The Mechanic Workshop : Magun .

Nurses are known the world over for their wagging tongues. Next to market women, they are the world's renowned gossip bags. Somehow they seem to always have a sharp retort to every question and seemingly an opinion about everything. But this is not entirely true ofcourse. Most of their idle talk weighs next-to-nothing and one can scarcely learn anything new from listening to them. Auto-mechanics however (yes, mecho, as some of us call them) are not just good at sucking out petrol from a dry pipe with their mouths, but are also exceptionally good at sipping gossips. But, I have to say that I respect and will recommend their kind of gossip to that of nurses. They are able to relate their gossips to societal values. Nurses just 'duck' their mouth around making jest of the doctors and patients and in such a way that a listening neutral can not gain a single thing from it.

I was driving to deliver some goods for my mom's customer with a friend sitting right next to me. As I drove on the new double lane road constructed by our state governor, I noticed the car slowing down on its own accord. My effort in trying to throttle it back to speed was futile. My friend who was on his way to a date became impatient to get away especially since he didn't want to be spotted near a fault 504. Luckily, my mecho came to my rescue and helped tow the old car back to his workshop.

While we waited for the car, the welder in the workshop kicked off a gossip (or gist, because it's decent and educating to be tagged gossip after all) about an unfortunate man who died after sleeping with a woman laced with MAGUN

Magun is a Yoruba term which literally means “Do not climb” or “Do not touch.” It is an invisible sign that says, “Do not have sexual relations with this person.” The Yoruba believe that the man who has sexual intercourse with a woman who has been placed under the curse of magun could suffer various afflictions ranging from headache, seizures to possibly death.

This is usually done when a woman is suspected of extra-marital affairs. The partner/family the had place her on MAGUN (without her knowledge)to deter her from promiscuity.

The welder said " alfa, do you remember Lateef?". Alfa still busy on the car but gave a nod. "He's dead " the welder continued. The shock in the facial expression of Alfa, showed sympathy and pain. "O ba obin olobin sun, bi o se ko jombo niyen (he slept with another man's wife)" he said.
He continued "the husband of his mistress (ale) laced his wife with magun because he's been told of his wife's promiscuity. So after having sex with her, he started vomiting blood". By this time, the welder already earned the attention of everybody at the workshop except for the apprentices who would not dare contribute for fear of punishment.

Usually when a woman is placed on the MAGUN spell, she is expected to transfer the curse to her lover after intercourse within 7days. If unfortunately for her she has no extramarital affairs the woman in question would die unless her husband sleeps with her. While I hold on to this, supported with the welder's narration, I am undecided on just how true this is.

Is MAGUN mere superstition or some level of ignorance and depravity fostered by the irresponsible Nollywood? Or not?