The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THERE IS A SMALL VILLAGE IN THE WESTERN PART OF NIGERIA WHERE A
A SHOCKING INCIDENT HAPPENED. ELECTRICITY HAD JUST BEEN
INSTALLED IN THIS VILLAGE, AND THE PEOPLE NEVER REALISED HOW
DANGEROUS IT CAN BE WHEN IT IS FAULTY. IT HAPPENED THAT ONE
DAY A GROUP OF WOMEN IN THIS VILLAGE, ABOUT SIX IN NUMBER, WERE
RETURNING FROM THE WELL. THE FIRST WOMAN WHO WAS ABOUT TWELVE
YARDS FROM THE OTHERS, MISTAKENLY STEPPED ON A FAULTY
ELECTRICITY WIRE, AND SHE WAS ELECTROCUTED. THE NEXT WOMAN THAT
FOLLOWED HER NEVER KNEW WHAT HAPPENED, SHE JUST SAW THAT HER
COUNTERPART WAS STANDING STILL, AND SHE TAPPED HER ARM IN THE
ATTEMPT OF SAYING "WHY WAITING?" UNFORTUNATELY THIS SECOND WOMAN
WAS ELECTROCUTED TOO. THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO THE THIRD WOMAN AND
THE FOURTH WOMAN. THE FIFTH AND THE SIXTH WOMEN WERE VERY
VERY OBSERVANT, THEY NOTICED THAT SOMETHING UNUSUAL HAS HAPPENED
TO THEIR COUNTERPARTS. THEY RAISED AN ALARM. THUS THE PEOPLE
IN THE VILLAGE RUSHED OUT. THEY FOUND THE FOUR WOMEN STONE DEAD.
THE ELDERS IN THE VILLAGE WENT TO THE POLICE STATION
AND REPORTED THE INCIDENT.

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT LOOKED TERRIFIED WHEN NARRATING THE INCIDENT.

Where learned: DETROIT

Date learned: 00-00-1965