The Dark Tribe

community initiation ceremony. The past ceremonies had blossomed with steady electricity and food waiting at their doorsteps. Every essential requirement was given plenty of nights be

hen there was no electricity or adequate food

dance, the masquerade, and the language in which their every conversation was made. Although Kyla had private English lesson teachers for Hannah, she still couldn't let go of the Kyxhitu language because she communicated with friends, neighbors, and teachers, and spoke it well in the markets. She didn't mind the fact that people didn't feel very comfortab

organized with fronds. Her eyes peered at the paintings her mother had bought before returning to work (the ones she never knew about). She loved the ebony-complexioned girl with the brightly colored teeth, the glamour in her skin color, and her teeth colour was exquisite. One thing was, she never wished to

ndence. Their hair was beautifully woven, but organically straightened. They called it a double-cross weave: typical for locals of that vicinity. Even the boys left their hair to grow until the initiation ceremony, which they had to decide.

Hannah said. Tata means "mother" in the Khyxhitu language. Kyla smiled at her weakness. Kyla watc

work. She never understood how it went. "I get that you're the keeper of the golden ring

," Kyla said. Omasira was Hannah's Kyxhitu name, which her friends, neighbors and people who knew her around called her. Her mother called her the name only when she was

i or Haya. Kadi Kyxhitu's real name was Fizima Hoditu. He blessed it and made some incantations believed to sanctify the drinks. The people were bowed with their foreheads pressed against the mud as a sign of loyalty to their ancestors and the gods of the land. After that section, they began pouring the animal blood into wooden cups for all fifteen-year-olds who were at the festival for initiation. The initiation came earliest, at fifteen years of age, for

adi after Fizima retired because they believed she would cause lots of scenes and kill so many people. Also, people forgot that she was a good fortune-teller, they rather highlighted the wors

ed a back-up from him, "You know so much about her, d

annah nodded to the positive. "So, where

ersuasion, "Lots, many people – people think she wouldn't make a good Kadi. The oracle failed,

sed to hear Galaazhi ask her that question. She expected Ga

morrow, and you do, does it mean th

coming or hearing them, "Things like this are not supposed to be said

Sarusa said, "I'm going to meet her. She doesn't always tell the ba

lk into the fire," Hannah said, following

rl that met Horaeti for consulting before they did was eventually baptised with salty water with claims that the bug wouldn't have its way inside her. She shook vigorously as though she had been bathed with boiling water and screamed very loudly. "She revoked it," Sarusa told Hannah. Horaeti began with Galaazhi: she said that his hair would cause weakness, and he would

rishly walked towards her and held out her palms. Hora

oraeti asked, trying not

nah said,

things untold," Horaeti let go of her and started to pa

find someone I d

omeone who was about to pray and

g Horaeti said lots of times,

thinking? Don't you know wh

ave a sister,

acted as if she wanted to cry, "Your sis

said everything she said

rounds. Her mother still wouldn't let her have a phone so that she could meet Horaeti again and ask her the name of

you meet her?

her mouth to say something and then shut it. "Look, Horaeti, she gets stuff

e? I still wouldn't

and started running up the stairs when someone o

ned around to see him. She knew who

round in confusion, she didn't know what was meant b

confirmation