Sydney Odhiambo
At the turn of the 19th century, it is said, of the luo community that a warrior named Luanda Magere was born in plains of Kano. His name Luanda Magere literally translates to, The Rock That Builds, in luo language. The almost invincible mighty man with a rock-like body, had the ability to tear a whole army to smithereens.
In those days the Luos and the neighbouring Nandi community, referred to as “Jo’Lango” among the Luo’s were archrivals, raiding each other, in turns with fierce violence, killings and cattle rustling by both sides.
The warrior, Luanda Magere, in his time could be found smoking tobacco in his homestead almost oblivious of surrounding unrest. Whenever he heard that the Nandi’s were coming, he just asked for his shield and spear then immediately proceed to the battlefield.
Luanda Magere possessed extraordinary powers that spears and arrows targeted at him would literally bounce off his body. In the return he visited mayhem on Nandi fighters prompting retreat from survivors. He always pushed them back deep into their community lines. As if for sport, Luanda Magere sometimes followed the Nandis into their homes and robbed them of their cattle.
The Nandis not knowing what to do about Luanda Magere, came up with a ruse to discover where he got his powers from. They enticed him with the most beautiful girl. He married her and his detractors hoped he would stop raiding and stealing their cattle.
One day Luanda Magere got sick. With his first wife away and unable to nurse him, Luanda Magere instructed his Nandi wife to cut his shadow and administer herbal medicine at the point where it was cut.
Shock unto her, the warrior’s shadow oozed blood. Not forgetting her mission, the same night, his Nandi wife sneaked back to her Nandi community and told them the secret she had discovered about her husband.
With the Nandis now in possession of his secret, Luanda Magere’s eventual downfall would come in the subsequent clash between the two rival communities in which Luanda Magere fought valiantly as he always did until one Nandi fighter who remembered what their girl had told them stood on top of a hill and threw a spear at Luanda Magere’s shadow. He fell, dying on the spot. His body then turned into a rock.
Today at Sidho in Kano, a stone is still revered as Luanda Magere’s body.
Lessons:
- If you are determined to win, you will do what is required
- No matter how trusting you are, guard your most valued secrets
- In every person’s action, seek to understand the motive
- Power and competitive advantage, lay in having strategic information.
Collectively, as Africa we are going to succeed when we master our space, define our own goals, develop strong belief in ourselves, know what information to share and what to never divulge and work tenacious towards what is required to get what we want.
