1 FORTUNE FAVOURS THE BOLD

One hot afternoon, In the second home of the great Asweda Asweda, when everyone was under a shed resting after struggling with a huge ugali with pig weed. Ugali was a staple meal for luhya community made boiling the crushed dried maize. Normally in African society especially the luhya culture, people usually have a great rest after the noon meal. Suddenly there came a tension. Asweda's wife Suzana was experiencing serious labor pains. Suzana yelled so loudly that everybody was terrified. The sister in law's to Suzana hurriedly picked her up and took her to her muddy hut and laid on an animal skin facing up. she was then covered with an animal skill. Meanwhile, Asweda ran helter skelter to go and look for a long distance runner who was to run to the neighboring village to look for a traditional mid-wife who would assist in the delivery process. It was so unfortunate that the entire village had no single traditional mid-wife to an extend a runner had to be sent to the neighboring village which was several miles away.

Asweda arrived in Owino's home in a manner that would suggest something was messy. The loud deep voice could be heard calling Owino. In response a soft voice responded, "Owino has been send to deliver a message few weeks ago by the chief and was yet to come". Having no other option, Asweda had to go my himself although it would take him time because he was not a professional runner. One hour later, he was seriously sweating while breathing so loudly that you could think the heart will burst out the chest. A bad thing happened and this angered Asweda to an extend he clicked and almost cursed Were. 'Were' was the name for supernatural being the community believed in. It was a very unfortunate thing to the entire family. Asweda had hit his led hard on a harp sharp rock that left his left leg with a huge cut as blood came out at a rate that was really worrying. The right leg had a fracture. I t is believed that Asweda was at high speed beyond control when the incidence happened that made him fall instantly.

At home things was messy, everyone was waiting to positive feedback from Asweda. It came a time to deliver and Suzana being a strong lady gave birth successfully to a bouncing baby boy. During the delivery process, as Suzana was struggling to welcome his first born, the sister in-laws were singing inspiration song to give her moral. "Ogungo hatari Namrembo Omuogo kwa Ingiland" sang the sister in laws. The song meant that Suzana was a strong lady being compared to a cassava that originated from England, which was normally thought to be hard compared to the locally available ones. The baby was welcomed by ululations and vigorous dancing styles by all the extended family members.

It was now the time for animals to suffer or say give back to the owner. As usual more cocks and goats had to be slaughtered as a way of welcoming new members to the society and ancestors also appeased in the process. Now what was hindering the process was the availability or father's presence, who was to initiate the process. Late into the night, all members of the extended family gathered to have a discussion about the whereabouts of Asweda. They all consciously made a decision to send a group of" Varaga" to go and find out. Varaga was a word that described young, strong energetic people in the society.

The group was dispatched at around 8.00 pm to a search. The group divided into four sub- group and each was to take different direction into the search mission. The following day the first group arrived with a good news. Deep voices could be heard from far as they sang melodiously in celebration of their achieved mission. They came along with Asweda who was in a serious pain.

Asweda was assigned and attended to by a tradition medicine healer. There was a mixed reaction between happiness and sadness. That evening, a party was to be organized and animals were to be slaughtered to appease the ancestors and reconcile with them in an event the family went against their wish. Asweda lying next to his son could be heard thanking were for the son. The son was to called Thishinda according to the culture alongside other Ancestral name. Thishinda was a name given to a baby born during a very difficult time. "Thishida, am gladly welcoming you to this world, the world of struggle and as a man you have to up your game" said the father.

Thishida had already received his first name based on circumstance and was awaiting the second name (Ancestral name). He was the the only son to Asweda. Asweda had made considerably sired seven daughter from his first wife and for the first time he was going to be a father to a male child. This meant that Thishida was a significant figure in the family.

Now evening came and it was now the time for the party to take place. The preparation was done in advance. Several animals were slaughtered and Busaa was set in place. Busaa was a highly valued traditional brew for the luhya community. A variety of traditional foods was present. It came a time to start and the traditional band called Nyahangala was present to entertain in the event. The lyric started and everybody took a position showcase his/ her dancing styles. The dance was very entertaining. Indeed it was a great day to the society. Ladies, old, young and men could be seen shaking their shoulders vigorously as they shake their head in conjunction with the musical pattern. Everyone was to take out of stage at his/ her own time. The time for food came and people ate to their full. Now the old took their position to drink Busaa in the strategic corners of the home compound. Fire was lit to provide warmth as they drunk their brew. Their was four big pot put in the strategic position of the compound. Each pot was to accommodate more than thirty people. They had to sip the using a straw. The party ended late in the night.

The following day came. It was indeed a very beautiful day. The birds were singing melodiously suggesting a beginning of a wonderful day. The grass outside were shining like broken glasses exposed to direct sunlight. All the family members woke up energetic and a happy mood could still be seen from their faces.

Another thing happened, and it was now a very difficult thing for the family to intervene. Thishida started crying continuously without ceasing. As sure as the sun rises from the east, Asweda knew that it was a naming wrangle. It was clearly known that such incidence often happens to born babies when an ancestor need to be named after. Now the difficult thing was to identify the exact ancestor who need to be named. There was a procedure which was usually presided over by the grandmother of the child. For this reason, the grandmother was informed to come and rescue the situation. The new mother was really worried as this was the first time he was experiencing such a thing. She tried to make the baby comfortable by bathing but still could no cease crying. The baby could not still breast feed and the only thing was crying. The grandmother arrived and started chanting the name of the ancestors. He pronounced all the names and all got exhausted but still could not calm the situation. He had exhausted all the names associated with males. It was now getting late and night was approaching. The child had cried the whole day. The grandmother grabbed the child and started throwing him up and grabbing him in the air. Now she started again, " Ewe Nasimalwa ni ewe, vache lola, hane ni ewe urusumbuanga, vurera lwangu". Immediately the child stopped crying. The exact name had been identified and the child was to be named Nasimalwa although the name was associated by feminine.