WHEN THE YOUNG LION OF NDEBERE SLEPT AND CHIEF ORACLE MISAGGA WATCHED

ENG.BEN IMMANUEL MISSAGA

From the Wisdom of Jjaajja Muguluma

Jjaajja Muguluma while seated on his three-legged stool eating the nutmeg ( Enkomamawanga ) under the Omugavu tree used to say that: -“Omusajja omugezi taba na kiriro kimu. Abala amalaalo gonna agali mu Mupya ze, nago agali ku muliraano” literally translated as “A wise man does not count only the graves in his yard but counts even those at his neighbourhood’. That is the wisdom Chief Oracle Misagga has used for over  40 years.

THE BURIAL AT NDEBERE, IN BULAWAYO

On Saturday 12th September 2026, we buried the Young Lion of the Nderbere , he was 34 years breathing, 31 years wearing the barkcloth crown, the world knew him as the boy who became clan-head before his teeth were full. He fell sick, was flown to Polokwane Hospital – far from his hills, far from his drums – and there his breath stopped.

We brought him home to Sebitoli , under Ndebere  mountains. Thousands walked from the main shrine, Orange shawls, Barkcloth, Abambowa drums crying, Women ululating until their voices broke. The Enjole Sanduku rolled on a striped mat  as our grandfathers taught. But at the grave, Jjaajja Muguluma’s second proverb came true “Enju bwe filwa omukulu, abakungubazi sibebbaba abasika” meaning that  when the elder dies, the mourners do not become the heirs.

Two truths fought at the grave with spears hidden in smiles:

Truth One – The Indaba: The old keepers of blood, the Indaba, led by the Omubedde, the Paramount of all traditions, said: “This child never brought any child to the fireplace to be smelt by us”. Paper is not blood. Ink is not seen by ancestors. So, we, Indaba, give the stool to his cousin, the elder who speaks on the clan radio. Let him throw nine coffee berries.

Truth Two: The Palace: The Queen Mother and her daughter Princess stood at the door, eyes red, and shouted: “You have locked us! He left a letter in 2022! He left a small son, his true seed! You want to eat the stool”

One grave. Two kings. One old man we see, one young son we have never seen whose name is still hidden in a basket. And on a far hill, Chief Oracle Misagga, the man who has herded the great Clan since 1986, watches and writes in his book of life, he does not read foreign books, he reads graves and reads Jjaajja Muguluma.

WHAT MISAGGA LEARNT FROM THE GRAVES OF THE WORLD

Jjaajja Muguluma said: “Omwana omugabi yeebuuza ku balilanwa nga tannaba kugalamira” meaning that a clever child asks about other people’s beds before he sleeps. Misagga has asked, he has studied, Misagga tasagga kubanga Simusazze

SADDAM – THE LION OF THE DESERT

Saddam ruled Iraq 24 years by pure fear, he killed sons-in-law at dinner, he showed Enkoni every day. No Fox, only Lion. When enemies came in 2003, his own people broke his statues with hammers, no one cried. Jjaajja says :”Enkoni yokka tegumya nju.” Enkoni alone cannot hold a house. You must sometimes buy meat for children.

GADDAFI – THE TENT KING OF THE SANDS

Gaddafi ruled Libya 42 years from a tent, no Indaba, no Omubedde, only Green Book. Many sons, no chosen heir. When fire came in 2011, each son ran with his own gun, tent burned with father inside. Lesson: A clan without Indaba and Omubedde is meat for dogs. Misagga has built his own Indaba well.

FIDEL CASTRO – THE BEARDED ORACLE OF CUBA

Fidel was sick in 2006, he did not die and leave vacuum, he gave Enkoni to his young brother Raul while still alive, while still watching from his chair. Raul ruled 12 years under brother’s picture.  The Picture remained on wall. Jjaajja calls this: “;Okuwumula nga amaaso go galaba” meaning to rest while your eyes still see. This is the retirement that still rules.

MOBUTU – THE LEOPARD OF ZAIRE

Mobutu wore leopard skin, built jungle palaces, ate all, no plan for children. When he fell in 1997, his sons pushed carts in foreign lands, like boys pushing akamukogo in Owino. Jjaajja says: “Alya yekka, abaana be balya kasasiro” meaning that he who eats alone, his children eat dust. This is your Abakungubazi essay,

Wazei NYERERE & KAUNDA – THE TWO TEACHERS

Mwalimu Nyerere left in 1985 to Butiama, Kaunda wept on TV in 1991 and left after losing election. Loved men, but their parties died after them because they left no Kasekende holding Enkoni. Their cows were eaten by hyenas. Jjaajja says: “Okugenda nga tolina musika, kuleka nju yaakyo nga eggwanga lya bayaye.” Meaning that to leave without heir is to leave house for thugs.

MANDELA – THE KING WHO REFUSED THE CROWN

Mandela did 27 years in prison, 5 years as king, then said “Enough after one term”. He left, but South Africa had strong Indaba – ANC, courts, constitution – that protected his children. Does Misagga’s big clan have such Indaba? Or is it like Libya’s tent? Misagga writes all this in charcoal on his wall.

THE WISDOM FOR MISAGGA’S OWN KRAAL

Now our young Lion of the Ndebere  is gone, no public child, Indaba says will is not above blood. Palacesays will names a hidden son, Archbishop begs unity. Flags half-mast, but ordinary people are barredfrom seeing real rituals. Why? Jjaajja Muguluma answers: “Ebyama byomufu tebimanyibwa bantu bonna” meaning that not everyone should seethe secrets of the dead, Ritual is power,

Who controls the coffee berries controls 30 years.Chief Oracle Misagga, who holds Enkoni – the sacred stick that makes cows move and warriors kneel -has learned:He will not be Saddam- hated, he will buy meat, forgive debts, build inland and Zaire roads.He will not be Gaddafi-tent alone,  he has built Omubedde, Paramount Chief of traditions, and Indabawho says w e are above paper. “Constitution says one thing, Omubedde says another, and people listento Omubedde.He will be Fidel-he will hand Enkoni to his son Kasekende while still alive, eyes open. Kasekende already

holds Enkoni. Young herdsmen love him; old herdsmen fear his loud voice. He is the only grown man with Enkoni while others debate small boys in Bulawayo He will not be Mobutu- eating alone, he lets his Indaba eat smooth, so they protect Kasekende tomorrow. He will not be Nyerere or Mandela- because his kraal has no strong courts like South Africa. If he leaves like Mandela, his sons will ride boda boda.

JJAAJJA’S FINAL WISDOM

“Omusajja omukulu bwalaba Entana yomwana Omuto  , Takabiza naaku , wabula gaba maziga gamegezige yebujja:  “Meaning that when an old man watches the burial of a young clan-head, he is not watching death, he is reading hisown future.We buried a Young Lion of Ndebere  who reigned 31 years but lived 34 years. We watch a Chief Oracle who has reigned 40 years, who has studied all graves, who holds Enkoni, whose son Kasekende waits. One kingdom in Ndebere  land had no plan and now has two heirs – one visible elder, one invisible child.The big kraal has a very clear plan and pretends it has no plan.

 Both are chapters from Jjaajja Muguluma’s Book of the Leopard Ku Mbuuga seated on the Mutuba tree. And you, small herdsman in Bulawayo, pushing your boda, selling your tomatoes, remember your own proverb you wrote about Abakungubazi: When mourners cry loudest in Ndebere  and at the big kraal, check your pockets,they are not wipingtears, they are searching where you hid your land title.Enkoni is still in Kasekende’s hand, Coffee berries are still in Omubedde’s hand.The grave in Ndebere land is still fresh.

 WHO WILL THROW THE BERRIES

Tukwatagane even on the throne,  even against Abakungubazi.The Oracles of Kifuuta kyotera Buddu sitting at the fireplace, to give insight when children are roastedmaize. Misagga tasagga kubanga Simusaze Kasekende yalina Enkoni, The Oracles added, remember when Misagga was born Jjaajja Muguluma Yamuwanga ewa Dunda andasked him and the gods to make Misagga an Engineer, when Misagga brought Kasekende to be initiatedin the Goan maternal Clan the same was asked from the Goan gods of Indians to make Kasekende anEngineer, Both are Engineers extremely skilled, Knowledgeable, wise and confident, so do not thinkotherwise that the Clan Enkoni handler will ever be decided by the Bulawayo Indaba

Misagga told these to his son Kasekende, stop trying to be a Saint in the world of thieves, learn to be a beautiful monster or you will not rule for a week, be a lion at the same time a fox, strong and cunning, life is Fortuna and virtu, better to be feared than loved and do not be hated, hated rulers are overthrown, goodness is luxury and power is survival, Misagga mastered the end justify the means as he walks back to Kifuuta muntebeye.