KWEE: Liberian Literary Magazine AUGUST 1, 2015 ISSUE | Page 29

Liberian Literary Magazine
or higher but never with lesser
force.” He repeated that once a
person swings, they could not
swing with less energy than the
initial swing. You can only swing
with the same force, higher
strength or harder force. If you
fail, I will eat you.”
Most of those present that
morning agreed to the challenge.
Mr. Ginah lay on his stomach and
covered his face ready for the
blows. One after the other, those
that agreed, struck him but
midway they failed the test. Those
that made it to the end did not
survive his one blow.
What they did not know was
that Ginah knew man and their
ways. He reckoned that many
would go for large, heavy pieces of
wood. He believed they could not
steadily swing a hundred deadly
blows. Moreover, if they opted to
swing slowly by the end they
would be exhausted and unable to
hit him with any force that could
cause him significant damage.
Either way, once a person agrees,
the Ginah felt he would have
himself a meal.
By the end of the day, the news
had spread to all the villages on
the other side of the river. Those
on the market side were shocked
that almost no one from across the
water came to sell produce that
day. This was highly unusual since
this was a major market day that
opened once a week. No one could
afford to miss this day.
By the next day, few braved the
evil forest to get on the other side.
Of those that did, even fewer
made it through the forest. By the
time they reached to the safety of
the other side, they learned that
many chiefs and family members,
concerned about the wellbeing of
their loved ones, had gone
towards the bridge. They wanted
to know what had happened. It
was late evening and many had
not returned so the villages were

July 15, 2015 ISSUE # 0715
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worried.
When the
men
broke the
news
about Mr.
Ginah and
how
he
had
possessed
the bridge
it was too
late for
them to help. It dawned on them
that their loved ones had walked
right into danger and possibly
their deaths. Gloom took over,
women wailed and anxiously
waited for news, any news.
The situation continued for a
while seemingly with no end in
sight. The Paramount Chiefs on
both sides of the river offered
rewards and the hand of their
favorite daughters to anyone who
would defeat the Ginah and free
the bridge. Sadly, none that
braved the challenge survived.
Others went to seek revenge for
their loved ones and did not come
back. Soon, the chiefs decided to
offer up half of their kingdoms and
the right of succession in addition
to their favorite daughters. This
drew some brave warriors but the
end was the same.
Initially, the Ginah believed his
plan flawless. It had worked
perfectly. After a while, he
realized that men were simply
avoiding the bridge. Some braved
the river and few took the forest
route. He had grown accustomed
to human meat, but he was simply
not getting it. The small he got
came far in between. He began
roaming into the forest around the
edges of the bride on both sides
hoping to see a human he could
con into accepting his challenge.
Word spread about the land
that a Ginah wandered away from
the bridge into the nearby forest
and towns. People soon ceased to

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pass that way. They abandoned
the villages close to the bridge and
ran away.
Pretty soon, the Ginah began
roaming afield in search of human
flesh. The chief announced that he
would give his daughter and half
his riches to the man who would
defeat the Ginah but few men
were brave enough to try. Sadly,
those who did, the Ginah killed.
Over in a small village, far from
the bridge, lived Tamba. He was a
blacksmith who lived with his
mother. He was a well-built young
man. His arms were huge and he
was strong from the toughness of
his work. He came to the town
intending to sell his wares in the
market. Because his village was so
far, he made this trip once in two
or three months. When he reached
the town, he heard the news and
was upset. He could not return
without selling his goods. This was
not an option. He began to think
of a way around the problem when
he found out that both Paramount
Chiefs had offered half their
kingdoms and their favorite
daughters as reward. He was
thrilled. The thought of marrying
a chief’s daughter was beyond his
wildest imagination, not to
mention half of a chiefdom.
He decided to take up the
challenge. He told no one of this
for obvious reasons. He set out to
get a few things before his quest.
He went into the forest and when
he had found what he needed, he
headed back to town where he
made his intentions known.
“My son, why are you wasting
your life?” one asked him. “Don’t
you have a family maybe a
mother, wife or children?”
another asked.
“I have an old mother that I
look after,” he replied.
“Then go back to her and take
care of her. Do not try this Ginah,
he is dangerous and will only kill
you. Do you really wish your

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