. Stay. This episode is brought to you by Progressive. Most of you aren't just listening right now. You're driving, cleaning, even exercising. But what if you could be saving money by switching to Progressive? Drivers who save by switching save nearly $750 on average. And auto customers qualify for an average of 7 discounts. Multitask right now. Quote today@progressive.com progressive casualty insurance company and affiliates. National average 12 month savings of $744 by new customers surveyed who saved Progressive between June 2022 and May 2023. Potential savings will vary. Discounts not available in all states and situations. If you could hear love, what would it. Son, can we talk about your drinking? Yeah, Dad, I think we should. Helping those closest to you think about their excessive drinking. Maybe that's what love sounds like. More@rethinkthedrink.com An OHA initiative I wrote, then read a true story, a family story, to my bestie a while ago about growing up in my crazy household. About witnessing an exorcism, about begging, screaming for them to stop, to please, please stop. A story to begin, an episode of Spoot. And when I finish, she says she really likes it. Really likes it. Then she says, but it feels raw, painful. And a lot of people are going to hear this. Uh huh. Well, aren't your mother, your father, aren't they going to have feelings about it? I'm all defensive. Look, this really happened. And it occurs to me like she's saying because she cares about me. She's asking if the story will cause me problems, pain with my family. Oh, don't worry, they'll never hear it. What do you mean, never hear it? This is going on a national show. Over a million listeners. Not my family. Well, someone will tell them about it, right? Nope. Why? Look, I know it sounds strange, but in this world they live in, if it's not on Fox News or maybe the church bulletin, they're never gonna know. Like if a tree falls in the woods kind of thing. What if it gets turned on the radio? My mama says my show doesn't come on the radio in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Does it? Of course it does. Two, three times a week. But not if you have the dial turned to the crazy January 6th Patriot Show. I don't know, she says, feels like you're dodging something. Your parents are getting older, you don't have much time. Would it be so terrible if they Hear the stories you reveal about yourself, about your family, about what happened. Think about this for a moment. Maybe I am dodging, avoiding something that is my emotional modus operandi. After all, you know, never get too close to the feelings because that is where the hurt lives. I go quiet, understand that she's waiting for me to say something. No, I don't think it would be so horrible if they finally hear my stories. Uh, the horrible thing is knowing for certain that they never will. Spoke starts. Family. The joy and the pain. We're traveling now through time and through space to Uganda, a tiny village. It's 1985, and our storyteller, David, he's visiting his village because that's where his mom, Agnes, and his stepdad, George, live. Of course, in this village, there's something else living there as well. Spooked.
- [07:40]
David
My mother, Agnes means a lot to me. She had four children, but I was the darling. Wherever she was going, I would accompany her. When I was in primary school, she asked me to teach her how to read. Because she had not gone to school. She bought a book where I taught her to write her names first. Then slowly, I started reading her some storybooks. I read, she repeats.
- [08:21]
Narrator
Inspired by teaching his mom how to read and write, David chose to pursue a career in education. After graduating high school, he moved from Bonaful to the city of Jinja for college, just about two hours away by train. But he would visit home often. This story takes place on one of those visits.
- [08:46]
David
In the morning, my mom calls me David. I'm going to work. You stay here. Maybe you can help us to do housework. So she left me behind and I stayed in the bed. It is around 10. I'm in the bed sleeping, and then I hear a lot of noise. I hear drumming. It is a single drum following a certain beat. Then other people were shouting. I was wondering, what's happening outside. Quickly, I jump out of the bed. Even not putting on my shirt, just pick the shirt. I came out. There was a lot of excitement around the whole village. People running, shouting, drumming, making noise. That whole atmosphere was electric. Everyone was happy. There are two people drumming, and these were small boys. I said, what's going on? What's going on? They start saying, david, you are Mommy. You are Mummy. I said, what? What's wrong with my mom? Your mommy? Your mommy. Ugliness. What's wrong with the ugliness? I was now nervous, but for them it was the opposite. They are so happy. I couldn't tell whether it was good news or bad news. Come and see. Let's go quickly. And they are running towards where my mom was. I'm holding the shirt in my hand, running down, following them and questioning, lingering in my mind. If it was bad, why should they be happy? I find my mother in the main road. Surrounding my mother, there is a big gathering. It's a group of around 60 people encycling her. And she was walking slowly backwards while looking at us, her eyes widely open. When I moved nearer, I realized her eyes had turned white. She was not blinking and she was not talking to any of us. I had goosebumps. I'm shouting on top of my voice. Mommy. Mommy. What is it? You need help? Can I come and help you? What is it? Can we go home? I wanted to make my way to see what's wrong with her. But one of the old ladies who who was nearby holds me back. Don't go. Please. Don't touch her. Don't go near. Leave her alone. What is it? What's happening with Agnes? My mother. What is happening? Then she says, come down. Let me tell you.
- [12:29]
Host
If you could hear love, what would it sound like? Son, can we talk about your drinking? Yeah, Dad. I think we should. Helping those closest to you think about their excessive drinking. Maybe that's what love sounds like. More@rethinkthedrink.com An OHA initiative.
- [13:00]
David
Monoro has picked her to be his wife. Munoro has picked her Amongst all the women in this village. She's now a wife to Munolo. What? Mama marrying Munyol? Who is Munyolo? Because I was hearing Munyolo for the first time. Who is Munyolo? Now? Tell me more. What is this? Munyolo is the spirit for the Baise Ngovi. He's the divine giver of the village. When the current wife has grown old and can no longer perform the duties which Munyolo expects her to do, he picks any hardworking beautiful lady he wants from amongst the ladies in the village. So this time around, he has picked on your mother. I lost words. I was wondering how a human being can get married to a spirit. And if so, why should Munoro marry my mother who is already married to George? And then this lady, she told me, David, respect whatever is taking place. It is a special day for the village. If you go and interfere, the consequences to you is death. Or you get deformed for the rest of your life. And no one is going to help you. I'm thinking this can't be true. I was not believing her. This clan, the Ngobe clan, they have traditional beliefs. But the rest of us, we are Christian. But I was having emotions. Much as I was fearing for my mom now I feared for my life. But I had to do something. I ran towards the group and now it was a magnitude of people. But I don't see my mom. All of a sudden I see her. She was on top of a tree. It's a big giant ficus tree. I don't know how she climbed it. She was in her 40s. She's someone who does not ride a bicycle. How can she climb a tree? Everyone was in a circle around her. And she was sitting on a branch of the tree up there. Doing nothing but sitting, holding onto that branch. There was smoke. They had now set a bony fire under that tree. Out of nowhere it starts raining. Amidst all that chaos, they were saying that it's a blessing. Nolo getting married has brought blessings. In the village they are taken some days without rain. Now there is rain. And from nowhere. I can't tell you how my mom climbed down the tree. She started rolling on the ground. Rolling several times. Rolling, rolling. And she became very dirty. She started throwing the hands here and there. She had red eyes. I was feeling bad, you know, having a lot of goosebumps. I fell down. I started crying. I was not believing what was happening. I wanted to go and help her, but I couldn't go. All of a sudden, the sound of the drums went silent. People, now all are quiet. And this gentleman, whom I didn't know, arrives. This man is dressed in a kanzu, which is a tonic, a white tonic. He has the arms with so many bangles, a crown. This man now approaches my mom. And she's just sitting on the ground, spreading her feet. This man starts talking. Our spiritual leader. Welcome back from the hunt. We are happy now that you have picked on your choice. My mom now started talking. The voice was of a manly voice, not her user voice. My sons, my grandchildren, you're most welcome. Officially, I've got married. And I picked on this lady is my wife. The drumming goes louder than it was. In that moment I realized it is true. Something has taken over her life. And that was Munolo. Munolo was now owning her. All the drums go silent again. The man says, what can we do right now? What do you want us to do? You know what to do. First, prepare the house where she's going to stay. Also you have to prepare a feast. You get my cows, you get their goats. You even have to slaughter sheep. And of course you cannot hold that Feast without the brew. Afterwards, after they had agreed with the spirit, he says, you can now leave. Go away to your daily activities. From nowhere, I saw my mom turning into a normal person. She raises her arms and she twists around saying, why am I here? How did I come here? What has been going on? These are the elders. The ladies go near to greet her. They tell her, agnes Munyola has brought you here. You are now a wife to Munyola. She was quiet. She doesn't say anything. I walked slowly towards her. I greeted her and I told her, how you feeling? She called me, my son. What you have seen, what you have heard, it has happened. And I had to accept that it has happened. And even equally, you, my son, accept this is a blessing. I was having so many things in my mind. What is next after marrying her? Why my mother to marry a spirit? Why her? Not all these are ladies, but why her? I just told her, okay, okay, okay. Are you staying here or we are going back home? She said, yes, we are going back.
- [21:51]
Narrator
After a silent and uncomfortable walk home, David's mom takes a bath while David cooks her favorite dish, matoke, a stew made out of bananas and potatoes.
- [22:03]
David
We had our food, we ate, not speaking anything. I could see that she was not the usual charming mother. Something changed completely.
- [22:19]
Narrator
Soon after, David's stepdad, George arrives home from work.
- [22:25]
David
When he reaches home, we pick his bicycle, push it in the house. Then he sits. Mommy comes, he greets him. And he was just sitting calmly, not talking to anyone. I was waiting for him to ask me what took place. But he did not ask me anything.
- [22:54]
Narrator
Once David's mom finishes dinner and heads to bed, David finally works up the courage to tell George about his mom, Mary Ngunyoro.
- [23:02]
David
But he simply told me, thank you so much. I'm already aware what took place. I was told by some of my brothers and uncles. So I think, let's leave it at that. He was just quiet, as if nothing had happened. Then I told, how are we going to live without her? What are we going to do? He told me, it is a blessing. It's a blessing to you. It will bring you riches, longer life. I asked, why? How can you participate to help your wife to go away? He just told me, I don't have a wife. She's no longer my wife.
- [23:59]
Narrator
That night, David and his stepfather helped move his mom's belongings to another bedroom. According to tradition, she could no longer share a bed with George as she is now married to a different man.
- [24:15]
David
Next morning, many people come to greet her. Even Some of her relatives from her village came to greet her. The aunties, the sisters, the cousins. Whoever was coming there was not coming to find out the story, but was just coming to congratulate the family. They have got a special greeting. Shaking hands. She's given robes, officially that she's married. She's given the bangles. She's given the crown. And she's given the pipe. Start smoking. This is the first time that I saw my mom smoking a pipe. She was not a smoker, and now she had even a new name. From Agnes to Mrs. Munolo. Where is Mrs. Munolo? Where is Mrs. Monolo?
- [25:17]
Host
Where are you?
- [25:17]
David
I'm here. She was also answering happily. I'm here. How are you? How are you today? And then they start playing music. They slaughter cows, goats, sheep, chicken. They take the local brew. It was a feast that Sunday.
- [25:40]
Narrator
The village celebrates this new marriage for the next several days. On one of those nights, David's mom receives a visit from another family who has brought along a sick relative.
- [25:53]
David
And they told my mother that they have come to visit Munyolo. Munyolo. Being that he's a spirit, they believe that he has got the healing powers.
- [26:05]
Narrator
David's mom and the family move to a nearby shrine. David follows and watches them at a distance so they can't see him. His mom puts on a robe while a helper starts a fire. Finally, they all sit in a circle around her.
- [26:25]
David
And from nowhere I see her stretching her arms in the air with a lot of strength. And I see her shaking. Her hands twist her head on either sides. I could even hear some sounds coming out of the bones cracking. I feel scared when I see my mom turning, the eyes rolling. And she's smoking a pipe. I can see a cloud of smoke around her, a heavy one, inhaling. Next to my mom is a helper. He's putting herbs on the fire and he's holding a shaker. They shake, they shake. They shake. They shake vigorously. She's shaking also herself. And then all of a sudden, her body, the face changes, the voice changes like a man. She talks with a lot of vigor. She's possessed. My people, sons, daughters, I'm here. She throws shells on the ground. She tries to interpret the shells the way they are on the ground. Now Mnol starts talking. Oh, my son, you are sick. She talks. She talks. She talks and directs how the disease is going to be worked on. This young man is listening to the instructions. And Munyoro instructed the helper to go and look for the medicine for the patient. And in turn, Mnyol requested the patient to pay some money plus an animal. A goat for that matter. Then, from nowhere, she opens her eyes. She regals. She raises her arms. She twists around and comes back to her normal senses. It was the first time witnessing my mother killed the other people. To me as her son. I was feeling bad. But it came to me that maybe this is good. They respect her because of Munyoru.
- [29:20]
Narrator
After a week, the time has come for Agnes to move to her new home.
- [29:27]
David
I helped her in packing all of her belongings. We took the things. Food, hard clothes. She had a small suitcase. I was feeling sad, lonely. But now I was feeling sorry for George. They were so happily married. They had a lot of things in common. Now he's living with George. The joy that we had in this home is over.
- [30:08]
Narrator
Later that night, some relatives and local clansmen show up to help Agnes move to her new home, which is about half a mile away.
- [30:18]
David
It was late evening. There was moonlight. I'm walking within a group. I'm carrying the suitcase. It was a moment of disappointment. She was going to start a new life. She's married to a ghost. It pains me, but I have nothing to do. There were a few neighbors who were there to welcome her. She was laughing with those people around. They were talking. She was happy. As a family, we gathered. There were some short speeches. Some were saying, agnes, as we move into this home, please we should remain together as a family. We told Mommy, have a good night. And she went to sleep. I walked back home. I had a lot of questions. Am I going to meet her again? How often was she going to be possessed? Will Munyoro be kind to my mother like George was to her? It was a hard moment for me to accept that Mommy is now in another world. It was so hard. It was as if Shadi died.
- [31:57]
Narrator
David leaves the village the next morning and returns to school. Eventually, David becomes a teacher and moves to Enteve, a city near Kampala, Uganda's capital. Despite being away from his family, he calls his mom every week and tries to visit often.
- [32:20]
David
From that time up to today. I'm talking of 36 years my mom has been married to munolo. She's now 86. People come to my mom from all walks of life for different reasons. There are those who are sick. There are those who come for counseling. There are those who want to get blessings even for harvest. Those are going to plant the good weather. My mom cannot do anything without instructions from Mnyolo. So her life changed completely. She can't eat fish, she can't eat pork, she can't eat chicken. She drinks alcohol, she smokes a pipe. I even fear that she's going to develop lung cancer because she smokes a pipe heavily. But she has never regretted being a wife to Munyoro. She's respected in that village and even the Klani people take care of her. They bring food, people even bring in money. Her essentials are catered for. I feel proud that people respect her. I'm proud of that. But deeply I'm against. They snatch her from me. But I couldn't tell her, don't. She's my mom. She had accepted. So let her take that path. I take my at the end of the day we all believe in God. But we have different avenues to reach God. This year I visited my mom. We are talking casually. She tells me, david, I'm leaving this place. I've grown old. There are certain things that I can no longer perform for Munyolo. And it has come to my notice that Munyolo seems to be looking for another wife. I want to leave this place by January. Can you prepare where I can live? After here, I was happy. I felt so good and even I called my siblings and I announced it to them that you know what, mom is leaving Munyolo. So I bought a piece of land recently. I'm going to construct a house for her where she's going to stay and hopefully she lives a new life. That day when she will be out of that place, we shall go for a feast. I'll call all my children, my sisters, to educam her back to their normal life. I'm looking forward to that day that we shall be living together.
- [35:47]
Host
Thank you David for sharing your story with Spook. We are so glad you'll be reunited with your mom very soon. That story was scouted by Lulu Jemima. The original score was by Sandra Lawson, ndu. It was produced by Eric Yanez. Now then, I have a query for you because we've heard tales of families that have a gift passed down from generation to generation. Foresight, dreamwalking, even telekinesis. We're exploring family histories here at the underground lair where the same power runs through particular bloodlines and we sometimes skipping a generation but eventually reasserting itself. If you have such a legacy or if you know someone who does weed love, I'd love to know all about it. Let me know spookedtampjudgment.org because there is nothing better than a spooked listener with a spooked Story Spooks are brought to you by the team that would never impose their own belief system or anyone else. Except for Mark Ristic. Just because he's lactose intolerant, he won't tolerate your lactose or anyone else's lactose either. There's Davey Kim, Zoe Ferrigno, Ann Ford, Eric Yanez, Taylor Ducat, Marissa Dodge, Miles Lassie, Doug Stewart, Paulina Creeky, Elizabeth V. Pardue, Aditya Matu, Lulu Jemima the Spook Beam Song is by Pat Mesili Miller Letters in Washington and Whether you liked them or not, whether you knew them or not, your parents gave you a legacy. They set you on a quest. And so often that journey is to fill holes that they had. The things they couldn't bequeath to us are the things we set in search of money, stability, love, respect. Often they leave us other questions as well. Mysteries see the needs of the shadow follow from mother to daughter, from father to son. How many times have we heard from people discovering, shocked, that they are treading the same path as grandparents, great grandparents, generations the shadow remembers even when we have forgotten. But their legacy is never your destiny. The best way to ensure that you follow paths of your own choosing is to never, never ever, never, never, never ever turn out the lights.