To Brahmuhn, the feast felt like deja vu. It was like re-living the marriage of his mother to Chief Mbada those fourteen years ago. The ear-piercing ululations, countless and tempting foods and of course, inevitably, the drunkards scattered everywhere mumbling inaudible yet irritating mumbo-jumbo to each other or passing rude jeers to passing women.
Cheetah looked deep in conversation with a man a short distance from where Brahmuhn was sitting.
Brahmuhn had no interest whatsoever in traditional beer but rather, he was obsessed with his mbanje. However, on this particular night he was not in the mood for a smoke. He had decided to allow his anger to take control of his mind. He was sitting by a fire in the company of Bhonzo, Ngoni and two other men. One of them looked like he was Chief Mbada’s advisor. The four men were sharing a gourd of beer whilst Brahmuhn’s eyes were concentrating on the flames before him. He could not stop picturing his father’s death. The painfu
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Mighty Brahmuhn 42. The Two Chiefs
The following day, Brahmuhn and Chief Mbada were taking a stroll outside the compound, walking through the village. ‘You see all of this, Brahmuhn?’ said Mbada, ‘All this wealth and beauty that is Matanda Village? This is the work of my hands!’ He beat his massive chest in pride. ‘I’m sure your people deserve credit too, right? I mean, there is no chiefdom without the people,’ Brahmuhn said. Chief Mbada laughed disdainfully. The laugh was so hoarse, arrogant and annoying that Brahmuhn fought every fiber in his body to slap Chief Mbada in the face. ‘Do not be so naïve, Brahmuhn!’ he gave him a friendly yet hard slap on his back. ‘The people are only there to compliment the works of the chief; to acknowledge his excellence. Why do you think Mwari created us in the first place? To add value to his excellence through the acknowledgement and appreciation of his power!’ ‘I do not acknowledge any deity by that name, but all I know
Mighty Brahmuhn 43. The Battle for Supremacy
Chief Mbada looked threatening and voracious like a cornered leopard as he now stood ten feet from Brahmuhn. The entire village had made a large circle around them. Mbada was breathing heavily. His eyes were like that of a lion, engrossed with both hatred and disgust for Brahmuhn. ‘Ngoni! Bhonzo! Kill this bastard!’ he ordered them without even taking his eye off his enemy.The two brutes shuffled their feet hopelessly in the dust. ‘But…but, my chief,’ Ngoni started.He grabbed them from behind their necks and pushed them towards Brahmuhn as easily as little children. ‘Kill him or I kill you!’Two of the Gorivas threw their spears at Ngoni and Bhonzo’s feet.They hesitantly picked the spears up. They seemed to be actually taking their time. ‘My…my chief…’ Bhonzo this time.‘KILL HIM!!!’Without thinking, they rushed towards Brahmuhn, waving their spears in the air yel
Mighty Brahmuhn 44. New Beginnings
As soon as the Ndebele had driven off the Matanda warriors, they returned singing loudly in their tongue.The remaining Matanda villagers cowered in fear when they saw the Ndebele approach.‘Do no harm to them,’ Brahmuhn told the Ndebele warriors. ‘These…these are my people.’ He fell onto the ground.‘Tawana!’ Tsitsi raised his head up into her arms.‘My chief!’ Cheetah also shouted in concern.Leading the Ndebele warriors was Bhekumuzi, the chief of the village Brahmuhn had saved from the ntokolishi (goblins). He came and stood before Brahmuhn with the entire army behind him. He smiled. ‘I guess my debt is paid, Brahmuhn.’From within the Ndebele army emerged Shumba and Tortoise.Tortoise stepped forward. ‘My chief, word of how you liberated a lot of the Shona villages and the Ndebele villages in your journey spread like wildfire. You are now a hero among both the Shona and t
Mighty Brahmuhn 1. Stirring Dust
Their coarse, black skins could hardly bear the heat of the African sun. They walked with little words spoken to each other.The weather was unbearable and it limited their speech. They had drunk water from the well a few minutes ago but it was not long before the intense heat reminded them of the summer thirst of Zimbabwe. This was partly the hardship of Bulawayo. Greater problems abound, what with the war between the Shona tribes and the Ndebele tribes over land, celebration was always short-lived especially in their village: the Matanda Village.Tawana was trying to keep up with his father, Farai Masimba, who was carrying an impala across his shoulders walking ahead of him. Now at fourteen years of age, Tawana had actually seen his father hunt different kinds of animals like impalas, rabbits and the elusive duiker. Any animal bigger than the impala or the duiker was impossible for Farai. He was now thirty-eight years old. He was a thin but strong man with sparse stran
Mighty Brahmuhn 2. Royal Visit
He grabbed her hand and clasped it in hers. It felt rough, like sand fresh and seasoned in a drought. The mark was still there. The mark she had hidden for almost half her life. Once greeted by people, when one saw the mark, the conversation would become serious. Tawana also had the same mark. The mark was a tattoo at the back of their right hand. It was a small symbol of the sun with a smile, a nose but no eyes. He had always asked her about their tattoo and why it was only the two of them who had it in the village. As usual, she would avoid answering the question which made him think of it as being of some importance. ‘Mother, please…’ he insisted, ‘…what’s wrong?’She had now turned silent, staring blankly into the dying smoke of the fire.‘Tawana..,’ his father called him, ‘come give me a hand.’Hesitant at first, he decided to get up and join his father and they began skinning the impala together.‘Father, I’m beginning to worry about her.’‘Your mother is a heal
Mighty Brahmuhn 3. Tattoo
‘Then make sure that he’s kept in check,’ the chief also warned her. The voice itself was authority.Just as quick as he arrived, the chief began to leave.‘Crazed baboon!’ Ngoni spat at Tawana. ‘Maintain that attitude and we’ll throw you into the army at your age!’ he added. ‘You’ll be dead in seconds and dead boys can’t disrespect chiefs the way you did.’Smack!He was slapped backhand by Bhonzo. The force knocked him face first into the ground.His father rushed to his aid this time.Tsitsi was on top of Tawana, acting like a shield between the two giants. ‘What more do you want from us?!’ she shouted at them, her eyes were quivering, trying to retain the tears in her eyes.Farai now had both his arms above Tsitsi and Tawana, also acting as a barrier to protect his son. He had seen enough madness for that day.Tawana was still on the ground. He turned his eyes upward at Ngoni and Bhonzo. Tears could be seen glistening in his eyes but anger did not permit h
Mighty Brahmuhn 4. Stolen Treasure
The next day, the Masimba family prepared for the journey to the chief’s home.Farai had finally given up. He knew that the situation was beyond his control. Even if he had decided to kill the chief, he would have still not been successful in his mission. In fact, he would not have come within a mile of his reach. With the Gorivas carefully guarding him, he would be dead before he even said a word. Besides that, Tawana would be left fatherless and Tsitsi would still remain married to Mbada. He boiled inside in anger. The cart moved on along the dusty rocky road, drawing them ever closer to their fate. He looked to his left at Tsitsi who was sitting beside him.She had her chin in her palm, blankly staring at the trees as they passed by.He could not tell what she was thinking but he could tell that she was distraught. He looked to his son who was sitting at his right side.Tawana was frowning as if he had been punched in the belly by death and left to feel the ex
Mighty Brahmuhn 5. Morality over Culture
‘Was? You speak of her as if she's dead. Father, you're a man. You once told me that it is better for a man to lose his life than his dignity.’‘I know I did, Tawana but...’ he shrugged hopelessly.‘But what? Father, another man has just taken your wife!’‘What can I do about it? It’s our culture!’ he defended himself.‘No it's not...it's you! Morality conquers culture and you know that.’ He jumped off the cart and ran into the multitude of guests leaving him sitting alone in the cart. Tawana was greatly frustrated. He was infuriated by this turn of events. What was once his happy family had now been driven apart. So much chaos caused by one man: Chief Mbada! His eyes were blurred with anger and his skin crawled. If he ever got the chance again, he thought, he would kill the chief himself.‘So, you think that since your mother is marrying the chief you shall be above us?’He had bumped into three boys who were each almost twice his size.‘I never s
Latest Chapter
- Mighty Brahmuhn 44. New Beginnings
- Mighty Brahmuhn 43. The Battle for Supremacy
- Mighty Brahmuhn 42. The Two Chiefs
- Mighty Brahmuhn 41. Bitter Blood
- Mighty Brahmuhn 40. The Truth
- Mighty Brahmuhn 39. Reunited (Part II)
- Mighty Brahmuhn 38. Home...is Where the Pain is
- Mighty Brahmuhn 37. Amends
- Mighty Brahmuhn 36. Painful Truth