Mango against the mighty Yabebe

Bravity at the Time of Need

Part I: Fearless in the face of the Ravaging Beast

A simple internet search, informs of over 5,000 serpent stories and myths around the world. From the multi-headed serpent king (Mucalinda) of the Angkor of Cambodia, the Dahn-gbi snake of the Dahomeyans of North Africa and Nighoggr Snake-dragon of the Greek. Talk of Nehushtan healer-snake made by Moses (Numbers 21:8) and Wadjet, the Egyptian serpent: Poloz, giant snake in Ural of Siberia, and to Shesha dragon in Hindu. There is Oshunmare mighty serpent of Yoruba, the deadly Betsileo of Madagascar, Yamakachi monstrous snake among the Japanese and Ningizzida in the Epic of Gilgamesh. Or read about the Arkaroo in Aboriginal Australian folklore, a great snake that sucked a whole Lake Forme dry!

What the internet and our history books fail to detail us is that of a giant snake in Bukusu folklore. Take a look at awe-inspiring narration overshadowed by Banto-phobic history writers of our time.  A story of dreadful half-flying snake-dragon: Khururwe Yabebe and an extra-brave man Mango.

It was in early 1700s when Mango was born in the household of Bwayo Omukhurarwa, a clan that utters sisiilao (oath) to Munyole cluster. They lived in Mwiala, Northward of Bwayi Hills (present day Amukura).  He was a brave young man, popular among the peers. At the time, Wakhulunya was the tribal leader while Mango’s father was Omukasa (elder).

At first, the community began losing livestock mysteriously. Then, there were reported cases of missing children. In low tongues, a rumor went round that a doomsday serpent existed in Mwiala.  Not even the bravest warrior could live in its presence. Fear set in but the political class led by Wakhulunya felt powerless.  Even surrounding communities Bayumbu (Tachoni) and Barwa Balaku (Sabaot) were dumbfounded by the stories of mysterious killer-beast. Indeed, the prophesy (or rather a curse) by Maina wa Nalukale had come true. Didn’t he say that Bukusu will go around Mount Masaaba twice and stop when they meet brown people and Black Big Snake?

Yabebe was vicious and enormous in size.  Its deep-set red eyes awakening hell to the victims.  The eyes flashed flaming embers making it able to see even tiniest objects in the dead of the night. Its jaws were enormous with overgrown whiskers like that of a he-goat. Red, white and black stripes ran round the neck.  The head looked like a crude rock and its large mouth hid deadly venom and oversized forked tongue.  It moved with might, rumbled with thunder, bleating like a giant goat.  It would crawl lazily but was also capable of half-flying like a huge raven. Tradition has it that lonely sojourners started walking around with Lususi (grinding stone) lest endemu ya bebe picks them up!

One fine day, Nakhosi the son of Khakula, was swallowed while in Mumailo (herding).  Khakula, Omumeme was a respected seer who at one time prophesized war by throwing a spear through the flesh of warriors without hurting them (in later narrations).  As people contemplated on the high-profile killing, reports came in that Mango’ son Malaba was no more. Mango become enraged by endemu ya bebe and swore to bring it down single-handedly. Barwa joked with him that if he killed the serpent, they would get him circumcised and offered a beautiful bride for marriage.

It is to remembered that Bukusu as a community had lost track of circumcision by Mango time. Since the disastrous defeat of Bukusu in the plains of Silikwa, the unending wars prompted constant migrations through settlements such as Ebutubile, Enamanjalala, Esamoya and Ekukumayi. As such, their customary circumcision outlook was destabilized. Circumcision had become rare only left to elders’ families. While Bukusu carried out circumcision after every one harvest (every even year), the Barwa neighbors did it sparingly –from 7 to 15 years.

Back on Mango’s troubles, the son of Bwayo, began with intelligence gathering.  He commissioned a group of brave Barwa Balaku to find out the feeding patterns of the beast. Reports indicated that the giant snake retired in a huge cave after midday after a day's hunt.  Then it curled into a massive heap, placing its head at the entrance of the cave.

Mango was determined to kill the fearsome serpent. On the auspicious day, Mango rose early. He gathered his tools of instruments; Embalu (sword – name later given for the word circumcision), Wamachari (short spears likened to those in Zululand), shield and Lisaakha (long spear). For hours, Mango sat sharpening the tools that would determine his fate. He also chopped a huge log, to be used as improvised pillow for the serpent. He then stripped naked by the riverside and smeared mud to conceal body odor. When it was done, the son of Bwayo headed to the cave. He crept in and stood still to become accustomed to the darkness. As far as three miles away, crowds of people gathered to see the fate of a young brave man, who dared to do what the gods themselves could not.

In the nick of time, strange sounds and movements at the mouth of the cave startled Mango. He held his breathe. The serpent arrived at the entrance and sniffed the log. In a well-calculated tact, the monster made a sharp turn making an inspection trip around the cave bending and felling trees in its way. Some watchers ran in fear thinking Mango had been killed. On being satisfied with the security situation of its abode, the snake made way into the cave making normal maneuvers, oblivious of the uninvited guest lurking darkness....

To be continued...........................