The Village That Sunk

Hadithi Hadithi?

Hadithi Njoo!

This is the story of the village that sunk

Hadithi Hadithi?

Hadithi Njoo!

Back in the day, villages enjoyed festivities for all reasons: big or small achievements, babies born and even funerals (because death wasn’t entirely a sad affair as the deceased had transitioned into the afterlife). Simbi was one of these villages.

On one night, Simbi celebrated their chief’s success. The chief said, “We must have a big celebration. For what is an achievement without a big, big celebration?” The villagers cheered him on, and so the ceremony was planned. Goats were slaughtered for roast, chickens were killed for stewing and there were endless food and fruit options. Music was organized and on the day of the ceremony, every member of the village was excited to partake in food and dance.

That night amidst the ceremony, an old woman – a stranger to the village – showed up uninvited. She didn’t wish to partake but only requested for some food and a place to sleep before she commenced her wanderings. The chief was informed of the stranger while he was shoving large mounds of starch into his mouth. He stopped midway through lifting his hand dripping with chicken stew, looking from his plate to the guard that had come to inform him of the stranger. “Tell her to go away, far away. She is not welcome. This is a feast for my villagers only” he bellowed. The music and dance stopped, there was pin drop silence as everyone looked at the chief and then at the old woman who he was addressing. “Leave now, and never return!” added the chief.

The old lady bowed her head and walked away, her strides measured, her posture an obvious sign of defeat. Near the village fence, a member of the village, a young lady, walked after the old woman and said, “I am sorry about the chief’s lack of hospitality. Please, come with me. You can share my food and sleep in my hut but you must leave by morning before anyone sees you.”

“Thank you, my child,” the old woman replied, grasping the lady’s hands in her own. The young lady led the old woman to her hut, fed her and showed her where to sleep. Once the old woman had eaten, she warned the young lady: “I am the daughter of a legendary rainmaker. I share this gift with my father though it has not been of much use. The way your chief spoke to me this evening, the way he embarrassed me in front of all those villagers has made me very upset. I tell you all this because I’m going to send rain upon this village. It will kill every one of the villagers that stood by as your chief shouted at me. Make sure you leave tomorrow, soon after I have left otherwise you will die.”

The young lady nodded in understanding, and the next morning when she awoke, the old woman had left. She packed her things and left as per the instructions she had been given.

That afternoon it rained upon the village. It rained and rained until the village sunk, drowning all villagers, including the chief whose body was never found. The young lady survived and the old woman was never heard from again.

QUESTIONS

What does this story teach us about being accommodative to people in need?

Was the chief right to send the old woman away?

What is the name of the village in this story?