BASED ON THE TRUTH
Back in 1920’s when the Whiteman
were believed to have dominated most part of Kenya during the colonial period;
many Africans rebelled the white man’s rule; because of their biased colonial
rules they had imposed .i.e. tax
collection, carrying kipande system, forced waged labor etc.
In those years in the deep forest of
Kitui their lived a rebel to the Whiteman’s rule called Matenzawa. He never
paid tribute to any Whiteman’s ways
including tax collection which was
vigilantly collected by the Whiteman’s-African- puppets (this were Africans from local tribes
who were used to help the Whiteman’s
govern their colonies effectively.
Although Matenzewa lived in the
forest, he had a house, wife, daughter and a son, which he visited after some
days or weeks in the forest. He lived in the forest by hunting and gathering
wild fruits and honey, mostly hiding from the Whiteman. He was an archer,
gigantic with tall dreadlocks which extended down to his back.
After hiding for a long time and
evading tax for years, Karobwe (one of the African puppets) from one of the
colonial posts in Kitui requested for a gun from one of the Whiteman to go and
hunt Matenzewa. He was given a gun under a condition that he was to return with
Matenzawa’s head.
Karobwe started his quest which took
him 3 days on the way and to reach Matenzawa’s neighborhood. He encamped on one
of Matenzawa’s neighbors and enquired about him, time, and days he came back
home from the forest. After getting the information he set a trap for him, by
hiding in the nearby bushes close to his house. He waited for him for 3 days
between the time he was told he used to come (between 8-10 o’clock) but he
never saw him.
On the fourth day, by the time he
was told by the neighbors he saw Matenzawa carrying a dead animal; on his back
a bow and arrows. Karobwe was not in haste he observed first. When Matenzawa
came home he greeted his wife and children and gave them the prey he had hunted
for them. He was told by his wife to sit down and eat something he had prepared
that evening. At the entrance of their house were some huge rocks where
Matenzawa used to dine from. Just as he was about to sit Karobwe without
wasting time shot him on the chest and run with his dagger he cut off his head.
He held the head by the dreadlocks and began his journey back to the post,
happy that he had accomplished his mission.
When the elders and the community
had the evil that had been done by karobwe they sang a song for him saying (we
have seen and witnessed the evil you have done, you have betrayed your people,
the people will sent you a fly, a fly will finish you). The song was sung
beyond boundaries. But to karobwe after returning with the head he was much complimented
and made a senior chief in his area.
After many years one of Matenzawa grandson
became a medical office; and was posted at a town called Kase in Kitui. Then it
happened that karobwe was very sick and decided to sick medication from the
medical officer. When the medical officer saw him he remembered the evil that
Karobwe had done to his family and knew that time for revenge had come. After testing
him, he gave him a mixture of liquid and told him that he will be well soon.
Karobwe was happy about the officer‘s news and set off back home. After a few kilometers
Karobwe started bleeding from the eyes, nose, ears and mouth, the officers who
had escorted him panicked with fear, none dared to touch him. Finally Karobwe
fell down and within a few minutes he was no longer on this world. The medical officer
had poisoned him to revenge for his family.
When the elders and community had
about the death of Karobwe they yet sang another song saying “the evil has been
settled, we told you Karobwe that we will sent you a fly, now the fly has
finished you”. The song was sung again beyond boundaries; and all people knew
that the curse of Karobwe was repaid.
-Prince safari-
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