In Gajagaja, Waikobe’s home place was fear. For so many days now, Waikobe had not seen his elder wife, Kamikaze and had become worried. Since the journey had taken Kamikaze and Gawoza her daughter two nights and days, it had been a long while by now.

Waikobe, at first had decided not to worry but after three days had called the village elders and told them, asking them to keep it a secret for some time. And now, twelve days later, there still were no signs of kamikaze and Gawoza which worried Waikobe so much.

So early morning of the thirteenth day, Waikobe first convened the village elders and asked them whether any of them had heard anything about his wife and daughter to which all of them replied no.

Beginning to get angry with this he told all the elders to summon all the people in the village and tell them to converge in the village square, Chief Waikobe wanted to talk to them.

Immediately, the village heads left, worried that Waikobe could do send them away from the village if they failed this task for it was tradition that if a man failed to accomplish a duty that had been assigned by the chief, then he would be sent away from the village for some time, and sometimes forever by the chief.

Soon the entire village was assembled in the square waiting for the chief to address them. Every one was anxious as the meeting had been so sudden.

Normally, the village elders would have informed them of a meeting with the chief the day before it would be, but it had not been that way. As soon as the entire village was gathered, murmurs started to go around as to why the chief had called the meeting.

Some said it was about the harvest and those who had not yet taken to the Chiefs granaries a part of their harvest which was meant for his palace while others talked about war with the neighbouring villages.

But not anyone got it right as to why the meeting had been gathered. Walking out of his compound into the village square, it was clear on his face that it was not good news.

The chief looked very sad and grieved that everyone immediately stopped talking and there was an air of silence as the chief moved into the village square until it was broken by the traditional drumming that always accompanied the king on all village functions.

To be continued, Find out what the Chief said to his people at the Village Square.