The story I will tell goes like this: In old times, when the elders lived, it was raining heavily, and it was very dark outside. A woman was cooking her bissap seeds, which, in those times, were made with guinea corn. There was no other food, and these seeds of bissap and guinea corn were the only food to eat in the evening. As she cooked and ate the seeds, she didn't realize that a hyena had come and squatted nearby. She mistook it for a small dog and continued eating. As the hyena got closer, she wondered what to do. She said, "What the hell! What, small dog? It is seeds of bissap, this is what I am eating." The hyena started crying out, "Wuu!" The woman then exclaimed, "Wuuyoooo! It’s a small hyena!" And that’s how the story ended.

I am Mr. Hanus Panti Kugama, and I am here to tell you about the traditional Kugama circumcision. In Kugama, there are two types of age mates: male and female.

For males, age mates are identified through circumcision. When children are born together and grow up together, and they are circumcised in the same period, they become age mates. This means that if you circumcise a child alongside another, and you both perform the traditional circumcision rites together, then that person is your age mate.

The male age mates are recognized through this process, and it is clear and official. You share the circumcision ritual and do the same dances. When you circumcise together, regardless of whether you were born on the same day, you are considered age mates. This is how Kugama men identify their age mates.

For women, the process of identifying age mates is different. Women identify their age mates based on what their mothers tell them. If a girl is born in the same month and year as another girl, their mothers will tell them they are age mates. They will move in groups of age mates, and if there are any disagreements, they may fight each other.

However, female age mates often have more confusion and arguments. They rely on what their mothers tell them, and sometimes there is confusion about who truly belongs to the same age group.

There is a connection between male and female age mates. A woman who is three years older than a man can also be considered his age mate. A woman who took care of you when you were young can be your age mate, even if she is older. The age mate relationship between men and women is more flexible compared to that of the men’s own group.

The male age mates are clear from the start through circumcision. There are no arguments, no confusion. This is a tradition in Kugama: when you circumcise together, you are automatically age mates. Women, on the other hand, might have some disagreements and arguments before they can recognize their age mates.

Male age mates in Kugama can celebrate together. You might slaughter a goat or share a drink with your age mate. You might call them to celebrate or even drink beer together. Your age mate may also slaughter goats for you, and you will do the same for them the next year. Sometimes, there are not many people in a particular age group. In such cases, this group will match with those coming behind them. They do not join the older age mates in front, as they are considered junior. The junior ones will group with the ones who are coming behind.

In Kugama, we identify our age mates step by step, and the process is clear and without confusion. The male age mates are identified officially through circumcision, and there is no argument about it. For women, the process is based on what their mothers say, but this can sometimes lead to confusion.

This is what I know about age mates in Kugama. May God help us.

Some people went hunting and shot an antelope. As they were leaving, one man, carrying his meat on his head, noticed a grasshopper lying on the ground. He wondered whether he should continue with the meat or take the grasshopper. He decided to squat and grab the grasshopper, but as he did, he fell and broke his neck. He died without eating either the grasshopper or the antelope. He had wasted his chance.

The lesson here is that even though something may seem small or insignificant to you, don't be tempted by what others have, thinking that it’s better. If you leave what’s yours, no matter how little, to take someone else's property, you may find trouble. In this world, we must be careful with our desires and our words. If your own possessions seem small, stick with them and work with what you have. Don’t covet someone else’s abundance. You don’t know how they got it. If you try to take what’s not yours, you will face trouble. Amen.

When a Kugama chief dies, the process of appointing a new chief begins. First, they send the representatives of clans to the elders, and the body is buried. Once the burial is complete, the people are informed that the chief has passed away. They dig a hole inside the hut and tell everyone that the chief is buried there, though the actual burial site may not be inside the hut. A day is then chosen to gather people for the appointment of a new chief. The new chief is chosen. The hair of of the deceased chief is given to the new chief, who buries it as part of the ceremony. Afterward, pawpaw leaves with yema are placed in a white calabash and given to the new chief. He is then isolated in a shelter for thirty days. During this time, no one can visit him except the elders of the clans. Once the thirty days are over, the new chief is brought out, and a celebration begins with dancing. He is then seated on a stool, officially becoming the Kugama chief. While he is in the shelter, only the elders can enter to see him; no one else is allowed. These are the traditions involved in appointing a Kugama chief. I have finished explaining. If she has any questions, she can ask me.

When someone dies, the people carry the body and wash it. Then, they lay it down and look for a piece of cotton fabric to place on the body. They also find a piece of woven fabric, which they use to tie the body. The legs and hands of the deceased are tied, and then the body is wrapped in the woven fabric.

Once the body is wrapped, it is carried and placed in a hut. After the elders arrive, the body is brought out and placed under a tree. A horn is then blown in honor of the deceased. Following this, cereals are collected from the body, and the body is carried to the grave. Once at the grave, the body is buried.

After the burial, people gather and dance. Then, they bring a log and place it beneath a granary. Then they seat a person there, they pluck and bring leaves. Then the person starts chasing flies away above the log that they have brought, as if it is the dead person who has been buried. The end. 

The story I want to tell is not long. It is short. There was a hyena. Every day, it waited for a small goat to eat. The small goat did not go out because of the hyena. When the small goat did go out, the hyena made the goat run back home. Well, the small goat decided to take action. When the hyena left, the goat went out again and set a trap. After setting the trap, it bought a big piece of meat and placed it in the trap. Once it did that, it started to return home. On its way back, it met the hyena. The hyena wanted to catch the small goat.

Then the small goat asked the hyena, "Where are you coming from?" To escape from the hyena, the small goat said, "Do you know, I slaughtered a big cow? A man bought my meat. I went to collect my money, but he refused to pay me." The hyena asked if the meat was still with him. The goat answered yes, that the meat was on top of a tent. The hyena went there and asked the small goat if it was its meat. The goat said yes. The hyena declared, "If he does not pay, I will pay."

The hyena approached the man and asked, "Are you the one who took the meat? The small goat came to ask for money, but you did not give it to him." The man remained silent. The hyena asked again, and when he didn't receive a response, he said, "I asked you, but you didn’t answer me. I will take the meat myself." The hyena stretched out its hand to take the meat from the trap, but the trap caught its hand. The hyena struggled to free itself while the small goat ran away.

The hyena, caught by the trap, ended up cutting its hand. It ran and ran, trying to hide its injury so the small goat wouldn't see it. When it met the small goat, it said, "Move aside! People are stronger than you." The goat exclaimed, "Wow! The hyena's hand is cut!" This gave the small goat an opportunity to escape.

And so, the short story ends.

Story, story! Bring it! Let us hear!

It was monkey and squirrel. They went strolling in the bush and found the chief’s groundnut. They planned to steal it. The monkey and the squirrel carried the groundnut, running away until they reached a tamarind tree. Monkey said, “Let me carry all the groundnut since I am bigger.” Squirrel agreed and handed his groundnut to monkey, who climbed the tree and sat, eating and throwing waste to squirrel below.

Squirrel called, “Monkey, monkey, share with me. We stole it together, but you climbed and left me. I don't have legs to climb the tree. You are eating the groundnut and not giving to me.” Monkey replied, “I will not share.” He kept eating, throwing waste down.

Squirrel thought of a plan. He asked, “Monkey, pluck me a long tamarind fruit.” Monkey asked, “This one?” Squirrel said, “No.” Again, monkey asked, “This one?” Squirrel said, “No.” Finally, squirrel said, “Yes, that one!” Monkey threw the long fruit down. Squirrel took it, removed the seed, and said, “Yesterday, I heard hunters are coming today to hunt monkeys in the bush.”

Monkey said, “No, you lie. You want my groundnut.” But squirrel had a plan. He removes the seeds of the fruit and blew the peel, making a sound like “Feee!” Monkey asked, “What is that sound?” Squirrel said, “I told you, hunters are coming.” Monkey looked and saw grass moving, like people. He said, “Squirrel, tell me if hunters come.”

Squirrel blew “Feee!” again. Monkey shouted, “What is happening?” Squirrel said, “Hunters are coming!” Monkey panicked and jumped down, dropping all the groundnut. Squirrel picked it up and ran home, eating happily.

Later, squirrel met wild cow and said, “Hit your head on the baobab tree, and your horns will go in. I will give you something.” Cow asked, “What will you give me?” Squirrel said, “Something good.” Cow hit the tree; his horns stuck. Squirrel came, took the milk from the wild cow, and mixed it with groundnut to eat.

Monkey came and asked, “What are you eating?” Squirrel said, “Something sweet.” Then, squirrel mixed groundnut with the white juice from the poisonous tree as if it is milk and gave it to monkey, saying, “Here, take.” Monkey took it home, ate with his children, and they all died.

Squirrel took their bodies to the lion, the chief. Lion ate them, pleased with squirrel. Lion, living by the river, killed any animal that came to drink. Squirrel said to scared animals, “I have a plan to kill the lion.” The animals said, “If you kill him, we will make you chief.”

Squirrel told lion, “I brought meat, but an animal took it, claiming he is chief.” Lion, angry, said, “Who is better than me? Show me!” Squirrel led lion to a deep well, saying, “The one who took your meat is inside.” Lion looked, saw his reflection, thought it was another lion, and jumped in. He drowned.

Squirrel called all animals nearby the well. They danced and sang, lifting him up as their new king on the throne. They were taking him home. Peace came to the bush. No animal was troubled; all can drink water freely. The squirrel brought peace, progress, and freedom to the bush. It is because of squirrel that today we can see a lot of wild animals in the bush.

Story has finished.

My name is Mr. Hanus Panti Kugama. I am narrating the ceremony Kikidiape held when a woman gives birth to a newly born baby in Kugama. This celebration is divided into two types: one for a baby boy and another for a baby girl.

When a baby boy is born, the celebration takes place four days after birth. For a baby girl, the celebration occurs three days after birth. For a baby boy, a small bow is prepared and hung at the top of the room where he sleeps. This signifies that this is a newly born baby boy. This bow is specifically made for him at the time of his birth. For a baby girl, a small calabash is prepared and hung under the roof of the room. This signifies that a newly born baby girl is present and symbolizes her future use of the calabash when she marries and moves to her husband’s home.

During the celebration, food is prepared. We cook a traditional soup called hangko̰ki together with beans. We mix both the soup and beans. This dish is called kparowa. It is used in a ritual where the mother places a piece of it on the baby’s forehead, stomach (heart), hands, and feet. Family members cook and distribute food, showing that a child has been born.

The naming ceremony is an integral part of the celebration. The parents choose a name for the child, which is agreed upon by other relatives, including the father’s or mother’s sisters. This name remains with the child until adulthood. For boys, a new name might be given upon circumcision, but for girls, the name given during this ceremony becomes permanent.

This ceremony is a tradition passed down from our ancestors, who learned it from our great-grandfathers. They associated it with Jesus’ birth. Similarly, our ancestors related the three days after Jesus’ resurrection to symbolize the survival and future success of a child. 

The naming ceremony is like the bite of a snake. The three-day period associated with naming a baby in Kugama culture is connected to the belief that if a snake bites someone, there is a three-day period during which rituals and incantations are performed. After these three days, it becomes clear whether the person will recover. This is tied to the naming ceremony, signifying that after the three-day or four-day waiting period, it is confirmed that the child will survive and not suffer harm. 

During the ceremony, elders of the family bless the child. If it is a baby boy, it is believed that he will grow without suffering, achieve his goals, and be blessed. For a baby girl, it signifies that she will grow up to be caring and will manage her responsibilities well in both her father’s and husband’s homes.

The traditional Kugama naming ceremony, practiced since ancient times, ensures the baby receives blessings from parents and grandparents. These blessings promise that the child will grow strong and unharmed. The symbolic use of the bow for boys and the calabash for girls highlights their future paths. This is what we got from our great-grandfathers. As I said in the very beginning I am Mr. Hanus Panti Kugama. And this is the traditional naming ceremony kikidiape. 

We are in the story. It is about a poor child who didn’t have any relatives; everyone has died. He was traveling alone. Along the way, he came across a Blood Plum tree with ripe fruits. He climbed the tree, plucked the fruits, and continued on his way, carrying them on his head.

On his way, he met a man who was drawing water from the river. The boy asked him, “Can I leave my fruits here? I need to go to the toilet.” The man replied, “I was taking water from the river while feeling hungry.” Before the boy returned, the man ate all the fruits, leaving nothing behind. When the boy came back, he asked, “Where are my fruits?” The man answered, “I told you earlier that I was hungry while taking water from the river. So, I ate the fruits. there’s nothing left. Where did you find those fruits?” The child responded, “I took them from my previous settlement.” The man then picked up some small fish and gave them to the boy.

The boy continued on his way. Along the way, he met an old woman who was burning potash. He asked her, “Can I leave my fish here? I need to go to the toilet.” The old woman replied, “I was burning potash while feeling hungry.” Before he returned, the old woman ate his fish. When the boy came back, he asked, “Ah! Granny, where is my fish?” The old woman answered, “I told you I was burning potash while hungry. I ate your fish. Who gave you the fish?” The boy said, “A fisherman gave me the fish.” The woman asked, “What did you give to the fisherman?” The boy replied, “The fisherman ate my fruits.” The woman asked, “Who gave you the fruits?” The boy answered, “I picked them from my father’s former farm.” Then, the woman collected some potash and gave it to him. The boy took it and continued his journey.

On his way, he met the Wind and said, “Hello, Wind, let me leave my potash here while I go to the toilet.” The Wind replied, “I have been blowing and blowing with hunger.” Before the boy returned, the Wind ate all his potash. When the boy came back, he asked, “Wind, where is my potash?” The Wind answered, “I told you I was blowing and blowing with hunger. I ate your potash. Who gave you the potash?” The boy said, “An old woman gave it to me.” The Wind asked, “What did you give to the woman?” The boy replied, “She ate my fish.” The Wind asked, “Who gave you the fish?” The boy answered, “A fisherman did.” The Wind continued, “What did you give to the fisherman?” The boy said, “The fisherman ate my fruits.” The Wind asked, “Who gave you the fruits?” The boy replied, “I found them in the ruins of my father’s house.” Then, the Wind took a mat and gave it to the boy. The boy took the mat and continued on his way.

He kept walking and walking until he met an Anthill building its house. The boy said, “Let me leave my mat here; I need to go to the toilet.” The Anthill replied, “I have been building and building with hunger.” When the boy returned, the Anthill had eaten his mat, leaving nothing behind. The boy asked, “Anthill, where is my mat?” The Anthill replied, “I told you I was building with hunger. I ate your mat, nothing is left. Who gave you the mat?” The boy said, “It was the Wind.” The Anthill asked, “What did you give to the Wind?” The boy replied, “The Wind ate my potash.” The Anthill said, “Who gave you the potash?” The boy said, “An old woman gave it to me.” The Anthill asked, “What did you give to the woman?” The boy answered, “She ate my fish.” The Anthill continued, “Who gave you the fish?” The boy said, “A fisherman did.” The Anthill asked, “What did you give to the fisherman?” The boy replied, “The fisherman ate my fruits.” The Anthill asked, “Who gave you the fruits?” The boy said, “I found them in the ruins of my father’s house.” Then, the Anthill took an ant and gave it to the boy. The boy took the ant and continued on his way.

On his way, he met some people who were pounding grain. He said to the pounders, “Let me leave my ant here; I need to go to the toilet.” The pounders replied, “We have been pounding while being hungry.” When he came back, the pounders had eaten his ant. He asked, “Pounders, you kept my ant - where is it?” They replied, “We told you we were hungry while pounding. We ate your ant. Who gave you the ant?” The boy said, “It was the Anthill.” They asked, “What did you give to the Anthill?” The boy answered, “It ate my mat.” They asked, “Who gave you the mat?” The boy said, “It was the Wind.” They asked, “What did you give to the Wind?” The boy replied, “The Wind ate my potash.” They said, “Who gave you the potash?” The boy said, “An old woman gave it to me.” They asked, “What did you give to the woman?” The boy answered, “She ate my fish.” They continued, “Who gave you the fish?” The boy said, “A fisherman did.” They asked, “What did you give to the fisherman?” The boy replied, “The fisherman ate my fruits.” They asked, “Who gave you the fruits?” The boy said, “I found them in the ruins of my father’s house.” Then, the pounders took some pounded guinea corn and gave it to the boy. The boy took the guinea corn and continued his journey.

He was on his way when he met people doing a wedding. He said to them, “Let me leave my guinea corn here; I need to go to the toilet.” Before he left, they told him, “We were doing the wedding without anything.” When he returned, they had already used his guinea corn. He asked, “People, where did you keep my guinea corn?” They replied, “We told you before that we were doing the wedding in poverty. That’s why we used your guinea corn. Who gave it to you?” The boy said, “It was the pounders.” They asked, “What did you give to the pounders?” The boy replied, “They ate my ant.” They asked, “Who gave you the ant?” The boy said, “It was the Anthill.” They asked, “What did you give to the Anthill?” The boy answered, “It ate my mat.” They asked, “Who gave you the mat?” The boy said, “It was the Wind.” They asked, “What did you give to the Wind?” The boy replied, “The Wind ate my potash.” They said, “Who gave you the potash?” The boy said, “An old woman gave it to me.” They asked, “What did you give to the woman?” The boy answered, “She ate my fish.” They continued, “Who gave you the fish?” The boy said, “A fisherman did.” They asked, “What did you give to the fisherman?” The boy replied, “The fisherman ate my fruits.” They asked, “Who gave you the fruits?” The boy said, “I found them in the ruins of my father’s house.” Then, the people doing the wedding gave the boy food. He took it and continued his journey.

He kept going and going until he met a blacksmith. He said, “Blacksmith, let me leave my food here; I need to go to the toilet.” Before he left, the blacksmith said, “I have been forging with hunger.” When the boy returned, the blacksmith had eaten all his food. The boy asked, “Where is my food?” The blacksmith replied, “I told you before that I was forging while hungry. Who gave it to you?” The boy said, “It was the people at the wedding.” The blacksmith asked, “What did you give them?” The boy replied, “They ate my guinea corn.” The blacksmith asked, “Who gave you the guinea corn?” The boy said, “It was the pounders.” The blacksmith asked, “What did you give to the pounders?” The boy replied, “They ate my ant.” The blacksmith asked, “Who gave you the ant?” The boy said, “It was the Anthill.” The blacksmith asked, “What did you give to the Anthill?” The boy answered, “It ate my mat.” The blacksmith asked, “Who gave you the mat?” The boy said, “It was the Wind.” The blacksmith asked, “What did you give to the Wind?” The boy replied, “The Wind ate my potash.” The blacksmith asked, “Who gave you the potash?” The boy said, “An old woman gave it to me.” The blacksmith asked, “What did you give to the woman?” The boy answered, “She ate my fish.” The blacksmith continued, “Who gave you the fish?” The boy said, “A fisherman did.” The blacksmith asked, “What did you give to the fisherman?” The boy replied, “The fisherman ate my fruits.” The blacksmith asked, “Who gave you the fruits?” The boy said, “I found them in the ruins of my father’s house.” Then, the blacksmith took a shovel and gave it to the boy. The boy took it and left.

On his way, he met some people who were digging a grave. The boy said, “Let me leave my shovel here; I need to go to the toilet.” The people replied, “We have been struggling to dig this grave with our hands.” When the boy returned, he saw that they had used his shovel to dig the grave. The boy asked, “Where is my shovel?” They replied, “We told you before that we were digging the grave with our hands. We used your shovel. It has finished. Who gave it to you?” The boy said, “It was a blacksmith.” They asked, “What did you give to him?” The boy said, “He ate my food.” They said, “Who gave you the food?” The boy said, “It was the people at the wedding.” They asked, “What did you give them?” The boy replied, “They ate my guinea corn.” They asked, “Who gave you the guinea corn?” The boy said, “It was the pounders.” They asked, “What did you give to the pounders?” The boy replied, “They ate my ant.” They asked, “Who gave you the ant?” The boy said, “It was the Anthill.” They asked, “What did you give to the Anthill?” The boy answered, “It ate my mat.” They asked, “Who gave you the mat?” The boy said, “It was the Wind.” They asked, “What did you give to the Wind?” The boy replied, “The Wind ate my potash.” They asked, “Who gave you the potash?” The boy said, “An old woman gave it to me.” They asked, “What did you give to the woman?” The boy answered, “She ate my fish.” They continued, “Who gave you the fish?” The boy said, “A fisherman did.” They asked, “What did you give to the fisherman?” The boy replied, “The fisherman ate my fruits.” They asked, “Who gave you the fruits?” The boy said, “I found them in the ruins of my father’s house.” Then, the grave diggers removed the leg of the dead and gave it to the boy. This is where something important is about to happen.

Then, the boy went home with the leg. The leg turned into a Kukum tree. This tree was supposed to give him something important, since he was from a poor family. When it turned into the Kukum tree, it started producing fruits. Nobody was supposed to eat these fruits! The boy and his siblings ate the fruits, and they all died. This is the thing that happens to a poor person. The story has finished.