19/07/2026
Back to the roots. This reminds me of 20years down the line. The humbe units (Estates) made of dung which we grew in. I remember very well the cow skin which was my luxurious 6*6 mattress. One post at the middle of the mansion that acted as the lamp stand. I will never firget of our bluetooth light (koroboi) and how the mansion with one window (elusie) was partitioned.
We had a store (olale) in the same house which slept young lambs and calves. It also acted as the bathroom since the mansion was self contained.
The doorway would sometimes be left wide open when everyone is dead asleep since there is nothing so precious to close for just to be closed towards morning at the sound of hyena's laughter.
During winter, we all gathered round a three stone fire always at the middle of the house as we roast maize with chuckling stories. What surprised me the most, is how that little house would carry over 15 people and enough space is still left for visitors.
I almost forgot about the balcony for young boys to trap cats during their death sentence.
That is where we came from. Every time you arrived from grazing and hunting at the same time, the chimney would drive hope to your fainting heart if smoke is detected within.
Our mothers never tired sweeping the mansions and always ensured that our one pair of clothing was clean and well packed at the wardrobes (sacks) or cartons which everyone owned atlest one.
Our shoe racks were under our expensively raised beds made of sticks. To add wonders to it, this houses contained of freezers. You could never lack cold water, fresh and cold milk and well preserved meat in this humble units.
As I conclude, our mothers worked so hard to paint this houses with fresh paint (dung) from the local savanah breeded cattle. You would always see them in the shed collecting the fresh dung and dashing it on the walls. Every one would detect a freahly painted wall and this mattered to them since it was their pride.
. David Ole Lankas.
