Born of the Sun: A Namibian Novel by Joseph Diescho

Author:Joseph Diescho [Diescho, Joseph]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Friendship Press Inc
Published: 2023-06-01T03:00:00+00:00

PART III:

BETWEEN ROCK AND GOLD—RESISTANCE

CHAPTER 10

Friday morning . . . yes . . . it is Friday morning, thinks Muronga, counting the days backwards since he left his village. School begins today, he thinks somewhat anxiously, still motionless on his bed in the barracks. Friday morning. But it feels like a Monday morning. Monday, the day when work begins. This is like the beginning of a new life, he reflects, I have never been to school before. I wonder how I will look sitting on a school bench, being taught new things, clever things, he muses, rolling over onto his side, now fully awake. I always wanted to go to school, and this may be the only opportunity I will ever have. But am I not too old for this kind of thing? Wouldn’t my wife and the others at home laugh to see me going off to school everyday at my age! Yes, it is good that I am far away from home. School is for the young ones. For those who can afford to be beaten on their hands and buttocks.

“Lo manyowani, lo manyowani . . . !” The voice of a veteran compound security guard can be heard through the grey metal door. Hearing the guard approaching, the eight men in Muronga’s room hop out of their beds and try to look alert. This time they don’t need to make up their beds. Each man’s bed is his own for the length of his contract.

The guard kicks the metal door open and thrusts himself into the room. “You are up. Very good! These are the kind of men we need in the mine. I mean, . . . the kind of men the mine needs. Awake, strong, and ready to work. Nina vukile kahle, madoda?” continues the guard in his pompous manner. While Muronga and the other men get the gist of the guard’s message, they wish they could understand this new language, Sfanakalo. Certainly the old man is talking about the mine school where they will be going today. Gesturing, he tells them that they must first wash themselves and then go to have their breakfast. With his jaw set and his fists clenched, he demonstrates to them that it is important for them to eat well so that they will be strong during the day. After he has finished his speech he goes to the next room to repeat the same story. He seems to enjoy this part of his work very much. As soon as he has left, Muronga and his roommates rush to the washrooms.

As they are coming out of the washrooms, they see other men lining up at the eating place. Hurrying back to the barracks, they grab their tin utensils and run back to join the line. For breakfast they are given a thick, dark, odd-looking bread dipped in apricot jam, two huge ladlefuls of mealie meal pap, and black coffee. As the men file by, the headboy in the kitchen

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