THE SURPRISE RETURN OF THE GREAT ASWEDA

One sunny morning, a family was surprised and could not believe their eyes. The once great Asweda was seen limping on one leg, walking with the help of a stick. It was really a great moment for the family to reunite again. A mixed reaction between happiness and disbelief filled Asweda's family. The entire community was shocked by the news. It was really hard to believe as Asweda had already been buried in a decent send-off. It was almost three years since Asweda's decent burial was performed. The once healthy strong man with huge muscles, now looking thin, weak and with numerous wrinkles on his forehead. The community flock to Asweda's home to witness the wonders that have just happened. Most people believed that he was a ghost and could not get near him. Any attempt by Asweda to greet them by hand was fruitless as most ran away from him. Most people at the scene were just staring at Asweda at a distance. It was only the close family members who had the courage to touch Asweda or even greet her by hand. It was really hard to imagine the once most great and respected member of society now appearing useless and isolated by the community.

The bad scent could suggest that the man had not taken a shower recently. The caring family quickly organized a group of young men who quickly took him to a nearby river for a body showering process. The young men struggled with Asweda as the showering process was not easy. He had not interacted with water for almost close to three years, hence Asweda found the water irritating him so much because he was not used to it. They eventually showered him clean and wrapped him in an animal skin. They then placed him on a stone beside the river for thirty minutes to be warmed by the solar energy as he was almost shivering. Asweda was then taken home.

It was now time for a ritual to be performed. It was really a bad sign to bury someone while he is still alive. The family had to perform a ritual function to set Asweda free. Without further a do, the family organized a very big ceremony. Cows, goats, chicken e.t.c.... were all slaughtered in an event to celebrate their long-lost family members. The council elders were there to give guidance on the process as they were keen not to break any taboo associated with the process. The traditional herbal medicine was availed, which was mixed with food. The essence of the traditional herbal was to clean up or reverse the already performed or alternatively reverse the burial ritual earlier performed. The entire community joined the family to perform the cleansing ritual as it was mostly a community affair. At first, ancestors had to be appeased in a special way. The council of elders poured down two pots of traditional brew in honor of the founder of the community.

The council of elders sat in one corner of the home compound sipping their refreshing traditional brew locally called busaa. The great Asweda sat next to them as he narrated his side of the story. Asweda, at the point of a fight with the young Oromo men, his leg was chopped off. This confirmed that indeed the already buried leg belonged to the great Asweda. Asweda narrated how he was forcefully pushed coincidentally into a very deep cave that saved his life. He imagined the painful death he would have suffered at the hands of the merciless Oromo young men. Life in a cave was not easy. He could barely see the sunshine or even feel the warm solar energy. It was freezing to withstand. He was in serious pain and could not access any treatment services. He endured all as he believed in the community notion that men are born to suffer. He had hope that one day he would come out of the situation. He was starving as there was no food in the cave. The only close associates in the caves were the rats. Asweda had spent almost three weeks without food. He grabbed one big rat and swallowed it alive as the poor rat suffered under him. After that meal, he had to come to terms with reality. He had to accept that rats would be his daily meal. He planned on how to spice up his meal. He thought of roasting the rats before eating. He could make fire by hitting two stones harder to produce fire. They would then collect wood available in the cave. The rats saved his life. After some time, his leg healed up, easing his mobility capability.

The once great Asweda now had to come up with a strategy that would free him up. He had to climb up slowly in an effort to come out. But before he could affect his strategy, he had to ensure enough food with him. He went on a hunting mission where he captured ten fat rats. He knew the ten rats would be enough to sustain him through the rescue process. He roasted them well and started to get up. He would grab and push himself through the rocks. Asweda ensured he covered a significant distance in a day. After a long period of struggle, he finally came out of the cave. He felt great relief as it was the first time to see the beautiful rays of the sun since more than two years back, when he was pushed into the cave. He would fake a smile on his frowning wrinkled face. He had lost memory and could not trace his way back home. Asweda was assisted by a young lady who was willing to direct him to his village. Traditionally, people were usually kind and really valued assisting others. That is how the once great Asweda found himself going back in his ancestral land. It was really a great event to welcome him back, but now as a 'bachelor'. His three wives had already been inherited.