DEAR nephew Milambo,
Greetings from this confused land, where walking semi naked is as normal as sneezing.
I hope that by the grace of Limatunda you and your family are doing fine, and all the people in my beloved Ukumbisiganga.
Here in the confused city we are all doing fine under the protection of Liwelelo assisted by our ever watchful Nyamwezi ancestors, led by our very own Chief Mirambo.
I thank Limatunda that for now we do not have much to complain about my dear son, apart from the sun which is blazing as if it is on a destructive mission.
A few days ago we experienced some serious rainfall but which lasted for a few minutes only, although I was told there are some areas where it did not rain.
Rains like those ones are so tricky my dear son, because soon after it’s as if the sun was provoked and it decides to pay back.
I know this because the recent rains which pounded for a few minutes provoked the gods of the sun and they decided to come out in a deadly fury, because the next day the heat was unbearable.
Fortunately, your aunt was not around that day, because she would have thrown a fist if she discovered that I showered four times.
Not that she cares so much about the water bill, but the fact that for several weeks now we have been experiencing water rationing in our part of town because they say they are doing some renovations of the water system at the main source.
I took a shower four times after I had arrived home from visiting a friend of mine who lives in a place Kigamboni.
I don’t know if we have ever gone to that place together, but it is that place where you have to cross the ocean through the ferry.
The fellow is a very good friend of mine, that is why I sacrificed myself to pay him a visit because he lost his wife a few days ago and I was not aware of it until recently.
When I was returning home, it was around 3 pm, because I had gone very early since I did not want to return home very late.
The sun was blazing like a hot coal on top of my bald head my dear boy, and it reached a point I was afraid I was going to suffocate.
Things became worse when I sat on the wrong side in the bus, because it was the side which was directly facing the sun, and it felt as if I was a chicken in a microwave.
I was involved in a verbal confrontation with a young chap who was sitting next to the window and when the bus started moving, the boy closed the window.
Can you imagine the sun shining like it’s on a revenge mission and when you think things will be much better when the bus starts moving, someone closes the window?
My dear son, people from upcountry usually claim that men in this city are soft, and most of the time I tend to agree with them, because the way most of them behave leaves a lot to be desired.
Imagine that fellow claimed that he decided to close the window because of the wind! A healthy young fellow who was supposed to be bothered by the heat in the bus, was more concerned about the wind.
I told the fellow if the wind bothered him that much then we should switch places but he refused. I thank Limatunda that other passengers took my side and forced the chap to open the window because the heat was unbearable.
Anyway, as I told you, they are called the ‘Dar es Salaam men’, people who behave as if they are made of delicate glass and they are supposed to be handled with kid gloves.
Your aunt sends her greetings to you and your family and I am sure she has been communicating with your wife on a regular basis.
I hope you received the picture I sent you of your ‘new sister’ and I am sure you will agree with me that the baby is beautiful.
My dear son, when we went to see the baby last week as I told you we would, I should tell you that it was a very emotional affair with your aunt.
We arrived one hour before the scheduled time because your aunt was more nervous than a nun who has discovered a man under her bed.
We were told by the nice sister to wait because they were feeding the babies before giving them a bath, so we had no option but to wait.
My dear son, you should have seen your aunt the way she was fidgety, jumping every time the door was opened. I have to admit my boy, I was also very nervous, because I did not know how our baby would look like.
Finally, they brought us our baby, and I have to admit when I first saw her, it practically took my breath away.
When the nurse entered the room, the baby was crying hysterically, but as soon as your aunt took her in her arms, she stopped crying on the spot and snuggled closer.
My dear boy, I know the Nyamwezi ancestors are ready to welcome this little angel into the tribe, because all the time we were there that baby girl was very comfortable with us, but it broke our hearts because it started screaming when we were leaving.
We are supposed to pick her officially next week, so when you and your family come over for Christmas you will meet her in person for the first time.
This will be a dream come true for your aunt, because we all know how she has been craving for a baby for so many years.
Let me pen off my dear son, please greet your family for me, and all my people in Ukumbisiganga, may Liwelelo take good care of all of you.
