Tag: Cows

Swahili Tales (1/2)

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The Story of the Rich Man and the Poor Man

There once was a man from a poor family who went looking for a job. A rich man employed him as a pastoralist for his cows. One day, as he was working, a bird came up to him and landed on his shoulder. The bird said, “I have come to help you with your poverty, do you want my help?” The poor man had little to lose, and so he decided to trust the bird. He asked the bird what kind of help he could give, but the bird didn’t answer. Instead, he flew into the sky, and at this moment all of the cows disappeared. The poor man, unsure what to do, went to the rich man and told him that all the cows were mysteriously gone. Upon hearing this, the rich man fired the poor man and evicted him from his land. The poor man was forced to return to the bush, where he once again encountered the bird, who landed on his shoulder and spoke. “From now on you will be a rich man,” the bird said. But the man didn’t understand, he had just lost his job after all, how could he be rich? “Where is this wealth?” he asked the bird. The bird then told the poor man to follow him and flew into the forest, leading the man to where the cows had gone. The bird, landing for the last time on the man’s shoulder told him, “Now you are rich!” The poor man, now turned rich, was shocked at his good fortune and thanked the bird for his help.

Adapted from a story told to me by a man named Bashir during a short research period in Olasiti, Tanzania, 2013. During this time, I interviewed villagers (with the assistance of a Swahili – English translator) about traditional stories as told to them by their parents, grandparents, or other relatives. To be honest, I was not able to hear many stories, as people were often confused by my questions and worried about my intentions. Every few interviews I found a few gems, though, some of which did not translate well, and a couple which I recently found documented in an old notebook. Here is the first of two that I will share with you – next weeks will probably seem a bit more familiar!

Original Swahili:

Hadithi inahusu Tajiri na Masikini
Kuliluwa na mtu mmoja kutoka kwenye familia ya kimasikini. Siku moja alikuenda kutafuta kazi. Akatokea mtu mmoja nakumwajiri kama mfugaji wa mg’ombe wake. Siku moja alipokuwa kazini akatokea ndege mmoja nakutua kwenye bega lake. Ndege huyo alipokuwa kwenya bega lake akamwambia “Nimekuja kukusaidia kutokana na umasinini wako. Je, unataka msaada wangu?” Akachukua maamuzi ya kumwamini ndege. Yule na kumuuliza kitu gani unachotaka ili kunisaidia. Ndege huyo gafla akapaa juu na mifugo yote ikaondoka. Masikini ilibidi kurudi nyumbani kumtaarifu tajiri yake na hapo tajiri yake alichukuwa uamuzu wa kumfukuza. Alipofukuza maskini yule alibidi arudi porini na gafla akakutana na ndege yule. Ndege yule alipomwona yule maskini alimwambia “Kwanzia sasa wew ni taajiri.” Miskini yule alibidi kushanga makumuliza “Je utajiri huwo uko wapi?” Ndege yule alimwambia nifwate. Nasikini yule alipomfwata aliona ile mifugo iliyokimbia gafla ndege akamwambia kwanzia sasa mifungo hii itakuwa ndo utajiri wako. Maskini yule alishangaa nakumshukuru yule ndege.

Violence among Turkana Pastoralists

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“Among the Turkana, it is difficult to underestimate the degree to which raiding and violence influence people’s lives. At any time a herd owner could lose all his livestock, and members of his family could be injured or killed. Even during times of relative peace, the topic of potential raids by enemies is a frequent topic of men’s discussions while sitting under the tree. Throughout the year scouts are sent to unused water holes to look for footprints or other evidence that enemies are nearby. Women know that they are especially vulnerable to enemy raids, as often many of the men are separated from the major awi. Attacks can be vicious, brutal, and deadly, often coming just before dawn with little or no warning” (McCabe 2004: 89).

J. Terrence McCabe’s Cattle Bring us To Our Enemies explores decision making and ecology in an unforgiving landscape. In the unpredictable drought and famine-ridden lands of north-western Kenya, Turkana men preside over herds of camels, sheep, goats, cattle and donkeys. Their decisions are ruled by a non-equilibrium environment and by the social and political dynamics of violence. After asking people to rank their preferences for types of livestock, McCabe learned that women viewed cattle as the least desirable herd animal. “Cattle need grass, and as has just been pointed out, during most times of the year grass can only be found in the southern part of Ngisonyoka territory and in the highlands. In very bad years, grass will only be found in the southern highlands; this is the land that forms the border area with the Pokot. During the sixteen years that I worked with the Ngisonyoka I spent a good deal of time in this border area. The tension is palpable during the time when the families move here. Often women and children refuse to sleep in the awi, fearing night attacks by the Pokot. Environmental conditions and the viability of the pastoral livelihood draw them into the border zone; their safety and that of their livestock push them out. Cattle do indeed bring the Ngisonyoka to their enemies, as they do for the Nuer and many of the other pastoral peoples who migrate with their herds in this very dangerous part of the world” (McCabe 2004: 105).

References:

McCabe, J.T. 2004. Cattle Bring Us to Our Enemies: Turkana Ecology, Politics and Raiding in a Disequilibrium System. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press.