Rain Petitioning and Step Child: Plays

Scene 1

3 Scene 1 Stage 1 (In this stage, we see villagers from Nzarayauya gathered at the village’s court (dare redunhu). The sun is scorching and there is no sign of rain coming any time soon. The villagers are discussing famine and hunger that have spread all over the village. They are planning to organize a rain petitioning ceremony for the ancestors). Gurukota: (Making hollow-handed clapping). Good morning honorable chief Nzarayauya, the chief’s councillors, ladies and gentlemen, and all others who have gathered around here. As you have been informed by the chief’s messengers, this is a very important meeting for all the people in this village. Our honorable, chief Nzarayauya has important words he wants to share with all of us. My excellence, your people are waiting to hear from you. (Ululations and whistles as the chief stand up). Nzarayauya: (Greeting dare). I am sure we all see that our land has been cursed. The rivers and streams used to flow throughout the year have all run dry. The sun blazes and scorches like nobody’s business! Animals, plants and us people are all in the darkest moment of our lives. We can’t continue folding our arms staring while our plants, animals and people surrender their lives to the Creator one by one. We have to take action and find out from our ancestors what have made them turn their backs to their children. But as we all know, ancestors are well respected beings. We can’t just talk to them by word of mouth like I am doing to you right now. We need to brew beer first, beer to petition rain. This is 4 the reason why I have summoned you here, so that we organize together when the beer can be brewed. (Ululations and whistles. Old women dance with excitement). Anyone against the idea of rain petitioning or who wants hunger and famine to continue haunting us? Povho: (With one voice). Hapana! (No one!) Nzarayauya: So if hunger is our common enemy, forward with rain petitioning! (Raising up his right clinched fist). Povho: Pamberi! (Forward!) (Raising up their clinched fists). Nzarayauya: Pasi nenzara! (Down with hunger!) (Dropping clinched fist). Povho: Pasi nayo! (Down!) (Dropping clinched fists). Nzarayauya: Pamberi nemukweerera! (Forward with rain petitioning ceremony!). Povho: Pamberi! (Forward!). Nzarayauya: We have all demonstrated that hunger is our number one enemy, and we all want to petition rain from our ancestors. Now each household in my village must bring a basketful of rapoko to my court-yard. All the rapoko should have been assembled by Friday next week so that they are soaked and beer is immediately brewed. Anyone against the idea of rain petitioning? Or with a question on this before I proceed? (A man who has just relocated to Nzarayauya’s village raises his hand so that he can be granted permission to talk). 5 Murume: My salutations to our honorable chief, councillors and every one of you who have made every effort to attend this meeting. Honorable chief! (Looking at Nzarayauya). Thank you so much for your excellent words. Surely, everyone hates hunger. But I just want to know if even people like myself, who has just relocated to your village and have not had the first harvest in this village are also obliged to bring a basketful of rapoko? (Laughter from povho). That’s all I wanted to know from my excellence. Thank you. (Hollow-handed clapping as he sits down). Nzarayauya: A child who asks questions quests for wisdom. In our culture we say ‘benzi bvunza rakanaka’ (A person who asks is not a fool but a lover of wisdom). But all I can say is that your question answers itself. If you relocated to this village and were allocated a portion to build your home and to cultivate, all it means is you also want rain to fall in your field if we petition it. When petitioning rain we don’t ask ancestors to bring rainfall only to the fields of those who contributed rapoko for the ceremony. We want everyone to have enough food for his family. So everyone with a homestead and a field in this village should bring a basketful of rapoko for the bira/ceremony. If you personally don’t have any rapoko, you ask from those who have. Isn’t this our way of life? (Pointing at povho). Povho: (One voice...