Ama,The Butterfly Keeper

Sylvia Agamah-Ochidi

This book is dedicated to the YALI Network Team and WEP Nigeria for creating awareness of the devastating effect of toxic wastes

and climate change on the African environment#YALIGoesGreen

POEM

“African wings fading in the light;

Butterfly, butterflyHow I long to join

your flight;That I might feel

your plight and dare to fight.” ~ Sylvia O.

In a forest village, there once lived a young woman who was called Ama. A village surrounded by rocks,mountains and wildlife. The cool stream flows from the mountains through the rocky trails to the village.

Ama loves butterflies. Every morning she would go to the butterfly house to release her butterflies into the sunlight. An amazing sight of colours in the wind.She did this everyday before she starts her chores.

One evening, Ama went to fetch firewood. But she was shocked to see some dead animals lying around.She looked closely, no wounds from predator attack.Frightened Ama screamed and fled from the sight.

“The village is in danger,” she whispered to herselfas she went to her butterfly house to shut the door.Very few butterflies returned home. Why? Ama ran tothe chief’s adviser to report what she saw in the forest.

As she hurried back home in the midst of the soundof numerous crickets, she heard her name. She lookedaround but no one. She heard again “Ama” from above her. A talking owl! Her legs felt too heavy to run away.

“Ama, mother of butterflies,” the owl continued. “Theblack poison of distant lands pollutes everywhere. Dark poison from ‘roaring cruel machines’ used by strangers in their factories. The sun weeps and the moon mourns. More dark poison will flow to kill all. Tell the villagers!”

Fifteen years later, Ama is yet to tell anyone what the owlrevealed. That frightening event remains a memory of a ‘baddream’. The dark poison ruined the soil, trees and wildlife. Her butterflies are gone. It’s a long distance to fetch water because the stream dried up. Animals are remembered in folktales.

Human Vulnerability to Environmental Risk: Women’s Burden

When the natural environment is exposed to hazard, womenhave much to lose, since not only their livlihood, but also

their responsibility for the survival and health of their child-ren, are linked to the natural surroundings. African women shoulder an enormous portion of the responsibility for sub-sistence agriculture and the provisioning of households infuel and water. Increased water stress leads to increased

exposure to disease and other health risks. Africa is likely to be the continent most vulnerable to climate change.

~African Development Bank, 2011

“The impact of climate change on women is huge. The men are forced

to migrate and they leave the womenwho are now the caregivers because

they cannot leave the children.” Pricilla Achakpa

ED, Women EnvironmentalProgramme (WEP)

Nigeria

What action will YOU take?