Goat Woman
Goat Woman is is by Donald “Babu” Zakayo, of Wamba, Kenya. The story was recorded, transcribed, and edited by William Rubel.
THE OLD WOMAN was married. After she was married her husband died. He went for a raid and he was killed by shifters. The old mama was poor. Since 1969 she was still poor in this town, working in somebody’s home, lets say maid, taking care of babies.
After this plot she goes to another plot; after this plot she goes to another plot. She worked until she was old. Old. Even she couldn’t even work again.
One day became another day.
Now she was taking the skins of goats. She goes to the slaughterhouse. She takes the skins and she brings to another family and calls them, “Salud! Salud!”
Every day.
Now, the manushas started giving her goats to go and look after. The goats go with her and sleep there one day. Tomorrow, are taken to the slaughter. The old man is giving 20 shillings for every one goat.
One day another old man wanted to have a lady. So, they went to house. They did what they did, but the lady heard that the bed was having something under it. The man said, “First, let me run to the shop and come back.” Let’s say the lady was discovering. The man was not aware that one day the lady put up the mattress and saw money! It was 2,000! The lady stole the money from the man and then, to where the goats are sold, she bought 30 goats. After dyeing them all she took the goats to manyatta. In the evening, during the night, the man discovered that the money was not there. “Who stole my money? Who stole my money?”
It happened that the lady was drunk and she had goats. The man went to the police and told the police about the money stole there. After telling the police about the story, the police went to the manyatta and collected all the goats. But, because this is the mamma who usually keeps goats, she was told, “Take care after these goats until when the case is over.” The old mamma took the goats. She took care of those goats. She charges one goat at 20 shillings. Every day. You know how much a case can take?
The case was over. About three years.
The old mamma say, “You now say them about my charges for taking after the goats.”
The court said, “This is nobody’s property. The court has normally to pay you at that value you are talking about. What you have to do? Take the goats!”
Now, look, the goats all are hers. From the government! The owner went 0. The police 0. She took all. Now she is rich! She has four cows and about 60 goats or 70.
That’s the mamma over there! And the goats are these ones we see.