by Ibrahim Nyanda
đ Proverb Essay Contest
"Why is it that our village is not developed compared to other villages around us? Many young people our age from other villages have studied, and some have found their meaningful jobs in the city. Although there's a school in our village, we young people aren't doing well in school. When teachers are hired, they donât stay long, they leave. What is there here in Bombambili?â These were the questions that the young man Akilimali asked his friend Manase while they were grazing the cattle.Â
After this question, Manese seemed immersed in a great wave of thoughts ,and after considering for a while, he turned to his friend, looked at him deeply and asked him, âDo you believe in witchcraft?â Akilimali answered by nodding his head in agreement and said, âI believe, because Iâve often seen people going to witch doctors, and when they go through difficulties, they believe they've been bewitched. Donât you remember the other day when we were told that Granny Andunje was found on the roof of old man Masanja stark naked, practicing witchcraft at night. So after that, how can I not believe, my friend?â
Manase looked at Akilimali carefully and then said to him âI want to tell you a secret that you wonât believe... Do you know your mother and your sister are witches?â Akilimali remained dumbfounded like a lizard caught in a door, and then, swelling with anger, he told Manase âWoah, hey kid, donât start bringing me this nonsense, you stop calling my mom a witch or Iâll show you something you wonât believe with your eyes, ohoooo!!âÂ
Manase calmed his friend Akilimali, then told him âWait for me to return the cows to the neighbor, then Iâll tell you the whole story. I know youâll understand, you just chill out. â
As soon as he has returned the livestock, Manase began telling Akilimali, âMy friend, I want to tell you a secret that Iâve kept for a long time. Everything you see here -- even the lack of development in the village -- itâs because of witchcraft. Every day I see your mom and your sister riding a hyaena. They pass by my mom's house, going to bewitch people...â Manase paused a little, then continued
"You canât believe it-- even I didnât believe it until I was anointed with a special potion and saw them. Iâll give you this potion tonight. Apply it in your eyes and youâll give me an answer tomorrow.â
After dinner, Akilimali was warming himself by the fire with his dad, outside their mud house thatched with grass, while his mom and sister were inside. He applied the potion as directed... and after ten minutes he saw his sister and his mom riding the hyena like a motorcycle, ready to embark on their voyage to bewitch people!
âForgive me my friend, it was just anger.â Akilimali spoke these words choking back tears.Â
âI knew it. Now you see our village is not developing and even your own mom and sister are involved. Every villager who wants to bring development ends up dead. One day they'll end up like Granny Andunje."
âIâm sure even your dad doesnât know that your mom and sister are witches, and every day they go out to bewitch people and leave you two a magic trick to make you think theyâre around. Go put that potion in your dad's eyes, then youâll give me an answerâ explained Manase.Â
That evening, secretly, Akilimali explained to his dad that his sister and his mom were witches, a thing which his dad vehemently denied.Â
âMom, today Dad is watching us; look how he is staring at us,â Akilimaliâs sister told their mom, riding the hyena as before, as their dad and brother were outside warming themselves as they usually did.
âI donât think he sees us; turn the hyena so it looks like weâre heading towards them,â Akilimaliâs mom said.
Akilimali says that was the last day he saw his father, because after seeing the hyena carrying his wife and daughter, he bolted like he was running the hundred-meter dash. Indeed, what you donât know is like the darkness of the night, Akilimali was left in disbelief that all this time he lived with his mom and sister not knowing they were witches.
