Burdens
You may not remember but I do. It’s a very small book yet with pulsating drama. The most interesting of the play is the story Tinka tells Kaija about Chief Ngoma! I recount it once more. "Once upon a time, Ngoma, the chief had a beautiful daughter, Nyenje. He placed Nyenje's umbilical cord in a gourd. He sent word round that whoever wanted her beautiful hand had 2 prove his prowess by climbing a very tall tree n bringing down in one piece, the gourd containing her umbilical cord! Chiefs n princes tried their luck with no success. Hunters n herdsmen, too. But the mvule tree was very tall! All the time Nyenje's beauty dazzled their eyes...and out of nowhere came a leper. A common leper stinking with leprosy and commonness. Dragging misery behind him. A leper. He too, wanted to climb e mvule tree! People ran away in horror. From safe hide outs they laughed tears n threw stones at him. He simply did not mind their laughter, 4 laughter, he said was like rain. It comes n goes; and besides, he said, the wise laugh at ugliness, the fools at disease
They laughed. Those people laughed. But Ngoma was a fair man. He let him try his luck. As he did, Nyenje was tucked in a corner drenched in tears…..as the leper climbed the trees and sang his song. He said Nyenje’s beauty was unequalled. He climbed. He wished he was the moon up in the skies for then he would see her full beauty as she bathed. He said he envied the backcloths on her bed, for they knew how warm her embrace was. He climbed higher. And the higher he climbed, the lower the heart of Nyenje sunk. You see, Nyenje’s neck was like a crested crane. She had rings and rings of beauty beads. Her teeth were whiter then milk. The more the leper saw it, the higher and higher he climbed. And as he neared the gourd, Ngoma regretted his fairness. How could her daughter. Whose gums were darker than soot and whose feet a Musambya leaf laden with dew marry a leper….Ngoma changed tact….he bid his subjects tie a band around his tired loins……..
Your guess on what happened next?
They laughed. Those people laughed. But Ngoma was a fair man. He let him try his luck. As he did, Nyenje was tucked in a corner drenched in tears…..as the leper climbed the trees and sang his song. He said Nyenje’s beauty was unequalled. He climbed. He wished he was the moon up in the skies for then he would see her full beauty as she bathed. He said he envied the backcloths on her bed, for they knew how warm her embrace was. He climbed higher. And the higher he climbed, the lower the heart of Nyenje sunk. You see, Nyenje’s neck was like a crested crane. She had rings and rings of beauty beads. Her teeth were whiter then milk. The more the leper saw it, the higher and higher he climbed. And as he neared the gourd, Ngoma regretted his fairness. How could her daughter. Whose gums were darker than soot and whose feet a Musambya leaf laden with dew marry a leper….Ngoma changed tact….he bid his subjects tie a band around his tired loins……..
Your guess on what happened next?
