In the African traditional society, a hyena was one animal that was associated with many societal ills like greed, opportunism, foolishness just to name but a few.
This was due to the greedy, scavenging and the foolish nature of the animal, traits that still reflect among some members of the society.
Among the Kikuyus, for instance, a greedy person would be likened to a hyena. An opportunistic person would be described as, 'ahana ta hiti iria irumagirira muthii ina itanya ati ahota kurekia guoko irie' (he/she is like that hyena that follows a passerby hoping that they may drop their swinging hand so that it can eat).
There are so many Kikuyu metaphors, similies, proverbs and folktales associated with the hyena that we cannot exhaust them on this single story.
Our focus here though will be on what the Kikuyus term as 'watho wa hiti' (law of the hyena). What is 'watho wa hiti' you ask? Well, it simply states that 'kindu kioneku gititigagwo' (something that is readily available should not be left behind).
Having said that, how was/is the law of the hyena applied among the members of the Kikuyu community?
'Watho wa hiti' in today's Kikuyu society has both positive and negative applications as we enumerate below.
1. Ceasing an opportunity immediately it comes up
Since a hyena in its greedy natural formation is led by the stomach, once it comes across something it can eat, it doesn't waste its 'precious' time thinking whether to eat or leave it behind, it just munches it away no matter the consequences.
Similarly, Kikuyus while applying this law, believe an opportunity that shows up by luck or design should be utilized fully without much ado. After all, 'munyaka nduri mwene' (luck has no owner).
2. Unpermitted possession of other people's stuff
In the spirit of opportunism, some wayward members of this community will use this law to turn other people's possessions into theirs without permission. Without being euphemistic, you can call it stealing, thuggery or whatever word that fits your situation.
3. Propagating sexual immoralities
If there is one thing that fornicators, philanderers and other members of the aforementioned ilk use to justify their immoral sexual escapades, it is the law of the hyena.
Men especially will quote one of the many laws of the hyena to justify their philandering nature and walk tall on both feet convinced that they have committed no wrong!
#hivisasaoriginal #Upekuzi #maisha