My Character in Synopsis

Task 1

Character Creation synopsis

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Character Name: Amobi (Based on the earlier story concept)

Biography.

Amobi is an Igbo boy but was raised in a colonial school environment that saw his Igbo traditions as archaic and western culture as supreme. He saw himself caught between two worlds, the igbo tradition that influences his background with emphasis on spiritual and cultural values. Then the white man’s culture that built his early years in school through their teachings.

Amobi’s life took a U-turn, when he started having nightmares of changing into leopard , a revered symbol in the Igbo culture. He’d no choice than to embrace his destiny as a vessel to the leopard spirit.

Psychological Profile

He had this disdain for superstitions considering how enlightened and educated he was back in school. He saw it as an obstacle to progress not until when his dreams became a thing of concern.

He’s also a curious kid because he kept looking for answers to his recurring nightmares until he finally got a solution to it from the dibia.

Appearance

From the real book, “bottled leopard”, he’s around the age of 15/16 years teenager with a birthmark on his left shoulder, that somehow connected him to the leopard spirit that kept possessing his body.

His Search / Motivation

Amobi has always wanted to fit in both worlds by trying to harmonize a balance between western education and his ibo culture. He also needed to know his role as a vessel, in order to use his new found powers wisely without abusing it or causing havoc. This way, he can restore balance between both physical and spiritual world.

Associated Characters

• Dibia ( The ghost whisperer): The one who interpreted his recurring nightmare for him and help him understand his new found powers.

• We also have his parents , who took him down to see the dibia

• His friends and teacher, who mocked and dismissed him, calling his dreams mere superstition.

Task 2: The Guardian's Call

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Amobi was restless because of his recurring nightmares that felt like a prophecy. One night while he was asleep, he saw his soul leave, to wander off in a sacred forest behind his house where his parent forbids him from going.

He noticed a leopard staring at him. Grabbed a branch, he screamed, “stay back!”

The leopard said “don’t be scared, I won’t harm you”. He was overwhelmed to see a leopard talk.

“This isn’t real”, he stammered.

“It’s real”. “You have been chosen to protect your people because you carry the blood of warriors. If you do nothing, your people connection to their heritage, will fail”.

Before Amobi could object, the leopard jumped on him, placing its paws on his forehead to reveal things to him. Visions of his sacred rites, spiritual guardian and bulldozer destroying his community, flashed his mind.

He woke up, drenched in sweat, He knew this isn’t an ordinary dream. It was a call to action.

Literary genre for this story.

I’ve always like fantasy and magical movies. That’s one of the things that inspired me to write on this book called “bottle leopard”. Is a book i many read years ago in secondary school English literature.

The fantasy part of the story includes leopard talking to Amobi telepathically and the spiritual journey in the sacred forest involving visions of his ancestral rites and heritage.

The bulldozer symbolizes the western culture trying to eradicate the traditional culture of amobi’s community and to gain relevance.

Reflection

So, forming a story that has a little bit of fantasy wasn’t too hard. But the difficult part was condensing the words. It isn’t funny at all. I still even found it hard meeting the target of 150 words, maybe someone could help me reduce it further.

But in a way, I’m kinda happy I participated in this contest. @wakeupkitty, always says I write too long, but learning from micro writing has now changed that narrative. I can now participate in her story, without exceeding 200 words. 😊

I will be inviting @lovelystar, @ochelebe and @justty

Cc: @joslud
@solperez