A dark cloud hangs over the village as we gather in response to the summons for the meeting. One of its kind. It is not everyday that we have so many people from different clans gather in this place; the gathering shows the importance of the matter.
The sombre mood is worsened by the incidents of the last 2 months where there is a notable disregard for the laws of the land. Mutenyo from Bawabuyi circumcised all his children in the hospital, worst of all, he circumcised them in the “year of girls”. According to traditional, circumcision among Bakyiisu is supposed to be conducted in even years and the odd years are always referred to as the year of the girls. Mutenyo, in defiance of tradition decided to circumcise all his 4 boys in the year of girls. He took them to hospital in what we refer to as Lubaawo.
Tuesday
Secondly, once a lucrative custom, now Bumakoki is being disregarded. Bumakoki is a bond created when boys are circumcised in the same year. Those who share the year of circumcision refer to each other as Makoki.
“We don’t know what will become of our children” Walyaula rested his chin on his isoonyi as he used his toes to scribble into the ground. “Even the respect for the elders seems to be waning. We truly don’t know what will become of their future.”
Wednesday
“How can I expect anything good of Mutenyo’s children after what happened? I am told that even one of them joined their father to humiliate Mungasa who had gone to demand Bumakoki.”
When a boy is circumcised, his fathers circumcision mates - Bamakoki are entitled entitled to a token. A Makoki will camp in the home and must not talk to anyone until he is handed his token which may be in form of chicken or a goat. It is after the token is handed over that Makoki can then talk to the members of the homestead. It is said that when Makoki is not given a befitting token, he has the power to cast a spell on the boy’s incision wound. He can even cast a spell on the boy’s manhood. But in a bizaare event was Khaukha who cast a spell on Mwelu and the foreskin returned to the penis.
Mwelu had to undergo circumcision twice.
That is how powerful Makoki is!
Thursday
The meeting began as if it had not begun. Everyone just realized that Mungasa was speaking and we had to give him our attention.
“………….become people who deny their roots, we are at risk of losing our identity. When we lose our identity, we risk losing direction and when we lose direction, what shall follow?” He rhetorically asked. As if to answer himself, “We shall lose ourselves. We appreciate that we belong to different religions but no religion should tell you to discard your identity. To discredit your tribe and abandon the ways of your people is the same as abandoning self”
As he spoke, you would feel a deep expression of genuine concern in his voice and the body language.
When Mungasa paused to breathe, you could see that somehow, the concern has been transmitted like electricity to the hearts of all other elders around. Even us, the children dared not talk.
Generally, that is how our gatherings begin before erupting into chaos that precedes judgement.
Friday
“How can Mutenyo, the heir of Khatoko, who was handed the spirits of Bawabuyi abandon the ways of his ancestors and the clan not bring him to order?” Mungasa’s deep voice reverberated as he turned around to scan his audience.
You would think that a person speaking was of big stature. But on the contrary, Mungasa is a short man of small build. He walks with a limp and he tells us that he sustained it while running away from Amin people who came searching for men who had participated in a football game organised by Maumbe Mukhwana who was actively recruiting rebels for FRONASA.
Back to the meeting, audience was already swayed, the people were convinced that something is wrong. But what would they do about it? Gone are days! We would now have matched to Mutenyo's home and brought it to order, but we cannot do that anymore. The last time we tried to confiscate Mukyelo's land and transfer his inheritance, we all recall what happened
Mungasa continued, “As I sit, I challenge this gathering to come up with a solution to this problem. If we don’t, we shall be judged as a generation that destroyed the tribe. isse nababoleye”, he chimed as he took his seat besides Walyaula.
Surprisingly, even after Mungasa’s passionate appeal, there was no other comment on Mutenyo’s issues because we have gathered for some other case which seems to be more important than Mungasa being denied Bumakoki by Mutenyo, moreover during the "girl’s year". From the loud silent “response” to Mungasa’s concern, you could feel that his was regarded as a complaint about not being given a token by Mutenyo and not a general concern for the tribe.
Saturday
All the attention now turned to Sakwa’s issue. It started with Mzei Wepukhulu telling us the lineage of Banambutye and how they directly descended from Wabuyi. Today, Sakwa is not accused of sleeping with an under age Agnes. Sakwa is accused of using Agnes to shed off his boyhood in a ritual known as khukhala kumulindi and worst of all, he did it at a funeral which under normal circumstances would be referred to us khusaala umuffu (replacing the dead).
Before the hearing started, we looked forward to an excruciatingly protracted case, one which would lead to counter-accusations, arguments and maybe permanent enmity between the two families or clans. Everyone was surprised when Sakwa's family acknowledged what had happened, apologised and asked that they be allowed to marry Agnes. It was agreeable. But as a precaution, it was decided that two goats should be slaughtered to appease the ancestors (khuwossa bakuka).
Sunday
“As usual, a goat has to pay for a man's wrongs” a comment that got us laughing.
Till then, we shall keep you posted!
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