Happy Bithday, Tia!!!

Visiting Venice, Italy in 2007

Dear friends,

Currently, Tia Yaa'Asantewa Bumpus , the youngest of my three progeny (now 29), who built her first computer from scratch at 11 years-old, is an up-and-coming physician/scientist  is an MD/PhD candidate at UMass Medical School in Worcester. She has completed M1 and M2 and taken her oath. She defends for her PhD this Spring (@April 2014). Then she will finish her last two years of med school (M3 and M4, before going into residency as a surgeon. Along with her older sister, Namandje, I homeschooled her during the mid-90a, while I set up a boxing gym in the back of my house and in the basement. where I gave classes and trained competitive fighters. Hard work always pays off!

Cheers!

G. Djata Bumpus Read full post

The 7th & Final Day of Kwamzaa - IMANI (a story by Eshu Bumpus)

"Damon and Pythias"

(While not an African folktale, it has always been one of my favorite stories, and it demonstrates the principle very well. - Eshu Bumpus http://eshu.folktales.net/)

There was once a king who was thought of as a tyrant. His people hated him. He really wasn't such a bad person, but he had very bad advisors, and they did cruel things in his name. They made him believe that he couldn't trust the people. So since he never listened to the people, he never found out what his advisors were doing. Whether he was a bad person or not, he was a bad king.

In the town near the king's castle, there was a group of rebels. They decided that the only way to change things was to get rid of this king. They thought that if they killed the king, his death would be a warning to the next king. So they held a meeting to see who would volunteer to assassinate the king.

Among these rebels was a young man named Pythias. He said that he would volunteer, but that he had to wait for two days, just until his sister was married. Their father was dead and he was the only one who could perform the ceremony so that she could be properly married.

They told him that they couldn't wait for two days, because the king was going to be out of the castle that following day on a hunting trip, and it would be the only chance to get to him. So finally, Pythias agreed to do it.

He was hiding in the forest the next morning with bow and arrow ready, but someone saw him and warned the king before he got a chance to shoot. Pythias was captured and brought before the king. The king's advisor suggested that they bring Pythias to the town center, and execute him in front of everybody as an example of what would happen to rebels.

Pythias did not regret what he had done. And he accepted his fate, but he pleaded with the king to give him one day to take care of his family business and see his sister properly married.

The king laughed and said, "I will let you go if someone else is willing to take your place and die in your place. if you fail to return."

Now Pythias had a best friend named Damon. Even though Damon was not a rebel, he was a true friend to Pythias. There was nothing they wouldn't do for each other. So Pythias called out to the crowd and asked for someone to find Damon.

When Damon was brought there, the king asked if he was willing to take Pythias' place on the gallows, until he returned. Much to the amazement of the king, Damon agreed.

The king couldn't believe his ears. But since he had made a promise, he had to keep his word. Pythias was released and Damon was chained in his place.
Pythias rode as fast as he could, gathered his family together and performed the wedding ceremony. He took care of all his business and was heading back to the town center, when his horse fell and broke its leg. Pythias still had miles to go and he was on foot.

Meanwhile, the king, who never believed that Pythias would come back, was telling Damon what a fool he was.

"I have never seen anyone so foolish in all my life!" the king said, "He won't come back."

"You have never seen true friendship." Damon answered.

The king was sure that no man would voluntarily come back to his own execution. But Damon was equally sure that his friend would not leave him to die.

Pythias had until midday to return. If he was not back by then, Damon would be killed. Pythias was running until he could hardly breathe, but he didn't slow down. Finally, he saw a man riding by and
begged him for a ride.

"Please!" he pleaded, "I must return to the town center or my best friend will be executed in my place."

Pythias quickly told the man his story and the answered, "It is quite a story you tell. I would never forgive myself if I didn't see it through to the end."
Pythias jumped onto the back of the man's horse and they raced to the town center just as the rope was being put around Damon's neck.

"Wait!" shouted Pythias, "I am here!" The king was shocked!

"I told you he would return." said Damon proudly.

"In all my life I have never seen such friendship," said the king, "And now that I have seen it, I could never destroy it. I will let Pythias go free on the condition that you accept me as a friend as well."

Damon and Pythias and the king became the best of friends. And with true friends at his side, the king began to see what bad advice he had been taking all those years. He sent away his former advisors and with the advice of Damon and Pythias, he became a just and fair king.

IMANI — Faith Read full post

The 6th day of Kwanzaa - KUUMBA (a story by Eshu Bumpus)

"Anansi Writes a Song" by Eshu Bumpus (http://eshu.folktales.net/)

A lion named Simba was ruler of a small kingdom called Korro. A traveling griot* came to his village to give a performance. He played the Kora and sang stories about great men and women and the deeds they'd done. He sang about things going on all across the wide world. The king and everyone around enjoyed the music very much.

When he was finished, the bard asked king Simba for a small token in exchange for his performance.

Simba went into a rage! "You dare ask me for a gift!? You should be honored to have me listen! You should give me a gift!"

Simba was so angry that he ordered his servants to give the griot fifty lashes.

The griot returned home and told his friends what happened to him at King Simba's court. They were shocked and angry to hear of the meanness of the king.

Anansi was among the friends of this griot and he decided to write a song to let everyone know how they felt about Simba.

It went like this.

Simba the Lion, king of Korro,
He is fat and very flabby.
Simba the Lion, king of Korro,
He's a fool whose mane is shabby.
Simba the Lion, king of Korro,
his face is ugly, his teeth are few. Simba the Lion, king of Korro,
'
He wrote the song with a very catchy tune and people all over the countryside began to sing it. Women sang it while they were cleaning clothes at the river. Children sang it during their games. Men sang it while digging yams. It was heard at dances and festivals. Soon it was known all over Africa.

When the king heard the song, he sent for the griot he had mistreated and asked him, "Who has written this song about me?"

"It was Anansi who wrote the song, but everyone sings it," responded the griot.

"I will give you much money if you tell him to stop the song." Simba promised.

But the griot refused saying, " A thing once it is done cannot be undone. You did not have to have me beaten, but you did. And now you cannot undo it. Anansi did not have to write the song, but he did. Now the song is alive among the people. It cannot be taken back."

Anansi's song about Simba is still sung to this day.

Simba the Lion, king of Korro,
He is fat and very flabby.
Simba the Lion, king of Korro,
He's a fool whose mane is shabby.
Simba the Lion, king of Korro,
his face is ugly, his teeth are few.
Simba the Lion, king of Korro.

*Griot (Pronounced Gree-Oh) is a name for the traditional Storyteller and Historian in parts of West Africa.

KUUMBA — Creativity Read full post

The 5th day of Kwanzaa NIA (a story by Eshu Bumpus)

"The Name of the Tree" by Eshu Bumpus (http://eshu.folktales.net/)

Once there was a terrible drought in the land of the animals. A kindly king came from over the mountain and planted a special tree. He told them that this tree would bear fruit all year round in any kind of weather. All they had to do to get the fruit was to speak its name. The name of the tree was Oowungalema.

The animals thanked the kind old king and he returned to his own land, which was far over the mountain. The animals then sounded the Great Drum to call everyone for miles around.

When all were gathered at the tree, the lion asked Anansi to speak the name of the tree.

"I thought you were going to remember the name!" said Anansi

"I don't remember the name!" said the lion, "Someone must know it!"

They asked everyone who had been there when the old king planted the tree, but not one of them could remember the name of the tree. They decided to send someone to ask the king for the name. They were all very hungry, so they decided to send someone fast. They sent the hare.

The hare ran as fast as he could through villages, across the river, through the bush, over the mountain and straight to the court of the kindly old king. The king told him, "The name of the tree is Oowungalema."

The hare ran back, repeating the name to himself as he went along. On the way home, he stopped at the river to rest and take a drink. The water was nice and cool. It felt good after all that running. The hare splashed around for a while to cool himself off, then he got out of the water and started back to the tree.

When he got back, the animals all cheered. "Now we can have the fruit! " they shouted.

Hare went up to the tree to speak the name, "Oomagamoomoo, no, oobapadoopa, Noomooogamooga"

Try as he might, the hare just couldn't remember the name.

"We have to send someone else." Lion said at last.

So the springbok was sent. She ran all the way to the king over the mountain and tried to keep the name in her head all the way home, but coming through the forest, she tripped over a root and bumped her head. The name was lost again.
Next they sent Leopard, but on the way back he started chasing a monkey who was teasing him. He forgot the name as well.
Many others tried and failed until finally, the tortoise asked if she might go. Most of the animals laughed because the tortoise is so slow.
"Give her a chance!" Anansi said, "She may succeed where the rest of us have failed."
The tortoise went to her mother and asked, "What do you do if you must remember something very important?"
Her mother told her to keep repeating it no matter what happens. So the tortoise set out on her journey. When she reached the king over the mountain, he said, "The name of the tree is Oowungalema."

Tortoise kept repeating it over and over to herself all the way home. When the monkeys teased her in the forest, she only said, " Oowungalema."

When she passed by the river and the sound of the water made her thirsty, she looked at the water and said, "Oowungalema."
And when she got near her house and her children came running to her, she only said, "Oowungalema."

Finally, the tortoise came to the tree. All the other animals were anxiously waiting. The lion spoke, "Tortoise, please speak the name of the tree."

Tortoise said, "Oowungalema."

At last, the animals were able to eat the fruit. Everyone was grateful to the tortoise who kept to her purpose where every one else had failed.

NIA — Purpose Read full post

The 4th day of Kwanzaa - Ujamaa (a story by Eshu Bu,pus)

"The Feast" by Eshu Bumpus (http://eshu.folktales.net/)

There was a once chief who decided that he wanted to give a party for his entire kingdom. Everyone was invited. He would provide all the food and entertainment. The only thing he asked was that each family brings a gourd of wine. This would be poured into a huge pot from which all would be served.

All the villages were buzzing with excitement. People were deciding what to wear and wondering what dances and stories would be performed. It promised to be a fabulous party.

One farmer was talking with his wife as they were getting ready on the day of the party and said, "Why should we spend good money on a gourd full of wine for the king's party? Isn't this party supposed to be free?"

"But dear," said his wife, "All the king is asking for is one gourd of wine. Is that really asking so much?"

But the stingy farmer, thinking himself very clever replied, "Who will notice one gourd of water in a big pot full of wine?"

So the farmer filled his gourd with water instead of wine. When the people were all gathered waiting for the party to begin, the king called everyone together for a toast.

"Let every cup be filled," he shouted, "That we may drink to the future of our land! May this party be as fine as the wine we are about to drink!"

Everyone raised their cups in a cheer before they drank. The farmer then took a sip of his wine. But when he tasted it, he threw his cup down and shouted, "This is only water!"
All the others had the same complaint. It seems that the farmer was not the only one who had the idea to put water instead of wine into his gourd. They had all done it. So it was that all they had to drink at the party was water.

 The king was so disappointed, that he ended the party early.

UJAMAA — Cooperative Economics Read full post