A River That is Congo: Of Chiefs and Giants

Kusala should have been chief. He was the firstborn and many in the tribe knew it. He and Kitomolo were born on the same day but of different mothers. Because Chief Ronzozo knew that it will be hard to establish exactly which of his sons was born first, he decided that the one who became a man first in the traditional way of killing a leopard, would be chief after him. On the day of the hunt they both throw at the same time, but Kitomolo, knowing he is not as good as his brother, damages his spear and then has his friends say that they saw Kusala tampering with Kitomolo’s weapon during the night. Kitomolo is named chief to be because of his cunning and guile, not his ability and skill. Harry VanVeldt and some others missionaries are the first white in that part of the Congo. Kusala goes to them expecting that he will be able to use them to help him get his birthright, but instead they use him to learn the language and get established.