I grew up in a typical African Lwo village. In the center of the village were several fork-poles where we hung the drums used in dancing: mother-drum, the medium drum, and the little drums. Also in the center of the village we had a two large fireplaces ( called a Wang-oo) that were built on a platform. These fireplaces were an important part of the village life where the groups came together every evening to share their meals. The elders were in one group and the male children in another group. During the dry season, these two groups would meet each evening at the fireplaces to eat share their meal.
Attached to Wang-oo is the balaca where the elders or visitors usually rest their spears. The balaca is a group of poles and a live tree that is planted very near to the Wang-oo. The horns and ears of all the big animals killed during hunting are all hung on the balaca at the Wang-oo. The balaca shows how skillful and responsible the people of the village are in hunting food to feed the people of the village. People hunt to feed themselves and the community. During the dry season they do a lot of hunting, and during the wet season the meat that has been cured is eaten. During the digging season the best food is served.
When a person is 50 years old, he is considered an Elder. Elders are grouped by decades (50 year olds, 60 year olds, etc.) and they sit at the Wang-oo with their contemporaries because one can only speak freely to his contemporaries. Age, in general, is important. Even a small number of ‘years older’ carries significance. This is seen in the status of the first born or eldest and his or her position in the family.
Every household in the village is expected to bring food to the wang-oo to be shared. Sharing of food is of significant importance in the lives of the Lwo people. Whoever eats your food or drinks your water or enters into your house or becomes part and parcel of your life instantly.
This is very much like communion in our church. Sharing the body and blood of Christ through communion creates a very profound and intimate relationship. This relationship is so deep that nothing separates you and the person you are eating with from each other. In the Holy Communion you become part and parcel of God. In this way the Lwo community is able to care for orphaned children in their midst without much problem.
A good village is easily seen by decent houses lined up with numerous granaries of every size. In every house compound, each family has a number of granaries which ensure that this family is well to do. Each household must have granaries for finger millet, sorghum, groundnuts, sesame-seeds, cowpeas, and maize or corn. A good village is also marked by two long lines of poles at the Wang-oo, carrying big packages of cowpeas and of groundnuts. This can be seen from a far distance. It has a dramatic appearance. When someone sees it from afar and he knows, “These people are very, very strong.”
People can be given some groundnuts or some cowpeas to eat when food is not yet ready, especially during the dry season or when visitors come. Women also give their husbands and children some fried sesame-seeds when food is being cooked and is not yet ready.
A good village cannot be complete without seeing numerous sheep, goats, and cattle owned by the people of the village. The image of a good village is that there must also be large corrals for keeping the cattle at night, standing at a distance from the village.
To Be Continued....
Comments