The horror of insurgence

The rebels struck again. It was sudden and unexpected. The temporary dwellings within the vicinity were shattered. The grass thatched huts were set ablaze. The residents lost most of their treasured belongings.

It was around midnight when the rebels came. Wailings of women and children prevailed the scene. Incessant shots of guns rend the air sharply. It was all a dramatic fray of terror and fear.

Yakubu took his three little boys and his expectant wife and rushed them through the darkness. His major concern was their safety. Though, his only daughter had been abducted by stray rebels, there was no use crying over spilt milk. He only contemplated how they would find their way to a safe hiding without confronting the rebels.

He hurried his wife and kids down the terrain to the jungle. He prayed earnestly to the God he knew to camouflage them from the vigilance, terror and defiance of the rebels.

Few months ago, when they struck again, they slit open the womb of the chief’s expectant wife. They forced the chief to consume the foetus. When he disrespected their orders, they struck a bullet into his head. It was terrible.

Many other displaced families joined them on the way. The horror was felt in their uneasy breathing and sobbing. Children's cries prevailed the atmosphere. Their peace had totally been disgruntled.

The night was haunted by the terror that ruined their lives.

Government troops had done very little to arrest the unrest. They too, feared the insurgents for they were not only inadequately equipped militarily, but they were also poorly paid. The rebels thus reigned supreme. They abducted many children and took them to fight for their cause. They killed those who attempted to escape. They took the little girls and and beflowered them.

The horrified families wound their way into the jungle. That’s where they would stay-with wild animals and birds till the day the rebels would be wiped from their lives.

The following day, the government troops emerged from their hiding place. Three military helicopters hovered over the jungle. A fourth helicopter roared before the rest. It belonged to a Humanitarian Organisation. At last, some hope was restored to the hearts of the dejected families.

As usual, they would be taken to stay in camps where there were no schools, no food, no houses and other vital necessities of life. It was a sad relief, though. They had no option. Their safety lay in the hands of the troops and the Humanitarian Organisation.

At the camp, they were met by more horrified faces of the victims of the rebel insurgence. ‘What were they thinking of?’ Peace would never be restored in their land. For more than two decades now, they have seen no other kind of fate apart from this which ate their lives.

Nevertheless, the camps offered some relief. Some families found their loved ones. Yakubu was a victim of such luck. A broad smile spread on his face when he caught sight of his only daughter. He knew she had been abducted. Fate had abducted her to safety. He embraced her gorgeously and waited to hear her story. His family had at last regained their peace after finding their loved one.

Joshua Masinde

Commonwealth Short Story Prize goes to Zambian

The winner of the 2007 commonwealth short story competition has been announced. Ellen Banda-Aaku from Zambia was pronounced both the overall and regional winner (Africa) for her story, Sozi's Box. She takes home 2000 pounds.

Her winning entry was selected from more than two thousand submissions.

Twenty five other writers from across the Commonwealth have also won prizes in the 2007 competition.


The prize was established 11 years ago with the aim of increasing appreciation between different Commonwealth cultures. The competition is sponsored by the Commonwealth Foundation and administered by the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association (CBA).

EllenBanda-Aaku was, on Monday 19 Nov in Kampala and on Wednesday 21 Nov at Makerere University Main Hall, announced as the overall winner of the Commonwealth Short Story Competition by the CBA.

Sozi's Box, her winning entry, examines the themes of loss and disability as seen through the eyes of a child at her brother's funeral.

Ellen was born in the UK. She grew up and went to University in Zambia. She has BA in Public Administration and an MA in Finance and Social policy. Currently, she is doing an MA in Creative Writing at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. Her children's book entitled, "Wandi's Little Voice", published by Macmillan UK, won the 2004 Macmillan Writers prize for Africa in the New Writer Award category. She was one of the panel judges for the 2006 Macmillan Writer's Prize for Africa competition.

Four regional winners are:
Catherine Palmer (New Zealand), Australia and the Pacific Region for "Bushwoman", Emily Pedder (UK), Europe for "Days Are Long", Hema S. Raman (India), Asia for "Where Do I Belong?", Sarah Totton (Canada), Canada and the Caribbean for "The Man With the Sea Horse head".

The winners of Highly Commended stories are:
Molara Wood (Nigeria) for "Trial By Water", Wame Molefhe (Botswana) for "Six Pack", Linda C. Saunders (South Africa) for "Never Put Your Hand in a Dog's Mouth", Eunice Tan (Australia) for "In Transit", Robert Carter (Australia) for "Heaven", Bruce Riddell (Australia) for "Do Not Disturb", David Campbell (Australia) for "Zuka's Gift", Paddy O'Reilly (Australia) for "The Passion Fruit", Ash Rehn (Australia) for "The Hook-Up", Ditta Sylvester (Jamaica) for "The Last Ride", Katherine Atkinson (St. Lucia) for "The Village Voice", Darryl Berger (Canada) for "Scissors", Stewart Boston (Canada) for "Melnyk Comes Home", Carin Makuz (Canada) for "Kick", Donna Tremblay (Canada) for "Leaving", Manasi Subramaniam (India) for "Arranged Marriage", Aniruddha Sen (India) for "A Win-Win Game", Ashwini Gowariker (India) for "A Good Night's Work", Rayika Choudri (Pakistan) for "Underneath the Sky", Faye Davies (UK) for "The Flying Carpet", Juliet O'Callaghan (UK) for "In Arms."

Women should boldly march into the hunting woods

What do women really want? Do they want everything that the men have? Perhaps, it is true they admire and wish to have much of what the hoarse-voiced species have, save the elongated glands in between their counterparts’ legs. But, some would boldly wish to share in this prerogative.
The affirmative action is a typical example of women’s protracted urge to want to have what we men have. Let’s talk from a realistic point of view. The affirmative action was a little known animal until the time the women realised they could as well eat chicken like the male folks. It took them to Beijing just in pursuit of some of the copies of prerogative that men have.
There came the kimansulo. This was perhaps propelled by immoralistic instincts. It was a ‘negative’ step towards women deliverance movement. I don’t know nor care whether or not kimansulo still does exist.
Then there was one of the most daring moves towards feminine liberation. The outset of the vagina monologue comes to mind. What do we call this? Should the young ones grow up while knowing that vagina monologue is or was the sweet and honey with which to woo emancipation out of the woods? Then, where does our fate lie? As your reminder, the V collapsed empires. It buried and continues to bury careers at the wake of each day. Though, it could be the one of the most powerful tools that could be used to pave way for the success of the affirmative action, it seems to have been grounded already. I no longer hear rumours about the V monologue.
From a conservative’s point of view, most of such prospects are unrealistic. The affirmative action cannot be fully realised by staging such weird revolutions amongst our womenfolk every other day, be it in the August House, through activism etc. The revolution must come from the angle of love. The love revolution is a better option. And perhaps, as the women know, it is easily attainable through the man’s stomach (not the only avenue). Feed him well and he’ll give you the little space you’ve always yearned for. Love him like a child and he will lose his mind.
It might be hard for the conservative to give away such little freedom they have in the guise of affirmative action. But, it can be done in a strategic and gradual process by imparting the reason for liberty in their psyche.
From a liberalist point of view, for which I am, it is easy. Let’s make bows, arrows, spears, and machete for the women and sent them to the forest to hunt. Let them continue fighting for their rights. That is the initial step towards attaining the concepts of affirmative action. Isn’t that right? Let them have their pick from within the woods of freedom. That is where the struggle begins.
From the same point of view, I am yet to see a woman, real African lady, come to me boldly and emit the sweet and lovely venom: “I have a crush on you. I want to be your woman.” Or it could be more lethal or healthier when the assertion becomes bolder: “I want to marry you.” Perhaps, wait shall I. I hope I won’t be in bad mood. I pray the assertion won’t be in bad faith.
Since most men wish to be treated like kids, then who should do it? It is the pro-affirmative action activists. Let them treat their bearded partners like kids and they shall indeed gain access to the prerogatives they have envisaged for times historical. They will walk like their counterparts and there will be no problem with that.
On a ‘serious’ note now, for those on whose heads many cows have been paid, they should be courageous enough to return them. What a bold move to our women’s liberation movement that will be? We shall throw all care to the wind and play the same fiddle with them. The men folk will continue allowing them in drinking joints. They will let them sip the mental poison together as the children and the homes take care of themselves.
However, this will not really work. They can’t really have their cake and eat it at the same time. From time immemorial, our societies have borne patriarchal colours. But, it seems at the end of the day, women would wish to see to it that the society becomes matriarchal.
They have followed their men to the gym and are seriously earning strong muscles. When they come back home, they train blows on their men as if those are the best punching bags they could ever have.
Do we men really think we are strong? We lost the battle. Those who rule us are our women, not we men. Past media reports revealed that China’s Chongqing’s city plans to build a town dedicated to women at its Shuangqiao District. While in "Women's Town," men will have to obey their wives or girlfriends' orders, satisfy their every demand. If not, they should anticipate punishment without mercy.
The slogan "women are never wrong; men can never refuse their needs" will be put at the gate, to greet men as they enter. Any man who tries to argue and oppose this rule will be punished by kneeling on a hard board or washing plates for local restaurants.
According to the plan, justices and a court will be set up in the town to "lash" male tourists who do something to make women unhappy. For instance, if men can't quickly satisfy their partner's desire for a particular food or cosmetic, they may be sentenced to be lashed by the justice. The lash, however, is specially-made and described as "soft" enough not to hurt them. We men are already at their mercy.
That is not enough. Our women need to realise that they are already dominant. The first is that the masculine species desire them a lot. They bear insatiable thirst for these feminine species. So, if they run away, the bearded creatures become a miserable lot.
The women are the ‘dominant sex.’ They can endure long without men. There are cases of single mothers who have no problem with remaining the way they are. On the contrary, a bloke whose better half passes away will marry forthwith.
In another situation, if a bloke and a woman are subjected to similar hostile conditions like starvation, no water, no shelter and tough climatic conditions, the bloke will succumb to the harsh conditions first as opposed to the woman. Thanks to nature, the woman will still be alive and kicking to bury the bloke. Who’s stronger now?
The strength of a woman…. Shaggy sang the same... is the strength that most men overlook. Such strength is eminent in the likes of Wolfwitz saga, Clinton-Lewinsky saga, the Biblical Samson and Delilah etc.
Soon, the women folk have strapped themselves in the jalopy to seek for the political cake. They are ever asking for special seats in the August House. Let them go to the people and seek their mandate. Since they are ‘stronger’ than us, no silver platter goodies are available at the moment. Not anymore.

Joshua Masinde