JACINTA_SHITANDI - Profile

The world was gradually changing and people were doing away with the traditional ways of life. The missionaries had arrived in the region to advocate for Christianity. The community believed in a supreme being called 'Were'. The community also believed in the power of ancestors and the living dead. They would manipulate the spirits for use in the community either negatively or positively. The spirit was significantly use to intervene in a special case or to pass a message. Now Christianity was taking space. Obulala was not left behind. He was very keen and willing to learn a new religion. The Africans who were willing to be to to transform to Christianity would be put in one room and taught how to read their bibles. They had to undergo some formal training for easy facilitation of the process. Obulala would take along with his brother Indasimba to learn the new religion. The two brothers were too close to each other to an extend Obulala's wife became Jealousy. Obulala had gotten a true companion.

Fortune favour the bold

History · daniel_osaye

One morning the couple woke up happy as usual. The day has began well. The dew on grass was shining like broken glasses exposed to direct sunlight. The birds were singing melodiously in unison signifying the start of a good day. The aroma of the cooked food filled the air. Indeed wise men said a good day is seen in the morning. But this time they were wrong as the turn of events thereafter was not pleasing. A short bearded man arrived in the homestead. The man claimed to have come to pick his wife. Obulala was really confused by the turn of events. All along he had known to have inherited a wife. Omulamuzi had earlier disclosed to Asweda about her previous relationship. She had confessed that her husband died several years back and that he only wanted a roof over her head. It was really a hard time for the young man to intervene. He just sat down staring at the stranger. After a long period of silence, Obulala could be heard uttering some words. He would be heard telling the two to leave his home peacefully without much tension. The man who Introduced himself as Shivling was ready to fight. Shivling demanded compensation was Obulala for having illegally staying with his wife. When Obulala saw things becoming serious, he ran into a nearby bush and disappeared. Obulala knew that he was living among stranger hence his life would be in danger.

Fortune favour the bold

History · daniel_osaye

Despite being in a foreign land, Obulala knew that life must continue. He married a a new wife and settled down to concentrate on real life issues. His new wife was called Omulamuzi. Love existed despite the huge gap in age between the couple. Omulamuzi was fifty years woman while her husband was twenty four years old. It was clear that the man wanted to escape unnecessary expense by marrying an older woman. Young women were on demand and expensive to maintain. Considering his new status in the foreign land, what he wanted was only a wifely figure around him. The wife Omulamuzi was beyond the child bearing age and any attempt to have children was fruitless. They led a happy marriage and everyone wanted to emulate them. The couple were a role model to many. Omulamuzi really respected her husband.

Fortune favour the bold

History · daniel_osaye

The man Obulala went back to his previous work. He majorly concentrated on animal keeping. He was really a hardworking and his wealth multiplied rapidly. The man felt insecure and made arrangement to foster security around him. He invested in dog keeping to provide maximum security. The dogs really provided maximum security for his animals and personal life. It came a time of first world war. The Africans chiefs were being use to recommend and give out energetic men for that mission. It was unfortunate that Obulala was among the chosen men to go and fight for the European country. When Obulala heard that he was among the people to be ferried to foreign country, he quickly made a decision to permanently hide himself. He ran into a far village.He felt his god 'were' was not fair. He really complained to 'Were' for the misfortune that befell him. Were was the name of the supreme being that the community believed in.

Fortune favour the bold

History · daniel_osaye

One evening, something came into Obualal's mind. He thought to forceful escape at the mid night. Obulala was a huge man with well developed body muscles. He was not only rough but also a rough man. He fought the security guard and disappeared into the thin air. The few minutes he fought the guard left much impact. The security guard was greatly injured with fractured hand and leg. Obulala returned home to unite back with the family. Although most of their land had been grabbed, they had a fortune to posses some land. He was warmly welcomed home. He had much to tell the family. It was a great moment for the family and they had to organize for a ceremony.

Fortune favour the bold

History · daniel_osaye

Shortly after the missionary, there came other white visitors into the community. Unlike the missionary, this white visitors were somehow arrogant to the community. Despite the community being friendly to them, they took advantage to harass the community. They would grab large fertile track of lands for themselves. The original land owners would be forced to work for long hours as slaves in the white men farm. Obulala was one of the slaves who was forcefully grabbed to serve as a slave. He lost his wealth in the process. Things were really tough on the ground and Obulala had think of ways to escape. When Obulala got tired, he risked to escape boldly. His escape attempts was hindered by the harsh white security guards at the farm.

Fortune favour the bold

History · daniel_osaye

Obulala had to look for his younger step brother Indasimba. They had to cooperate to make things work out. Although Indasimba was a step brother, they were much related compared to Thishida Nasimalwa because they shared a common father. Obulala preferred Indasimba over his step brother Thishida Nasimalwa. Although Indasimba was a step brother, they were more related considering they had a common father. The two brothers had to work together for their own success. The elderly brother had to advice and guide the young brother for prosperity. There developed a bond between the two brothers and they normally had common business deals. Obulala had found a new companion to an extend his wife became jealousy about them. They would always be seen together.

Fortune favour the bold

History · daniel_osaye

Another thing happened, and it was now a very difficult thing for the family to intervene. Thishida started crying continuously without ceasing. As sure as the sun rises from the east, Asweda knew that it was a naming wrangle. It was clearly known that such incidence often happens to born babies when an ancestor need to be named after. Now the difficult thing was to identify the exact ancestor who need to be named. There was a procedure which was usually presided over by the grandmother of the child. For this reason, the grandmother was informed to come and rescue the situation. The new mother was really worried as this was the first time he was experiencing such a thing. She tried to make the baby comfortable by bathing but still could no cease crying. The baby could not still breast feed and the only thing was crying. The grandmother arrived and started chanting the name of the ancestors. He pronounced all the names and all got exhausted but still could not calm the situation. He had exhausted all the names associated with males. It was now getting late and night was approaching. The child had cried the whole day. The grandmother grabbed the child and started throwing him up and grabbing him in the air. Now she started again, " Ewe Nasimalwa ni ewe, vache lola, hane ni ewe urusumbuanga, vurera lwangu". Immediately the child stopped crying. The exact name had been identified and the child was to be named Nasimalwa although the name was associated by feminine. 

Fortune favour the bold

History · daniel_osaye

Now evening came and it was now the time for the party to take place. The preparation was done in advance. Several animals were slaughtered and Busaa was set in place. Busaa was a highly valued traditional brew for the luhya community. A variety of traditional foods was present. It came a time to start and the traditional band called Nyahangala was present to entertain in the event. The lyric started and everybody took a position showcase his/ her dancing styles. The dance was very entertaining. Indeed it was a great day to the society. Ladies, old, young and men could be seen shaking their shoulders vigorously as they shake their head in conjunction with the musical pattern. Everyone was to take out of stage at his/ her own time. The time for food came and people ate to their full. Now the old took their position to drink Busaa in the strategic corners of the home compound. Fire was lit to provide warmth as they drunk their brew. Their was four big pot put in the strategic position of the compound. Each pot was to accommodate more than thirty people. They had to sip the using a straw. The party ended late in the night.

Fortune favour the bold

History · daniel_osaye

Asweda was assigned and attended to by a tradition medicine healer. There was a mixed reaction between happiness and sadness. That evening, a party was to be organized and animals were to be slaughtered to appease the ancestors and reconcile with them in an event the family went against their wish. Asweda lying next to his son could be heard thanking were for the son. The son was to called Thishinda according to the culture alongside other Ancestral name. Thishinda was a name given to a baby born during a very difficult time. "Thishida, am gladly welcoming you to this world, the world of struggle and as a man you have to up your game" said the father.

Fortune favour the bold

History · daniel_osaye

At home things was messy, everyone was waiting to positive feedback from Asweda. It came a time to deliver and Suzana being a strong lady gave birth successfully to a bouncing baby boy. During the delivery process, as Suzana was struggling to welcome his first born, the sister in-laws were singing inspiration song to give her moral. "Ogungo hatari Namrembo Omuogo kwa Ingiland" sang the sister in laws. The song meant that Suzana was a strong lady being compared to a cassava that originated from England, which was normally thought to be hard compared to the locally available ones. The baby was welcomed by ululations and vigorous dancing styles by all the extended family members.

Fortune favour the bold

History · daniel_osaye

Asweda arrived in Owino's home in a manner that would suggest something was messy. The loud deep voice could be heard calling Owino. In response a soft voice responded, "Owino has been send to deliver a message few weeks ago by the chief and was yet to come". Having no other option, Asweda had to go my himself although it would take him time because he was not a professional runner. One hour later, he was seriously sweating while breathing so loudly that you could think the heart will burst out the chest. A bad thing happened and this angered Asweda to an extend he clicked and almost cursed Were. 'Were' was the name for supernatural being the community believed in. It was a very unfortunate thing to the entire family. Asweda had hit his led hard on a harp sharp rock that left his left leg with a huge cut as blood came out at a rate that was really worrying. The right leg had a fracture. I t is believed that Asweda was at high speed beyond control when the incidence happened that made him fall instantly.

Fortune favour the bold

History · daniel_osaye

One hot afternoon, In the second home of the great Asweda Asweda, when everyone was under a shed resting after struggling with a huge ugali with pig weed. Ugali was a staple meal for luhya community made boiling the crushed dried maize. Normally in African society especially the luhya culture, people usually have a great rest after the noon meal. Suddenly there came a tension. Asweda's wife Suzana was experiencing serious labor pains. Suzana yelled so loudly that everybody was terrified. The sister in law's to Suzana hurriedly picked her up and took her to her muddy hut and laid on an animal skin facing up. she was then covered with an animal skill. Meanwhile, Asweda ran helter skelter to go and look for a long distance runner who was to run to the neighboring village to look for a traditional mid-wife who would assist in the delivery process. It was so unfortunate that the entire village had no single traditional mid-wife to an extend a runner had to be sent to the neighboring village which was several miles away.

Fortune favour the bold

History · daniel_osaye