Ignorance Becoming a Fact

Ignorance Becoming a Fact Teddy Lufungula Osembe

Hamilton Books A member of The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group

Lanham • Boulder • New York • Toronto • Plymouth, UK

Copyright © 2009 by Hamilton Books 4501 Forbes Boulevard Suite 200 Lanham, Maryland 20706 Hamilton Books Acquisitions Department (301) 459-3366 Estover Road Plymouth PL6 7PY United Kingdom All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America British Library Cataloging in Publication Information Available Library of Congress Control Number: 2008935977 ISBN-13: 978-0-7618-4033-6 (paperback : alk. paper) ISBN-10: 0-7618-4033-8 (paperback : alk. paper) eISBN-13: 978-0-7618-4203-3 eISBN-10: 0-7618-4203-9

⬁ ™ The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48—1992

Dedication

This book has been a work which has been the contribution first of my brother Eric B.B. Mubenga who had been very much supportive, and to whom I wish a very good luck in the publication of his manuscript that will be coming out soon. I got a lot of support from my father Mubenga S. who has been helping in the creation of ideas that have been very much helpful in the setting up, of my book, and my uncle Muntu W.who worked a lot in the merging of ideas in our evening talks. Then I wish then good things to come who are going to read this book that has been my entire inspiration on what villages and tribes in my country Democratic Republic of Congo still take as part of their lives. To all my brothers Junior Mubenga, Dennis Mubenga, Dido M.and sisters Amina M.and Sylvie in the UK and to all my lovely friends in DRC, my family in Belgium and others around the world, I wish them a good luck in their great endeavor missions undertaken. Teddy L.Osembe. Author

iii

Contents

Foreword

vii

Preface

ix

Acknowledgement

xi

Introduction

xiii

1

A Growing life The Tough Rule in Mibanga Featuring of Power The People and the Attention Shimba was Growing at Anybody’s Unexpected Thought The Unexpected in Shimba’s Life The News not Hidden Shimba becomes Parents’ Concern

2

Explanation of the Mystery The Grand-Father’s Contribution Paid Hope Villager Men Choose The Most Expected Race of all the Time in Mibanga Candidates to the Race and the Beginning of the Great Shimba’s Time was Coming Shimba Made a Deal

10 13 14 16 17 20 23

3

Shimba Taking Over the Throne The New Chief was not too Young to get Married The Secret Mystery The New Couple was Taking Place

24 26 27 28

v

1 2 3 4 5 5 8 9

vi

Contents

4

Family Danger Laws Changed Ndumbi and the Danger The Heir Exposed The Revelation

32 33 34 36 41

5

Tragic Sin to Recover Shungu’s Parents could not be Left Behind Ndumbi Prepared for a Reconciliation The Society had not to Forget

45 46 48 50

About the Author

53

Foreword

I, Bishale Bin Mubenga would like to acknowledge “Ignorance Becoming a Fact,” as a work of great passion written tirelessly by Teddy Lufungula Osembe. ERIC BISHALE MUBENGA

vii

Preface

“IGNORANCE BECOMING A FACT” is a based fiction story related to many realities that people are living everyday in African societies precisely in my country Democratic Republic of Congo as a typical example. In many African countries like DRC, villages or cities, the conception of mystic developments taking place and being experienced by people in tribes is becoming part of a daily life. However, few may think they are far from mystic or evils’ attacks but life is becoming more and more harmful for them. This manuscript gives a correct view on how many Africans spend their lives in their traditional societies and number of things that they still need to protect all along with them. It is a great time many Africans to ask themselves where are they from and where are they going to if they continue to allow breakdowns of their ancestral links. TEDDY L. OSEMBE

ix

Acknowledgment

It has been a great pleasure to thank my brother Eric bin Mubenga who has been very supportive in the make up of this book. I really thank him for his encouragement even when it was too hard for him to find a publisher for his book. I would like to thank my uncle Muntu wa Bende who kept on giving me on several times tremendous ideas, which I will not forget. Many thanks to my father Mubenga Kajingulu Somwe, even though during his hard working times at Wits University, managed to give me advices on the way to go about this book. Many thanks to Hamilton Books, UPA and especially the director and his team for giving me the opportunity to have my book published and read around the world.

xi

Introduction

Readers may not stop taking their time to make parallelism between types of lives between the African life and the Western one. The aim of the “IGNORANCE BECOMING A FACT” is to give the best of what African societies got. Most of the time, the precious stone which is being characterized in our African traditions and cultures has been loosing its authentic values since then. However, troubles, deaths and other signs of famine and repercussion of malediction have become difficult to be sought out in today’s life. Today, Africans have become more preoccupied by what caused the change in their lives. Nevertheless, things do not stop there. The interest shown in developing the society has helped the breakdown of our tradition inherited from our ancestors. “Ignorance becoming a fact” is really a consequence and punishment that the young Ndumbi, the son of the traditional ruler chief of the village of Mibanga, had endured. The principle behind the punishment was because Ndumbi did not respect warnings left by his ancestors. The example of this young boy is far to compare with that of his father Shimba, who had been a strong person, featuring a mystical power from his ancestors who agreed in their TSHOTO (Rally) to institute him as the traditional chief of Mibanga. Shimba became chief when he was still seventeen. To keep and protect warnings smaller they might seem was something not easy for many in Mibanga. Many in the community had broken with ancestral links. Nevertheless, for sure, any accident could happen and it was time for many to realize it and look for ways to protect themselves. Africans have to reconsider opening up their links with their traditional lives especially if they still exist to avoid the worst to keep happening. TEDDY L.OSEMBE Author xiii

Chapter One

A Growing Life

There was a certain village called Mibanga. As in many villages, people were committed to their daily works in their farms. Nevertheless for one reason or another, some were not again following traditional rules left to them by their ancestors. The presence of many difficulties and troubles that many generations of the village were going through was a work of their own negligence. There was a chief in that village named Shimba. He was considered as the strongest man of his race and his time. Everybody in that village feared this chief and for sure there was a reason why people could do so. He had been chosen still young, only seventeen. At the time he was the traditional chief, he had a wife and two lovely children. Among them were Kibonge the elder and Ndumbi, the last-born. Although being parent and a traditional chief at the same time, Shimba had time to take care of his sons. He had to show them different problems, which were occurring in the society from the time being to the time the two sons were ready to get marriage. Nobody in the family was living in fear of anything. Especially when you know that you have got a powerful father, feared by everyone out there. During his young age, Shimba had quite strange developments happening in his life. One day, on his way back home from his friends’ place, he heard a voice talking to him. He checked around and he could not see the person talking to him. This became a disturbing experience in his life and he kept asking himself one and thousand questions. He said there was no other answer to his questions but rather report the event to his parents. As we know parents are the first key that have seen the moon before their sons and difficult questions which might occur to a son can find an answer from the parent since considered as the first God’s representatives. He asked thousand and 1

2

Chapter One

one questions but he could not answer. He was completely embarrassed. He could not answer to one question asked to himself but thought his parents were going to help him. When he reached home, his parents noticed that the young boy was embarrassed. He was not in his usual jovial mood. He used to look happy in his form of a strong person. His mother was the first one to notice and ask the boy a number of questions: ”Shimba, what was going on? You never looked this way, what was the problem?” “He said mum, give me few minutes to rest. I have witnessed a terrible thing and event never ever lived.” “What’s that event? Us your parents, neither your father nor me have seen and done things the way they happen to you,” the mother said. “It seemed mum; I am not living in this world. I am being symbolized into this body and I am far from reality,” Shimba responded. “Ha, ha, ha, my boy, what are you talking about? You mean that you are not my son since you are pretending as coming from another planet,” his father objected. The father took over from the mother.” You mean my boy that we are not your genital parents. If not who are your parents because God gave us that chance to have you and your brother Kitenge.”Your are my only two sons and apart from you I don’t have other children,” the father said. Since then, parents did not understand what was going on with the young boy, as they did not give him chance to explain himself.

THE TOUGH RULE IN MIBANGA Shimba, who was now ruling the village, had time to show his sons how things worked before he become a traditional ruler. One day, the traditional ruler organized a race. In front, there was an elephant and people had to choose one person who could fight against the elephant so that he could remove the horns of that elephant. After the fight, the winner who was going to kill the elephant and remove the horns was going to be empowered and become the new traditional ruler of the village of Mibanga.Never in that village Mibanga, no one had tried to kill the elephant and remove its horns and of course win the throne seat. It was also difficult time because the traditional chief of that period had become old and was looking for someone to take over the seat since he had no children who could inherit his throne. The only one intention that every single powerful man in that village could have in mind, was to become a traditional ruler by killing the elephant and bringing the two horns. Then taking over the throne seat in front of a serious

A Growing Life

3

crowd gathered for the occasion was the last resort for everyone living in that village. The occasion was held twice a year to allow people to measure themselves due to the number of contenders who wanted to become traditional ruler of Mibanga.There were so many people who tried to take part in the race but never succeeded. One day as many used to say, there was going to be a person who was going to kill the elephant and bring its horns. That person was then going to become the new traditional chief.

FEATURING OF POWER Still young, Shimba was featuring an extraordinary strength. He was strong. The young boy could carry so many things reserved to people not of his age. People could see him do these jobs without complaining. In the village, pulling down a big tree was a work of almost three days and reserved to two or more people, but Shimba could do it alone and pull it down without the help of his parents or his brothers and in almost one day. People outside were admiring the strength that Shimba had. One day, he went together with his friends hunting, as it was a habit in this village, they had snares and knives to kill game-meats that were available that day in the bush. Surprisingly, a lion came out of the bush. All his friends were in big panic. He told them not to run away but his friends were quaking and they were in position of running away which was going to increase the spitefulness of the lion. Full of courage, he moved toward the lion’s direction and the lion was waiting for the weakest person to start running so that it could come after. However, the young guy Shimba said not to move and let him go. The lion saw that the young man wanted to affront him and perhaps kill him. The lion took position to defend itself and jumped directly towards Shimba’s direction. Now his friends became real witnesses witnessing a serious fight between the lion and their friend Shimba had only his snare and a small knife. Things were surprising that friends were in position to start running due to the extent of the fight between the furious lion and Shimba.It was a big chock when the lion knocked down the young boy. Looking at the corpulence of the lion and that of the young boy, friends thought Shimba was going to be killed by the lion on the spot. The fight was so horrible that when the young boy had succeeded to pass the sharp snare into lion’s throat. After couple of minutes, the lion went down. It was difficult for the lion to let itself being killed by the young boy. The lion made serious wounds to the boy all over the body especially the face had

4

Chapter One

completely changed due to the nails of the lion passed over it. When the jet of blood started flowing up, friends were convinced that the lion was going to die soon. With its muscular form, the lion laid down with a snare overdressed its two sides and friends were surprised. Then the lion could not continue to do any movements though all the time before dying, it (lion) had continued struggling in vain. Only when the lion could not stretch his legs, it was when friends came over to congratulate their friends for the success ever seen. The lion’s body was transformed this time into a game-meat. They took the body; brought it home and people were astonished to see those young guys carrying a dead lion, blooded all over.

THE PEOPLE AND THE ATTENTION People wanted to know what happened at the first place. Shimba’s parents were surprised to hear that their son had killed a lion alone in the bush. He had applied his strength and wisdom to exterminate the lion. Parents could not understand the manifestation of the extraordinary power, which was lying in their young boy. The son had become a precious object of admiration for old and young people of Mibanga. The matter on the death of the lion had been reported to the chief of the village who was surprised to hear that a young boy had killed a lion in the bush. So far his own parents didn’t know where the young boy had acquired the strength from. The traditional chief of the village decided not to bring him the boy to his palace but to go and meet him and hear from himself what happened in the bush. The scene became very interesting that in everybody’s mouth, that was the only one topic people could talk about in the village. So far, people wanted to see Shimba too. It had become one day where the traditional chief organized his affairs to go and see the son and know more about the family. When Shimba got the message that the chief was coming home only to visit his family, he was not surprised and instead told his parents that that was good news for them. Parents were thinking that they were in big trouble. The chief organized a serious dinner at home, he brought everything to eat and drink at Shimba’s place. When asked about the issue that happened in the bush, Shimba said that himself didn’t know how that happened. The truth was that he saw himself being conducted by an extra strength, which he could not see either. The traditional chief looked at the young boy for the nth time but could not believe

A Growing Life

5

what the young boy did. Even when shaking hands with the young boy, the chief noticed that Shimba’s hands looked powerful and strong not really as for a young boy of his age.

SHIMBA WAS GROWING AT ANYBODY’S UNEXPECTED THOUGHT Shimba was just a young boy as all other young boy in the village. He was doing everything that his friends were doing. The exceptional strength that the young boy had was a point of surprise for all his fellow friends.Shimba was getting old and was becoming so strong that even his fellow friends started fearing him; they couldn’t fight against him at any time. The traditional chief saw himself in danger physically and mentally that one day; the young boy was able to overthrow him out. The young had got no intention to do so. There was no education for the young boy and the main occupations for him were to go hunting, fishing and sitting down and listening to old people’s stories around a switched on wooden fire. Shimba became a remarkable figure in the village. Nobody could pass away without pointing out at him or where he was staying. The coming time for a new race was around the corner and actually people were looking at the young boy as a successor to the traditional chief. At that time, the village wanted a strong chief, who could defend them against dangers and other troubles. People were coming from all over the village to see the new challenger, the new person who was going to become the traditional chief. The power was given to the chief by the crowd gathered at the ceremony. There was no transfer of power from one person to his son if people have not yet witnessed a prominent strength featured by the person in the name of the son for example.

THE UNEXPECTED IN SHIMBA’S LIFE The day had come to witness the big event, which always happened twice a year in the village. This was in a short period compared to the time Shimba had been looked at as a hero in the village. Few days ago before the race, Shimba went to the river, this time alone, he went to bath. After having done all the necessary, he wished to rest few moments under the shadow. As he was sitting, suddenly he heard a voice around him and tried to check but he could not see anybody.

6

Chapter One

The invisible powerful voice was telling him that: Shimba tu di nebe,twetu bakakwebe,tu di tukupesha makole onso ,tudi bakulamina bejimba ,tudi tukuteka nfumu wa musoko eyu,kabidi miaba yonso yuwaya utuvuluke,ne ulama bintu bionso bikala mulupangu luebe ke mutwikale tukumuenekela ne kukulaminyila makole ebe onso.

Then the voice was gone. He looked around but nobody was there. He was solely alone. He was likely afraid and completely lost. The interpretation of the message was that the voice talking was a presence of an ancestor who showed him that the power of ancestors was with him. It was time for Shimba to receive all the strength from his ancestors. They keep all the powers for the young boy and they were going to institute him as the new traditional chief in the village. The voice said not to be afraid of anything because everywhere he could go, ancestors were protecting him. The special warning his grand ancestor gave him was that in the new traditional chief yard he had not to remove anything from that yard, not to pull down any trees in that yard. This was the major fact, which was going to perpetuate in the new and future generation. It is here where everything being represented in the yard lies. It was also a point of manifestation for ancestors’ spirits, which sometimes were going to appear to the young boy so to help do what people could expect him to do for them in the village. The young boy was going to be bound to intervene in difficulties and troubles, which might occur in the village. Being under an invisible form, the presence of different types of trees, which were found in the yard, were symbolizing the major character of Shimba’s protectors, powers and strength. Shimba’s parents knew that their son had become an important icon since he had killed the lion in the bush and other exhibitions of power and strength that the young boy used to exhibit whether at home or in the company of his friends. No one could ignore the superpower or extra power that the young boy had. Even parents themselves did not know where the power was coming from. As all these ordinary parents, they think that the boy was biologically born as all young boys and girls of his generation. Then Shimba said; ‘Parents, I don’t know the origin.’” But for sure, today I have started to understand where these things might be coming from and who the authors are.” The father was passionate to know at least for this time the truth concerning terrible happenings in Shimba’s life. The reality, in fact, was difficult to describe if not what was seen on the ground could be the witness. Shimba’s father said: “go on my son, what happened to you?” ”Father, I told you that I went to have a bathe to Nganza river. But exactly when I finished, I decided to rest a bit and then.”

A Growing Life

7

“And then, what?” “I decided to rest under a tree since there was a shadow, and then I heard a voice, an invisible voice just around. . .” “What do you mean an invisible voice, not someone hiding behind the tree?” “No father! What I am telling you is what I have witnessed and so far I was alone and was afraid when I heard that voice.” “This is a serious problem, the father exclaimed! My son could you go on.” The voice said that the invisible voice was the manifestation of ancestors’ spirits. They wanted to empower me as a new traditional chief rule of this village. They have given me all the power, the strength and the protection. They want to protect me against all the devils and other troublemakers. Then I will be the chief of this village. In my yard, there will be many trees, and the special warning they have given is that among those trees, which will be symbols for their manifestation, there will be a point of communication between them and me. I am not supposed to pull down those trees no matter what will happen to them, and I should not be afraid of anything. The first attention of his father was to know how the young boy was going to be the new traditional chief ruler of the village since there were so many people capable to take over the throne from the current chief. The father asked himself why those ancestors have never appeared to him or to the mother but straight forward to the son who was still very young.Shimba’s father was completely perplexed and many questions he asked himself he could not find an answer. But for sure, this time, he had known where the terrible and extraordinary power working in his last born-son, was coming from. Shimba’s parents thought at the same time, it was a good and bad news for their son and the entire family. The last born, who was only seventeen, was waiting fort he race’s time to affront the elephant. It was not a simple joke to see people desiring to have a new traditional chief and see the crowd full of snobs. The destiny of the entire village’s life was taken in danger. Since the young boy had got confirmation from his ancestors not to be afraid of anything, which might occur, in his life, the race battle against the elephant was also the other point not mentioned in the conversation with his ancestor’s spirits although he could not even ask one question It was a serious preoccupation for parents, who were asking themselves how their son was going to get the chief’s throne. The news was still kept in the family. Not a serious occasion of joy for family because the life of Shimba was put in danger either directly or indirectly. The only one person who could face those dangers was the son, if not him as a human being but his future family was waiting for something in that specific day to damage or take away one’s entire life. Still then Kitenge, Shimba’s brother did not know anything about

8

Chapter One

what happened to his big brother. The difference between the two boys was that Shimba was physically strong than the elder brother though the later was showing an outstanding intelligence in decision-making.

THE NEWS NOT HIDDEN People in the village believed that, in the coming race for challenging the traditional chief ruler, Shimba, the young boy, who had shown an outstanding strength in killing the lion, was also going to take part. Since the occasion was approaching, some people came to look for Shimba. Not envoys, but sympathizers who wanted to see Shimba become a chief due to the power and strength he had. People from one corner to another started making move to know where the young boy was staying. Those who never heard about the young boy; however pushed by others who had heard real testimonies went to see the young boy. People started even congratulating the young boy though himself had never shown his intention to fight for the traditional throne. Parents had witnessed a serious problem in seeing people who came at home as if the message had been spread all over the village. Even the chief was afraid to hear that so many people had started to make their move to Shimba’s house to see personally the seventeen years old young boy and push him to take part in the coming race. The challenge of becoming a traditional chief had been seen tricky since many people had tried to remove elephant’s horns but had never succeeded. People, in the village couldn’t understand what the traditional chief wanted to insinuate by installing the system in which the person who wanted to become chief had to fight against the elephant and then bring its two horns before the crowd. However, one thing people could not understand was how the chief himself got the power. The answer to the question was so simple. In many kingdoms and empires, chiefs inherit power from their parents. However on one side, people could decide to elect a chief, a person very much empowered, having strength to fight against enemies and resist against troubles and evil spirits. Although everyone who become chief, not only the crowd had to empower him but also even invisible spirits conducted by ancestors’ spirits had to let their power work over the person already chosen by the community. The current traditional chief ruler had one problem regarding the person who could inherit his power. It was not a risk but people wanted it to be the way the chief had initiated. This time, it was serious for the chief who understood that the power was going to be given to another person. Few days ago,

A Growing Life

9

a spirit had let his voice be understood to the chief, saying that the time had come for a change, and that so far, he was going to institute the young boy, only seventeen as a new chief of Mibanga. It was unexpected for the traditional chief who used to rely on his magicians as members of his cabinet, to be told that something of that king was going to happen. People wanted to see Shimba as their new chief in the next race. The chief’s spirit was so high that he punished all his magicians for not having told him that the young boy he had met couple of months ago, was going to be the new chief. It was the same young boy, who was the said contender of his throne. Looking at the event, it seemed that the chief did not want to be replaced by anyone. People in the village heard that, the entire personnel of the chief had been punished for not having told the chief that the young boy, who killed the lion, was going to be the new chief of the village. The news had alerted again all the people. The chief was totally embarrassed with the news development.

SHIMBA BECOMES PARENTS’ CONCERN In all this matter, parents were in trouble. They tried partially to understand what was going to happen since their young boy was being empowered by ancestors’ spirits. When the august crowd, which was going to Shimba’s home to encourage the young boy to contest the coming race for traditional chief seat, Shimba tried to understand why that was being done in that manner and he understood that the spirit that spoke to him few days ago really wanted him to become the new traditional chief of Mibanga. Becoming a traditional chief was not an aim for Shimba but this time, people had pushed him and he had all the support from the community. But not there was the deal; it was in accordance with the removal of the elephant’s two horns, which did matter. Since he knew that he had the power, so it was a good joy inside to be confident in winning of the race. Shimba’s parents weren’t really in peace since the happening of the new developments in their family. Though they did not have confident persons to talk to, they decided to bring the matter to the eldest person of their family. The father of Shimba’s mother was the only one person they could rely on then. He was not staying near. They had to walk on long distances to reach the place. He liked working in his farm. He lost his wife in the early age of Shimba’ mother when she was born. Fwamba had visited his grandsons longtime ago and so far, was not expecting to be paid a visit from them again. Shimba’s parents organized a journey together with the young boy. It was a wonderful morning that they started off and reached Fwamba’s place in the evening. It was a big surprise for Fwamba to receive his grandsons after a while.

Chapter Two

Explanation of the Mystery

Most of the time, a paid visit to an old man of the family had a diligent meaning. One always thinks that there might be a problem that might have occurred somewhere and, which delicately needs a quick solution. The solution has been always the sustainable one. When Fwamba received his guests, he gave them a place to sit first and showed them how happy he was to see his daughter with husband and especially the two grand-sons. The moment was great as the grand-father could express. In this village as in many others, young ladies used to get marriage so early that they had to live their parents’ roofs soon for their new families. In the case of Shimba’s mother, she left her parents when she was fourteen. At that time, she had already lost her mother who died in inexplicable conditions. As it was a custom in our traditional life, when one receives guests , one should offer Shima and Zolo as a special recipe. A special drink reserved for the guests like Maluvu a mabondo is seen as a good sign of welcome. It was a lucky day and time because Fwamba at that time was at home. He finished early his work in the farm and decided to come and rest at home. As he used to be alone, he wanted to cook for his guests. Since his wife died, he had never thought of having another wife. But for that time, his daughter decided to cook for everyone-something which was very much appreciated. Fwamba did not know exactly why his grandsons had paid him such a visit though he was guessing that there might be a problem. It was later in the evening that Shimba’s father started narrating the problem. With all the respect he had for his wife’s father who was then considered as his father, he said: Father, we are experiencing some abnormal situations happening in our family. You as my wife’s father, you are also my father. In any difficult situations that need your attention, we think to call you to intervene. 10

Explanation of the Mystery

11

He explained everything from the early years when he decided to get his daughter as a wife. There was unprecedented welcome reserved to him and the entire family at the time of the marriage between him and his daughter. Fwamba became very quite that he wanted to know the entire situation soon. Very anxious, Shimba’s father showed to Fwamba that with his daughter, they got two sons and among them, one strong boy. He said the boy is subject to many problems, and things happening in him are beyond their understanding. At the beginning, our son could demonstrate a powerful strength in his work in the bush and we could not understand where that strength that we consider actually as superpower was coming from. Shimba’s father continued, “one day our son killed a lion in the bush while hunting with his friends.” This was a big astonishment for the grand-father who exclaimed, what! He said:’ could you repeat for god’s sake.’Shimba’s father repeated the same sentence: “I am telling you even in God’s eyes, my son killed a lion in the bush.” Fwamba asked how did that happen and this was a good time for the young gentleman to explain from himself what happened in the bush at the time the lion appeared suddenly in the bush. Shima is the most renowned food in most African societies. Shima can be cooked only with maize flour and in other societies; it is cooked with maize flour with flour from cassava (roots).Zolo: in the vernacular language, means a chicken. Not every time people are entitled to eat it despite it is found in the farmyard. The special representation or symbol of Zolo shows a good sign of welcoming guests. Chicken are offered to guests instead of other meats. Maluvu a mabondo is a special traditional wine most found in major societies and villages of tropical and equatorial countries. It comes from a type of palm trees. There is what we call Maluvu a mabondo and Maluvu a mabwa both from types of palm trees. The first called also palm wine taste good and has got a different taste than the second one. Shimba’s father said, the young boy could explain himself what happened in the bush. He asked Shimba to tell his grandfather the story since he could not believe in what his son in-law was telling him though it was only one side of many unbelievable situations, which happened to the young boy. The young boy said to his grand father that what his father has told him was true and maybe he wanted to get confirmation from himself. That was the reason why they had decided to come together. One day in the bush, he said, he went hunting together with his friends. They started their business as usual. They were busy looking for small meats but suddenly; they saw a lion that appeared in front of them. They were desperate and soon they became perplex. All his friends wanted to run away. He realized that it was going to be a great danger if one of them started running. It was going to show a simple provocation in lion’s eyes. He decided to affront the giant lion. He had only his

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Chapter Two

knife and a sharp snare well polished at the bottom. He said that if he had not that snare, the lion was going to kill him. He continued saying that his friends were surprised when he told them that he could manage to stop the lion from attacking one of them.Otherwise, it was going to be a disaster. When the lion saw him coming towards its direction, the lion jumped on him, and he found himself down but it was a real wrestling. He could not understand the power that helped him stand in front of that dangerous animal. After a long moment of battle, he found his snare, which was just nearby. During the battle, the lion had already wounded all his face with its long nails. He found an opening that the snare had pierced from one side to another. The lion went up and down after the snare had crossed both sides. The grandfather could not keep his emotion. He was totally surprised and said:” you are very lucky if you did not have your snare. The lion was going to kill you.” But the major preoccupation of the grandfather was to know, what power helped the young boy kill the lion. This question was the one also asked by parents who wanted to discover the mystery. Though they partially knew what was going on after being revealed by ancestors’ spirits over the same abnormal situation, which happened to the young boy, they wanted to see the grand-father’s reaction. It was not easy for him to understand exactly the mystery too. But seemingly, he pretended to have an idea. He asked Shimba: “What happened next after you had killed the lion?” Shimba said that friends could not realize it was him who killed the lion. And for sure, despite his corpulence, he could not understand how his body was being pushed to fight that heavy animal. They looked at the dead lion and brought it home. People could not believe that the young boy who killed the lion. Shimba’s father interrupted and said that this is only one face of things. Then, another day, the son reported that he went alone to bath at the river Nganza and afterwards, while resting under a big tree, he heard a voice talking to him. He could not see anybody and the voice was saying that it was his ancestors’ spirits who wanted to protect the young boy, to give him power and strength. They showed him that they had decided to give him the traditional chief throne however the great warning was not to pull down a number of trees which will be found in his yard when he will be the chief. It is there were the ancestors’ spirits will be appearing to entertain with the young boy -chief and that through those appearances; they will be solving difficulties and troubles which might occur during Shimba’s reign. Fwamba was convinced that ancestors’ spirits were with the young boy and that there was no reason why parents could worry about. But the last development that occurred in the village, especially at Shimba’s parents’ home, was the source of worry. The traditional chief was still alive and among thou-

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sands of contenders, was found the young guy that people wanted to take part in the race and try to remove the two elephants’ horns in front of the crowd.

THE GRAND-FATHER’S CONTRIBUTION PAID HOPE In fact, the entire village had shown confidence in the young boy due to his strength and power to handle things in the village. Confidence was just one of the expected attitudes among others that people had easily discovered in the young boy. It was not only good news for parents who got this echo that their son was going to take part in the race and will become the new traditional chief. It was also a great source of worry because parents couldn’t stay in peace since even the traditional chief was now aware of the development that was going to change the face of Mibanga. In Mibanga and other villages, one could easily see that if a good development wanted to take part in someone’s life, jealous people did not let things happen in a way one would have wished. This was a clear example of what was going to happen to the young Shimba and it was clearly a source of worry and fear for his biological parents. When Fwamba got the entire message from Shimba’s parents and got confirmation that ancestors’ spirits were working on Shimba’s behalf, he said that everything that had happened, would keep happening. He said to the parents that they should know that everything happening in the society today, in their family, has its meaning. He requested them to be open-minded. There is nothing that happens for the sake of happening. Today, ancestors’ spirits have chosen Shimba as a new traditional chief; he’s going to overthrow the current chief through a spectacular race in fighting against the elephant until he removes its two horns. He showed again that the young boy had got all the support from heaven to lower community, and that the only one problem actually was to look forward means to protect the young boy for reaching the race as scheduled by the traditional laws. People in the village thought that Shimba’s choice was the best one since they had already given their confidence in him. Shimba’s father could believe in what Fwamba has said to him. It was like a special warning had been given to everyone to support Shimba for traditional chief throne. In Shimba’s father’s mind, he was thinking that the back idea to protect and empower the young boy might have come from evils. At the same time, the father was delighted to see that he could belong to one of the traditional chief family member. But after the conversation with his wife’s father, he was now convinced that there’s never been anything in this world that can happen for its own sake. He had one and thousand questions to see that his son was just too young to become a traditional chief though in the village, we could find capable people

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able to lead the village. This was only his own hypothesis because in the established law, only the person who could remove the elephant’s horns could become the new traditional chief. One the other hand, age was not a concern. This law was in vigor for the all-time the chief was still in power. People could talk and comment over this issue but it was like the final decision had been made without the consulting the community. This became nothing else but a mystery. If Shimba and parents’ generation could understand why they had to obey these invisible warnings, not only obeying but also respect these warnings, one should ask if that was going to be the case with Shimba sons’ generation. One could see here and there people behaving very differently from one tribe to another, from one family to another, from one person to another. One could admit that people, in Shimba’s young generation, could understand that difficult situations happening in their lives, had found a sustainable resolution in their parents or grandparents. Not only grandparents had helped in different cases but in case they are not alive, old people had also helped. The case of finding a real resolution acceptable by everyone was a matter of confidence in the person to talk to if he or she was not a relative. So far, there are some good customs in our traditional lives that we can still be proud of promoting actually. Today, People see themselves behind time and cannot go backwards to those old traditions. But what is going to happen to Shimba’s sons will be the manifestation of the negligence of customs and traditions. Not only a disaster will be seen but surely a punishment for having not respected loyal traditions longtime respected by parents and ancestors. Not one person can manage to do everything at one time but the help and the unity most of the time build good things for the society. After two days of consultations with the father of Shimba’s mother, the father decided to go back home. It was a good family time since Shimba had come to see his grandfather and Fwamba had seen his son in-law and daughter after a long time. They had to pack everything they brought and also go with some new items given by Mr. Fwamba, who had also become physically old. Shimba’s parents were happy for having received all the clarification over the spectacular issue which was being talked all over the village. The following day, early in the morning, they took all the items back home. They had to spend half a day to reach Mibanga.

VILLAGER MEN CHOOSE When they reached home, they were surprised to see a gathered crowd of people who was waiting for the young boy. It became a serious matter for the par-

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ents and the young boy. The first parents’ impression was that the crowd had come to admire the young boy since he could possibly become the new traditional chief. But there was also in the crowd, a special chief envoy who had a special message from the chief inviting the young boy to take part in the race, which was going to take place in few days. The message had been given to the young boy personally following the instructions given by the chief. Sure, the traditional chief found himself in trouble since a spirit appeared to him earlier on, showing him that a young boy was going to overthrow him and take over his reign. It was as if he was waiting for the occasion to come and surrender his rule over Mibanga. On the other side, Shimba could not go out because the crowd did not want him move. Parents found themselves in big trouble. People did not want to go back and they had to sleep outside, drink, cook and eat in Shimba’s parent yard. It was seen as a pre-ceremony of inauguration of something very much expected in the village. Wives, spouses, young, old and children were gathered at Shimba’s parents’ house waiting for the proper moment to come. The crowd had even started providing Shimba’s family with everything needed. It was the same situation for parents because they could not go out especially to the farm, cook or fetch water. All the jobs were being done by the crowd who accepted the young boy as their new traditional chief without having assisted to any demonstration of public height as required by the law. That was a real anticipation of wish shown in the courage to support the young boy in his reign and triumph to taking over the power from the chief. One came to understand that since the crowd could do its best to help Shimba’s family and gather at home was a simple sign of tiredness to continue seeing the chief for very long years. Was the community tired to digest with the chief’s laws and regulations that he had never given up to give time to time? Were men and women of Mibanga wanted to see a new chief sat in the throne? Did they want a change in the village? Were people being only pushed away by a sympathetic desire to get a new chief, young and strong since the old had become old? So many questions to ask about but the secret remained in the people themselves. One could even go ahead to say that it’s even shown that what it is tied on earth, is also tied in the heaven, and what is not on earth is not in the heaven too. Perhaps if good opportunities could happen to Shimba as a chief and also later as a chief of family but we don’t know much about his sons. Shimba got fortunately the support from a large community. Even if some were opposed to him taking place in the race, he showed strength to stand and overthrow the actual chief. The chief couldn’t say anything though opposed

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to the young boy. He got a special warning from a spirit that told him what was going to happen later on as life was going on. He could not object because the same crowd that has given him power, will be the same that will take back its power from him and give it to someone else whether he likes it or not. This is what was going to happen to the chief who suffered a lot from hearing this pathetic story with his own ears.

THE MOST EXPECTED RACE OF ALL THE TIME IN MIBANGA The same crowd that used to give to new instituted chief the power was the same to overtake the given power to somebody in whom they might have lost confidence. The day had come to organize the race. People all over the village were well informed and were currently waiting to witness the event with their own eyes as usual. The current chief had no words to say if not to organize the event. He called upon all his staff to organize the event. It was a wonderful day and in a wonderful place within the palace where he wanted the race to take place. The chief had powerful and energetic men for the organization of the work. It was like in the ring where only wrestlers could fight. A very large place, sturdily built of sticks around to support traditional strings. A nice place built up to give opportunity to everybody to see the event. People working for the chief in charge of the work had reserved a nice place for the chief himself-his throne seat. Nobody could put his foot there if only his palace members. People appreciated the preparation done so far and the work ordered by the chief. The chief himself went to see the evolution of the work. It was as if the chief knew that the presentation of that event was the last of his reign as chief of Mibanga-his empire. He had even prepared to offer a great dinner to people who were going to attend the race. Could anyone imagine the magnitude of the people who wanted to attend the race? It was half a village. Due to number of people who wished to witness the event at the chief’s palace, the chief employed a great number of people to make his succession smooth as if he knew about the outcome. The chief had got no objection. He knew that in the past times, people were punished by some evil or unknown spirits for objecting. Some had suffered because they were not complying with what those evil spirits were requesting them to do. The chief also knew under which pressures he was going through by the time he had to organize the race and how dangerous could his life be in case he tried to fix the race in not allowing the young boy to sit on the throne. It was imperatively understandable on his side to do and organize successfully the race and prepare a reasonable alternative between him and the young

Explanation of the Mystery

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boy. He got all the warnings from heavens -ancestral spirits that were working on his behalf. People all over the village were convinced that the young boy was going to win the race since they knew his capacity especially by killing the hungry lion. Few days later, the chief announced the day for the race. Villagers living with the young Shimba and successor to the chief were always with the boy. They were also assuring him with their protection. Nobody told them to do so and they didn’t know what power told them to do so. The day came for the registration of candidates for the so-called and so waited race. Each candidate was required to come in person to register at the chief palace. It was time for candidates to make moves and it was the same for the young boy Shimba, who was comfortably protected by the crowd that had become this time his real relatives. He was down in the road as a great chief; even the chief himself never had a wonderful crowd behind him. When the current chief saw the crowd behind the young boy, he could not believe. Not all the crowd was allowed to enter the chief palace, only the candidates. Real attention was shown at the palace because peoples’ intentions are sometime unpredictable. It was time fort he young boy to enter the chief palace and meet the person in charge of registration. It was duties well done and appreciated by everyone even the chief. People could not understand what sympathy was conducting the chief to be very kind at the young boy. There were in general seven candidates who felt able to fight against the elephant and remove its two horns. The final candidates’ aim was to become a new traditional chief of Mibanga. Two days later, each candidate got to be ready to face the tough time of his life, to own power in front of a large crowd, which was responsible for everything. The crowd gathered for the occasion was anyhow considered as the real power from generation to generation. Before the race, people had to spend their nights in the surrounding waiting for the event to start. Prepared were two giant elephants with very long horns that people-candidates taking place in the race, had to remove. It has been chosen to send only one elephant per race depending on the number of candidates. One elephant had to fight against three challengers and the other one had to fight against the other four contestants.

CANDIDATES TO THE RACE AND THE BEGINNING OF THE GREAT Most of the time, candidates taking place in the race, were people renowned for their very bad records in their past lives. They were among bandits and murders. Among them were also prisoners. But the strongest that day had to

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show what people outside could expect from them. Despite their bad records, the chief wanted to see people feature their strength and power over the elephants by removing the two horns. Even though it was not good to have a bad recorded chief, the chief was enjoying seeing the fights taking place. Regarding the age of those candidates, Shimba was the youngest person. He was the most powerful among the other six candidates. He was not regarded in good eyes by those bandits, who heard that the young boy had killed a lion and was extremely powerful. He had never killed anyone but the strength and the power he got was a mystery. Accordingly, he was the last person to take part in the race since he was the youngest candidate. Early in the morning of the following day, that was even the day of accomplishment. People came all over the village, accompanied by friends, wives, children and old people. Nothing to pretend over the upcoming development. One could hear the sound of drums, fanfare of trumpets. Villagers were really in great turmoil to witness the event. People had considered that event as being the greatest one ever. Then came the chief’s turn to come out. His wife and the entire palace staff accompanied him. He sat on his throne seat and was surrounded by his staff. No panic! The organizers released the first candidate among seven, who were kept in a very nice place to comfort them to fight hard. Some were also convinced that it will not be an easy time for them, because they might even loose their lives since the elephant when in furor, could start acting in a way to step out, which could not keep contenders alive. The first contestant was among the most renowned thief of the village for his horrible robberies. Everybody was afraid of him. Arrested many times, he always succeeded to escape from the prisons by breaking the prisons’ sticks. But this time, it was his first time to take part in the public fight against the elephant. Although he was an old prisoner, only the chief had a word over those who had to take part in the public race for the chief throne seat. The chief had approved the candidature of this renowned prisoner for the historic event. Nevertheless, when he got there, he had to show to the public the strength he had to break the prisons’ sticks and walls, and on some occasions to kill those who were coming to arrest him. The chief’s administration had to send a great number of officers to arrest the person when the village enough of him. The situation wasn’t the same on the ring when the elephant was also released. He took advantage to go by behind of the elephant and jump over to get lot of time to catch the horns. Nice advantage but the removal of the horns was a very difficult task. He had been thrown down through the trunk and stepped twice by the angry elephant.

Explanation of the Mystery

19

There were serious applauds from the crowd just because of the demonstrations. Once you are being thrown down by the elephant, it was a sign of failure for the contestant. All the contestants had to make serious efforts to be not put down by the elephant. They had to look for strategies to remain constant and escape from especially the elephant’s fury attack. Any way, it was not easy because the elephant, starting from the first contestant, could see that their life had been put in danger by anyone wishing to pull out his horns. Matter of fact, the first contestant was disqualified since he found himself down. There had always been an intervention from organizers to avoid the death of the contestant once put down by the elephant. That’s what happened to this great thief of Mibanga.Organizers mandated by the chief had to release the name of the second contestant. He was not a thief or a murder. He wanted to affront the elephant according to his experience. If any, people knew that he was a hunter. It was practically a mistake in choosing a naked race against the elephant. Most of the time, he used to go hunting and bring with him lot of hunting materials plus his old caliber AK 45 that he had got from a colonial friend who gave him since he had revealed an important secret on life undertaken by people of that village. Especially his AK 45 had helped him too much to kill different types of game meats. He used to kill even elephants before their interdiction to be hunted by the chief since it was the pride of the village. This pride had made inherit the name to the village because of their great number in that village. The second contestant had to fight against the elephant. He had nothing for defense if only his two hands. It was tough for him since the first challenger had already raged the elephant that he could not even stand up for fighting against the animal. He got to run away from the ring and leave the raged animal master of the ring. His running away from the ring had given a perfect chance of being disqualified. It was time to assist to the third challenger. He was coming from within and his wish was only to become the new traditional chief. Has the population always responded favorably to those who wished to become traditional chiefs for their own sake? Yes and no! On one side yes, because people, at the time you present your intentions of becoming a chief, people think that you have the determination to succeed. You are all your best in your life to avoid failure and you want to be seen as a very good-recorded man of your time. On the other side no, because not all the people will be behind you and will not support you as you might have wished. The third challenger accepted to be wounded until he came close to removing the two elephant’s horns. It was not an achieved goal since everything was stopped underway. He stood firm and tried his best to remove those horns but he couldn’t succeed.

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Underway, the applied efforts by the third contestant in removing the horns, let people think that he was about to affront seriously the elephant. Not far from there, the elephant got to pull out the contestant, using the trunk and threw him down. All the contestant’s efforts were well wrecked in one second when he found himself under the elephant’s legs. The interval period between the first round of he contestant and the second one was a good time for dancers to exhibit good dance steps. People could enjoy that time. Traditional dance plus a big pot of mabondo could put viewers of the race in peace. Though the traditional chiefs had provided a lot for the day, people had brought some more. Organizers had to change the elephant. They were customized with the elephant. There was a terrible noise made by the viewers who become impatient to watch those so-called challengers. They only wanted to see the challenger Shimba on the ring. Serious noise and propaganda songs towards the future victory of Shimba as a new successor of the chief could be heard here and there. Since Shimba was the last person to fight against the elephant, he was quite. He tried to keep his emotions. He had been fully supported.

SHIMBA’S TIME WAS COMING After that nice break-time, organizers came to announce the second and final round where Shimba had to take part in. They brought the other elephant to fight against the other four contestants. The other three contestants among the four remaining challengers were renowned for their excellent experience in hunting. Anyway, they got knowledge of things and their pretensions were to become a new traditional chief of Mibanga. At the announcement of the fourth challenger, as usual, people had to applaud whether they are for you or not. Even if they knew that you are going to loose, still applaud fro you. Few minutes later, the elephant was released. The fourth contestant and the other two contestants were bitten seemingly by the elephant that used its power to kick them out. It was a simple fight for the elephant that seemed very powerful and ready to react at any attacks from outside. It was a good time for the chief and his surroundings to enjoy and laugh at those who were failing to feature a sign of strength and wisdom to pull down the elephant’s horns. It was also a great fear for the chief because those huntsmen knew what we call whims of animals. Them, who have been hunting for years , seemed to have a large experience over those who had never hunted before. If we had to consider the elephant as a human being, thinking with a human brain it was going to win the battle. The fight between an elephant

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against an experienced hunter could give a large victory over the hunter since he got the advantage to play with his mind and put it down. But because we are considering the case as much as different as it appears, the animal remains and will remain animal, thinking not beyond his instinct. The time had come for the last contestant who was the youngest but the most powerful challenger of the race. It was time to keep quite for some and for other to express their pity towards the young corpulence of the young person who was definitely going to be the new chief. Though he wasn’t from the chief’s palace but the destiny had chosen him as the potential successor to the chief. Those who were backing Shimba were still backing him even before the announcement of his name. Mothers and young women had expressed a great worry when they heard that it was time Shimba display his strength and power in fighting against the elephant. Not so tricky as it might sound; the remaining elephant was the most powerful and the most furious, ready even to kill the opponent on the spot. Despite everything, organizers knew the capacity of all the contestants who’re applied for the public race to take over from the chief throne seat. Nobody in the village could pretend not to know that habit conducted by organizers every time they knew that they were in front of an irresistible contestant. The case had fallen on Shimba. After long silences both side from those backing and expressing worry about the young boy, organizers came to announce the name of the last contestant. The elephant was just on the ring hanging here and there, waiting to be removed from there by his masters or the strongest challenger coming in. When the public heard of Shimba’s name, it started to applaud and expressing many signs of joy as if he had already won the battle. It was for the young boy to come and meet the giant elephant. Was that a fight! Everybody could witness the mystery strength being displayed by the young boy. He could escape several times the elephant’s attacks. Even though he tried to succeed by holding up for few minutes the elephant’s hind legs to put the massive shape down, he acknowledged that he was in great danger in case he fails to do so. The total solution for the removal of the elephant’s horns was first the killing of the great muscle and then the removal. So, Shimba was engaged in a terrible fight that people had seriously admired. His efforts not to be put down by the elephant were well noticed. It was not easy for the giant animal to give up. The young boy succeeded to make fall down the great muscle and people could not understand. It was a great moment of astonishment from people gathered for the occasion. Nobody could sit down but instead could stand up and see how the young boy had brought down the elephant. So fast the animal recovered conscience

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that it stepped on its four legs. The elephant became visibly furious; more raged that it started to follow each of the young boy’s steps willing to finish with him. He could escape, stop and penetrate the elephant inside its legs.Shimba succeeded to pass his two hands into the elephant’s mouth. It was just matter of time to apply power to open it largely. It was what the young boy did when the elephant had been brought down. That was a spectacular fall and the crowd believed now that the young boy killed the lion in the bush. Since some had only heard the news from one person to another, it was time to witness the mysterious power. Opening by applying the strength on his hands, the mouth of the elephant was not the end of the giant animal’s life, but the beginning of the death. People could notice the resistance of the elephant. Shimba succeeded to tear the mouth into two big large parts and people could hear the elephant ‘squeal of pain. People had paid the last attention to the fight and were surely anxious to see the young boy win the race and take over from the chief seat. After having torn the mouth into two big parts, the elephant started showing signs of fatigue and death. The crowds together with the chief were convinced that the boy was going now to remove the two elephant’s horns. That was a great-applied effort to stop the raged elephant from going far. Not later, blood could flow from the torn parts of the mouth. It was now time to apply little effort to remove the two elephant’s horns. It was something successfully done by the young boy. Then, he came to bend tightly his knees to remove the elephant’s horns. He was himself convinced that the elephant could not show any sign of resistance since its great muscle was currently lying down. The action taken by the young Shimba had kept a very long time the attention of the chief. He kept on standing until the elephant stopped shrieking. It was a great job for Shimba to start removing the horns. He started pulling by applying all his efforts. So far, one left horn came out. He put it down and started to pull the right one. The same exercise was required from him. Few minutes later, the horn came out. What he did, was just to stand up, hold the two elephant’s horns, flourish and then bring them straight to the chief. People had applauded and remained from one side to another perplex and scandalized due the mystery-strength seen in the young boy. Even the chief shared the same felling of sympathy together with the crowd though he knew that there was no tricky in the development. He realized that his time had ended. Shimba took the two horns, showed them for the second time to the crowd. He went with them straight where the chief was sitting. It was what he thought as being the good way of reacting but organizers and the chief’s surrounding could not let him go that way. They stopped him and asked only to give the horns-what he did.

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SHIMBA MADE A DEAL Organizers had to make a public announcement to confirm the succession to the chief by the young boy since he had won the battle. It was an established law in Mibanga that nobody could compromise even the chief himself. That was only one step. All the ceremony could not take place in that same day. Although the public was impatient to wait for the forwarding of the ceremony to the following day, the traditional chief had things to seek out in and within his palace. On the chief’ side, he had only to obey what had been prepared and told by the deafening and invisible voice. He showed a sign of happiness in front of the gathered crowd but no one could not know exactly what he was feeling in the inside. One would suggest that even in democratic countries where the leader has to pass the power to his successor, even though he was at the end of his term(s), the situation has never been so pleasing. A powerful leader could become a simple individual as ordinary citizen, however still protected by laws established in the country. It had to take few time for the current traditional chief to sort out all his particular problems. The crowd could not move out of there. It remained, waiting for the following day where the chief’s surrounding and staff administrating affairs in the village, had to come and swear in the new chief. People were not tired. They drank, sang and ate. The day came when things had to be finalized. the chief was being escorted by the senior chiefs and other senior staffs who had to swear in the young Shimba. They had to appreciate the impatience of the crowd and present congratulations to the winner of the battle. Things in Mibanga were difficult to predict in the sense the installed system of succession had to remain or to be changed by the coming traditional chief.

Chapter Three

Shimba Taking Over the Throne

The crowd had sewed a very good boubou (a ceremonial dress) for the young boy. His parents had never been stopped to be disturbed by the crowd. The crowd and the boy had established a good relationship. In this village as in other many villages, parents are the first persons to be congratulated after the victory featured by the success of their sons. In many villages, people consider as victories the marriage of a boy to a girl. Parents and relatives know that it is a sacred occasion when people are marrying each other. The married people are becoming new persons in their own, and parents look at this as a great achievement in their lives. They have come from a very long way and today. They have managed to make a new couple that is going to bring new creatures into the world. It was also a success in the sense that the woman’s parents had managed to keep their daughter until the right time for a responsible person to come and marry her. It was also a great achievement on the parents’ side in the sense that the man was going to be responsible for the woman who was going to be the new mother of the children. There were so many interpretations from one tribe to another. For a new couple, people could appreciate the maturity and the contribution that it was going to bring. Most of the time, not the married people were seen in the first position but their parents in contrary. Parents could receive congratulations more than their married daughters could or sons could do. All the good actions undertaken by sons or daughters were first the parents’ image to be looked at. It was a similar case for children who were damaging things in other people’s farms. Parents were appreciated or denigrated according to what their children were doing. Parents had been measured according to their great achievement. Shimba’s parents were fortunately in big joy for the success shown by their son. He had surprised the face of the village and the people were proud of the success. 24

Shimba Taking Over the Throne

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When Shimba finished the battle, he could not stay alone or just within the crowd. The concentration going on between the chief and the senior chiefs ha also helped Shimba, who had been called upon, to receive a general view of what he will be doing while sworn in as a new chief of Mibanga.Really, it had looked as if everybody starting from the chief’s palace wanted a change. After some private meetings at the palace, the crowd saw the entire chief‘s surrounding coming out. Only one word from the chief had to give power to the young Shimba. Shimba knew at least everything concerning the new and difficult task that he was entitled to take on in that village. Things were seemingly strange. The current chief had to go, however he still owned the palace. It was time to show to the public that the young boy had become the new chief and the public had to find a new palace for him. It was a simple matter for the crowd since they wanted a new chief very much stronger, powerful and more matured. Definitely, the chief stood and told the young boy who was wearing a very nice white boubou that the right time had come to yield ground to someone else and honor his words as at the beginning. People all over places were convinced that Mibanga had a new traditional chief. It was time to institute him as a new chief. Senior chiefs and high staff members had gathered for the young boy’s occasion. There were terrible invocations of mystic powers that were going to guide the young boy. In many places, it is always in the presence of the gathered crowd that the new chief is invested. During traditional ceremonies, the young boy was going to be confirmed as a new chief and sworn in. Even if it was difficult to pretend that people in Mibanga were praying the Mighty Father, that day, they gave the impression of being good prayers during the sworn in ceremony. The chief presented the young boy as the new traditional chief ruler of Mibanga.Did Shimba get time to think about his future? Nevertheless, he saw things different from that time he was being sworn in. He had been visited by his ancestors’ spirits as promised. He found himself being risen. He showed his good impression of becoming the new traditional chief for a period until he got time to make some changes within his staff. Nobody was hurt. The young boy agreed to assume his task and responsibility to be the new master of Mibanga.People continued drinking till at the end of the ceremony. They acknowledged the legitimacy of their new chief by giving great applauds and shouts. The last chief had time to rest in his palace. He had done all what was necessary to give to his successor. It was fascinating the event. It was a great time of joy. People could appreciate the young boy wearing his white ceremonial boubou that has been made for the occasion by the majesty crowd. Before the ending of the ceremony, people outside had started building a new place but little bit far from the last chief’s palace. Shimba had become

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the new traditional chief and it was now time for the villagers to come and honor him. Honor was accompanied by some wonderful manifestations of respect. We could see people, wives and men bending their knees to salute their new chief. They could congratulate and present their gifts. There was a long queue of people who wanted to salute the new chief before going to his new location being built by his supporters. It was a quick situation where constructors could build the chief’s palace. The construction was still underway though the chief had to spend his first night in the company of new staff. Although the new chief was lacking experience, some senior chiefs who were working with the former chief, were also welcome to help in giving their views. It was an obligation for them to continue to live together with any new chief who was going to be instituted in the village. The presence of senior chiefs is very much important in all cases. They had to guide the chief in many ways to resolve people’s difficulties in the village. However, Shimba was convinced that despite the seniors’ help, ancestors’ spirits had already promised to work and make him succeed. It was an accomplishment of the entire scenario that he had witnessed before taking place into the race. The question of consequence might look ambitious since the Shimba’s generation was not the most seen and exposed to dangers. Shimba’s generation had reached a period where it was not considering easily old traditions and cope with them though well known.

THE NEW CHIEF WAS NOT TOO YOUNG TO GET MARRIED Shimba had no children and as a chief, he had to marry. His staff was in charge of seeking a wife for him. As it was a habit, it has never been easy for women living in the village to be picked up at random for being a chief’s wife. We could notice in some chief’s palaces the high presence of wives. The chief could choose alone women that he found of good quality depending on his own choice. The most important ceremony was the one in case a chief young like Shimba, his wife had to come from young daughter-babies. Among those baby-born, they had to choose one in one family regardless of the provenance and other criteria. The chosen baby by the chief’s staff had to be put whether a ring around the neck or around the arm in recognition of a certain belonging to somebody. This habit was not only seen good for chiefs, but even for some respectable sons from very good families to keep the good relationship between families. Families might be related or not. What happened to Shimba as a new traditional chief of Mibanga was that the senior chiefs got, around the village, a baby-born had been put a ring

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around the neck in sign of acknowledgement as a new chief wife. It was not surprising because the wife had to live few years at her parents’ place. She had been visited every time by the chief ‘staff since the chief could not make any move. The young lady had to be instructed about what she was going to become and on the manner to behave towards her husband. Time after time, she was growing in age and wisdom. It was a great prestige for the lady’s family to receiving a great surprise of becoming one of the chief’s relatives. This situation of keeping in advance a lady for becoming somebody’s wife had a significant meaning. People could understand and interpret in so many ways. However, they could still think that if a son had to get a good wife, she had to be kept in good hands by her parents. Though we could notice the notion of chastity in women’s behaviors, it was so admissible to many. Ladies, on the other side, were very much anxious to getting married. There were on the other side, bad manners from boys who knew how to handle women’s sexual feelings outside bushes, which was compromising new and respectable marriages in parents’ eyes. Parents wanted something very much respectable. Also in order to keep good relationship between neighborhoods, parents could suggest every time, for those having boys, a baby-girl in the family well known, to be their daughter in-law. There were so many facts that were being kept into consideration when a son had to marry. Nevertheless, the last development was not regarded as a priority for girls who had to marry if they had been prepared for marriage.Shimba’s wife, still at her parents’ place, had started to acknowledge everything being taught to her by the chief’s staff. What she was doing was to wait for the better time to come and join her husband.

THE SECRET MYSTERY It might have looked as if it was still a long way for the girl to join her husband. Not really because she was expecting a wonderful marriage with a chief and her all entire family was going to become one of the chief family.Shimba started his work. Senior chiefs were helping him. They gave him so many things to keep in his palace, and those things had various meanings. On the other side, it was considered as a secret for the chief and the senior chiefs not to tell anybody what was the meaning of those powerful things. Amongst them, a big number of jugs where mystic things were put in. It was not only for the chief’s protection, but also for the capacity to keep his family and the security to leave with his family. Among many warnings given to the chief Shimba by the senior chiefs, we had also to add special ancestors’

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warnings. The way people built the chief’s palace was the way ancestors wanted. It came to people’s mind that they were also being guided without a visible help, but they could not realize that. If that was the ancestors’ manifestation, for sure, they could not think about it since they were under stress of empowering a new chief in the village of Mibanga.Nobody could ask how the new chief’s palace had to be built and where to get construction materials. Everything had been provided and people could do a great job. So far, when Shimba came to enter his new palace, he quickly discovered that many things asked by his ancestors were found there. Here comes the mystery of the old memory. The special ancestors’ warning which was to keep everything that will be found on that yard came into Shimba’s mind. It might seem very challenging for Shimba and his new wife who will be joining her husband at the palace soon. The consequence that will be going to fall on Shimba’s son will be just a simple controversy of the not understanding of the new line of life. If life has been always easy for heirs and other chiefs’ sons, this time, things will be very different. In Shimba’s palace, there were a number of palm trees. Those palm trees among other trees; three of them were the manifestation place for ancestors’ spirits. The experience that Shimba had to face was something to come from a very long way. In addition, the conversation through the appearance of the spirits in the palm trees was the key of success for everything. Although his ancestors-invisible forces were protecting the young boy, he had been also protected physically and mentally by the presence of the senior chiefs.

THE NEW COUPLE WAS TAKING PLACE The young lady Ngalu had grown up in the eyes of those who were waiting to see her at the chief’s palace. She had time to learn and not to forget. The chief ‘staff had worked hard in order to build a responsible woman able to live together with the new chief. People knew that in the old days, even chiefs were able to marry many wives than they could. In addition, people had given so many reasons why they had to marry many wives. It was also a good opportunity for all the young beautiful born baby girls to belong to the chief. Nevertheless, Shimba’s case was special in the sense that he wanted to stay together with his new wife. There were not visible obstacles but only invisible ones. Then came a time where the chief’ staff had found good to bring the girl to the chief’s palace. She had been waiting for years and the time had come for her to leave her parents. There were also a number of ceremonies to be held at the girl’s family in the presence of parents and other family mem-

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bers. That same night, the chief’ staff took the wife and brought her to the chief. She had become a very important person and the chief, who had never had time to see her wife, had now an opportunity to see her. The chief appreciated the work done by both parents and his staff. There were also a number of rites that had to be exhibited by both the family of the man and wife since their son and daughter were married. Ngalu had finally found her own place. She had been escorted by her family members. They had to go back two days afterwards. It was during those two days that family members had to know one another and celebrate the marriage of their children. Time had come for the chief’s wife to know the reality of things in the palace. Everything that she had heard outside the palace was another page of book to turn. The woman appreciated to be called wife and the man appreciated to be called husband. One thing missing was the children’s cries. Not everything could be done and obtained in one day. Even children had to wait somewhere before coming into the world. After couple of years, Ngalu got pregnant and her first-born child was named Kibonge.He resembled to his father. Since the young boy was the first-born, it was a good sign of success in the marriage of the chief with Ngalu.It was a good sign of happiness in the chief’s and the wife’s family. Family members had to celebrate for the birth of the baby. It was time to see how the young boy was going to be. What kind of behaviors were going to be part of the new baby boy’s part of life? He was growing in the eyes of everybody. The only thing people could expect to see was if the young boy was going to demonstrate the same prestigious power that his father had. It was the contrary because the young boy was dedicated to intelligent activities. He could not exhibit strength beyond the normal. He was playing everywhere he could although he was the chief’s son. He enjoyed being with friends. During all his time he has been living, he never knew what demonstrations of power his father had been subjected to. No longer ago, when he celebrated his third birthday at the palace, the mother got another child baby born boy. Ndumbi was a young boy very restless. There were no resemblances between those two boys. Nevertheless, Ndumbi could exhibit some powerful features but not as much as his father could. The chief’ sons were good friends; they had time to stay together and play together. There were no schools around for them and other young boys in the area. The only one privilege they had was that they were being taught good manners in the palace by the chief’s staff. It was here that the staff discovered the cleverness of Kibonge and the brutality of Ndumbi.This was one aspect of what they were going to be in the future. Sons got time to talk and grow. They

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spent lot of their time at the palace. They were treated as all the children. Over the years, sons were becoming responsible and could acknowledge their responsibility of being the chief’s sons and from the chief’s palace. They could realize that they deserved respect from the young and old class around Mibanga. Were there any promises for them to succeed to their father in case he deceased from power? Never in their lives, they had been taught or shown that they were in position to inherit power from their father in case he died. They were being taught how to live in good manners together with community people, how to treat fairly others, and how to promote their customs. Since the grandfather was not from a chief family, the children’s father got at least that chance with the help of ancestor’s spirits and the crowd gathered that time of the race, to get the power from the former chief of Mibanga. Not only sons could benefit this time but also all the family members could. Only two sons could be seen as the future of Mibanga.To know if everything taught at the palace was enough to maintain order and custom in the village, was also a question mark for so many in the village. It was known that the former chief at the time had no children who could suffer from the influence of the surroundings. However, this time Shimba’s sons were so far taught everything at the palace though they had time to play around. For sure, we all know the impact imposed whether you like it or not by the community you are living in.Shimba’s sons were exposed to forgetting time to time other good customs taught at the palace. They had grown up that they become responsible people. The father was still the traditional chief of Mibanga.The staff thought that it was time to associate sons to the father’s administration as it was a habit in the other surrounding villages. Sons become matured individuals and they were able to make decisions. Kibonge, the cleverest was picked up to work in his father’s administration though Ndumbi had been left to himself. Nevertheless, Ndumbi had his own palace around the chief’s palace. There was no way chief’s sons could stay far from their parents’ palace. Since the palace was so vast, there was enough space for the young two sons. It was not only a habit for the chief’s sons even for the other sons to possess their own huts near their parents’ ones. Among different ancestors’ warnings, were the most tangible and deadly ones that could bring death to someone if not paid attention to. For this time, a terrible oil-palm tree, among other two, was alongside Ndumbi’s hut. This oil-palm tree will be at the center of the scene. Though the father found that it could be a danger for his son to stay there, he could not force him to move out of there since he had given him all choices to do what best he could. Among different things Ndumbi had chosen, he chose to build his hut, quite near his father’s palace. That oil-palm tree found alongside Ndumbi’s

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hut was a place of manifestation every time the son was consulted by his father. It was a point of meeting for his conversation with the ancestors’ spirits. Ndumbi’s father had been appreciated and people understood that he had been assisted by a strong force. A voice had to be heard by the father every time that he found that he was in trouble or he had serious matters to take care of. He did his best to make understand to his son Ndumbi how dangerous was not to cut down that oilpalm tree. Even the senior chiefs had been informed by the chief of the presence of the ancestor’s spirits in the form of a voice through those oil-palm trees. That palm tree had grown and became very old. It was a secret for all the people living in the chief’s palace to keep those trees that way because their presence had a serious implication in the people living in there. It seemed not to be a big deal for people living in the yard since none had ever been hurt by any evil spirit. The misconduct of a simple individual in the yard was full responsibility for ancestors’ spirits to act. Nevertheless, not only ancestors’ spirits were regarded as invisible power but there were also people called Bakulu, very much powerful at a visible and invisible level. They were gathered in their own congregation. They were also working together with the ancestors’ spirits no matter what the origin they were from. It was like a representation of invisible powers working efficiently in case of failure to uphold rules given to respect people considered as powerful.Bakulu were a simple incarnation of all sort of punishment. Ndumbi was considered as a target of the punishment that had to be inflicted on. People could not understand how that could work. Shimba was the chief and was still working despite his old age. He got only his two sons and his only one wife Ngalu.He never thought of having another wife, as it was the case for other traditional rulers in surrounding villages. Kibonge, the cleverest kept on working for his father’s administration. He became the first focused person on whom the succession to his father was looked upon. However, there was still that famous law in Mibanga over the succession to the throne. Only those who featured an outstanding strength and power could become chiefs. For couple of years, Shimba had suspended that law, which was forgotten for a while. Since people in the village were happy of what the chief was doing, no complaints, no trouble and harassment.

Chapter Four

Family Danger

There came a day, when the chief had to announce the heir of his belongings. People had to gather for the occasion. As all the people in the village, parents had good manners to announce in the presence of relatives or other friends the heir of their belongings. Shimba made a clear difference between his belongings and his throne. The one who was going to possess his belongings could not become chief in Mibanga at any time. Villagers in Mibanga found the idea overwhelming and welcomed the announcement by the chief since he had abrogated the law on the public race. Only among family members, senior chiefs could choose the successor. It was for sure an advantage for Kibonge to succeed to his father in case of a vacancy. People had liked the idea since the face of Mibanga had changed and the chief had provided many basic educational skills to his sons at the palace. His sons were really in control of people’s problems and were able to resolve their difficulties. It was clear to understand that Kibonge, who had been working with his father, had more chances of becoming the heir of his father’s belongings. It was a good practice to give time to the successor to think of his new task. The heir had nothing to do with the throne but was still being guided by the same power that helped his father to getting power-here lies the mystery. Everyone acknowledged the change still to come later on Shimba’s administration. People knew that Ndumbi had possessed all his father belongings though his brother had to inherit the throne if his father had to decease. Generations had to pass and people had completely forgotten all the vices committed by the former traditional chief and were looking forward to coping with the new administration, which was not harmful to them. As time went on, Shimba who had power at seventeen had become very old. He could not 32

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work anymore. He had been moved here and there every time he wanted to do something. All the people’s eyes were focused on Kibonge, who had enough experience and deserved the chief’s throne. However, either the crowd itself or the chief as before had never taken the decision only. It was the whole community, included superpowers comprised of ancestors’ spirits and Bakulu that had to decide on the future of the new chief. The traditional chief had to be chosen following the number of abuses and misguidance committed by the traditional chief. In addition, the community could decide what measures were applicable to his succession. Shimba was their choice if not preferred but chosen by origin and divinity to inherit the traditional chief throne. It was what happened to his successors who all become from his lineage. Kibonge’s attitudes were very much positive and were responding to all people’s wishes. We cannot forget that he had been guided and consulted every time by the spirits for guidance. It was in that same regard that the entire community had chosen Kibonge as a successor since his father had become unable to work. Nevertheless, for not creating injustice, it was safe to give to the other brother the inheritance of belongings. The successor had a chance to get other goods so faster than it was the case with his brother Ndumbi. No one could not forget that if Ndumbi had not been given something, he might bring problems to his brother who was going to become chief. LAWS CHANGED When Shimba died, after the funerals, senior chiefs, ancestors’ spirits through Bakulu appointed Kibonge as the new traditional chief of Mibanga.He has been sworn in by the august community and from that day, got another name Kibonge was Shimba. The change intervened in the name was the meaning of the belonging of Kibonge to the lineage of his father from whom he had inherited the power from. He had been settled. He had his new place and the entire village had welcomed him.Kibonge had succeeded to his father Shimba. Time came when Ndumbi; the brutal son had to fit out his place. He had everything from his father. He was seen as the heir of the family. All the work done by his mother and his father in their life had been given to Ndumbi.After many years, Ndumbi wanted to change the face of his place, the late father’s palace. He completely forgot not to cut the oil palm tree that was a special warning his father gave him long time ago. Outside influences that Ndumbi had from his friends since he was not living under the same roof with his brother made things easy for him to forget and go against very important

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warnings. He pretended not to go against his father’s warnings. His brother, ancestors’ spirits found another way of coming to the rescue and helping him. Ndumbi had demolished so many things not important in his eyes within the yard. He did not even pay attention when he pulled down another old palm tree. It was said not to pull down any oil palm tree no matter how old could the tree be in the yard. This was a special warning given to Shimba when he was alive. It was the same thing told to Ndumbi when he settled near his father’s palace. Alongside his hut was found another oil palm tree. Attention was something less paid to his father’s warnings. Everybody saw the manifestation in terms of protection in the village. Ndumbi had all the security deserved in that village. However, the day he mad the mistake by pulling down the tree, he saw things become different not only for him but also for the entire community. It was a surprise for people to see that Ndumbi, who was the first heir of a traditional chief, had been put in trouble and his brother and the entire surrounding felt this. However, the day he found himself in serious trouble, he acknowledged the existence of the ancestors’ spirits. That day when he pulled down the oil palm tree, he thought the yard had become very clean and had become very pleasant to him. The following day, in the middle of the day, started a serious rain that blew off at unknown place and distance, the entire roof of the Ndumbi’s hut.

NDUMBI AND THE DANGER Ndumbi never thought that his life of heir was going to be attacked by an evil or another superpower. He was much confident in everything he was doing even in the negligence of special warnings given to him by his father. As one could say, not everyday a son will be with his parents. This case started simply to have another aspect. Now all the village’s eyes were focused on the terrible event that happened to the former chief‘s heir son. Although he had everything, he was a fragile target for all superpowers that wanted to play with his mind. This was an evident case for those who were in position of power to trouble those who were not strong to show a sign of resistance. Apparently, the attack appeared to Ndumbi like from an unknown source. Bakulu who saw how minimized they were by the cutting of the oil palm tree by Ndumbi in the yard, knew what sort of punishment the young person deserved. A rain accompanied by a terrible thunder had alerted everybody in the village. It was for the first time for the people to hear such noise caused by a thunder. It was easy to hear thereafter that such a terrible thunder had killed

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a man, a woman or had destroyed a house. The thunder that had alerted all the villagers pushed them to go and witness what it had caused. People were surprised to see that it was at the chief heir’s house where the catastrophe had been caused. In addition, the roofs could not be found and it was a big question mark for many. Nobody could understand the phenomenon that happened. Nobody living in the chief’s yard had ever been hurt by any sort of power or evil. The catastrophe caused this time had let people think and talk about it every time. Him, who had wanted to clean his yard to make it clean, had to pay for the prize of the simple negligence. The time had come to assist the temptation by the Bakulu, who wanted to find out what Ndumbi had become after having pulled down the oil-palm tree. It was free for everyone to ask for protection in form of magic or mystic power. The case could not let Ndumbi aside. Bakulu thought that as the young boy had neglected his father’s warning, he might have gone to look for another power. This conception was far from what Ndumbi had realized. He had not any good idea of protection to think about. He was very disturbed by his young generation mixed of so many young ideas of doing things the way he thought it was the right one. It was not difficult to comply with his own rules; Ndumbi had to respect his own ideas and opinions. When people came that day, they found that the boy had been targeted. Luck made him escape that scandalous death. Villagers always think that those who die through or by a thunder had been cursed or had been rejected by their own family members. It was not easy to think that Ndumbi had to be classified between those two categories. He had to choose between being cursed or rejected by his family members although his father gave him all his entire belongings. It was susceptible to understand that whether the father gave him his belongings, it did not mean that he got also the mystical power. The only one thing that Ndumbi had was the presence of oil palm trees that were considered as protection and point of communication between his family and other ancestors’ spirits. Since the event had taken place, there was lot of people who came to witness the catastrophe. Not only seeing, people started expressing their views over the issue, which was frightening for so many. Villager men thought that delicate principles had not been fulfilled by the young man. There were, in fact, so many versions according to number of people who came at the palace and saw the heir’s roof swept along. The community had asked him so many questions. His brother was informed but he had nothing to say since his own brother did not come and let him know over what happened to him. Nevertheless, for reason of fear, Ndumbi went to visit not magicians but Bakulu. They were considered as the incarnation of the traditional power. They were aware of what had happened to Ndumbi.If that event was the first

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to happen to Ndumbi in his life, it was easy to expect another similar event that might be deadly rather than the first one. The fear of dying had grown in the young man that he could not keep his emotion. On the other hand, the damage had been caused. The only one solution was now to start protecting the other remaining oil palm trees in the yard.

THE HEIR EXPOSED Ndumbi was frightened that Bakulu had noticed the absence of any sign of protection from the beginning to the end. The time was then to know exactly what kind of protection he had before than later on, since he had dismissed himself.Tshoto tsha Bakulu was a special rallying for Bakulu. These old people were involved in life and death of so many people living in Mibanga and even in other villages. Since they were the incarnation of traditional power, they had permanent presence in the life of all villagers. They had been consulted time to time by those fearing death and witnessing any kind of evil’s attacks and many disasters in their families. In Mibanga, people could find so many Bioto comprised of young, old and simple people’s rallying but independently focused on selected targets. They were working on so many things but mostly these targets like, cursing, empowerment of sons or daughters, giving intelligence through mystical ceremonies, and so on. They were good at killing people or giving special warnings to those who had escaped from one or another principle. The mystery that happened to Ndumbi was well known and Bakulu had worked hard to guide the young man’s mind towards their work to show him how nothing he had become and how strong they were. When Ndumbi started telling Bakulu what had happened to him, they asked him why he pulled down the oil palm tree. It was a sign of avarice in their eyes especially for the young generations that were growing up those days. Since Bakulu’s question of why the young man had pulled down the oil palm tree, the answer from the young man was the same. He said that he was just cleaning the yard. It was a good time for Bakulu to start explaining the hidden mystery in that oil palm tree. They showed him that they were special strength and power given to his father and actually to him to resist against any sorts of attacks. Ndumbi’s father, who died recently, had done his part when he wanted to give to Ndumbi his belongings. Ndumbi had inherited even his father’s palace.Bakulu showed him that it was a good moment since he had never realized that he had been protected against different sort of evils and that what he had done by pulling down that oil palm tree was a sign of minimization of their presence in the yard.

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Bakulu showed Ndumbi that this was a warning in helping to locate himself since his life was in great danger. “Not only the palm oil tree was being considered as his own protection but also there were so many types of trees and plants that were considered as signs of protection all over the yard,” Bakulu said. Then they came up with different storied showing how so many people who had not respected different laws and warnings, had been punished. They also showed how people who committed damages to villagers’ goods were treated by the Tshoto.It was here, were different decisions were taken. This was an interesting story that one of the Bakulu started telling Ndumbi.As in his similar case, there was a certain man in the same village who wanted to fire his friend. That man came to see the Bakulu and told them that a friend of his had raped his wife in his absence; and the only one measure of revenge was to fire the person through a thunder under a rain. Not always, a rain has been lashing pouring or drizzle when Bakulu had act with thunders to destabilize a family member or kill a thief for example. The husband of the raped wife decided not to shut down the matter. When he came to us, as one of the Bakulu was saying, he told us his problem and we asked him what he wanted. The main said, only to fire the person. It was of course his best friend but the husband of the raped wife wanted to put an end to his f friend’s life. The decision was final. It became the responsibility of Bakulu to decide according to the range of the problem. On the husband’s side, it was a shame, an act of vileness and disgrace. Most of the time, men had to prove to their fellow friends how strong they were by going to bed with a friend’s wife. Once one sleeps with a friend’s wife, he could show to his friend that he was a strong man with proves to back that up for example in detaining a torn piece of clothes or one item from the bedroom belonging to the husband. Nevertheless, for this case, it was a bad example. The husband of the raped wife did not want to hear such kind of notoriety from one of his friends since himself had never tried to do so. He took that firm decision to finish with his friend’s life. The person who did that foolishness had succeeded to escape the attack. That day, there was no rain at all. The rapist had got a number of natural protections on his yard among others a palm tree in front of his hut.Bakulu, very convinced that they were going to get the head of the young man rapist on the plate; the target went on into a wrong direction. People were surprised when they heard that the thunder had been fired in the neighborhood. They found the palm tree, which was transformed into ashes by the thunder provoked by Bakulu. It was a different situation for Bakulu who had failed to their mission of ending the life of the rapist. It was safe to look for another way of killing the raptor since they had failed to kill the rapist through the thunder. In the yard, the oil palm tree had been burnt to ashes. If the thunder had reached the target, the life of the rapist could have ended.

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The young Ndumbi listened very carefully to the story. He saw how many dangers were hanging around. Thus, the life of the person who raped the wife of his friend had been saved by the protection that was this time natural even though he was not aware of it. For many villagers, once such manifestation happened, they had to realize that there was a danger around, and it was safe to look for a strong protection. That was one part of the attack well provoked according to the problem that has been suggested to “Bakulu”. Their job was to come up with a solution as suggested in order to solve the couple’s crisis. Though there was a failure, there was a good thing to be praised since the man managed to escape from the death. However, Ndumbi’s case had been seen without any protection. He was vulnerable from any attacks. That was an explanation that Bakulu had given to the young man who had been warned in part. Then came a second example that was very pathetic. It was very pertinent when another Mukulu (of the rallying) started narrating the second story of the work undertaken by his group. Once Ndumbi heard the similarity of the work, he thought about his friend who lost his life after a very wonderful day when they went to play around. To know the causes was a difficult problem when Shungu, Ndumbi’s friend was caught dead alongside the road leading to his home. He did never have time to defend himself under another strong rain. Ndumbi had discovered the hidden mystery and come back to his sense only when Mukulu finished to narrate the story. It was far pleasant to hear for feeble hearts. Shungu, a young boy, had received picked-up money from a friend who told him to keep it. Even without asking the origin of that money, the young boy agreed to keep that huge amount of money. Shungu was astonished when he saw his friend with that huge amount of money. The friend was walking down the road when he saw that amount of money left to itself . . . for sure, that money, had fallen down, not dropped willingly by an unknown person.Bakulu said that that they could know the entire side of the problem only when the owner of that money called upon them to find out the thief. On the other side, Shungu and his friend who liked playing football had started laying out the money, buying nice clothes, expensive items. When his fellow friends noticed that especially Shungu had started behaving as a prince, they warned him and asked him to stop stealing. That was a simple aspect of people without knowing that he had been initiated by another friend, who despite everything, was the owner of the money and had left the responsibility to Shungu. Ndumbi knew everything since him and Shungu were good friends and stayed in the same neighborhood. Nevertheless, the accident that happened to Shungu, let people think that he was a young thief. He behaved in stubbornness despite paying expensive items to other friends and or-

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ganizing parties with that money. He did not know that the danger was waiting for him since he was hunted down by evil spirit. Shungu made a serious mistake in not telling anyone about that huge amount that he was keeping. Shungu and his friends, who picked up that money, were promising lot of good items and expensive kits to their football team. They were encouraging themselves not to give back that money despite insistent warnings hanging around in the village - which was a big mistake.Bakulu, who were narrating carefully the story to Ndumbi knew that the young boy fired years ago, was a friend to the last one. It was advised not to pick up an amount of money or good left to itself alongside of the road. This has been always seen as a sign of bewitching and exposing the hard desire to gain souls of those who always wanted to succeed in a wrong way. Of course, so many people in Mibanga had been consumed by the hunger and useless desires to fill their needs. Shungu did not know something about the danger, which might have been caused by the money he was detaining. He found that everything was normal for him and thought that from that time, the detained money was belonging to him and his fellow friend. On the other hand, the owner was angry warning around the village to anyone who had taken that money to give it back. It was something looked at with negligence and disregard by the young Shungu. Nevertheless, the nature sometimes did not tolerate other habits and customs to occur. Shungu had disregarded a precocious death. He had been buying expensive items for other friends and the same friends had called upon him to restitute the stolen money. It was effectively after a football match when a funny rain started, but with serious thunders. He found a shelter near by while waiting for the rain to finish. Some friends decided to go back home and other sought refuge under the rain. Behind the scene, Shungu who, that day was in company of other friends included Ndumbi, decided to escort other friends instead of going back home with those staying in his neighborhood. It was a bloody and not ending rain. What happened to Shungu was very incomprehensible. He was compared to a lost goat. He forgot completely that he had to go back home and found himself in the opposite direction. That was not his wish but that was a work well done by Bakulu, one of them was quoted as saying. Those who were near the football ground, had found that they could go home. Those who were staying far sought shelter elsewhere though the young man Shungu found pleasure to hang around escorting friends. Everybody was afraid of that rain because of the noise caused by the thunders. When the rain stopped, Shungu could not return home. At Shungu parents’ high astonishment, they did not see their son though all his friends in the neighborhood had returned It was a great time of meditation to know where

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the young son had gone. Few minutes later; there came a young boy, very much familiar to Shungu’s parents and brothers. He had been escorting Shungu all alongside on his way back home. He was carrying a touching message to the Shungu’s family. For most of the time, the presence of a visitor had always let people think. Even if visitor brings a good message, there have always been different interpretations. For more, Shungu’s case was to wonder. When the young man came in, he was wet. That showed that he had been walking under a well precise raining time. He was afraid. The young boy was looking pale. Nobody knew the young boy in the Shungu’s family. He started asking the address as everyone who arrives for the first time in an area. What he did, he asked if Shungu’s father was around. The father came out and the boy started telling him the phrase, which was bitter. “I was alongside Shungu, but much to my surprise, the terrible last thunder that had been heard everywhere, had swept your son away.” It was even difficult to ask one question because it was under a situation of total panic from the parents’ side. They could not believe that such event happened in their family. The young boy continued: “I know how embarrassing the situation of the death of your son is. The body of your son is lying down along the main road of the village.” Ndumbi, who had been listening carefully to the Bakulu’s story, knew also that same young person who brought the message. The messenger was also his friend. The messenger came to brief him before taking the message of death to Shungu’s parents. If Bakulu had to give a chance to Ndumbi to express himself over the death of the young Shungu who was also his good friend, he was not going to keep his emotions. On the other side, the messenger took courage, followed the steps of the Shungu’s death, and carried on. He said that he heard it was the last terrible thunder which took away Shungu’soul.In addition, he went alone to witness the event when he found the body lying just alongside the main road of the village. There was an opening near the upper-left side of Shungu’s face, which was caused by the thunder. Anybody who had seen the body could not exactly know what that meant, however many supposed that as it was the thunder that had fired him, that was the work of evil and principalities. The young Shungu’s brain had been taken away. Really, the opening caused by the thunder did not give any chance to anyone to admire the horrific situation. People had come to gather around Shungu’s body. When the young boy who brought to Ndumbi the message of Shungu’s death came, Ndumbi asked if Shungu’s parents had been already informed. The young boy and messenger told him that the message had been passed on. Since then, efforts had been done in vain with the help of traditional doctors to make the life of Shungu come back to normal but it was very late for

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the attempt.Shungu’s parents took the body and carried it home. They had to prepare for the funerals. It was difficult for them to admit anything since the death of their son was very obscure. The situation was confusing for everyone living in the village. One day, as we say, the truth will come to light.

THE REVELATION According to the report from the messenger, Ndumbi had time to go back to him to find out more details over the death of the young Shungu.However, details were implicit. The secret was lying in those who had occasioned the death, to whom Ndumbi was talking. He said that the young boy told him that during that rain, they saw people coming towards their direction. Moreover, for sure, they wanted to hurt one of them. They were blindfolded. “It was difficult for us, Shungu and me to defend ourselves,” the young boy said. The young Shungu’s friend added that for sure, Shungu was living for few times before his death in a terrible darkness. He did not come up with more courage to denounce the presence of enemies who were coming at an uncontrollable speed. In addition, those enemies were determined to hurt one of them. “I felt more concerned than it was the case with Shungu in front of enemies he had looked for himself in his life.” “I saw Shungu become dumb, he could not say one word and he could not shout. I think if he had been able to say one word in the integrity of the attack, he could have escaped the death,” the young boy said. “He lacked courage to denounce and was judging himself in his heart for the sin he had committed,” the messenger said.Ndumbi added that he found out from the young boy, messenger that once the thunder had grumbled in the sky, the noise pierced their ears, and what he saw, was that his friend was thrown away. His clothes were torn into pieces, and there was a great opening on the upper-left side of Shungu’s face. He could not continue since the event had in his eyes ended up there, but came a time of Tshimba, one of the Bakulu, who continued with the story since he had been the one in charge of finishing with the person who stole the money.Tshimba said that nothing could have been done with our own concern or interest. There was a certain man who came here some couple of years ago. He was naming himself Muka.He told us that he was running a wonderful business in the neighborhood. Unwillingly, the day he wanted to buy his television set, the amount of money had fallen down from his coin-purse. He said that he had never recovered back that money. He made public announcements and warnings to all people of good will who might have seen that coin-purse and nobody in the village was willing to give back that money. In the public, there was no response. Everyone he met that day ignored having seen the money. For a person like him and others,

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the only easier way, was to go and see the magicians. Mr.Muka had chosen our rallying as the most powerful to find the thief of his money. There was no other alternative if only to kill the thief by simply using the thunder. In addition, the solution that Muka found appropriate was becoming the point of target for us in the Tshoto. What we had to do was only to execute the thief. Of course, we knew that among people themselves, there was a certain man who took that money and plotted not to give it back. After all, the solution had been found. It was in that way your friend Shungu died, Tshimba said. When Tshimba was talking, everybody kept quite. Everyone was listening carefully. He said that there was nothing they could do. The only solution was to find the thief, fire and kill him. He continued saying that the day they decided to fire Shungu, they knew that it could be very bad for people who used to steal around the village. He said that people would be in fear. He said that after the meeting of finding out who stole the money, they took conjointly the decision to fire the face of the young boy. That day, he said, Shungu had been visited twice to give back the money even out of what he had already spent with his friends, but he refused. The young boy was stubborn. Moreover, that was the major reason that pushed us to fire him.Tshimba started another sentence by saying that during that bloody rain, many terrible things happen. He said that under the rain, Bakulu came through it naked and only Shungu and the boy who was escorting him could see them.Shungu since being near them could see Bakulu and notice their presence. Tshimba said that their magic power relied on their nakedness which afraid the young men and gave them opportunity to steal Shungu’s brain. He went on saying that the opening people found on the upper-left side of Shungu face was a real sign for those who knew how the magic power through a thunder works. The only controversial power a human being had to protect against such an attack was to be naked if really he is being attacked by a thunder sent to him through the presence of some people coming towards his or her direction. He phrased again that under that rain where they decided to fire the young man, they took his brain. They tried to play with it in order to disturb him mentally. The young Shungu became absent-minded of any problem. He could not even remember that it was time to go back home together with his friends.Tshimba said that if he went home straight off the ground, we could not have fired at him. However, the young Shungu was lost the reason why we applied all our power in order to execute him. In addition, he found himself on a wrong way with a person who was not presenting any danger to us.Tshimba showed that when they come to fire somebody, they have also things they are afraid of such as the nakedness of another human being and the crowd. They are also scared of noise. . .

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Tshimba said that at the time they were coming to fire the young boy Shungu, they were completely naked. They directed themselves towards Shungu and his friend’s direction. There was no way of escaping anymore. What happened to the young man was very bad. In the case, they were not talking again about punishment if the only one remaining solution was firing the young boy Shungu.Among all the Bakulu, Ndumbi had looked like the youngest person. What he had to do was just to listen. Although it was not easy to understand the entire phenomenon, Ndumbi came up to catch up at least something. In addition, for that occasion, they were well armed.Tshimba said that they killed Shungu as in a normal situation where somebody kills his opponent with a knife. They had very polished snares that they used that day. Ndumbi could grasp not everything said by Tshimba. Ndumbi was very vigilant and asked about the opening found on the upper-left side of Shungu’s face. Biologically speaking, that opening was exactly the representation of the perfect spirit of Shungu’s life. It was all a human being needs for surviving on earth. However, when people came to look at the dead body, they found that Shungu’s clothes were scattered into pieces. It was surprising to see the power of the thunder, in which they had been disguised.Bakulu, had become unknown spirits to hurt the life of the young man. Shungu’s clothes were torn into pieces and dispatched in so many places. The thunder left nothing on Shungu. Tshimba explained again to Ndumbi that the spirit or the entire life that they took from the young Shungu through the brain was actually alive, and was living somewhere. As the age of dying had not yet arrived, he had to spend the rest of his life in an unknown farm where he was working as a slave. He told him that the worse was for those who could not care of any certain practices-divine or magical.Tshimba said: “That is why the soul of the young man taken away was going to become the real man where he had gone to. He had been sold and made available for slavery. His life, which was still long, had been made short because of his stubbornness. The remaining forty or fifty years of his life had to be spent in another form, which had been made possible by Bakulu incantatory power.”

He added again that there was nothing they could do since they had taken the money from Muka. The only one solution was to satisfy the owner of the request.Tshimba, as he was still talking, Ndumbi interrupted by asking him how the scene looked like. The old man was not tired of talking. He showed that before the attack, they let appear the face of the young Ndumbi on the magic mirror. Since the owner of the request did not recognize the thief, it was easy for him to fire the face of the person that was going to appear on the mirror. That was the long-short way of killing the unknown face of the thief.

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Therefore, with the help of Bakulu, Muka had discovered the thief and the act had to be taken by us. The old man added: “We were also able to finish with Shungu’s life by just hammering right at his neck or head with the hammer that we always possess during our operation. We could also use a knife and cut his throat.”

It looked tiresome for Ndumbi who had been listening to the old man’s speech without closing his eyes. Ndumbi, who came to ask for advice over what had happened to him, putting all his life in danger, was now taken on track to hear how people were prompted by certain magic power, and were actually surrounding the others’ natural life with rage of hurting them.

Chapter Five

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Therefore, another Mukulu asked Ndumbi why he decided to pull down the palm tree in the yard. Mukulu said that if Ndumbi knew what that palm tree was meaning to him, he could not have allowed himself to pull it down. It was a sign of luck for the young boy Ndumbi since the target was directed into the roof to alert the concerned. That was another possibility to cause the damage to the yard property if the thunder had not found the target-the concerned. Since then, until today, thunders were still considered by people in Mibanga’s traditional life as a sign of punishment and evils’ presence through their grumbling. There was a concept in people‘s mind to search for protection. They were guided themselves to the place of magicians, evils or superpowers. Then, the oldest of Bakulu, Kabongo said that it was a great inconvenience for Ndumbi to have pulled down the palm tree. That palm tree was left by his father, who had respected very much the tradition of looking after that palm tree and other trees in the yard. Among them, there was also, what we showed to your father as general protection. We could not let your father being hunted down by strange powers. So far, for the generations following Shimba, Ndumbi was the first person to abrogate with the given warnings. What we did was just to show you what kind of power was lying in us. We wanted to show you that you had broken the tangible point of communication set up years ago between your father and us. Ndumbi had been given another special warning from Kabongo on the behalf of the entire group. Ndumbi had to make a replant of palm trees all over the yard. There were in fact natural protections too. From that time, Ndumbi was well informed about the power, which had been protecting his father and his entire family. Many people had seen the importance of caring about the trees, especially, if found in the yard and inherited by not pulling them down. 45

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That is why so many people had been looking carefully after plants or trees. These had been protecting people from diseases or evils’ attacks. That was also a major reason why people used to go to the bush, dig up those young plants and come to plant them in their yards. Kabongo showed to Ndumbi that everything found elsewhere in an inherited yard did have its reason of existence. Those sentences had kept the attention of the young Ndumbi, who had pretended to acknowledge what his father had told him before inheriting his palace. His brother, seen as the cleverest one, who had inherited the throne, was still ruling the village of Mibanga and people were happy with him. He had already married and he had one son. As his father, his father staff taught the son good manners at the palace. He had time to play around and visit friends. It was not again a secret for Ndumbi to practice what he had been taught by the gathering of Bakulu. Never he wanted such a mistake to happen again in his life.Bakulu told him everything, even what his parents did not tell him since they found themselves forced to tell him about those things and even show him other hidden secrets considered vital for the success in his life.

SHUNGU’S PARENTS COULD NOT BE LEFT BEHIND On his way back home, Ndumbi understood that he was under serious pressure to mess up with his own life and might end up with it in case he could not respect the Bakulu’special appeal. He had to meet the population that was waiting for him since he went to look for help.Ndumbi’s example was used by young and old generation to behave carefully towards special warnings and avoid to get involved in problems or troubles. Ndumbi, who knew everything about what happened to him and his friend Shungu, could just remember the way used by evils to kill others. Kabongo was quote saying that the major weapon that killed of course Shungu, was just the principal snare held on by the carrier, who was Kabongo at the time. He was representing the team at the time of killing. He had been chosen by the gathering of Bakulu to act. It was like a dream going around Ndumbi’s mind. A dream that could not go away.Ndumbi started collecting all the items he needed for the reconciliation with Bakulu. One day, he said to himself to go and see Shungu’s parents. He guessed that maybe because they were not involved in any mystery, the reason why they could not notice anything about the death of their son. The secret was held somewhere, and for this time, Ndumbi was carrying the entire detailed process under which Shungu had been killed.Shungu’s parents were living in the neighborhood

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and Ndumbi did not spend lot of time to reach the place. Very quickly, he explained the crux of the problem that caused the death of their son. The parents were surprised and scandalized to hear the story through Ndumbi’s mouth. He showed that the major fault came from Shungu, who refused to give back the amount of money he got from his friend. He told them that the body of their young son was no more existing in the world but only his soul was working as a slave somewhere in a farm. He gave again other warnings to Shungu’s parents to respect other beings created by God for the simple reason of protection against evils and attacks. Shungu’s parents were also aware of the attack undergone by the young Ndumbi.He showed that since the accident happened to him due to his negligence according to his father’s warning, he had decided to go and see the Bakulu. He said again that everything surrounding the house, for sure, had its meaning and not taking care of it was a great sign of ignorance. Consequences could be severe especially if taught about its importance. It was not a sign of wisdom in neglecting the place of evils and principalities. Him, who had inherited his father’s palace, did not know much about his father’s past. Everything had been told to him without expecting any impact. When Ndumbi heard how powerful his father had been, he saw the importance of keeping every single word said by Bakulu. He was entirely at the mercy of Bakulu. It was then when he could discover different items and plants left to him in the yard by his parents against evils, useless attacks and diseases, even ways to his success. He finally decided to be taking care of them and show these special warnings to his children. Nevertheless, his journey was not easy because he had to reconcile with Bakulu. The time had come for Ndumbi to ask to his protectors, what was still the safe way to benefit from their protection. It was in the opposite way when Bakulu thought the young had already another power of protection.However; truly speaking the young boy was nowhere and had no protection. Not only was that good to admire, Ndumbi realized that those people were behind the death of many people who had died in the village. In addition, Bakulu showed how their power was working. It was comprised of protection and punishment. Those who felt in the obligation of gaining power through protection or ending the life of underpowered or overpowered enemies could both come and pay visit to them. The reconciliation ceremony was one thing that Ndumbi had to prepare carefully before its beginning. Kabongo, who was the eldest, told Ndumbi to go and bring a white chicken and a number of small items. Among them palm oil, ashes and crashed root powder from any traditional plant. It was in fact great ceremony for Ndumbi since he had broken laws. He neglected special warnings and attacked his own protection. The pulling down of the palm tree

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was one side of the negligence of what so-called many other principles very much neglected. By having committed a grave mistake to behave in the way he had found pleasant to him, Ndumbi had to pay for its prize. He had to go back and look for items to make himself right with his masters. Ndumbi had been showed that if everybody knew what the spirit used to do in order to catch evils using the thunders, lot of people could have perished. Kabongo took time to explain dangers very easily exposed to many who were not taking things seriously. He said there severe punishments especially for those causing troubles and hurting others. He spoke strongly against all recalcitrant. Shungu could not be fired if he did not take that money or returned it. It became easy to say that being clever was not the only weapon that people needed because it had become a sign of avarice. Human wisdom had led lot of people to commit terrible sins often perishable. The example of Shungu was not easy to understand. “The boy was stubborn when messengers disguised in familiar faces came to ask him to give back the money. He thought he had become the most connoisseur person of his time,” Ndumbi said. He had to leave Shungu’s parents who had appreciated the visit but were traumatized by the news. It was not a simple message that had benefited only them. Shungu’s parents had also spread the same message to others to alert them. The death of Shungu was a public knowledge for everybody living in that village.Shungu parents’ experience had helped other parents to come to their ancestors’ positions. The relation between the living world and ancestors’ spirits was very much neglected by people living in Mibanga. The experience even bad as it could sound, had helped many people to adjust their lives. In addition, those, who were used to freak practices, stopped because they were afraid of being inflicted with hard punishments. People, in Mibanga, understood the goodness of adjusting their habits and started behaving consciously in respecting any property that did not belong to them. The good sense and spirit of returning others’ property to owners came back in the people’s minds.

NDUMBI PREPARED FOR A RECONCILIATION The collection of asked items was still underway. As many villagers, they have domesticated animals in their farmyards for any good occasion. It was easy for the young Ndumbi to get them and prepare for another journey to Bakulu’s place. After having collected all the items, Ndumbi was ready for the journey. It was a secret for him to reconcile with his masters, who had kept his father during his existence. They had been currently helping his brother Kibonge, who was the traditional chief of Mibanga. Ndumbi also

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knew that the reconciliation that was going to take place at Bakulu’s place was for sure, going to help him recover many kinds of power he might have already lost. Not only the power was a source of worry for Ndumbi but also the acquisition of the new one was also a point of interest to learn from the Bakulu. Ndumbi, who had been living in fear of any single attacks that might happen to him, had preferred to work closely with these elders to get a proper protection. This was necessary to do as they used to say in our traditional life. He had simply forgotten the power he got from his father who gave him as inheritance his palace. Everything, he was going to get actually, had been prepared for him since then. For his own safety, he had to consult Bakulu since they had been working closely with his father. The only one mess he made in his life was pulling down the palm tree.Ndumbi had paid for his arrogance. He was very lucky not to repeat the mistake. It could have been worse if he had gone to see another traditional chief who was not from the Bakulu’s gathering. Instead of protecting him against these similar attacks, a chief from a different gathering was going to add and increase opportunities of attacks over him. It was a good thing for him for having gone to ask for help from his ancestors’ gathering- Bakulu. Finally, he got everything needed. Ndumbi decided to bring all those items to Bakulu. When he reached there, he was welcomed as a son of the Tshoto (large elders’ rally). There was no intention from Bakulu to steal Ndumbi ‘senses of life. It was easy for people like those who used to bring lot of troubles to those who were coming to seek for help like Bakulu to act in evil ways. Kabongo, the eldest in the rally had found interest in keeping his focus on the young Ndumbi.Some people in our black African tradition used to say that when traditional rallies like the Bakulu ‘s one, had to accept to protect a person, as Ndumbi was a matter of choice and preference. The young Ndumbi was no longer considered as any ordinary individual living in Mibanga.He was among a chosen race, a chosen family and a chosen lineage. This was the measure reason why Bakulu had been pushed to help and continue keeping their focus on the lineage of Ndumbi. They also knew how it could be to leave Ndumbi without a protection. They also knew how unsafe it could be if Ndumbi had to acquire a protection from outside. Everyone could notice that since then, Ndumbi’s behavior had started to change. In case, there was going to be a traditional chief vacancy, he was going to assume that function anyway without doubt. Bakulu saw the reason to protect the young person. When ceremonies started, only Ndumbi and the entire community of Bakulu were present. Since he had found everything he had been asked for, there was no comment. They started to show him the good way of conducting himself. The ceremony had taken one full day to

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Ndumbi to listen and apply everything important for his new life and future generation. As one can mention, Shimba tried his best to keep all the warnings, but the generation of his sons did not. The example was evident in the heir of his belongings who did what was good to him. Ndumbi was expecting to receive a portion of power. He had been supported and told to start getting along with his brother Kibonge. His brother, who was the traditional chief of Mibanga, had been firmly protected by the elders’ rally. In one of the jugs Ndumbi was carrying, were ashes. Those ashes were applied, with a number of other mystical products, on the body of the young Ndumbi. After the ceremony, Bakulu considered as secured the life of the young Ndumbi. The ceremony showed Ndumbi how wonderful was to keep his father’s warnings as well as everything being inherited from him. His mother, who passed away few years ago before the test-attack, had no many experience of traditional power. She had learnt few things from senior chiefs. However, she had all the support from Bakulu and nobody could hurt her since she was one of the left hands of the chief-her husband. Ndumbi had been given many advices on how to go about his life. He promised not to commit a similar mistake. He saw the consequences how disastrous they could be if his own children had not also respected the same warnings. He had been shown all the good ways to live. He still had a long way to go in his life and he needed the presence of Bakulu. They had taken responsibility of his life as they did with his brother Kibonge.Ndumbi, in his early days, did not notice the dangers waiting for him since he thought he was neglected by his father who gave his throne to his elder brother. Ndumbi’s ignorance had resulted unconsciously in the abrogation of his own father’s warnings. He was still a chief family’s member, only he had taken lightly this consideration of belonging. Many people in Mibanga, acknowledged the presence of Bakulu since they had saved the life of Ndumbi’s father and had chosen his lineage to become the new traditional chief of Mibanga.What the nature had already chosen, was the result of what was going to be experienced on the field. Ndumbi had realized how nothing he had become, though he had thought it was a good way to react to his lowness ambitions to becoming responsible on his own.

THE SOCIETY HAD NOT TO FORGET We always have a question mark to ask if these old traditions are still being seen in good eyes. New traditional families are the first to face the catastrophe. The respect of warnings had seemed useless to Ndumbi, who had suffered from a neighborhood influence. His negligence had a cause and the pun-

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ishment test he faced, had helped him visit quickly his masters. He discovered where they were staying and made a serious consideration about them. His masters also helped him to acquire the protection from them. Is this case in our new traditional society still respected? Is it still effective to keep ancestors’ warnings as it appeared in the case of Shimba? Maybe difficult to answer simply because people living in traditional places, have not kept and promoted what they inherited for the sake of good in the life of coming generations. What had happened to Ndumbi might also happen to us black African. Africans have become people who are starting to forget slowly their traditional values. Black Africans have started to look far rather than where they are coming from. Nobody could predict what was waiting for Ndumbi on his way. Africans have inherited very good values and traditions that need to be explored time to time with no negligence. Many in our modern society have regarded as old-fashioned, pains and disasters happening in our black African communities compared to our ancestors’ generations. No matter what the denomination of a country or a province, a region or the nationality, the border of our traditional values has got a sense to be maintained as it has survived in the past ancestral years. If people could put borders to demarcate a country or a province, our traditional values remain a tool that can be carried everywhere we live. The values can be carried in a simple community of two or many African people. The promotion of our traditional values had to be perpetuated. On the other side, we are going actually to attribute all the situation of troubles, diseases, pains and other forms of sufferings that African people are facing as a result of our negligence. Who is that person of white color who has ignored his own tradition wherever he might be living actually? In addition, how many are outside African borders of black tradition, living especially in an African society, have already forgotten their own pride and values long time inherited from our ancestors? It might be coming from a very long way to understand why borders and frontiers made by human being could not stop Africans from continuing with their tradition values. Today, these African values are hidden and seen as a shame by others though they pretend to show them as a source of revenue to westerners in exchange of money and other services during an exhibition. Many will agree with me that many Africans have lost their way in part. If many counterparts may agree with me, all these troubles were seen in a single way and dimension in our traditional societies during our ancestors’ generations. What is happening today in our societies will help others, especially those who think, they are lost to come back to their traditional values and start seeing things as they were during our ancestors’ time. Ndumbi had come to understand all the dangers that he was going to face in his life if he had not

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to reconcile with his masters. He also realized how important it was to respect his father’s warnings and laws. This is a good example for many black African people to be linked to their tradition values. This will help them understand where the failure of their success is naturally coming from. One may be willing to draw a parallelism between black and white’s traditions. When one looks at the white tradition, one always sees that whites tend to walk with their traditions. Their tradition also comprises marvelous values. However, on our African traditional side, we feel most of the time likely ashamed and lost when we find ourselves in contact with other westerners’ influences. It is time for Africans to come up and say,” We are happy of what was being done by our ancestors,” “and of course, we need their guidance.” One might know, at the example of Ndumbi, that most of the places today on the African continent are being punished for their misconducts and reckless behaviors towards matters of high importance and special warnings. Today, all-important matters of traditions and values are very much neglected. Borders and boundaries made by human being cannot stop us from continuing to promote our traditional society into marvelous values that we need for the survival of our future generation. Many things copied up until today from other traditions and societies, so far, have not succeeded. One should bear in mind that the traditional and modern African society needs the reconciliation of values with their masters where the experience lies. Many have only started to pretend to know very well what they are while ignoring where they are coming from. Nothing has existed on its own. Africans, today, need their traditional society surrounded by traditional values wherever they are living in to consolidate values and promote them. One will stand and request Africans, in this category, to revitalize traditional values. The consolidation of African values has nothing to do with what can be seen as the sale of our culture to others. In addition, the sale of our own culture is being considered as the result of troubles and diseases people are facing in major cities and countries of Africa. The negligence of traditional values has also resulted in the lack of handling distinctly what Africans have as authority- product of inheritance.

About the Author

Teddy L.Osembe is from a family of seven. My father and mother are both from Democratic Republic of Congo. I am the first born in my family and have four brothers and two sisters. Time seeming to be jealous I did my secondary school at college Saint Louis in the province of Western Kasai in DRC.It was at a Catholic school where I completed my secondary studies in 1997. I was 19 when I completed my secondary school. Then I went to University to do my studies in Medicine that I never completed. However, I completed only my first year at University Francophone International. My father Mubenga Kajingulu Somwe got a chance to go and further his studies in the UK in 1984 and he got his PhD in TEFL. My family is not from a rich class; however, my mother Bijimine Netumone had preferred to run a business in order to support the family. In my young age, I liked my grandmother, young sister to my grandfather who had time to tell me about stories that I am actually writing. I have spent my 22 years in the region of Western Kasai where my father used to work at a higher education institution. This province is in the heart of Democratic Republic of Congo and since DR Congo is in the center of Africa, I consider the province as being geographically the center of the world. In addition, most of the things that used to happen and that I used to see are the source of my inspiration in the writing of my manuscripts that are waiting to be published. Since I did not have a chance to continue with Medicine I still want to continue with my studies and I am currently pursuing my degree in Computer science education in Durban, South Africa. I got married to a South African whose name is Pretty Zulu Osembe and we are living in Durban.

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About the Author

My father decided in 1999 to fly to Zambia after bad experiences from our DRC. In all my situation of living in Zambia, examples of good memory have made my mind realize that I can let people outside my sphere know other things that are happening in other places like in my country DR Congo.