Rationale

This written task is based on Part 1 of the course “Language in cultural context”
and exemplifies the plight of the Batwa. We studied the subject of language
loss in class with particular reference to the Batwa. Historically, the Batwa
were forest dwelling hunters and gatherers. They lived in the Bwindi
Impenetrable forest in Uganda and were happily leading a traditional life by
following their unique forest based culture with no communication from the
outside world which is clearly depicted through their folktales. In 1990,the
government evicted them from their land. The Ugandan Batwa suffer
discrimination, severe isolation and socio-political exclusion due to the loss of
their forest based livelihoods.With no access to their land, they are unable to
sustain their forest based culture. Consequently, they are losing their culture
and hence their language (Rukiga)which is a major threat to their identity. I
chose to write a Batwa folktale similar to the style and tone of the Batwa
folktales we read in class to effectively showcase how they are losing their
culture. Since songs are integral to their folktales I have incorporated many
songs throughout the folktale to stimulate mood and connotations in the mind
of the reader. I have used simple vocabulary just like any Batwa folktale to
make it realistic and comprehensible.

Word count:
Rationale:214 words
Written task:802 words

Bibliography

“Kabiza Wilderness Safaris – Gorilla – Chimpanzee Tre,- Wildlife Safaris.” Kabiza

Wilderness Safaris Gorilla Chimpanzee Tre Wildlife Safaris, Kabiza Wilderness Safaris,
kabiza.com/kabiza-wilderness-safaris/visiting-the-batwa-people-the-people-of-the-rainforest-
in-uganda/.

“About the Batwa.” United Organisation for Batwa Development in Uganda, 2 Jan. 2013,
uobdu.wordpress.com/about-the-batwa/.

The opportunist son

Once upon a time, there lived a man. He was a great hunter and embraced his
culture. He longed for a child who would walk in his footsteps. As time went
by, he was blessed with a boy named Ngyuva who grew up to be an epitome of
fearlessness, intelligence, lived in harmony with nature and was immensely
close to his culture and traditions just like him. Ngyuva lost his mother at a
tender age and was immensely attached to his father. The boy often recited his
father a song :

“Those games of fearlessness you taught me,

Our colorful culture you made me see
Your unconditional love taught me the true meaning of love
Dad, you are the one who I always look up to.”

Whenever his father heard this song tears rolled down his eyes and he felt
proud to have such a respectful son. It was the next day when his father woke
up with an extremely bad stomach ache and he started screaming in pain and
agony. None of his relatives knew how to cure his father. The man clutched his
son’s hand tightly and he started weeping profusely. Ngyuva could not see his
father in so much pain and immediately ran to prepare a medicine from herbs
for his ailing father. He made his father drink the medicine and slept on his lap.
When his father woke up, his pain had miraculously vanished. He felt
extremely happy and hugged his father. Ngyuva’s relatives praised him by
saying, “Ngyuva, you have an exceptionally inquisitive mind and we are
spellbound with your intelligence.”. His cousin recognized his talent and
encouraged him to go to school. His father who feared sending his son to
school reluctantly agreed when all his relatives were in favor of allowing
Ngyuva to attend school.

Ngyuva started going to school and performed extremely well in his studies for
he was determined to make his relatives and father proud but things took a
turn for the worse. All his classmates ridiculed him for the way he dressed and
came to school and behaved with him like a stranger whenever he asked them
for some help. They regarded him as a thief and told him that he would never
achieve anything in life. He started seeing flaws in his own identity and did not
respect his father as before. Ngyuva started living in his own isolated world
and did not share his feelings with his father. The greed for success made
relationships seem meaningless for him. Rowing through the ups and downs,
Ngyuva grew up to become a rich forest officer. He never even bothered to
see his family .
His father felt abandoned and cried all night remembering the song which
Ngyuva usually sang for him:
“Those games of fearlessness you taught me,
Our colorful culture you made me see
Your unconditional love taught me the true meaning of love
Dad,you are the one who I always look up to .”

He eagerly waited for his son’s return. After several years, his son finally
returned back home. His desperate green eyes filled up with tears of
happiness at the sight of his son. He threw his arms around his son and said
”Ngyuva! My dear son. Where were you all these years? Didn’t you miss me
and your relatives ?You know how many sleepless nights I spent just in the
hope that you would come back to meet me.
I am overjoyed to see you after so long. Now that you are here, promise me
that you will never leave me alone….. ”

His son who was reluctant to hear him replied cruelly, “Go way!you old man
.How dare you call me your son! I have received an order to take away this
land. Either leave this land without uttering a word or I shall force you and your
relatives. “
His father felt a stab in the heart. He could not believe his eyes that his own
son was treating him with such disrespect. Weeping bitterly, he recited a song
as follows:
“Are you my son, Ngyuva?
The one who loved me unconditionally
The one who felt pain when I was in pain
The one whose only inspiration was his father
The one who cared for everyone more than himself
The one who’s polite words melted my heart
The one who admired the nature
Is it a bad dream I am seeing ?
I have lost my faith in love
At least have mercy on this land of gold
where you spent your happy and sad days
How did your passion for success took over your compassion?”

The desire for success blinded him to such an extent that he felt no shame in
forcing his father and relatives to leave their land.