X-FILES FROM THE VILLAGE- TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD

Monday

"You see this madness of acrobatics where one puts their legs on the bicycle handlebars, lift hands in the air as they slope down Nakunuku? It is what killed his brother, Wayeno," Walumbe chided as Nekemiah rode past the elderly but strongly built village defense chief. Having lived all his life along the road, he has seen countless bicycle accidents happen on this road, and most of them are caused by reckless riding by the young men. His wife knew that Walumbe is always concerned about the welfare of the young men in the area and beyond. But she teasingly shot back, "You're just jealousy of the boy because you cannot do what he is doing. Let them enjoy their age."

Tuesday

"Woman, you never saw me in my teenage. Only that in our years the bicycle was a rarity, only to be found in the homes of the chiefs and the headmasters. Therefore, we learnt to ride by stealthily accessing Chief Wananda's bicycle through his son. We would ride in turns, with each round costing you a piece (inyengo) of sugarcane. But because Wananda's son had an eye for my sister Wanyenya, I was always able to drive an extra mile due to my closeness to the crown prince of the village."

Wednesday

"But before bicycles were given to the chiefs, there was only one bicycle we could see in this area, and it was ridden by Semei Kakungulu. By then, I was still a young boy. Most people referred to it as a two-legged metallic horse. And being what he was, Semei was not ready to tell us the truth. So, every time he could visit the sub-county, we were asked to carry milk to be given to the horse. Apparently, Semei's horse used to drink milk and did not eat grass like other donkeys and horses. Therefore, he would come with a big imuuka (gourd), and everyone who went to view the horse would take with them milk as a gift. Little did we know that Semei was the horse that drank the milk, and this was just a bicycle."

Thursday

Walumbe continued:

"So, around that time when we had come of age, more bicycles were brought into the area. But, if a big person gave you the honor of pushing their bicycle, you were not allowed to ride it. One time, the headmaster of Musese gave me a bicycle to take to his house. When I went around the corner, I got tempted and started by pedaling one side before garnering the courage to lift my leg over the frame. But because I was short, I could not reach the seat. I therefore rode on the frame—kumutti. When I was approaching his house, I got off and pushed it to the house. One thing I forgot was that I had not cleaned my behind well. My contact with the frame left some stains and a small stench that gave me away. For riding the headmaster's bicycle, I got some good beating at home."

Friday

As Walumbe was still telling the tale of his experience with bicycles, Nekemiah came back pushing the bicycle with a limp. His face had bruises, and you could tell that he had just had a fall from his bicycle. Walumbe walked slowly to Nekemiah in a perceived show of empathy, saying, "Itsila ikhaboola, shiina ndi?" meaning the path does not tell what lies ahead of you. Nekemiah intimated how the bicycle hit a rock, and he came tumbling down. Slowly, Walumbe walked toward him, relieved Nekemiah of the bicycle, and asked him to follow Walumbe to his house. He calmly rested the bicycle on the mango tree, went behind his house as if to get water for the injured boy. He instead returned holding a stick behind his back, got hold of Nekemiah, and gave him 5 strokes to the buttocks.

Saturday

It takes a village to raise a child—and especially a boy, they say.

After caning him, Walumbe confiscated the bicycle and asked Nekemiah to go and call his father to pick it. That is Walumbe. The boy went home knowing that this ordeal is going to earn him more canes. What could he do?

That is when the village buddies come in.

Sunday

The bicycle was rescued. The parents were not i
nformed until Sunday when Walumbe found them at church.