Kule home, normally we take cattle into the shores of the lake, deep into the reeds where the grass is greenest. We cross the tributary into the other side where the herd mingle and roam freely until late in the evening sampling greens.
During this time, we embark on digging out mud fish, swimming, digging up yams, stealing sugarcane and all sorts of mischief.
When we leave home in the morning, we normally carry packed lunch which is mostly brown ugali(millet/cassava) with omena or sour milk or fish. This food is eaten by 10 am, then we hunt for fish to roast for lunch. We also used to hunt down quails, trap them in their paths ama upige rungu akifly, quite a delicacy.
Huko ndani ndio brewers pia hufanya their distillation, away from the marauding provincial administration. Huko, Chang’aa is served hot and free, original chang’aa. Ile imetolewa na maji ya kwanza.
So after eating, we visit the breweries to have a taste. Of course they don’t allow children near them but we discovered where they hide the ready products, sneak there and carry away a litre or two. Drink ourselves silly and pass out in drunken stupor.
Ukinywa chang’aa in a hot day, try not to take refuge under a shade eti unapumzika, hautaamka. So we drink and sleep kitambo ifike five jioni, you’re awake, look for your herd and head home, feeling sober na mzazi asijue.
I used to drink this thing and it messed me up, though I stopped this habit completely I can’t forget what I went through. I had never tasted something called busaa, I saw it as filthy and outdated though it was very popular at home. It was a social drink to say the least, mostly associated with wazee.
I knew it was fermented like that porridge shosh used to give us, sweet and sugary but not intoxicating.
One day, we went for a night vigil in another village. I had a girlfriend in that area so I had to meet her there and maybe nikute vitu, that was my main intention anyway.
So kuna jamaa wa hiyo boma tulikuwa tunajuana, akatuita tukunywe busaa outside the fence kwa hiyo giza na aniitie huyo dame pia nichomoke naye.
Being my first time kunywa hii kitu, sikuifeel, instead ilinijaza tu tumbo. Tulikunywa karibu gorogoro moja moja but mimi na uzoefu wangu wa chang’aa I felt the same, I didn’t feel inebriated at all. I think I was used to chang’aa.
Took my girlfriend na tukaenda kwao, she used to sleep in the small kitchen hut with her baby sister.
It was around midnight and my initial plan was to sleep there till four then leave while it was still dark. We engaged in our cheap thrills till around three, it was so gratifying. After this, I think the busaa I had drunk took its toll on me. I slept like a corpse! It didn’t occur to me that I was in a foreign place, I didn’t even know how this happened.
I heard something like a thud, then again and again. Alafu nikaskia sauti ya kike ikiuliza, “Ni nani huyo amelala na Mercy hapo?”
So I opened my eyes.
Looking up, I think it was nine o’clock, the sun was up, the door was wide open and the family was in the shamba behind the hut, weeding! Mark you, we were sleeping on a mat on the floor. Somebody could easily spot two mountains on the floor from a distance coz the door was wide open.
I just sat up on the mat and cried! How?? I rubbed my eyes, maybe I was dreaming. Tears just flowed freely.
Mama, vijana wake wawili na their last born daughter, a five year old I think were outside, right behind the hut. It was so bright outside mpaka unaskia kuumwa na macho. That’s when I remembered the events of the previous night.
I was stark naked, my avunja boots were lying next to me, my old mbwenye was still hooked on a nail behind the mabati door. Nilikuwa na jeans ya savco yenye nilikuwa nimekata slightly below the knees, was still tucked under my head. It was the pillow we had used.
So the little girl had opened the door coz kuku pia walikuwa wakilala hapa jikoni na masaa yao ya kutoka nje ikifika, lazima wafunguliwe. Yeye aliona kuku wakirukaruka juu yetu, squeaking akaamua awafungulie na aache mlango wazi aende zake.
I grabbed my cowboy ngotha, nikavaa chini ya blanketi, nikachukua savco nikadunga na T-shirt yangu ya baggy ya fubu. I tapped my sweetie aamke.
She had a very funny look but I couldn’t laugh given the prevailing situation we were in.
She was shocked, speechless and helpless!
Tutafanyaje sasa? Luckily, nobody had bothered to come and check on us. Akavaa haraka haraka, akakunja jamvi akaisunda kwa kona na akaficha ile mbwenye, pouch yangu ya kubeba mawe(I used to carry one at night) na kofia yangu ya yellow ya Ngombe. I didn’t want any luggage coz this was a do or die situation.
This home was on a slope and it was not fenced na ukiteremka, kuna river huko chini na other farms then a few homes scattered around. On the other side of the hill, it was very steep, though it wasn’t very open. I knew I couldn’t make it once I chose the uphill route so I had only one option.
So I took my boots in my hands, took a breath and peeped outside. My legs were weak but still, I had to save myself. Only option was nichomoke mbio, niteremke downhill, dive into that cold river and swim downstream into the bushes.
Nikijifanya natoka casually, singetoboa.
The family was right behind the kitchen na huku side ingine was the main house.
I bolted off, my wobbling knees giving in just a few metres, sending me down on my stomach and raising alarm.
Nikaamka faster faster, nduru nyuma yangu na wale maboys wawili kunifuata. Niliwaachia boots hapo nikachomoka tena. Mbio nikielekea mtoni, haikuwa mbali, nikaruka na kuswim downstream. Very cold water especially in the morning but this was the only way to escape. Nobody dived in after me na hakuna shortcut yenye wangenizunguka nayo. Nikaenda kutokea kwa msitu na huko mbele nikakaa mahali nikauke, relieved. Busaa!!
hekaya swafi. I can smell the smell of grass in the hot mashes in the afternoon