The Clash of the Titans and Other Short Stories

8. Reviled by Some and Embraced by Many: The Story of Kunga Vhovho

39 8. R Reviled by Some and Embraced by Many: The Story of Kunga Vhovho s I was growing up in the 70’s each village had ‘specialists’ in their own areas of interest. Some were ‘specialists’ in digging anthills, some in harvesting honey, some as blacksmiths while others were famed for digging wells. My cousin brother, Kunga Vhovho had made a name for himself as ‘Jaguar’ the snake charmer. Each time a snake was seen and disappeared into a hole, people would ask Jaguar to dig it out. Kunga would never be found wanting. He would charm the snake attracting a huge crowd and more often than not people would demand that the snake be violently extinguished from the face of the earth. I witnessed so many of these heroic antics of Kunga. Word would spread like fire on a dry prairie each time he was about to dig out a snake. It was a spectacular sight of these snakes of various shapes and sizes Kunga would dig out, certainly it was not for those of a nervous disposition. If a snake would disappear into a hole and Jaguar was away enjoying ‘ndari’ –traditionally brewed beer – somewhere people would simply put stones on the hole (so that the snake would not come out) and wait for Jaguar to come even if it meant waiting for several days for his return. After Kunga’s return and as sure as day follows night, Jaguar would dig the snake out. Such was Kunga’s invincibility. His exploits as a snake charmer did not go unnoticed. He earned himself some admirers both male and female. I was one of the loyalists in the ‘Kunga Fan Club’. Kunga was then a senior bachelor in his late thirties. He was a celebrated A 40 playboy. Some people never liked Kunga for this reason. Legend had it that he lived in Bulawayo and had left a family there. During that era the ‘specialists’ enjoyed a cult status in the villages. So it happened that Kunga stole the heart of a house girl who worked for a teacher at Chirumba Secondary School. Many people did not take Kunga seriously. They thought as usual he was at it again. Lo and behold, we were all taken by surprise when he sent emissaries to his in-laws with money to pay the bride wealth. The whole village was abuzz with rumours that Kunga had finally decided to settle down with his newly found sweetheart. Indeed there were a few broken hearts who had fancied themselves as future Mrs Vhovhos. They did not take kindly to this. They were also hoping to ‘tie the knot’ Kunga. One thing I enjoyed most as a youngster growing in the 70’s, was Kunga’s use of the English language. I think it would be an understatement to call it English, perhaps it would suffice to call it ‘Shonglish’ (a combination of Shona and English if ever there can be a word like that). I very much enjoyed the mere fact that he was at pains in trying to impress his most faithful followers that he was at home with the English language. Growing up under the care of a father who would pride himself as a good English (he was and still is) I soon realised how bad Jaguar’s English was. However, the fact remains that Kunga used to entertain us and as a folk hero. Kunga and his wife were blessed with 3 children. One of them even went as far as attaining a university degree. He [Kunga] also managed to buy a sizeable heard of cattle for his ‘new’ family. He is now a pale shadow of his former self. His best days are long gone. He still loves his beer, each time I see him at the local business centre, Mutikizizi, he asks for a few 41 cents to buy beer for himself. That’s the story of Jaguar who is still reviled by some but embraced by many. 42 ...