Chapter 1
Chapter 1
In a thick rainforest of Katima Mulilo, Namibia, with a huge biodiversity, in the community they called Anakoka, lived four English speaking species of great apes, orangutan, gorillas, bonobos and chimpanzees. Old king Mundjita, an orangutan, ruled with great wisdom, but still, prince Sishekanu, the heir apparent to the throne was a nuisance to his community except for queen Nandila, his mother.
A distant barren land somewhere in the Kalahari, lived another species of 80 primate, Subia speaking Neanderthal. These Paleolithic hunters and gatherers, had just arrived from the Namib Desert were they had finished wiping out wild life. Due to their ignorance and greedy, they moved from land to land, destroying nature’s greatest resources. After the land was reduced to nothing, they migrated from environment to environment in search of wild life and fruits. Where ever they went, natural resource had to be depleted with no hope of recovery. Life became so difficult for them, especially in winters when it was freezing cold. High infant mortality rate and child labour death became their everyday agony.
“The other side of the great Zambezi River, is green. We can settle there” said Someone.
“And how do you plan to reach there?” Alisinda, the strongest and no nonsense hunter, asked
“Sorry great one, but since you are known for your critical faculties of taking initiatives, who better than you to take the steering wheel.” Akasimona apologized, who everyone called ’Someone’
“He brought the idea…you find the solution.” Isiteketo, starred in Alisinda’s eyes. The two great hunters never liked each other. Their hatred stated when Moola’s two round things on her chest started showing signs of life. Moola was the most beautiful of all the girls in their group, but the most stupid.
“We swim! Swimming” Alisinda starred back.
Someone and his best friend Mufalo, gave each other secret smiles. The two always enjoyed the two great hunters’ conflicts. Even though it was just a quick one on one.
Their journey to Zambezi River took months. But still reaching the river brought so many miseries amongst them. The river became another difficult task they faced. In attempt to swim across the river, many were killed by crocodiles and hippos. Months after month, they attempted something that was too close to impossible. Due to hunger, old people where sacrificed to feed the young and strong ones, except for Old Akashambatwa.
Day after days, Old Akashambatwa was fearful for his life. Every night they could have secret meetings to kill him so that life can continue. He was considered the wisest of them all and it is threw his gift to interpret dreams that kept him arrive.
One night, when everything was hopeless, Alisinda, the fierce hunter had a dream. Old Akashambatwa was summoned and Alisinda narrated his dreams.
“Family, yesterday in my dream I went as far as the breath of this river. When I was at the bottom and my breath was fading, a long branch drew nearer and near to me. I grabbed the branch by the end and swim my way up the river. The other side of the river, father, grabbed the other end. Just as I reached the bank of the river, I woke up. Now old Akashambatwa, you have never failed us. Please tell us the meaning of this dream.”
“My children, I have reached the stage in my life where I can proudly say I am weary of living. I had a long life, my bone are tired and my vision is quite useless. My back has become my worst nightmare. I have become a burden to all of you. Sometimes I feel my long life is my punishment, but today I am proud to save my last purpose. To help you to reach you’re Promised Land. In that land, respect the gift nature will give to you. It is not going to be easy, but you have been promised that land from time immemorial.
Before I interpret your dream my son, I have a story to tell. Long time ago, God created the heavens and the earth. He created us in his own image and he created other animals and trees of different kind. He blessed us with the gift and wisdom to know from right to wrong and above all he gave us dominion over all his creation. Our ancestors lived life of luxury, abused God creation to the points where God was grieved. He cursed them saying,’ Woman shall bring forth children with great agony and their desire shall be to their husband and they shall be ruled. Man shall toil with hard labour and in the sweat of their faces shall provide for their families”.
“My children,” the old man coughed with difficulties and paused for a while;’ my days are numbered, I will not live to see our new home. Always remember, nature will never betray, nature does always provide. My eyes are heavy’ old Akashambatwa yawned.
“But the dream. What about the dream?” Asked Moola, prettiest of them all and the dumbest.
The next morning old Akashambatwa was found dead, but still not everyone understood the dream’s interpretation. Three days later, old Akashambatwa appeared to Moola in a dream and instructed her of what to do. Early morning Moola summoned up everyone, but as soon as she started telling them, she went blank. This pissed everyone and all that could be heard from everyone was’ I knew it. What could you expect from her’?
“Beautiful and extra dull” Someone whispered to Mufalo
“You can say that again” Mufalo whispered back
“I don’t mind the faults in her brain cells…I just like what I see”. Akashimiketwa answered uninvited.
The two dwarfs looked at him and laughed a duet thrilled.
Days after day, Moola was struggling to remember the dream and everyone was very cross with her.
Back in Anakoka village, king Mundjita summoned all his council. Two member from each species were invited. Musowe, an overgrown gorilla, was the last to arrive. He was against been ruled by an old orangutan. He could only speak to oppose others, especially to any form of developments in Anakoka. He wanted the king to fail so that he take over. Musowe wanted the throne, but unfortunately he lacked political adroitness. His wife and children knew it and everyone knew it, even he knew it. Though he was respected because his wife owned a hair salon business where all the females went to make their hair pretty, he had a temper and arrogant.
‘Fellow hominidae’ said the king. We have been living well in our community and our ancestors have blessed us with rain and everything we ever ask of them. We might be from different species, but bear in mind that we are one family. HOMINIDAE....This should be our unity and our strength and our pride. Our children, and their children’s children should be told of our unity even after we are gone. Just yesterday, I received a complaint from Oshimbungu village (hyena land) that your son Munjulunji the great wrestler (Musowe ’son) fought and injured one of their sons. While only to find out that it was Prince Sishekanu who was there.
What I am trying to say is that outsiders can’t tell who is who. Your offspring look like my offspring. We are a term. Let us unite so that we build our kingdom. Now hominidae, I called you to this meeting to talk about the developments I heard are up-to-the-minute in Oshimbungu village. They are building a school, a clinic and a big palace for their king. Please we need this developments in our kingdom as well. We sleep in trees, some in plain grasses. Let’s build quality accommodations for ourselves. Our wives deserve to sleep comfortably, came rain come sunshine. The ball is now in your court, what do you think my chief council?” King Mundjita, a rough eater took a fresh branch, roughly threw it to the back of his mouth, just in time for his upper and lower molars to collide and he started grinding it with great noise
“Greetings your highness, greeting elders of Anakoka village”. Mr. Kandela, a chimpanzee by birth bowed before his majesty. “You said it well your highness, we need development. But if I may ask, what do we start to build first?”
“My palace first, school, and other things will follow.” Did I speak everyone mind?” the king asked
“Your highness, what about the chief priest’s ancestral shrine. Are we not supposed to build it” Diego, the only one in Anakoka village with Spanish name asked.
“Let cross that bridge when we reach there, Go” said Mr. Kandela
“I am Diego not Go, you foolish old red eyed chimp.” Diego about to fly in a temper. He detested it when they don’t pronounce his name correctly.”
“Gentlemen, Our project will start tomorrow. Please I need Akamandisa and his group (slave monkeys) here the break of dawn. One more thing, Mr. Diego… ’
“Die and go!” Mr. Kandela pitched Diego’s ears as he was deep into his silly thought. The king needs your attention”
“Oh sorry your highness”. Diego was deep into thoughts, he remembered his daily arguments with his wife about changing his so called name. “I better change this name to something these idiots will understand otherwise I will kill someone, especially this stupid Kandela, deep in his own silly thoughts.
“You are in charge of supervision the construction of my palace, and Mr. Kandela, the building of the school. I need something better than what the Oshimbungus are building, something upstairs with proper ventilation”
***
As for those who were struggling to cross the might Zambezi river (the Neardalthal), panic, hunger and death where the nature of the day. Wednesday afternoon, when Moola was napping under a tree, she heard the same dream and she shouted ‘I remember, I remember now’. Every one gathered, she hesitated and said.” I can’t seem to remember” she started crying out of embarrassment and everyone felt sorry for her. The two great hunters’ contested to comfort her.
“Love also! Said Someone to Mufalo
“Is a dirty game” Mufalo responded as if he waited his whole life to give a comment.
A month later as children were playing near the river, throwing bamboo sticks in the river. Two arborists, who were good at making spears, always spending most of their time together but hardly spoke to each, watched bamboo sticks floating. Together they went into the nearby wood and took five bamboo sticks each and bundled them together and dumped in the river.
62 Boats made of bamboo poles were built and, their journey across the mighty Zambezi begun and only 46 boats and 49 people made it to the other side of the shore.
The bank of the river, they built simple house from reeds, elephant grasses and branches. Man hunted big animals, especially hippos at night. Women hunted small animals like rabbits and squirrel, but mainly they gathered wild fruits. Young ones mostly hunted small birds and picking up tortoises. Meat was eaten raw, and sometimes hunting was not successful, they could scavenge dead carcasses, which in many cases had malicious pathogen that took the lives of those with weak immune system and lousy antibodies .Giving birth for female Neanderthal was one of the greatest agony woman experienced because their babies were so big and their birth canal and pelvic boned were so small. In mathematics we could call it improper fraction.
In that same thick forest lived beasts like lions, hyena, wolves and African wild dogs, so only strong men were allowed in many cases to go for hunting. Women and children could do their hunting near their settlement. Getting water from the river was not easy, as crocodile seemed to be everywhere. The river was forbidden for women and young ones.
Chapter 2
In Anakoka village, Mr. Kandela, called his two twins slaves, Mutafela and Mutalifelile to give a word to all other monkeys to gather before his house after lunch. The twins, the snub-nosed monkey with a flat nose. The two identical monkeys had thick pink lips, they looked like two Hollywood stars who had just come out of the gifted hands of a surgeon ,who in many cases has panel beaten several lips successfully. Unfortunately for these two monkey, the final touches after God, went horribly wrong.
“As you wish master “they said a duet thrilled, at least they will be able to leave their master’s presence for a while.
The twins, aged three, were very adroit, cleaver and skillful in almost anything. Though they were slaves, Mr. Kandela loved them and treated them well. Their daily chores were usually gathering wild fruits and bathing baby Malumani. Little chimp Malumani, a certified brat, the only child of his father and mother (though Mr. Kandela had an adulterine infant somewhere, the fierce wrestler named Kalubiana). Baby Malumani was ever in his mother’s arms, sucking his thumb. He was treated like royal, ever snoring comfortably in his mother‘s loving arms.
The next nearby bush, Diego’s wife heard Mr. Kandela giving instructions to his two slaves. She quickly yelled at her husband who she never respected. Everyone called them a dysfunctional couple.
“You are seated there, snoring day in and day out. I overheard Mr. Kandela sending the twins to go call Akamandisa and his group about the construction of the Palace. Don’t you think you should start with the school projects before he take all the slaves.’ Said Namakando
“Thank you my sweet Petronella.”
“Stop calling me Petronella. My name is Namakando.
“Diego hated everyone to call his wife, Namakando. He wanted every Tom, Dick, and Harry to call her Petronella or better still, Nella”.
‘Time I changing my sweet heavy duty African beauty’ we need quality name, names that sound different from those of the Jurassic period. Where is Santos? “.
“Who is Santos? Diego’s wife asked knowing very well that he meant his son, chimp Malumani.
“Whatever! Gilbert, Gilbert’ Diego quickly called his own slave to avoid more arguments with his wife.
“Yes master” Akabondo, A proboscis monkey with a large nose that hang down over his mouth bow down before his master.
“Tell Akamandisa and his group to come here now.”
Akabondo, jumped from tree to tree and in no time, he was already gossiping his master with Akamandisa and his group. Akabondo hated his master, especially for calling him Gilbert’.
Akamandisa summoned his fellow monkeys, and in no time, they had just gathered in front of Diego. Just as he started giving instructions, Mr. Kandela’s wife alerted her husband of what was going on. Mr. Kandela, immediately called his son, Kalubiana, a well-known wrestler as backup. The two chimps went straight to Diego.
“What are you trying to do’ Mr. Kandela asked Diego.
“Are you blind and deaf?’ Asked Diego
Kalubiana, the wrestler started stomping his right foot next to his father. Before Diego realized he was about to swallow his own jaws, He delivered his superkick finisher move he nicknamed ‘sweet chin music’. Everyone new kalubiana’s ’scary and painful maneuver. As soon as he started stomping his foot, Akamandisa and his tiny group of slaves drew back. Diego’s chin was in an amazing pain as he landed half dead.
“My father gave the orders first, respect that. Hay Akamandisa, tomorrow we start with the construction of the king’s palace. Let’s go father”
Days after days, the two supervisors where on each other’s throat. For days, they had dispute, until the king intervened. They started with the building of the school and they called it ‘Apes Project School’.
After the school was completed, Mr. Kandela asked.
“Where are the teachers?
“What do you mean teachers? What are teachers? “Asked Prince Sishekanu?
“A teacher is someone who keeps speaking when no one is interested.” The king answered his son
“Oh father, do you mean someone who speaks too much,”
“Something like that son, OH my goodness, you ask silly questions for a prince. You make me sick”. The king was getting frustrated with his son‘s questions.
“Your highness who do you think can teach our children? We are all …..Never mind “Musowe asked
“Let me come in here your majesty. Yesterday, I overheard two maiden from Oshimbungu about the new school and their subject. Their curriculum had five subjects, English, agriculture, biology, history and geography. I suggest we also do the same. “Suggested Miss Yeta, a slave monkey
“And what do they learn from these subjects,’ asked Queen Nandila
“Let me come in here”, said Miss. Yeta again, my queen, In English our children are taught how to write and read. Agriculture is about us and our food, biology is about us and our environment, history is about us and our ancestors and finally geography is about us and our planet.” Thank you,
“Miss. Yeta, you heard all that from Oshimbungu and what where you doing in their land? The Queen asked.
“My queen, hyenas don’t eat fruits, and in their land they is plenty’.
‘What do they eat?’ asked the prince
‘They are carnivores my prince, meaning they eat only meat.’
“But why should we copy everything those greedy hyena are doing” The queen asked again
“My King, we can add one subject, MUSIC” Mr. Wasamunu, a slave monkey suggested
“And what is the meaning of that” Prince Sishekanu asked
“During spring we always hear sweet melody from birds, that is music my Prince.
“Ok, now my fellow mammals lets us select teachers for these subjects. Please choose one and support your choice. Yes Miss. Yeta. The king ordered.
“I select Miss Nangana, a Proboscis monkey, because she has a sweet voice when she speak. Thank you
“Do we all agree? Good Miss Nangana please come forward. Our biology teacher?
“I suggest Mr. Mumbunanalu” said Musowe, nominating his younger brother
“Why him” asked King Mundjita
“He has so many offspring”
Though this frustrated Mr. Mumbunanalu, he had no choice as majority voted for him.
After election all subjects had teachers, English ,was given to Mrs. Wasamunu, a chimpanzee ,geography, to Mr. Mbanga, a gorilla, Agriculture was given to old Mr. Chunga, an orangutan and finally the headmaster, everyone believe since Miss. Yeta dominated the meeting, everyone agreed he knew more about education. She became headmistress.
