BALONDEMU: THE CHOSEN CONQUEROR by Joshua Omeke

“A short fiction on Ugandan folklore about resilience and redemption” In the ancient kingdom of Buganda where the Bantu tribe resides. There roamed a joyous woman named Nantale, who fell for the charms of a native hunter whose name was Dembe. The couple united with the consecration of their families— engaged in native rituals for sustenance and sought an abode in the Mountain of Elgon through Bugisu in Buganda. They dwelled in harmony amongst the villagers aside for a wicked king of snakes that sought half of everything anybody earns. When people fail to adhere to his demands he sent his guards with massive snakes to attack the dwellers of Bugisu. On a particular day Dembe was fed up giving half of his daily struggles and rebelled against the king of snakes, his pregnant wife, Nantale pleaded he comply with the demands to avoid troubles but he stayed stubborn. After the sun had set, the king of snakes had not seen Dembe’s daily tax and grew furious—sending his goons into the hut of Dembe. Who ended up attacking two with an arrow bringing about a commotion in the village with the impression the king of snakes is soon to be...