Chief Mirambo should have his own ‘Christmas’

Dear aunt Sophia Greetings from Dar es Salaam,

I hope that by the grace of Limatunda you are all doing fine under the protection of the revered Nyamwezi ancestors led by Chief Mirambo.

I hope too that Liwelelo has been good to all the people in my beloved Ukumbisiganga, even as you celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

Here in the confused city we are all doing fine, and I thank Limatunda that my wife and Milambo’s wife arrived home safely.

I am waiting for Milambo who is expected to arrive later in the evening together with his son, because as you know they had to take the bus while his aunt and wife and the new baby had to come by flight.

My wife tells me how Milambo’s wife was scared when they boarded the plane and being a first time flier, I really understood how she felt, because I remember the first time I had to fly it was not a pretty sight. When the plane left the comfort of the ground, I remember how my tummy felt as if it was floating in thin air as I clutched on the hand of my wife, who screamed in pain, because my grip was too tight.

My dear aunt, these white men are magicians of the highest level, because up to now I still don’t understand how a plane, as massive as it is, can float through the air like a feather, with all the people on board.

I thank Liwelelo that so far I can say I have become a veteran when it comes to flying, but the Nyamwezi blood in me always becomes cold when the plane lifts off and all the courage derived from the dreaded Rugaruga warriors always fail me when the plane comes for landing.

That is why I completely understand how Milambo’s wife was feeling during that flight, because my wife tells me that had it not been for the safety belt, the poor girl would have bolted out the door.

But I thank the ancestors that they all arrived safely and as I am writing to you, my wife is busy decorating the living room with a huge tree they usually call the Christmas tree.

My dear aunt, I still don’t understand why these people decided that to celebrate the birth of Jesus, a poor tree has to lose its life so that it can be placed in a house and decorated with lights and some other weird things.

But because we accepted the white man’s religion, I believe we have to go along and do what is required of us, which includes singing songs called ‘carols’ and stuffing our tummies with good food.

All these years that I have been in this city I always witness how my wife becomes very busy during this festive season and she is usually in a very high spirit and most of the time she usually starts preparations as soon as the calendar lands on December.

But I learned years ago that this Christmas thing is a festive season in most African countries, that is why I tolerate my wife and support her when she is in the Christmas spirit.

I also learned years ago that Christmas is often associated with North America and European countries showcasing glowing Christmas light shows, winter markets, parades and picturesque views of snow-capped mountains. On the other hand, an African Christmas does not have a lot of those characteristics but is nonetheless remarkable.

My dear aunt, we all know the worldwide meaning of Christmas, on which people commemorate the birth of Christ in Bethlehem.

Although historians are debating about the actual date of his birth, the overall accepted date is December 25th.

I wish that just the same way the world recognises the birth of Jesus Christ, here in Tanzania they would do the same and celebrate the birth of Chief Mirambo, because that man somehow helped to shape the destiny of this country.

I am sure majority of people in this land do not even know that Chief Mirambo’s name was Mtyela Kasanda and that there was a time the dreaded Ruga ruga warriors spread terror in the hearts of Arabs and white men.

I am sure too that most Nyamwezi young fellows do not even know that the great Chief Mirambo’s capital was Urambo, which became a major rival trading centre and attracted traders, many of whom were primarily interested in the ivory so abundant in the interior of East Africa.

Anyway, I hope that you and your family and all the people in my beloved Ukumbisiganga are going to enjoy Christmas as we wait for the year to end.

Milambo and his small family will be with us until January I believe, although I am not sure if my wife will allow them to leave, because she is so attached to the new baby girl. My dear aunt, I think I told you how my wife is craving for a baby and how she almost subjected me to some serious tests to see if I can still produce them.

I don’t know what got into her at that time, but it required a lot of effort to try and convince her that we were not young any more and still, bringing a child into this world at our age is risky, because somehow we are nearer the ancestors.

But I thank Liwelelo that Milambo’s wife got a baby girl, now the challenge that remains is to convince my wife that the baby is her granddaughter and not her daughter.

The good thing is that Milambo’s wife does not mind the constant attention my wife gives to the baby, actually I think she loves it and I believe there is no harm in that anyway.

Say hallo to all the people in my beloved Ukumbisiganga my dear aunt and I hope you will have a great time as you celebrate this festive season as we wait for another year.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New year!!