Elders shall phase out and be succeeded by young and new generations.
Maito, maito kaii. It’s time to narrate fables of the Plants and Animals World.
Yasi nanu: The youngest and most tender branch of the palm tree (Moo-mbo mo Liya) had serious worries at the peak of his youthful life at a time when he was standing erect at the top of a very tall palm tree (e-fonda liiya).
So, he sent for Mosongi Inoni, a renowned sorcerer, to come and offer him mystical assistance.
Narrating his ordeal to Mosongi Inoni, Moombo explained:
"Mola koo-ko, neni ma-ongo (My Uncle, I am under-going a distressful experience).
A mysterious force has recently installed itself under my Throne. It is rocking the Throne at short intervals. The tremors are so severe that they have tumbled me thrice out of the Throne”.
Replying Mosongi Inoni, said:
"I understand what is happening. The tremors are echoes of jubilation by over zealous members in the entourage of your successor, giving you notice that the time that you too have to leave the Throne is at hand”.
Moombo retorted
“Mola, why do you say so ?
What reasons have you for suggesting that I have to leave my Throne ?
I will not leave my Throne at all.
You are probably not aware that my people support my stay on the Throne.
Any one who attempts to dethrone me will be crushed up and reduced to “mbgweli’”.(powder/dust)
(“i-Mola, ova fenci nau !:
"jai !
nase-meli !
nasa njii-ya”)
Mosongi Inoni smiled and replied:
"I am not suggesting that you should leave the Throne. I am telling you that willy-nilly you will leave the Throne soon”.
“nanu ndi Ese eveli !
Mefondo me kpwa, messo mi-iki-sene !
Wa ve-leli ave liya !
Wenga kaa-ka ndi mwee-ma”.'
(“This is how/what the World is.
Elders shall phase out and be succeeded by young and new generations. So, you are expected to display a remarkable power of endurance in the circumstances”).
“Look at the branches (veka-ko-wani) surrounding you and the branches lying on the ground. Look at those old, dry plantain leaves (‘miyu-mbwa-ni me liko’). Each of them was at one time, young and tender like you. None of them resisted departure from the Throne.
You seem to be the only creature within living memory in the Plants and Animals World to resist Nature's law on peaceful succession.
The fake support that you claim to be receiving from your people will not supersede Nature's law on succession. You cannot stay on that Throne in perpetuity. You will soon be rushed out if you continue to remain there”.
Moombo was confounded to learn that his dethronement was imminent. He was not prepared to accept the findings of sorcerer Mosongi Inoni. Moombo then without delay consulted a Hausa (Muu-sa) sorcerer.
The Muu-sa (ongo Muu-sa) smiled, since he was about to capture some good money. From the hair from the tail of a cow the Muu-sa weaved a twine, wrapped seven cowries (mbaa-mba) on the twine, tied the fetish twine on Moombo’s waist and said to Moombo: "This is your protection. Go and continue to sit on your Throne".
Moombo mustered up some courage and smiled, believing that it was all well now. However, under one month (mbgwe-nda Loova fo) the enthronement of a new Moombo on top of the palm tree vindicated the wise words of sorcerer Mosongo Inoni, namely:
“mefondo me kpwa, messo mi-iki-sene".
nanu ndi Ese eveli !
(“The tall, that is, elders/incumbents shall phase out and be succeeded by young and new generations. This how/what the World is").
The out-going Moombo mo liiya, like his predecessors, now became known as
"eka-ko-wana liiya ". The colour of his leaves changed from cream/white to green; thorns grew on his sides; he became curved, and could no longer stand erect.
Finally, he too dropped from the trunk of the palm tree and joined his predecessors on the ground.
Lexicon:
moo-mbo mo liiya = the youngest and most tender branch of a palm tree. It has no thorns. The colour is white/cream.
efondo = very tall; plural “vefondo”.
molonda = a fetish twine that somebody ties either round his waist, his arm, or his ankle.
Oma Nanu
Imba Thomas Mbua Ndoko
Dallas Tx, USA
Comments