The Saga About the School Teacher Called Goso
Once upon a time there was a man named Go’so, was a school teacher helping children to read, not in a schoolhouse, but under a baobab tree. One evening, while Goso was sitting under a tree reading the lessons the next day, Gazelle climbed a tree in silence to steal some fruit, and in doing so he shook a pumpkin, which, in the fall, struck the school teacher on the head and killed him.
Death of the School Teacher Goso
When his disciples came in the morning and found their school teacher dead, they were full of grief; therefore, after burying him with honor, they agreed among themselves to search for the one who killed Goso, and to kill him.
After discussing the matter they came to the conclusion that the south wind was the culprit.
Sequence of Murder Suspects
The south wind
So they caught the south wind and blew it away.
But the south wind blew: “Here! I am Koo’see, the south wind. Why are you beating me? What have I done? ”
And they said: “Yes, we know you are Koosee; it was you who threw down the gourd that struck our teacher Goso. You should not have done that. ”
But Koosee said, “If I were too strong would i be blocked by a mud wall?”
Mud wall
So they went to the mud wall and hit it.
But the mud wall cried out: “Here! I am Keeyambaa’za, a wall of mud. Why are you beating me? What have I done? ”
And they said: “Yes, we know you are Keeyambaaza; it was you who restrained Koosee, the south wind; and Koosee, a south wind, ended up throwing a gourd that struck our teacher Goso. You should not have done that. ”
But Keeyambaaza said, “If I were too strong would I be bothered by rats?”
Rat
So they went and caught the rat and beat him.
But the rat cried: “Here! I am a rat. Why are you beating me? What have I done?
And they said: “Yes, we know you are a Rat; it is you who have destroyed Keeyambaaza, the wall of mud; which restrained Koosee, the south wind; and Koosee, a south wind, ended up throwing a gourd that struck our school teacher Goso. You should not have done that. ”
But Rat said, “If I were too strong would i be eaten by a cat?”
Cat
So they hunted down the cat, caught him, and beat him.
But the cat cried: “Here! I am a cat. Why are you beating me? What have I done?
And they said: “Yes, we know you are a Cat; it is you who eats the Rat; destroyed Keeyambaaza, mud wall; which restrained Koosee, the south wind; and Koosee, a south wind, ended up throwing a gourd that struck our school teacher Goso. You should not have done that. ”
But the Cat said, “If I were too strong would i be tied with a rope?”
Rope
So they took the rope and struck it.
But the rope cried: “Here! I am a Rope. Why are you beating me? What have I done?
And they said, Yea, we know that you are Kaamba, the rope. It is you who binds the Cat; who eats rats; destroyed Keeyambaaza, mud wall; which restrained Koosee, the south wind; and Koosee, a south wind, ended up throwing a gourd that struck our school teacher Goso. You should not have done that. ”
But Kaamba said, “If I were too strong would i be cut with a knife?”
Knife
So they took a knife and struck it.
But the knife cried out: “Here! I am Kee’soo, a knife. Why are you beating me? What have I done?
And they said: “Yes, we know you are Keesoo; you cut the rope; which binds the cat; who eats rats; destroyed Keeyambaaza, mud wall; which restrained Koosee, the south wind; and Koosee, a south wind, ended up throwing a gourd that struck our school teacher Goso. You should not have done that. ”
But Keesoo said, “If I were too strong would I be burned?”
Fire
They went and put out the fire.
But the fire cried out: “Here! I am Mo’to, fire. Why are you beating me? What have I done?
And they said: “Yes, we know you are a Fire; you burn Keesoo, a knife; who cuts the rope; that binds the Cat; who eats Rats; who destroyed Keeyambaaza, a wall of mud; which restrained Koosee, the south wind; and Koosee, a south wind, ended up throwing a gourd that struck our school teacher Goso. You should not have done that. ”
But the Fire said, “If I were too strong wouls be put out by water?”
Water
And they came to the water and struck it.
But the water cried out: “Here! I am Water. Why are you hitting me? What have I done?
And they said: “Yes, we know you are Water; who puts out the fire; burning Keesoo, a knife; who cuts the rope; binding the Cat; who eats Rats; destroyed Keeyambaaza, mud wall; which restrained Koosee, the south wind; and Koosee, a south wind, ended up throwing a gourd that struck our school teacher Goso. You should not have done that. ”
But Water said, “If I were too strong would i be drank by a cow?”
The cow
And they then went to the oxen and beat him.
But the cow cried out: “Here! I am a cow. Why are you beating me? What have I done?
And they said, “Yes, we know you are a Cow; you drink Water, that extinguishes fires; burning Keesoo, a knife; who cuts the rope; which binds the Cat; who eats Rats; that destroyed Keeyambaaza, mud wall; which restrained Koosee, the south wind; and Koosee, a south wind, ended up throwing a gourd that struck our school teacher Goso. You should not have done that. ”
But Cow said, “If I were too strong would i be tormented by flies?”
Flies
And they caught a fly and struck him.
But the fly cried out: “Here! I am a fly. Why are you beating me? What have I done? ”
And they said: “Yes, we know you are a Fly; you tortured the cow; who drinks Water, that extinguishes fires; which burns Keesoo, a knife; that cuts the rope; which binds the Cat; who eats Rats; who destroyed Keeyambaaza, mud wall; which restrained Koosee, the south wind; and Koosee, a south wind, ended up throwing a gourd that struck our teacher Goso. You should not have done that. ”
But Nzi said, “If I were too strong, would I be eaten by a Gazelle?”
The Arrest of the killer
And they sought the Gazelle, and when they found him, they beat him.
But the Gazelle said: “Here! I am the Roof, the roof. Why are you beating me? What have I done?
And they said: “Yes, we know you are a Gazelle; you eat Flies, flies that tortures the cow, cow who drinks Water, water that extinguishes Fire, fire which burns Keesoo, that cuts the Rope; which is used to bind the Cat; who eats Rats; that destroys Keeyambaaza, a wall of mud; which restrained Koosee, the south wind; and Koosee, the south wind, threw down the gourd that struck our school teacher Goso. You should not have done that. ”
Gazelle, in astonishment of being found and fearing the consequences of his unintentional murder of the teacher, while stealing, became silent.
Then the scholars said: “Ah! he has no word to speak for himself. This is the killer who threw down the gourd that hit our school teacher Goso. We will kill him. ”
So they killed the Gazelle, and avenged the death of their school teacher.
If you have enjoyed this story, checkout our other tale “Folktale: The Young Hunter and the Cannibal” which also involves murder cases caused by mysterious animals. And can also learn about the famous school in Tanzania, the “International School of Tanganyika” since the article was narrating events related to schools.
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