Moran Like an Elephant
An old man with pits in place of eyes holds one end of a stick. A young boy holds the other end and leads the old man from shop to shop, from one side of Wamba’s main street to the other, begging.
There was a moran who was very strong. He was stronger than any other moran. Alone, he could flip a cow. This moran stole whatever goats, sheep or cows he wanted and grew fat on their flesh. He ate alone, never sharing. If a moran begged a piece of meat from him, he beat him. He’d leave a carcass for animals rather than give meat to another moran. If another moran accidentally bumped into him, or looked at him in a way he didn’t like, or said something he found offensive, he would shout at him and then strike with his rungu. He struck before there was time to answer or to move away. Morans who came into his area were warned about him. Tall and muscular, the moran was a great singer and a great dancer. He thought highly of himself, gave out beads freely, and had many girlfriends.
A group of morans got together to discuss what to do about him. They were afraid to attack him directly. After much discussion they agreed on a plan. They would find a vicious bull, and challenge the moran to flip it. They also agreed to be patient. They would wait for the rains so the animal would be at its strongest before issuing their challenge.
When the bull was found, and the season was right, they told the moran that if he could flip the bull it was his to do with what he liked. He could keep it, eat it, sell it, or give it away. The moran accepted the challenge.
One evening, after the cows were brought back to the manyattas from their afternoon pasture, several manyattas gathered to see the spectacle. The bull was brought to a suitable clearing. The moran set aside his weapons and removed his clothing. He jumped on the bull’s back. The bull bucked. One of his eyes came down on a horn, then the other, and then he was flung onto his back where he lay without moving. The bull was led away. Night fell. The stars came out. They were bright enough to show his form, and to show that he was breathing lightly. A young woman covered the moran with his blanket, and then she, and those who had remained behind, returned to their manyattas and went to sleep.