KU LUNGA: LUNGA AND THE STONE WITH A FOOTPRINT

“Legend: a story coming down from the past especially: one popularly regarded as historical although not verifiable.” (Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary)

We have heard stories about men who could fly, ethnic group(s) that originated from water, men with extraordinary strength, women who lured men with their beauty, the dead who came back to earth for vengeance, men who transformed into animals and so on. One of such mindboggling stories is that of Lunga. This is a story of the legendary Lunga and a stone that records one of, if not, his most memorable escapades.

Many years ago, in a village called Luh in Donga Mantung Division, there lived a drummer and folk singer who left no one indifferent.  Lunga had no match in throbbing the drum and he was an excellent folk singer as well. This was probably because of the formidable metaphysical powers he possessed.  He was a kin of the Boo Ngala family and his lineage can be traced till date. His family, as far back as could be remembered, were victims of a series of mysterious deaths. When the dreaded moment resurfaced again and with the death of yet another family member, Lunga decided to do something about it.

Legend has it that after some reflection, he took his hunting spear, sheath, armpit drum and around his loin was a piece of cloth that covered his manhood. He then chanted a strange tune and danced to it. In the song, he expressed his worries, pondered on the mystery of life and death and his desire to escape from death. Villagers who came to sympathise with his family for their loss were bewildered by his display.

Without more ado, Lunga disappeared into the cloud with his assorted items. His destination was heaven and his mission was to escape from death that was preying on his family and to ask God why death was allowed to take so many lives, especially in his family. In heaven, instead of God, he met God's children as their father, God, had gone to condole with a bereaved family. This rendered Lunga speechless as he could not, even in his wildest dreams, have imagined that death also existed in heaven. In dismay, he decided to return to earth.

 To go back to earth, he had to climb down a rope held by God's children. They were to let go of the rope upon Lunga's safe landing on earth. It was agreed that when he landed on earth, he was going to shake the rope as a signal for them to release it from their grip. Unfortunately for him, a strong wind blew on his way down which shook the rope. As agreed, God's children released the rope from their grip and the result was a catastrophic fall. Lunga landed uncontrollably on a stone and left an indelible footprint on the stone; "Ku Lunga" meaning Lunga's foot(print). On the stone, he also left marks of his drum and spear and even though the impressions left them can still be seen today, they have faded due to erosion.

This fall was significant as it was the cradle of so many things yet to happen. It marked a turning point in his life and paved the way for a life full of mysteries. Stories have been told about him in the different forms of oral tradition especially folk songs and these songs spread from Luh to other Wimbum communities; “Lunga am koh mbi bu ntee…” is just one of them.

Wirndzerem M Nsoyene.