THE EVOLUTION OF THE SEMBE CLUB – FROM LOGS TO TABLE 15; FROM
TORO TO TOROMO:
(High School Memoirs - 26th Sept. 2014)
2004:
Almost all the boys in the dormitory had contracted chicken pox. This was the first thing I noticed while being escorted into that rocket by Hezekiah Chebon. More strange however was the fact that they smeared themselves with some white paste and stretched out in the sun – naked. It was a strange sight that I won’t easily forget…This was February 2004.
Almost all the boys in the dormitory had contracted chicken pox. This was the first thing I noticed while being escorted into that rocket by Hezekiah Chebon. More strange however was the fact that they smeared themselves with some white paste and stretched out in the sun – naked. It was a strange sight that I won’t easily forget…This was February 2004.
I was even shocked more later when I got to the dining hall and
realized that guys were using bisected logs of wood as tables and the immobile
cylindrical logs were used as seats!
In the evening I noticed that some form fours used to ‘dunk’
ugali form Jack and Toro. They would eat the first plate comfortably but later
lock the second untouched plate in their boxes!
There were also these form three badminton players who had their
own “cubicle” in one corner of that congested dormitory, did everything
together like brothers and most importantly had branded themselves the “Sembe Club”
(SC).
It didn’t take long for me to figure out that these folks made
no bones in ugali (sembe). They even kept it overnight in their boxes and woke
up to it in the morning. I felt at home being around these guys and before long
there I was giving Toro and the kitchen crew sleepless nights!
2005:
This year saw the admission of the daughters and sons of the societal middle class. These boys used to buy bread in the evening and in the morning, while I and other junior members of the SC were busy breaking cold ugali with our dirty fingers, they were busy cutting through bread with short knives! As if to add insult to injury, they often smeared their breads with margarines and something they called jam! This was a sad year for real…
This year saw the admission of the daughters and sons of the societal middle class. These boys used to buy bread in the evening and in the morning, while I and other junior members of the SC were busy breaking cold ugali with our dirty fingers, they were busy cutting through bread with short knives! As if to add insult to injury, they often smeared their breads with margarines and something they called jam! This was a sad year for real…
2006:
The removal of those ugly logs of wood in the dining hall for the construction of the now standing multipurpose hall took place this year. As these events were ongoing, there was a reshuffle in the kitchen that saw the coming in of a cateress, a fellow called Joseph (Josi) and later beautiful slim lady called Toromo. Allow me to digress and say something about these three people.
The removal of those ugly logs of wood in the dining hall for the construction of the now standing multipurpose hall took place this year. As these events were ongoing, there was a reshuffle in the kitchen that saw the coming in of a cateress, a fellow called Joseph (Josi) and later beautiful slim lady called Toromo. Allow me to digress and say something about these three people.
The cateress was a cowardly married woman who did everything to
satisfy the administration. The SC members were disappointed by her.
As for Josi our man, the only thing I remember is that he was a mean fellow who was transferred from the shamba to the kitchen, thinner than a wasp but when I left the school in 2007 he was almost bursting of fat – he had a tummy that would only be equaled to that of mzee Amdany and his big butt made him look like a poorly drawn cartoon!
As for Josi our man, the only thing I remember is that he was a mean fellow who was transferred from the shamba to the kitchen, thinner than a wasp but when I left the school in 2007 he was almost bursting of fat – he had a tummy that would only be equaled to that of mzee Amdany and his big butt made him look like a poorly drawn cartoon!
Toromo’s contribution towards the SC would never be forgotten by
members. Other students liked her for her social and generous approach to
issues, but the SC members loved her beyond reason. They even grew fat and
stronger this year because of her. May she live long wherever she is.
2007:
By this year also 8 students were required to occupy each of the tables in the hall. The SC members chose table 15 as their base with this becoming the only table in the Hall without a girl. Its users were always the first to be seated and the last to leave. This was the case because any other food that remained on the other tables was dumped on table 15 and it was a crime for a plate or bowl to leave table 15 with food remains!
By this year also 8 students were required to occupy each of the tables in the hall. The SC members chose table 15 as their base with this becoming the only table in the Hall without a girl. Its users were always the first to be seated and the last to leave. This was the case because any other food that remained on the other tables was dumped on table 15 and it was a crime for a plate or bowl to leave table 15 with food remains!
Most of the other tables had some introverts who feared eating
in presence of girls. Aaaahaaa! The table 15 had SC members with big balls who
cared less about women and so they cashed handsomely on these shy lads’
misfortunes.
The new D. hall had been furnished with expensive tables and
spoons, plates and ceramic cups to boot. Everything was beautiful but we were
mourning…I can’t say much about this but one thing for sure is that after a few
weeks, four members of the SC were suspended. Why? They had broken a dozen cups
claiming that they were too small for their appetites!
Before we graduated however, we made sure that we initiated some
new members to keep the SC fire burning.
There was one fellow who fitted well into the group. The
nickname he acquired during his early days as a mono was “Dosti”. The small boy
came from far north and never used to eat bread. Instead he used to take that
morning bread and exchange it for a large piece of ugali from one member of the
SC. When asked why, his response was: “sikuli dosti”. And so was born the name
“Dosti”.
So when one morning I saw him gulp down a plateful of sembe with
ease, I smiled and nodded knowing for sure that I never let down the pioneers
of the SC. The Sembe Club and table 15 were there to stay.
Long live Sembe Club!
A proud alumnus (2004-2007).
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