Read the Legend
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The Otuos have a proud bearing and a rich cultural heritage with many legends and myths woven around them. One of such is the legend of Obokhuai ei ghera — one who eats fire.

The story of Obokhuai is one that has been handed down from generation to generation. It is one story the inhabitants of Otuo cannot claim ignorance of. It is a story the people are always willing to narrate and never tired to hear. It is a legend that can never be forgotten. It is not uncommon to see a child narrating the legend of Obokhuai clearly with accuracy including the minute details. So this is the story of Obokhuai, undoubtedly one of the greatest heroes, if not the greatest, that ever walked on the sands of Otuo.

Obokhuai was from the family of Azama. The Azama family was a known family of warriors. They were known for their prowess in the acts of war. There was no weapon, from sword to spear, that they did not use with extraordinary mastery. In fact till date the generalissimo of the town's fighting forces comes from the house of Azama.

It is on record that once as a result of intermittent wars an Azama was indisposed to lead the army to a particular war. The soldiers had given up all hopes of going to war and considered surrendering to the Kafe marauders when suddenly from nowhere an individual dressed in the full outfit of an Azama general appeared and urged the Otuo forces to attack.

The soldiers, like a bullet from a gun, went into action. To them, the Azama general had miraculously recovered and he was now leading them to battle. The Otuo soldiers like wounded lions fell upon the Kafe marauders and routed them. The battle was so fierce that they fought from sunrise to sunset with their generalissimo at the front, found only where the battle was hottest.

At the end of it all, what fascinated the Otuo soldiers was not so much the victory gained over the morbidly feared Kafes but the spirit and skills displayed by the Azama generalissimo. It was a story to be recounted by the people for a long time to come.

According to custom the generalissimo was to be carried shoulder high into town with celebrations. However, the early hours of the next day — as suddenly as he had appeared at the battle scene — so did he disappear from the battle field.

None of the soldiers could give a satisfactory explanation as to what could be the reason for this strange behaviour. Some said the generalissimo had quickly gone back to the town under the cover of darkness, to rest as a result of fatigue so as not to faint or collapse in the eyes of the men. For it was unknown for an Azama general to collapse or faint in battle...