The Story of the Hero Makoma
Heroism is defined by the respected Makoma, who killed six giants and was promoted into a spirit to go and leave with other spirits in the sky.
In Senna town that is situated on Zambesi banks, a child was born. He was just very different from other kids, as he was extremely strong and tall; he was always spotted carrying a big sack, and on his hand a hammer that was made of iron. He also spoke like a grown up, but he was ever silent.
One day, Senna asked his mother to call all the headmen in the area so that he could challenge them through his heroism and he started, `O great men!’ he shouted as they all listened, ‘is there any one of you who would attempt to leap into this pool and overcome every crocodiles?’ This seemed impossible to all. He defined heroism when he turned and sprang into the pool. This action of heroism made all the headmen to hold their breath, for they all thought that the boy was bewitched and was throwing away his life, there was no way the crocodiles could just ignore such a fortune!’. Then all of a sudden, the ground trembled, the pool, swirling and heaving, turned red with blood, while the boy rose to the surface on shore.
A hero appeared, not a boy now but a person who appeared stronger than any man. He was also very handsome and tall. His appearance just made everyone to shout with gladness. `Now, O my people!’ he shouted affectionately waving his hand, ‘you already know my name-I am the Makoma, “the Greater “; for I have slain all the crocodiles in this pool where none of you would venture?’ This shows clearly that he had realized that he was a hero.
This was followed by Makoma telling her mother to rest, for he was going to make a home for himself and become a hero. He entered his hat, took his iron hammer, threw the sack on his shoulder and then went away. The hero crossed the Zambesi, and for many days he travelled towards the west and north until he arrived to a very hilly country he met a huge giant creating mountain.
The actions of the giant have for many years appeared to be those of heroism. Therefore it was a hero meet a heroic situation. The giant gave Makoma a roar and rushed towards him. Makoma did not say anything, but swinging his hammer, Nu-endo, he struck the huge giant upon the head. Makoma struck the giant so hard that it shrank into quite a little man. This was really ironical, the most popular hero, a giant, surrendering into an upcoming hero. So Makoma picked the huge giant and dropped him into his sack that he had carried on his back.
He was now greater than ever, for all the strength that had made a giant a hero for all those years had gone into him. Makoma resumed his journey, carrying the new burden with an ease just as an eagle might carry a hare.
Before long he went back to his country having broken up with big stones and immense clods of the earth. As he stared at one of the heaps he spotted a giant that had been wrapped in dust and dragging out the earth and also hurling it in handfuls on his either side.
Makoma had acquired combined force. The one that was in him before and the one that he had inherited from the other giant. He was therefore so confidence to face the giant. With a great shout, the giant seized a huge clod of the earth and threw it to Makoma. But the hero had already held his sack all over his left arm and the earth and stones fell harmlessly on it, and, while tightly gripping his iron hammer, he rushed and struck the big giant to the ground. The giant groveled right before him, and started growing smaller and smaller; and after becoming a convenient size Makoma picked up and also put him into the sack.
He travelled on with his journey that was even greater than before, as all river-maker’s supremacy had become his; and lastly he came to a huge forest that was full of thorn and baobabs trees. He was just astonished at their size, for everyone at the scene was full grown and even larger than any trees that he had ever spotted in his life and close by he saw a giant who had been planting the forest.
The giant was taller than all his brothers, but Makoma, the hero was not afraid. He called out to him: `Who are you, the Big One?’ The giant, while plucking up a monster baobab by the roots, would not hesitate but struck heavily at Makoma; unfortunately to the hero but fortunate to Makoma, the baobab sprang aside, and as the weapon was sinking deep in the soft earth, Makoma whirled his hammer round his big head and made the giant to fall with one blow.
Makoma, the hero became stronger each and every day, though he totally said nothing, and while drawing his finger-nail alongside the hair (which was a strong and thick as palm rope) cut it, and then settled the mountain-maker free. After three days, the same thing was reversed, only each time with a diverse one of the party; and on the day that followed Makoma relaxed in camp as the others went to cut the poles, saying that he had to see for himself what sort of a man this really was that used to live in the river and also whose moustaches were long enough that they would extended beyond a men’s sight.
After the giants had gone Makoma tidied and swept the camp also he put some venison on fire to roast. At about midday, at the time the sun was right overhead, a rumbling noise came from the river, and when he looked up, he saw the shoulders a head of an enormous man who was emerging from it. And behold! Down the river-bed and also up the river-bed, until they became faded into the blue coldness, stretched his giant’s grey moustaches,
The day had arrived when Makoma the hero, had met the true hero in his life. Nevertheless, he believed that he was still strong enough to face that giant tool. He went on and shouted to the giant “You cannot bind me!” rushing towards him and striking him hard with his hammer. But, the river giant was slimy enough that Makoma’s blow slid harmlessly off his chest, and as he stumbled and tried to get his balance back, the giant grabbed one of his long hairs and swung it around him and tripping him up.
For a period Makoma was helpless, but when he remembered the power of the flame-spirit which was in him, he made a fiery breath cutting him free. As the river giant leaned forward so as to seize him the hero made his suck flung over the giant’s head that was slippery, and while gripping his iron hammer, made a struck on him again; this time round the blow alighted upon the giant’s dry sack he suddenly fell dead.
The Makoma’s heroism was now enough. When he woke up in the morning, Mulimo the Greatest Spirit was standing by him and he said: `O Makoma! You a hero so great that no man can come against you. Therefore you will leave this world and take your home together with me in the clouds.’ And as he spoke the hero became invisible and was seen no more on earth.
