Summary

In the prologue, Ichulu's dibia, or healer, Igbokwe, prophesied a dangerous storm (1). Igbokwe had communications with the gods. He saw a message that "Igwe, the god of the sky," had written in the clouds (2). A flood was coming, and Igbokwe hurried to tell the villagers. Ichulu was located near Idemili, "a sacred river" (2). Because the people were acquainted with the sacred waters, they did not believe "water could harm" (2). However, the people trusted Igbokwe. Because of his divinations, Ichulu had remained safe.

Igbokwe communicated with Chukwu, the Supreme Being and the "life source of the line of dibias" (3). The people believed that Chukwu, also called Chineke or chi, was everywhere (3). Therefore, when they heard Igbokwe's pronouncement, they became afraid and prepared themselves (4).

When Igbokwe met with the elders about the storm, he had no suggestions for how to stop it...