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KARIGA MOMBE
In the Shona tribe, when a person dies, their spirit continues to live and usually takes on one of two personalities. The spirit can turn to be dangerous but it can also turn to be a good spirit over time[1]. In the beginning, the spirit could be filled with anger and want to seek revenge. On the other hand, a spirit can be a good one from the beginning. With time, both spirits protect the community, they become the guardians of the Shona people. They usually carry so much influence such as that people consult them through village elders. When they need protection from a disaster, when they need water for their crops, they consult the spirits. When the harvest is good, they thank the spirits through sacrifices. These spirits are called Mudzimu. Usually, Kariga Mombe is the sacrifice.
KARIGA MOMBE
Kariga Mombe interprets to “Bringing down the bull”[2]. This is the head of cattle selected for sacrifice to the Mudzimu spirits. The Mudzimu drinks blood from the Kariga Mombe. Kariga mombe is usually the healthiest of the herd.
Before we discuss other interpretations of this, first let’s see how it works with the Maasai tribe who also exercise a similar tradition. The Maasai tribe is a Nilotic Ethnic tribe found in the northern part of Tanzania and the south and central parts of Kenya. The Maasai are very popular for preserving their traditions but also their nomadic form of life. Apart from their vibrant and unique traditions, they also live near the popular game parks and national parks along the African Great Lakes. The Maasai speak the Maa language and usually dress in red and blue sheets famously known as Maasai Shukas. Women wear colorful beaded necklaces, red and white sheets as well. The red and white represents the staple food among the Maasai which is meat and milk.
Enkomo Ekai
Just like the Shona, The Maasai have a sacrificial bull as well. The bull is usually white and has to be slaughtered facing the south. The sacrifice is usually led by the Erpayani Osenyan[3], who are old men usually 80 years and above. They have passed through all the Maasai ceremonies and dress black and blue during the sacrifice. Then blood is collected from the Sacrificial bull and drunk by the holy men as part of the blessing. They are usually drinking while the blood is still raw and hot. In other ceremonies, the blood is usually mixed with some meat, local herbs, and boiled.
Interpretations of Kariga Mombe
With the Shona, Kariga mombe is interpreted in the following way; a child usually has no say over his parents or elders. Your father assumes you are a child and you know nothing. So if a child has advice that he/she wants to pass on to the parents, he/she stands little to no chance of succeeding. So as a child, if you persist and they eventually take your idea, execute it and eventually work, you have prevailed over them. We say you have brought down the bull.
In our daily lives, we can apply this same idea. It teaches us resilience through tough times. By being persistent and ambitious, we can bring down the bull. The bull could be any obstacle in our way. Sometimes our weaknesses are the bull. Procrastination, laziness, pessimism, ego, just to mention a few. If you defeat any of these and you excel forward, you have brought down a bull.
In some communities such as the very traditional ones like the Maasai, women usually have little to no say among men. They don’t get equal opportunities for an inheritance, education, wealth, and decision making. If a woman works her way through these hurdles and makes it in life, we say she has brought down a bull. If a Masai girl gets to go to school, perform very well, and then come back and improve her community, the elders are usually very proud. She gets so much recognition and respect. We consider her to have brought down a bull.