Maza Na Beto

(Water always keeps its promises)

"Vo zolele tula e vu kaa yakala, zola vo ka kala wa mpuenya." 
(If you have to deal with a person, make sure it is an honest person)

In the village of Maza, water was the main source of wealth. People from all around came and went to get water for irrigation and various services. Maza was a very touristy place because it was crossed by a river that shared its name; Maza.

In this village lived a young woman named Nkula, who possessed a golden key called Nsabi, handed down to her by her great-great-grandfather. He had told her that the key brought luck and had the power to save an entire generation. She kept it hidden deep within her clothes.

One day, strangers came to inspect the water-surrounded village. These foreigners intended to make a deal with King Maza II to create a water canal to their own land. King Maza II agreed to a pact that involved giving away a portion of the water. However, as the saying goes, "When you give your hand to a wrongdoer, they take the whole arm." The king's true intention was to drain the water from the village of Maza by constructing an underground metal reservoir with a large lock, keeping the water permanently for themselves.

Months later, they had water and no longer needed to come to Maza. Gradually, these strangers began consuming the water excessively, to the point of depriving the original inhabitants. They tore up the contract and threw it into the river. The village of Maza gradually sank. Due to famine and water scarcity, some residents became hesitant, greedy, and selfish. Trust among the people of Maza vanished, replaced by suspicion and a lack of sharing. Theft and killings due to water shortages became frequent. Maza was no longer the revered place it used to be. It no longer had a river but a mere trickle of water.

Title

Maza Na Beto

Themes

power or authority | human vs nature | justice

Emotions

betrayal | desperation | joy | panic

Lesson

Even in times of desperation, trust in the power of community and ancestral wisdom.

Characters

Nkula: A young woman in the village who uses her ancestral golden key to restore water to her community, becoming the village's governor. Chief Maza II: The leader of the village who signs a disastrous pact with foreigners, causing the village to lose its water.

Back-grounds

The Village of Maza: The main setting, a water-rich village that becomes drought-ridden. The Maza River: A crucial source of water for the village, which dries up and is restored. The Foreigners' Land: The location of the water reserve that holds the stolen water.