Rainmaking, a Myth or Reality?

By Joy Chinecherem 
The clouds hung low from the heavens, dark and ominous,  the trees bowed low its branches swept the ground. Tiny fine sands whipping up, you know it’s going to be a heavy downpour. Clothes spread out on the line, wave up and down, people darting here and there to pack up or pick their children. There is a mad rush by drivers to get to their destination to avoid the impending downpour. 

Slowly the clouds receded into the sky, and then the winds stopped abruptly, the trees stood upright. That wind was way too strong to just stop without any rainfall, this is the third day this is happening, could the rumors be true? Rainmakers were holding back the rain? 

Rumors had it the construction company in charge of repairing the famous Faulks road leading up to Ariaria International was controlling the weather. 

Rainmakers known as ndi “Ochu mmiri” or “Ogha mmiri” in Igbo land are highly revered personalities in every community as they are said to hold the success or failure of any occasion within their power. They are mastered in the art of inducing or holding off rain. People hire them for different purposes to make sure their occasions pull through without any rain disaster or sometimes to disrupt an event that might be contrary to theirs.

In September 2018, BBC Nigeria visited an old rainmaker in Ifitedunu, Dunukofia, Anambra state to put to test the potency of this ancient art. The rainmaker Godwin Onasedu requested few things which include kolanuts, two crates of beer, and one bottle of a specific gin, these are needed to consult the goods. He performed some rituals including burning some unknown leaves and within hours, the weather changed with wind rustling trees nearby and it started to rain. The rain was not heavy but it did drizzle? Yes!

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Now it turned out that the weather forecast that day predicted light showers, was it a coincidence that it rained at that same time, or did the weather did really listen to the man?

Littered across history are stories of legendary rainmakers and their acts, one notable act was during the tenure of Governor Sam Mbakwe. The then President, Alhaji Shehu Shagari visited Imo state and unfortunately, it was during the rainy season. The president landed in the midst of a heavy downpour, as part of the welcoming ceremonies the Governor called in Veteran Rainmakers who after performing their usual ritual held off the rain within the vicinity. The immediate environs were enshrouded in the sun while the rest of the state continued to weep. This was a feat that sent the media agog for days. 

This is just one amongst a thousand stories, the art of rainmaking is one that can’t be totally put down. In 2011, a team of rainmakers from Edo state was invited to the Royal wedding of Prince Williams to Kate Middleton. They were housed and honored in Windsor Castle despite the snubbing of the Nigerian government, there were rumors of promised citizenships if they succeeded in holding off rain the whole day. (Did they succeed)

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In Ekwulummili, Anambra state, rainmakers use a special stone called “Mkpume ọnụ” to make rain. In Nsukka, some rainmakers claimed to have inherited the act of rainmaking from their ancestors.

Scientifically, the potency of this art is dubious and false as there is no explanation why the burning of a couple of leaves and pouring of drinks can affect the weather sprinkled with incantations. Scientifically, there is a proven way of altering the weather called Cloud Seeding which its efficacy is still a subject of controversy.

Cloud seeding is the process of spreading either dry ice, or more commonly, silver iodide aerosols, into the upper part of clouds to try to stimulate the precipitation process and form rain.

The question of some humans wielding the power to control the rain has been on for years, the logical answer has always been ‘NO’ so is the answer to several other human occurrences. Years of research and analysis still leaves so many phenomena to question just like the art of ‘rainmaking’. 

Despite the many doubts, the fact remains that this art is not just limited to the Igbos it goes further to other African countries who believe and can attest to this. Do you believe in this ancient power, will you be employing the services of one during your events 

One thing is sure rainmaking is not natural, it’s man-made.