Story corner: Obungu and the desert children

Long time ago in a hot desert village called Butembo, people walked for miles to fetch water at the only Oasis in the desert. Children every morning, before they went to school and every evening, when they returned from school, went to fetch water.

Monday, May 25, 2009

Long time ago in a hot desert village called Butembo, people walked for miles to fetch water at the only Oasis in the desert. Children every morning, before they went to school and every evening, when they returned from school, went to fetch water.

This wasn’t easy because the desert had so many dangerous animals and wild scare crows that sent back young boys and girls without water. 

One day the village chief Mboga called for a village meeting to solve this problem that had befallen them. They decided that three elders be charged with protecting children on their way to the oasis both in the morning and evening.

Unfortunately, these elders were so lazy. They overslept in the morning and spent their evenings drinking and brewing local brew. Due to this, the children never dared go alone into the desert. So many families slept without water and definitely food.

One day, Obungu, the oldest man in the village volunteered and pitched camp in the desert. He made the way safe since he was an excellent hunter.

Everyday, he would light up a big fire in the middle of the desert and would beat up his drums to scare away the deadly beasts. He set up traps and netted some of stubborn ones that refused to run away. 

The children never broke their water pots again because of running away from animals. They became good friends with Obungu and they brought him packed food whenever they passed by his camp.

When he was sure that there was no more danger in the desert, Obungu returned home and the whole village lived happily ever after.

Ends