Ohia

Role: poor man · First appears: Tale 19 · Ohia and the Thieving Deer · Part 1

In Tale 19 · Ohia and the Thieving Deer · Part 1, Ohia and Awirehu were married, and the farmer agreed to share equally the proceeds from making and selling palm wine. He supplied Ohia with pots, but the farmer’s support did not stop the bush-deer from stealing the wine and breaking the pots. When Ohia encountered the animal at a meeting of animals, King Tiger ordered him brought in for punishment, then agreed to hear his explanation. The conference found the deer guilty, punished it and apologized to Ohia.

In Tale 19 · Ohia and the Thieving Deer · Part 2, King Tiger gave Ohia the power to understand animals, on condition that he never tell anyone about it. Ohia learned from a chicken that gold was buried in his garden, found three jars, and told Awirehu about his treasure. He married the lame woman as a second wife. One evening, when he laughed at what he heard, she accused him of making fun of her and took her charge to the chief, who tried to persuade Ohia to explain the joke. Ohia bequeathed his gold to Awirehu and his property to his son and his servants; at the Assembly Place, he revealed his power and the cause of his laughter, then fell dead. The lame woman was seized and burnt as a witch.