“In the Bena Valley, two brothers lived and moved around. One day, the younger brother is killed and his body consumed by some cannibals. The brother finds his remains, brings home the bones, and puts one of the bones into a bowl of water. While mourning his brother, he waters the bone day and night, vowing to avenge his death by killing all the perpetrators of this heinous crime. After some time, a maggot emerges from the bone. As he continues to watch and water, the maggot becomes a pupa. The pupa grows and changes colour, then one day it moves. As the elder brother watches eagerly, the pupa continues to move in the bowl. Suddenly, it breaks open. Nestled inside the pupa is the younger brother. The older brother brushes away his tears of sorrow as happiness and joy return, and he helps the young brother emerge from the pupa shell. Happy that they are together once again, they muster all their strength and begin to make harpoon-like spears, bundles of jagged and razor-sharp arrows, and very strong and pliable bows of black palm. Finally, armed with their weapons, the brothers roam the Bena Valley to avenge the younger brother’s death. Together, they kill all the cannibals, bringing peace to the valley.”

-Tom Deko, as told to Michael Mel in An Artist from the Bena Valley: Tom Deko.

Categories: Featured, Metal Sculpture
Tags: afterlife, conflict, death and commemoration, Eastern Highlands, family, grief, magic, metal sculpture, oral tradition, reclaimed materials, storytelling, synthetic materials, transformation, warriors