Long ago, in a land of green hills and fertile valleys, there lived a chief named Shemwindo. He was a proud and powerful ruler, who had many wives and children. But he loved one wife more than the others, Nyamwindo, who was gentle and kind. Nyamwindo had a secret wish in her heart, to have a son who would inherit the chiefdom after Shemwindo.
One night, as Nyamwindo was sleeping, she had a strange dream. She saw a bright star falling from the sky, and landing in her womb. She felt a warmth and a joy in her belly, and heard a voice saying, "I am Mwindo, the one who is born walking. I have come to be your son, and to bring peace and prosperity to the land." Nyamwindo woke up with a start, and realized that she was pregnant.
She told Shemwindo about her dream, and he was overjoyed. He prepared a feast and invited all the elders and the people to celebrate the news. He gave Nyamwindo many gifts and praised her beauty and virtue. He said, "This son will be the greatest of all my children. He will be a mighty warrior and a wise leader. He will make me proud and honor my name."
But as the months passed, Shemwindo's joy turned into fear. He noticed that Nyamwindo's pregnancy was unlike any other. She did not suffer from any pains or sicknesses, and her belly grew bigger and bigger. He also heard rumors that the child in her womb was speaking and singing, and that he had magical powers. He began to wonder if the child was really his, or if he was a spirit or a demon.
He consulted the diviners and the sorcerers, who told him that the child was indeed a special one, sent by the ancestors to bring a new order to the world. They said, "This child is not like other children. He is a special human. He will challenge the old ways and the old rulers. He will bring change and transformation. He will be a blessing or a curse, depending on how you treat him."
Shemwindo was terrified by these words. He felt threatened by the child, and jealous of his power. He decided to get rid of him, before he could grow up and challenge his authority. He went to Nyamwindo and told her, "My dear wife, I have a surprise for you. I have built a beautiful house for you and our son, where you can live in comfort and peace. It is far away from the noise and the troubles of the village. Come, let me take you there."
Nyamwindo was suspicious of Shemwindo's sudden kindness, but she agreed to go with him. She packed her belongings and followed him to the new house. But when she saw it, she gasped in horror. It was not a house, but a deep pit, dug in the ground. Shemwindo pushed her into the pit, and said, "This is where you and your son will stay, until you die. You have brought me shame and sorrow, with your unnatural child. I don't want to see you or hear you ever again."
He threw some dirt and stones into the pit, and left. Nyamwindo cried out for help, but no one heard her. She prayed and cried. She felt a movement in her womb, and heard Mwindo's voice, saying, "Don't worry, mother. I am here with you. I will protect you and deliver you from this evil. I will punish my father for his wickedness, and I will claim my rightful place as the chief of the Nyanga people."
He kicked his way out of her womb, and emerged into the pit. He was not a baby, but a young boy, with a bright smile and a confident gaze. He wore a conical hat made of leopard skin, and carried a magical fly-whisk, that could do anything he wished. He looked around the pit, and said, "This is no place for us to live. Let us go out of here, and see the world."
He used his fly-whisk to make a hole in the wall of the pit, and climbed out with his mother. He saw the sun and the sky, and felt the wind and the rain. He said, "This is a beautiful world. I want to explore it and learn from it. I want to meet the people and the animals, and everything therein. I want to know who I am, and why I am here."
He took his mother by the hand, and set off on a journey. Along the way, he met many friends and foes, who helped him or hindered him. He faced many dangers and difficulties, but he overcame them all with his courage and cleverness. He learned many secrets and skills, that made him stronger and wiser. He also learned to love and respect his mother, who was always by his side, supporting him and guiding him.
One day, he came across a herd of cows, grazing in a meadow. He saw one cow that was different from the others. It was white and shiny, and had horns that sparkled like jewels. It looked at him with a gentle and friendly eye, and said, "Hello, Mwindo. I have been waiting for you. I am your messenger, prepared before you were born, to be your companion. I can give you milk and meat, and I can also fly and talk. I can help you in your quest, and I can teach you many things."
Mwindo was delighted to meet the shiny cow, and he welcomed it as his friend. He said, "Thank you, shiny cow. You are a wonderful gift. I am glad to have you with me. You can call me Mwindo, the one who was born walking. I am on a quest to find my father, and to become the chief of the Nyanga people."
The shiny cow said, "I know your father, and I know your destiny. Your father is Shemwindo, the chief of the Nyanga people. He is a cruel and selfish man, who tried to kill you and your mother. He does not deserve to be the chief, and he does not love you. You are the true heir to the chiefdom, and you have the power and the right to take it from him. But you must be careful, for he will not give up easily. He will try to stop you and harm you, with his tricks and his warriors. You must be ready to face him, and to prove yourself worthy of the throne."
Mwindo said, "I am ready to face him, and to prove myself. I have the power and the right to be the chief, and I will not let him stop me. But I also want to know him, and to understand him. I want to know why he did what he did, and if he has any love for me. I want to know if he can change, and if we can be a family."
The shiny cow said, "That is a noble and brave wish, Mwindo. But you must be prepared for the worst, and hope for the best. Your father may not be willing to change, or to love you. You may have to fight him, and to defeat him. You may have to choose between your duty and your heart. But whatever you do, remember that you are not alone. You have your mother, and you have me. You are Mwindo, the one who is born walking. You are a hero, and a leader. You are a special human. You are a son, and a father. You are all these things, and more. You are Mwindo, and you are great."
With these words, the shiny cow flew into the air, and carried Mwindo and his mother on its back. They flew over the hills and the valleys, until they reached the village of the Nyanga people. They saw the huts and the fields, and the people and the animals. They also saw Shemwindo's palace, where he sat on his throne, surrounded by his wives and his children, and his guards and his advisers.
Mwindo said, "This is my father's village, and this is my father's palace. This is where I belong, and this is where I will rule. Let us go down, and greet him, and see what he will say."
The shiny cow said, "As you wish, Mwindo. But be careful, and be ready. Your father may not be happy to see you, and he may not welcome you. He may try to hurt you, or to trick you. He may not recognize you, or acknowledge you. He may not respect you, or honor you. He may not love you, or forgive you. He may not be your father, but your enemy."
Mwindo said, "I understand, shiny cow. But I will not give up, and I will not be afraid. I will be strong, and I will be smart. I will be kind, and I will be fair. I will be humble, and I will be proud. I will be Mwindo, and I will be great."
The magical cow nodded, and flew down to the ground. It landed in front of Shemwindo's palace
As soon as Mwindo and his companions landed, they attracted the attention of the villagers. They saw a young boy, wearing a leopard skin hat and carrying a fly-whisk, riding on a white and shiny cow, with a woman by his side. They wondered who they were, and where they came from. They whispered and murmured among themselves, and some of them ran to inform Shemwindo.
Shemwindo heard the news, and came out of his palace. He saw Mwindo and his companions, and recognized them instantly. He felt a surge of anger and fear, and shouted, "Who are you, and what do you want? How dare you come to my village, and disturb my peace? How dare you ride on a sacred cow, and wear a chief's hat? How dare you bring that woman, who is my enemy, and claim to be my son? You are not my son, you are a liar and a traitor. You are a curse and a menace. You are Mwindo, the one who was born walking. You have come to take my throne, and to ruin my life. But you will not succeed, for I am the chief, and I will not let you. Go away, and never come back, or I will kill you and your mother, and your cow."
Mwindo heard his father's words, and felt a mix of sadness and anger. He said, "Father, why do you speak to me like this? Why do you hate me and fear me? Why do you reject me and deny me? I am your son, and you are my father. I have come to see you, and to know you. I have come to love you, and to forgive you. I have come to share with you, and to learn from you. I have come to honor you, and to respect you. I have come to be your son, and to be your heir. I have come to be Mwindo, and to be great."
Shemwindo heard his son's words, and felt a pang of guilt and shame. He said, "Son, you speak to me with kindness and grace. You offer me love and forgiveness. You show me honor and respect. But I do not deserve any of these. I have been cruel and selfish. I have tried to kill you and your mother. I have banished you and forgotten you. I have feared you and envied you. I have dishonored you and disrespected you. I have been a bad father, and a bad chief. I have been Shemwindo, and I have been small."
Mwindo saw his father's remorse, and felt a spark of hope and compassion. He said, "Father, you admit your mistakes, and you show your sorrow. You acknowledge your faults, and you seek your redemption. You are not a bad father, or a bad chief. You are a human, who can make errors, and who can correct them. You are a chief, who can rule with power, and who can rule with wisdom. You are a father, who can love your son, and who can love your people. You can be Shemwindo, and you can be great."
Shemwindo looked at his son, and felt a wave of admiration and pride. He said, "Son, you are wise and generous. You are strong and brave. You are humble and proud. You are a hero and a leader. You are a son and a father. You are Mwindo, and you are great. You are my son, and I am your father. You have come to be my heir, and I accept you. You have come to be the chief, and I give you the throne. You have come to be Mwindo, and I love you."
He stepped down from his throne, and walked towards Mwindo. He embraced him, and kissed him, and said, "Forgive me, my son. Forgive me, my chief. Forgive me, Mwindo."
Mwindo hugged him back, and said, "I forgive you, my father. I forgive you, my chief. I forgive you, Shemwindo."
The villagers witnessed this scene, and they cheered and clapped. They welcomed Mwindo and his mother, and they praised Shemwindo for his humility and grace. They said, "This is a happy day. This is a blessed day. This is the day of Mwindo, the one who was born walking. This is the day of Shemwindo, the one who is born again. This is the day of the Nyanga people, the ones who are born free."
Mwindo ascended the throne after his father's death, and became the chief of the Nyanga people. He ruled with justice and kindness, and brought peace and prosperity to the land. He married a beautiful and wise woman, and had many children. He loved his mother, and his shiny cow. He honored the people of the land. He was Mwindo, and he was great.