Chapter 95: Northwest Elegy
In September, light rain fell in the northwest of East Africa, creating a somber atmosphere in the region. Bukoba, a once-vibrant fishing village on the west bank of Lake Victoria, now lay in ruins. This small village had been under the rule of the Karawi Kingdom, but it had suffered greatly due to the conflicts in the region.
Bukoba Village's traditional architecture featured circular fence walls made of rattan and mud, now covered in moss and weathered by time. Within these walls were semicircular skeleton houses constructed from vines and branches, with banana leaves used to provide shelter. In the center of the village stood an altar, surrounded by stones, where villagers gathered for various activities.
Fishing had been the primary livelihood of the Bukoba people, who skillfully crafted canoes from tree trunks to navigate Lake Victoria's waters. These canoes, paired with rudimentary fishing nets, enabled them to catch freshwater fish from the lake, which they traded for essential goods.
However, the tranquility of Bukoba Village had been disrupted by the expansion of the East African colonies. Indigenous peoples from the grasslands had been pushed into the northwest region by the colonial government. This sudden influx of people strained the region's resources, leading to conflicts between the indigenous tribes and the East African settlers.
Fighting erupted as the Eastern Bantu people struggled for their survival in this new land. Bukoba Village and nearby villages of the Karawi Kingdom joined the resistance, using their knowledge of the terrain to launch guerrilla attacks. The Eastern Bantu, driven from their homes without provisions, resorted to pillaging and burning as they moved northward.
The conflict escalated, fueled by animosity and territorial disputes. In this brutal struggle, Bukoba Village and its inhabitants paid a heavy price. The village was eventually annihilated, leaving behind an empty shell of what it once was.
The Eastern Bantu tribes, unable to adapt to a life of fishing and hunting like the original inhabitants of Bukoba Village, continued their northward journey. They now faced a united front of the Northwest countries, who were determined to repel the invaders.
The war's impact extended beyond Bukoba Village and the Karawi Kingdom. As the Eastern Bantu tribes advanced northward, they posed a threat to other nations, including the Kingdom of Buganda and the Kingdom of Turou.
The Northwest countries, lacking advanced fortifications and technology, were vulnerable to these invaders. The East Bantu tribes, driven by necessity, moved through the southern territories, further destabilizing the region.
Bukoba Village, once a thriving community, fell into oblivion. Nature slowly reclaimed the structures made of vines and mud, erasing the scars of conflict. The suffering endured by its inhabitants faded into the past, undocumented and forgotten.
The true culprits behind this tragedy were the East African colonial authorities, whose policies had set the stage for this devastating conflict. The war in the northwest of East Africa remained largely unnoticed by the world, yet it served the interests of the East African colonies, regardless of the outcome.
As the Northwest countries and the Eastern Bantu tribes fought for survival, they unwittingly furthered the goals of the East African colonies. War, famine, and disease ravaged the region, resulting in the decline of the population.
Only the northern parts of certain nations remained relatively untouched, but the entire northwest region suffered. Land abandonment, famine, disease, and pollution of water sources were all contributing to the region's decline. Throughout this turmoil, the East African colonies watched greedily, hoping to seize the land for their own gain.