Stop Wildlife Poisoning

Category: Uncategorized | Date: Aug 13 2009 | By: Martin Odino

Dear readers, today’s post is a non-poisoning post of a section of my study site. A ‘cool off’ post I would brand it.

In Bunyala have stood where local legends stood….no, died! Until the 80’s, the villagers congreagated at the south western end of the study site (Munaka)to watch their young men wrestle, drink local brew and may be for the victorious men, win the spouses of a lifetime in commemoration of a lady that was murdered in the area.

30 years down the line, I count dead birds on end and all this because of a deadly carbofuran. It all gained momentum with the introduction of the pesticide about the early 1980’s at the rice scheme. Since then, it has never ended.

The sample poisoned bird above is about the spot where long wethered remains of a Banyala heroine were laid to rest a couple of centuries back.

It was custom that men ’stole’ women from their homes when they were of status to become wives. The dowry negotiations would then be discussed when the lady was safe in the confines of the interested man’s home. Succesful snatching of the woman from her people just added value to the suitability of the man to claim the girl.

A sung lady of ‘paralysing’ beauty was known of the area that is now the death grounds of many birds. When her time was ripe, one suitor engaged his band of agemates in this unavoidable, now medieval operation for any boy turned man. With a succesful raid, the troop made sleek escape back to the man’s home, but lo!tragedy struck in this field. Another suitor, and then another, and another came up to contest for the same lady. To cut the long story short, the outcome was a blood bath of scores dead inclusive of the lady who was stabbed by one of the contesting suitors so that none would have her. After that a bull would be selected from whatever homestead of the clan that the lady hailed from to represent her; her incarnation. This bull roamed freely and you were not to chase it from your farm if he paid you a visit or trouble would come your way. Upon his death, the bull would be replaced according to the dead woman’s command. My agemates tell of a story that when they were in primary school, an unusual antelope in the region wandered into one of the schools neighbouring the site. The kids were out playing. Many chased after the antelope throwing stones, sticks, clubs and the killer clobbered it with a hoe!None of those involved survived without punishment with the voice of the spirit lady heard through one elderly man complaining how she had come to visit her grounds and the ruthless people kill her embodiment. Fines from chicken, goats, sheep and 20 head of cattle for the actual murderer were administered accordingly depending on the role played by the villains.

But the tradition of clebrating this lady is now gone and poisoning goes on unchecked at these once revered grounds. This is tragic!ow I wish the heroine’s multiplied spirits had come as birds and at their poisoning dished out heavy fines to the poisoners.

Please keep reading.

Technorati : Bunyala, heritage

Tags: Bunyala, heritage