[15.01]

The previous night, dreams had been killing Namasinkho. She had dreamt that her husband had returned. The following morning, when she arose, her strength failed, and her whole body was weak. There was no strength in her. Were her dreams true? At dawn, when Bwampini arrived, just like the day before, with Mapiko, the hearts of all in Buwa began to pound wildly, thithithi. The heavens pounded with thunder, gugululu, and there were flashes [mbamba] and lightnings [zing’aning’ani], but the sun continued to shine fiercely. Great fear seized the elderly, mothers, young girls, young boys, sheep, goats, cows, chickens, birds and all animals that live in water and on land.

[15.02]

Those men who desired marriage with Namasinkho were also afraid, but they did not stop eating and drinking after the hour had come to break their fast. Bwampini, since he had already been informed by his friend, Mapiko, of the ceremony that would happen that day, understood and told his son, Uziona, even though he was not fully aware, that today was the day of justice.

[15.03]

Tinjiwa had sent Mziisi, Mbamba and Ching’aning’ani to punish those men, insolent and greedy, who were squandering another man’s wealth.

[15.04]

Those that looked closely to the heavens, at Ntheradi, saw three birds, very large ones, the size of dogs, approaching from afar. Those with ears heard, like the rushing of a great wind, the sound of thunder, gugululu, strikes and lightnings [zing’aning’ani], louder and louder. Wise men understood that the Azimu wished to punish the country of Buwa, but they did not know the reason why.

[15.05]

Those who had started to eat stopped eating, out of fear. Some tried to eat but their hands shook and they missed their mouths. The birds landed atop the house of Bwampini. Those that saw them ran away, because they had come in wrath. Straightaway, the birds turned into people, two female and one male, and they all carried swords.

[15.06]

Thereupon, they disappeared, invisible to human eyes. All three entered within the house but they could not be seen by those men. Bwampini and Uziona, even though they were people, had been granted power to see with eyes of a Mzimu for that moment alone. Mbamba barred every door fast so that no one who was there could escape; the windows too were barred fast. Thereafter, Mziisi, queen and commander of nkhondo, cried out furiously and startled all the young men and the whole city of Buwa.

[15.07]

‘Evil and greedy people, you will suffer, you who have destroyed the great wealth of Bwampini. You have consumed his food; you have troubled his wife, Namasinkho. Today the owner has come, he is here, but you have not recognised him! Because of your folly, today you will receive the reward of your lust and madness.’

[15.08]

Immediately, there were lightnings [zing’aning’ani]; strikes and flashes [mbamba] cracked terribly. At the same time Mziisi, Mbamba and Ching’aning’ani crushed the heads of everyone there. They all died!

[15.09]

‘People of Buwa, come and take your deceased, but do not cry, for if you do, you will face far worse things, for this death was delivered by Tinjiwa. These children of yours were not honest, they were thieves, wicked, and their hearts were of flint. Hear this. Your chief Bwampini has returned to his chieftainship. Today you cannot see him, for he is occupied, but tomorrow.’

[15.10]

The words of the preacher were heard loud and clear, so that everyone in Buwa spoke and whispered to their friends, saying, ‘This is good.’ They all delighted at the news. Those that were related to the deceased came to collect their bodies and sobbed as they did so. Some they buried close by [together]. There was a huge number of funerals, but the dead went unmourned, unclothed even with loin cloths.

[15.11]

After everything had been settled in the house of Bwampini, there were heard singing and the loud sounding of horns. Chezichezi sang two songs; the first one, describing the wickedness of the young men that were killed. In the second, Chezichezi sang a song of ulendo of Bwampini, nkhondo against the Agangire, and all the bad luck that they had encountered.

[15.12]

Thereupon, they all sorrowed and wept with Namasinkho for the troubles which her husband had faced, and too, they all delighted that their chief had returned alive. The most delighted were Namasinkho and Uziona. When Bwampini had taken a stool, food, unctuous flesh, was roasted and offered. Rice and other aromatic foods were offered, then they ate and drank. This was a day of joy. They laughed and stories were shared; joy and blessings filled the whole house. His attendants also got drunk and ate to the point of rupture, ‘Our Lord has returned. Let us rejoice.’

[15.13]

At dawn, other chiefs and their people brought gifts of different kinds to visit their chief. Bwampini and his family, on rising in the morning, amazed greatly at the crowd of those people. Forthwith, Bwampini bathed and dressed as befits Chief Bwampini, and he went out with his family. When he arrived where the people had gathered, drums were beaten and hands were all but broken [of drummers, of those clapping], everyone cried aloud and shouted.

‘Long live Chief Bwampini!’

[15.14]

Thereupon, three children stood up, dressed in very attractive clothes, and they had brought with three bunches of flowers: red, white and yellow. Those flowers were fair, and they were presented to the chief, who received them with great joy.

[15.15]

After all this, Lipenga, who was preeminent in the art of speaking, first minister to Bwampini, cried aloud, saying, ‘All these people, when they see you today, appear as if they have received the lost treasure of the country of Buwa. Your chieftainship, your wisdom without rival to compete, we did not forget; you left a long time ago – many young men that are now shaving their beards were not yet born. All your people are wondering today at the lies of your enemies, which were spread everywhere, that you had died a long time ago. Today, those people are running away, and some have already run away. Upon remembering your troubles, just as we heard them yesterday in the song of Chezichezi, we cry with you and, especially, we ask you, pepa, that your heart should forgive and forget. Receive our small gifts, unworthy as they are.’ Thereupon, he gave the chief: utensils that were very skilfully made, fat livestock, zitenje that were sewn well and with craft, stitched with gold, with the craftsmanship of Ntheradi. In response, Bwampini stood up and spoke briefly:

[15.16]

‘Reverend ladies and elders, I thank you, now that I have returned to my home, that you have welcomed me with open arms. If you had been a different kind of people, you could have denied that I am Bwampini, but you did not. Your gifts shew your peace and your love toward your chief. I doubt not at all that everything will be well, just as it was before. Do not forget that the Abuwa have excelled alway in wisdom and peace toward alendo and they understand each other. Do not change this heart of yours.’

[15.17]

Thereafter, Bwampini sat down. Thereupon, Lipenga shouted, saying, ‘This afternoon we will celebrate a feast near the house of the chief. Do what the Abuwa do when there is a feast.’ They all scattered and made preparation. Some began to hunt down chickens, others stuck pigs, cattle and goats. The women were busy with cooking. The afternoon drew near, horns and drums sounded in Buwa, the feast was close. The people began to gather. The women brought with food that was already cooked, with a good smell. After all had gathered – elders, young boys and young girls – Bwampini and his family also took their place, just as they had prepared.

[15.18]

People began to eat and drink. Many of them got drunk. The young boys danced mganda, the young girls danced likwata, and the elders danced njazo. The people were not fully prepared with zibiya, but they danced amazingly,

[15.19]

The dances were many, but the dance that delighted Bwampini most was njazo. The elders were the ones who performed this dance while singing their song.

[15.20]

‘Bwampini, Thou hast returned, wawa! Is this true? We lost a wise man without peer.

We heard of Thy horse among the Agangire.

Thy ulendo was fearsome, we know:

The biting Asongo, the Baboon People, finished most of our people, our relatives!

Chikutumbwe also, the greedy fellow, left the goats

and the sheep. He ate our relatives.

Namatsenga also wished to turn

our relatives into pigs, and she did! The baleful crab and

the Amphalusa, they finished our relatives.

Also the baleful storm… What did we do to it

That it should end our relatives?’

[15.21]

People danced late; they ate and drank their fill. Darkness made people to look for their doors. Even so, the young girls took their songs back to their kitchens, singing all the way, like this:

[15.22]

‘Our chief has returned, our chief of surpassing wisdom.

Whom could we find to surpass Bwampini?

When a man is born, his lot alway is to face trouble; indeed.

But Thou, Buwa, art Thou not grateful that Thou hast been given

A wise man, with skill, hard working and strong,

Chief Bwampini?’