23/06/2024
Days Before Church S1
By Charity Nyoni
Days Before Church is a lived rather than preached sermon. Ruth's cursed womanhood is being used as a weapon by her preacher parents to target the pastor. Will the pastor fall? Will Ruth's curse be reversed?
Chapter 1
“Aren’t you a church member?” asked a young woman, who was wear-ing skimpy clothes.
Her question was directed to a woman, who was neatly-dressed. The attention of everyone who was in the queue to see the sangoma (traditional healer) was shifted to the woman. Her name was MaDlodlo, she fixed her attention to a distant horizon, pretending not to hear anything.
“We know you church members, it’s almost time for the church elections. That’s why you’re here.” The young woman continued to heap coals on MaDlodlo’s back. The other people on the queue burst into laughter.
MaDlodlo was the next to get in and she felt relieved as she removed her shoes and got into the Sangoma’s room,
“Makhosi,” the sangoma, sneezed and coughed.
The Sangoma was an old woman, whose clothes were covered by scary animal skin and fur. Different kinds of beads accompanied the fur on both her clothes and doek.
“I have been expecting you. Vumani bo!” “Siyavuma gogo!” MaDlodlo responded as she knelt respectfully before the sangoma.
“You know how you’ve helped me to keep my position in church for so long. This year, I have come for the same.”
“MaDlodloMaDlodlo, grrrrrrrrrrrrr! Haaaa!” She spit into a small animal skin bag that contained her divination bones. “I’m sorry, I cannot help you and your church members anymore!”
“But why Gobela? You have been our anchor for all these years. How can you just throw us to the wolves for no reason?”
“He gave me a warning, to leave his people! He told me not to continue working with wolves in sheep’s clothing, to lead his remnant astray.”
“Who?”
“The owner of the church! Help me by spreading word to your friends, that I don’t help you anymore to get church ranks. Leave now, before his anger strikes me to death!”
Like a silly puppy, MaDlodlo tucked her tail in between her legs and tip-toed out of the room. When she got outside, she saw a number of church members in the queue as well. She gave them a sign to meet her privately out of the gate,
“Guys, things have changed, Gobela will not help us again.” “Why?” asked a shocked Bab’ Gumede. “She said, God visited her.”
“We will find another person to help us then.” said Gumede.
“Mmm, I think we shouldn’t do that. The time for all this to end has come, unless if you want to die,” said Madlamini, a forty years looking woman.
“I agree with you, Bab’ Gumede. We can’t afford to be back benchers at church.” said MaDlodlo.
“Guys, this is getting dangerous. Let’s just leave it. I agree with Mad
For more stories like this, kindly join our what's App group
https://chat.whatsapp.com/FlVFutHHlQHK9tWo5mHMgg
Call or WhatsApp Charity on +263774416755 to get the free chapters of Days Before Church or to buy the whole copy.
