KHANYISILE THE ODD BUFFALO COW. The Ghwarri tree stands unassailable at the foot of a rocky outcrop at an undisclosed part of Kruger National Park. It looks like an ordinary tree, small with fairly slender multiple stems and a short shadow; only its blood red tipped leaves betray its mysterious lineage. It is indeed a mysterious tree. Some have sworn that they had seen it walk, during the full moon. Others swear that it can cry like a baby or a goat when it feels endangered. Others swear that it can fight back like a mad man and when stabbed with an assegai (spear) it bleeds blood. It is the most feared tree in Southern Africa, and occupies a unique place in nature as the missing link between man and plant. Any part of the Ghwarri tree provides the most sought after magic, conferring untold benefits to the users thereof but it is also true that its misguided use has visited the most fearful calamities on the culprit. Betty is a typical buffalo young cow; bovinely happy and eager to fulfill her role as the producer and replenisher of her species in the worldwide renown Kruger National Park. Four years ago she fell pregnant within the encompassing safety of her herd. It was as a result of a brief encounter with a young bull. As soon as her pregnancy was publicly acknowledged she became the exclusive property of the matriarch midwife cows. She was chaperoned to greener pastures, led to springs of sweet waters and to the nourishing grass of the savannah; all this happening within the relative security of the mega herd. She was led to certain trees from which she was expected to browse so as to develop her yet unborn calf into a proud specimen of her species. It was then that she committed a grievious mistake. She had an abnormal liking for the sweet leaves of the Ghwarri tree. It was the wise matriarch Boni who spotted Bettys weakness for Ghwarri tree leaves. Her warning fell on deaf ears. Betty loved her leaves and ate them with mindless abandon. It was a painless and swift delivery only marred by an ill fated omen. Within seconds of the birth of her calf, an evil looking shifty eyed Marabou Stork had surreptiously stolen the afterbirth and flew away with it securely held in its massive beak. There was incredulous fear in the herd followed by panic. The young bulls who patrol the herd perimeter quickly restored order and calm, but the damage was done already. The peace of the herd was stolen and from thence it became fractious. The midwife matriarchs agreed on the name for the young calf. She was named Khanyisile, literally The Lamp of Her Herd. She became a frolicking bundle of joy and the apple of the eyes of her herd. She grew up fast and beautiful. And on her fourth birthday when she was about to be introduced to motherhood during the rite of passage, held annually along the banks of the mighty Sabi river, she literally changed physically. The mega herd had bivoucked along the Crocodile river next to the multiple shades provided by the many woodlands along its bank. Buffaloes discussed important matters sitting down while the young warriors spread themselves around the group keeping an eye on any impeding danger. There were many compliants about Khanyisile. A young cow had a chance to speak on behalf of everyone: I love this family. It is the only family I know. It has not only protected me from the innumerable dangers but has given me a chance to grow up, to learn from the best and to become what I ought to be: a proud, fearless and powerful young cow. I have learnt our traditions from the very best. But in the last few years I have learnt the meaning of fear, insecurity and uncertainty. Amongst us is One, who not only looks different but has invited danger, fear and misfortune smongst us. I speak for many when I say, let us get rid of her. Theres no place for her in our midst. An old bull said and proceeded to chew his regurgitated curd. It was Yvette, one of the oldest matriarchs, who spoke: I am proud to be a buffalo. To me it means family, love and acceptance and long dignified life. Our we shameless hyenas who leave their young to the lions? I am a buffalo and proud of it. In my younger days I spun a lioness, who couldnt get enough of our children and elderly, like a piece of a rag on my single horn. I smashed her senseless against a donga. Khanyisile is one of us. I wont betray her to the lions. Didnt her mother feast on the forbidden Ghwarri leaves? She is not a Nguni bees (cow). Dont some of you fall down deliriously after eating its poisonous sap? Well Khanyisiles mother has broken a long held myth, she ate the forbidden fruit and lived to tell the tale. Khanyisile is a symbol of our resilience and strength. As long as she moves in the midst of us, even the magic of the Ghwarri tree cannot touch us! Yvette finished speaking. There was one faint shout of bravo and it grew steadily up until there was one thunderous cheer which could be heard as far away as Malelane and Kaapmuiden. Khanyisile is a proud member of her mega herd. She was seen by Annalien and Quagga Coetzer occupying a place of honour in the middle of her mega herd grazing along the banks of the Crocodile river. Khanyisile is a proud member of her herd where she lives honoured and unmolested and in dignity. She may soon give birth to her first calf and needless to say she doesnt like the Ghwarri tree leaves. :-) Picture taken by Annalien Coetzer and story told by Ralph Sibande.
Posted on: Tue, 23 Sep 2014 14:51:05 +0000
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