Zura Karuhimbi;The Good Witch
Zura Karuhimbi.
the good witch of Rwanda.
Died on Monday,
aged 103, we think.
Her story should be known.
Zura was a healer,
from a family of healers who had been always known,
to have the touch of magic.
It was thought she was a witch.
Zura knew the truth of magic.
It was about what is believed.
In 1959 she saved a little Tutsi boy
by threading his hair with coloured beads.
As if by magic the boy is a little girl.
The evil only killed boys back then.
Paul Kagame lived.
When the evil returns in 1994,
so much more evil than before.
Zura used magic to stand against it
or what magic the evil believed.
In her humble home she shelteredΒ
over a hundred souls.
Against AK47's and machetes
she bravely keeps them whole.
By muttering incantations,
by threatening a curse from god.
Day after day,
she keeps evil at bay.
Stops darkness from stealing the day.
She said of those days
I saw the darkness in a man's heart.
But she only walked in light,
always knew the way.
800,000 die in the slaughter
but she saves her hundred souls.
Zura Karuhimbi was awarded
the Campaign Against Genocide Medal.
Awarded by the president of Rwanda,
Paul Kagame,
who wore her beads when he was just a child.
Support CosmoFunnel.com
You can help support the upkeep of CosmoFunnel.com via PayPal.
Comments
Linear. Nice.
Thank you Rory
Thank you Cherie, she was such an inspiring woman.
I've never heard of this person but she deserves recognition. Nice write Nigel.
- SydΒ
Syd, I hadn't heard about her until I read her obituary. Since writing the poem I have been doing some further reading and have just found a wonderful story. I hope it's not apocryphal but she didn't know that Paul Kagame, the president, was the child she saved in '59 but when he awarded her the medal he also gave her a small bag of beads and told her who he was.
Glad you enjoyed
Nigel.
Wow! What an amazing story and write Nigel. I'd never heard about Zura before but you brought her to life for me.Β Many Thanks for sharing her wondrous story.Β DD x
Thank you DD,Β
She always said she wasn't a witch but I believe in her magic. I think they call it love.
Nigel.
oh Nigel what an awe inspiring story! I have never heard of her but her story is such that everyone should know it! The way you describe her and her magicΒ was magical in itself...In an age where 'celebrity 'centres around highly paid , no talent,5 minutes of Fame nonentitiesΒ THISΒ is a wonderful example ofΒ a loving, humanitarianΒ ladyΒ who teaches us allΒ what power love has! Thank youΒ so much for this delightful nugget of inspirational information ...Lodigiana xxx
Thank you my lovely friend. I think reading her obituary was the first time I really cried over someone I had never heard of. Some souls shine very bright.
Nigel x