“Shumba Huru” (Great Lion)
Performed by Tute Chigamba, John Green, Austin Richey, Stefan Fiol, Tony Perman, and Jennifer Kyker
There are three songs called “Shumba” (Lion). The first is “Shumba Huru” (Great Lion). A lion meaning that if it is played for you, you must know that in the forest, there are lions. If you go, you must go informed that the lions are there. You might be eaten, or attacked.
“Shumba Yatubwete” (The cowardly lion)
Performed by Tute Chigamba, from the album Yangu Ndega
So, then there is another lion, and that one is starving. You can fight back against that one, and if you are powerful enough, it may leave you alone, because it is starving; it has no strength.
“Shumba Yamukwasha” (The son-in-law’s lion)
Then there is the son-in-law’s lion. A son-in-law used to live at his father-in-law’s village, because long ago, when you married, you would stay with your father-in-law for an entire year. Your first child is supposed to be born there, at your father-in-law’s house, while you are in the process of completing your marriage service, or ugariri.
During ugariri, you will be living at their village, and working there. So, as you are working there, you stay there the whole year. And then eventually, you go to your own village, and start building your own house.
This son-in-law that we are talking about here was staying at his father-in-law’s village, and then he was killed by his in-laws. Then his spirit returned, as a lion. The lion was attacking people in the village, and killing them. So, they inquired into it, and were told, “Oh, your son-in-law’s spirit has arisen, and become a lion, killing people. Why did you kill him? You must pay compensation.” That is when they offer a young girl, together with cattle that they will send afterward. That is how those things go. He didn’t come back as a vengeful spirit, or ngozi, but rather he became a lion, because his spirit arose as a lion and killed people. So, those are the three songs about lions.