The Mystery of Adumu: The Spirit That Plants Trees in Egbema Creeks

By Prince Agbedeyi O. D. PhD 
Published by Global Egberi Media International

In the heart of the Egbema Kingdom—along the winding mangrove creeks and waters that have nursed generations of our people—there exists an age-old tale, whispered from boat to boat, from fishermen to traders, and passed down through the oral traditions of our ancestors. It is the legend of Adumu—the mysterious short spirit said to dwell beneath the waters of Egbema Creek.

According to the oral chronicles of the Egbema people, Adumu is not your typical water spirit. He is not known to appear in dreams or demand sacrifices at shrines. Rather, his presence is often marked by acts of silent wonder, most notably his peculiar habit of planting mangrove trees in the middle of the river—not just saplings, but full-grown trees with dried leaves, standing defiant against the current.

As an Egbema son myself, I’ve often questioned this phenomenon. How can a river I cross today, clear and uninterrupted, become a landscape dotted with a fully grown tree by the next morning? No one rows out to plant it. No footprints, no tools—just a tree, sitting regally at the river’s center. It is as if the earth itself reached up and birthed it overnight. But the elders know better—they say, “Na Adumu work be that.”

In local belief, Adumu is not just a tree-planter, but a spirit with a sense of fairness. He listens to words of encouragement and rewards those who offer him “support”—a kind of spoken blessing, often declared in the form:

“Adumu, I support you. I give you support.”

It is said that those who give this support, with a sincere heart and a loud voice, might receive blessings in return. But as with many ancient spirits, Adumu is mysterious and unpredictable. Till date, there is no verified story of anyone who received physical or material blessings from him.

Yet recently, my cousin who resides in Ogbudugbudu, shared a chilling but fascinating testimony. One early morning, while paddling to his fishing spot, he noticed a strange movement in the water. A tree, uprooted from the edge of the creek, was moving on its own, slowly and purposefully, toward the center of the river. He didn’t see a person or a creature, but felt a powerful, invisible force doing the work. Startled but awed, he remembered the traditional chant and boldly declared:

“Adumu, I give you support!”

He has waited ever since, hoping for Adumu’s blessing—be it fortune, healing, or insight. But so far, nothing has come. Or perhaps the blessing has come, just not in the form we humans expect. Perhaps Adumu blesses in the spirit, in dreams, or in protection we never notice.

Whether myth or mystery, the story of Adumu continues to shape the spiritual imagination of Egbema people. It speaks of a deeper connection to nature, where even the mangroves are not random, but orchestrated by unseen hands. In a world where science seeks answers to every phenomenon, Egbema holds onto its ancient wonder—that a river spirit named Adumu walks beneath our waters, tree in hand, waiting for someone to believe.

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