NOSTALGIA

An excessive sentimental yearning of some past period or irrecoverable condition, termed nostalgia, is exactly what I felt when I traveled to Ncheta Island, my place of origin.

Thinking about Lunga 

As our boat approached the flooded villages, instead of feeling sympathetic, my memories took me back to the time when conditions like that provided cherished opportunities to us, boys, to search and find small fishes that we slew for pleasure. Wading through ponds going fishing without a canoe (kufushila) was a prized pastime.

That day reminded me of times men brought in tasty, gigantic tiger fish or bream which, when cooked, tasted more like steak; and needed no artificial spices.

 Back then, came mid-days when men gathered in one place, nsaka, where it rained nshima, our main dish. If you were an obedient boy, you feasted with the village elite and you were encouraged at the end, to take away the leftovers of chunks of fish, which was a great honor!

How I fondly remembered those innocent words spoken in low, respective tone in the evenings: “You are cordially invited by uncle so and so,” and the envoy disappeared leaving behind a clear statement of strong familial bond as the feast awaited invitees! 

Every villager was seemingly immersed in unconditional love.

 As children, if you didn’t eat with the elite men, you dashed to the women's side and dug into your meal. No complaints!

Mantalakwa, a local alcoholic drink, is brewed alongside Munkoyo, a sweet non-alcoholic drink, to cater to two different cravings, especially on special occasions such as Christmas and New Year celebrations. No electricity. No fireworks. But, unrestricted, bountiful leisure and pleasure!

Then there was my favorite Lwiso, water turtle, served with cassava- meal nshima. I could later keep the turtle shell for months as my memorabilia.

Certainly, those are irrecoverable days!