Death by Bunda
Sometime in the early twentieth century, when Africa was still lazily described as the “Dark Continent,” two white men were captured by a tribe deep in the jungle. They were dragged before the Chief, who had learnt, perhaps through bitter experience, that white men arriving in these parts rarely meant anything good. After a brief consultation with his tribesmen, he pronounced sentence on the first captive: ‘Bunda.’ Bunda? What on earth was that? the two men wondered. They found out soon enough. One of them was held down and… Bunda’d. ‘My God,” thought the second man, ‘this is unspeakable.’ So when his own turn came, and the Chief solemnly pronounced ‘Death,’ he felt briefly relieved. Briefly. Because the full sentence, as it turned out, was: ‘Death by Bunda.’ Last seen, he was being carried away by the tribesmen - to be Bunda’d till death. Forgive me this not entirely refined detour. It will make sense presently. ...
