To Hell With The Prophecy (Weep Not Child by James Ngugi)
This story comes from the second chapter of Weep Not Child by James Nguigi. I think it is pertinent to attitude of some Christians in Nigeria to voting in elections. As you read, please note I am angry abouta particular mindset. This post allows me to dissipate that anger so I don’t go to sleep with it: be angry and sin not is the biblical advise.
Ngotho’s wives, Nyokabi and Njeri, were the ones who told stories to his children to “shorten the night”. One day, Ngotho accepted the responsibility and then told the story I paraphrase in the next paragraph.
One day, thunder and lightning, accompanied rain and wind. The chaos terrified the animals God had put in the forest to the point where they couldn’t move. Eventually, a tree that had life grew and defied the chaos, penetrated the darkness and reached the sun. God put a man and a woman under this tree. God gave them the land. It was prophesied that the white man would come one day and take the land. This event happened after a drought in the land. At first, the white man took part of the land, not all of it. Then it was the big war, the first world war. The white man conscripted the men of the land to serve in his army. After the war, the men returned home and discovered the land was gone, the whiteman had taken it all.
Ngotho’s sons were surprised: so the land that Mr Howlands claims to be his belonged to our grandfather? Yes, their father replied. My father, your grandfather died waiting for the prophecy that the land will be returned to be fulfilled.
One of the sons asked, would the prophecy be fulfilled? Their father replied that somebody once rose up who people thought would drive away the whiteman but he was killed by wicked people.
Another son said:
“To hell with the prophecy”
‘How can you continue working for a man who has taken your land? How can you go on serving him?’
The next day Ngotho reflected on the comments of his son: “Perhaps he and others had waited for too long and now he feared that this was being taken as an excuse for inactivity, or worse, a betrayal.”
I see parallels in my country of origin, Nigeria. As I talk to people, I realise how desperate for change they are. They are praying and many have heard prophecies about how God will change Nigeria. Some of these prophecies are old, really old. Some even go back as far as Pa Elton who was prophesying 40/50 years ago or so. Other prophecies go back just 30 years. Many of them will not vote. They are waiting for the prophecy to come to pass.
Prophecies and prayers can become excuse for inaction. Ngotho’s son’s response was “To hell with the prophecy”.
Yea: “to hell with any prophecy” that will keep you perpetually in slavery. “To hell with the prophecy” that will prevent you from taking responsibility to make the change that is within your reach.
“To hell with the prophecy” that will give you the impression that it is okay not to exercise your civic responsibility.
Weep Not Child was set in Kenya. Waiting for the prophecy to be fulfilled did not achieve anything. They took initiative and the rest is history.
