61 Oyamo Oyamo (1/2)
The rainless dark cloud and the smiling winds was a phenomenon only known by the seers. The tribe head himself did not know about it. When visiting places, he could see dark clouds appear on the sky and the winds blow gently but never understood why. He had asked his wise men to explain it to him but none understood. Unfortunately, of all the gifted people or the people with magical abilities like seers, sorcerers, witches, wizards, Ordainers and others in Lu tribe, the tribe head had never thought this aspect was only understood by the seers. Amollo Orengo aside, not even his predecessors could fathom the phenomenon.
The Lu tribe heads were sworn in by the general seer of the tribe. This seer was the most powerful one. When he swore in the tribe head, he gave powers unique to this lofty person. Seers were used by 'Were' as his messengers. They spoke to this supreme spirit directly to know the future. The fate of the whole tribe was in their hands thence the profound respect the people had for them. The only reason why they were not used as helpers to Ordainers was because they had a lot of responsibilities in their respective divisions and that is why their knowledge concerning Ordainers was as limited as any other ordinary person. The One from above nevertheless chose wizards to help the Ordainers, the reason why they knew a lot about these chosen ones. From this, it can be said that in Lu tribe, seers were the most powerful people even though they kept a low profile.
Thousands of years before Amollo ascended to the tribe head's stool, the very first tribe head of Lu tribe was given 'orengo' that was cut from the tail of a flying cow beast by a seer from those times. This beast was a daunting creature to other beasts but very compassionate to human beings. Before it died, it asked the general seer of that time to cut its tail to protect the Lu tribe.
That seer decided to invite his confreres to the tribe shrine and together they cast a spell on the beast tail or rather the 'orengo' to add more power to it. After some conjurations, the 'orengo'became an object of power. It's bearer could be unvanquishable wherever he went. Since not anyone could bear it, the seers decided to make the object the tribe head's. Therefore, it became an ordinary tail to any other person but a powerful artifact to the tribe head. With it, he could pierce through everything with a lot of ease. He became an indomitable god of battle that not even tribe heads from other tribes could match him. Within the tribe it gave him power to rule such that nobody could dare have malevolent thoughts against him. In the battle that took place a few days ago, he was hurt just because he left the 'orengo' in his palace. Otherwise, the battle could still be won by the Lu warriors even if Ochieng' did not come in.
As for the rainless clouds and the smiling winds, that was an inherent power the general seer secretlygave the tribe head during the inauguration ceremony. It was to help the seers track the movements of the tribe head. This was to ensure he was safe at any given moment. The leader could never know the reason behind the phenomenon because no seer was willing to let him know.
The nimbus had disappeared and the winds were no longer as gentle as they were. The chief's compound was filled with people from Odindi clan. The atmosphere there was vital and everyone was in good moods hosting the tribe head.
The Lu tribe was huge with several clans. The tribe head could take not less than five years just visiting the clans. If he visited a clan, for him to come back, he had to take several seasons since he was visiting other clans as well as attending to his duties as a tribe head.
”I was only a child when you ascended to the stool tribe head. It was only a few days after your father visited this clan. By then I was only twenty seasons old, time has fled and sixty seasons have gone by. I am glad to see you when it is only a few seasons since your reign begun.” One young man exclaimed in joy.
The tribe was seated with everyone in the chief's compound. He was taking 'kong'o' alongside the elders. Those who were not allowed to take 'kong'o' were taking fermented milk to get along. Women were busy in the chief's wives huts preparing the evening meals.
News concerning Ochieng' was now unconcealed and everyone had leapt with joy praising him. The tribe head had agreed with the people that the next day, they would march to the clan shrine and slaughter fifteen heads of cattle and offer them as sacrifices for 'Were' for bringing victory to the tribe. Their blood would also be poured to the ground for the ancestors to appease them and have them share the tribe bliss.
”I am glad too, what is your name?” The tribe head answered smiling broadly.
”I am Oyamo Oyamo.” The young man answered respectfully.
”Why were you given that name? Why were you given a disease name?¹” The tribe head asked with a light frown on his face.
”It is not the disease name, hehe. It is that 'yamo' that means wind. My mother told me her great grandmother had told her that I would be a strong child. She said I would be as agile as the leopard and swift like the wind. That is why I was named Oyamo Oyamo.” The young man explained rather proudly.
”Oyamo Oyamo, apart from chasing grasshoppers when we go for grazing, what else do you know?” One young man interjected what made others including the tribe head burst out in laughter.
”If Oyamo is as swift as the winds then I Okombo Diguru is faster than light and agile like smoke.”
”Hahaha! If Okombo is faster than light then I Ombemo Mong'o can teleport.”
”Fools! What have you cowards done with your speed and agility? I have faced a lion before and killed it! I have also saved my goats from the jaws of a crocodile near River Loka....”