KWEE: Liberian Literary Magazine AUGUST 1, 2015 ISSUE | Page 28

Liberian Literary Magazine
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Tamba and Ginah

Way back, God visited the earth
personally to water it. At times,
the water would be too much in
some areas so man built bridges to
get across. In Lofa, they build a
particularly large bridge across
the Lofa River. Everything seemed
fine and people went about their
normal businesses. However, in
one of the rocks beneath the
bridge, there dwelt a Ginah who
was most annoyed with this
situation.
The Ginah complained to God
often, but on this day, he was just
livid. “God,” he said, “The
constant movement above my
head is a bother and something
should be done about it.”
“You have said your mind, but
could you just be patient with
humans, they are troublesome but
they have some good in them. Can
you bear this a little while?” God
asked.
“I can’t bear it anymore. I am
pleading with you God do
something about it.” The Ginah

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entreated God. “It is annoying me
and unfair.
“What do you wish me to do
about this matter?” God asked.
“Maybe you could stop watering
the earth or simply get rid of
humans.” The Ginah said, after all
this was his goal.
Of course, God listened
patiently, and then He explained,
“If I stopped watering the earth
plants would die and so would all
life forms.”
“If that will solve the issue,
then I have no problem.” The
Ginah blurted out. The Ginah did
not really mind for it is a spirit
being and would not be affect by
that, or so he thought.
This went on for a while,
eventually God decided to reduce
the amount of water used on the
earth. This seemed to work for a
while, and then Ginah came back
complaining.
“Look God, the situation is
occurring again, your solution was
temporary. Therefore, I suggest
that you allow humans and me to
sort things out by ourselves.
God did not like the idea.
Baffled, he asked. “How can you
think that will solve the issue? You
are a spirit against human. You
have an unfair advantage.”
“I swear God it will be fine.
Whatever solution we arrive at,
man must fully agree otherwise
we will not proceed.”
God agreed reluctantly but on
the condition, “You can’t ever use
magical powers. If you deal with
man, you must do so without any
of your powers.”
Ginah paused, but he feared that
taking too long might make God
change his mind, so he greed. He
left feeling elated. He was sure this
was his chance to get rid of those
disgusting creatures called man.
Early that morning, when a
group of villagers approached the
bridge they saw Ginah perking on
the stone just off the entrance. He

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informed them, “There are new
rules from now on. The only way
anyone of you can cross the bridge
is if you submit to a challenge.”
“What! You are joking right?”
Jummai asked. They were all
puzzled and somewhat frightened.
It was common knowledge that
Ginah hated man, but endured
them because God forbade him to
harm them.
“In case you are wondering,” he
further explained, “I have God’s
approval. All you have to do is
freely participate in the test.
Otherwise, find another route or
return to where you came from.”
Now the only other routes
available were extremely long and
one still had to pass through the
dangerous evil forest. This was not
an attractive prospect not when
the bridge was safer and faster.
One person in the group asked
Ginah, “What exactly is the test?”
He explained, “I will lie face
down and each person wishing to
cross the bridge had to lash me a
hundred times.
Once done, he will in turn give
just one lash. While lashing, if I
run or don’t remain in the same
posi tion before a hundred lashes
are over, then the person could
cross.
However, since you humans had
many lashes, I will be able to turn
over thrice before you end you
beating but nothing more. If more,
then you are free to pass. If I make
it to the end without breaking the
rules, then I will give you just one
lash.”
This seemed good to them.
Some figured surely he could not
expect to win this challenge.
Furthermore, they needed to get
to the other side of the bridge and
conduct their affairs.
Foolishly, they agreed. Ginah
asked them to pick their stick of
choice. “Remember, it can be any
length or size. You must hit me
with the same amount of strength

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