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Malawian learning irrigation at USU, although M'bona the python helps bring water, too By
Matthew Flitton The tale is told of M'bona, a man who lived long ago. When he died, he was buried in a cave. After his death, he believed he owed people something. He turned into a python and now helps when there is no rain. Priests prepare cornmeal in baskets and go to the cave where M'bona was buried. There they plead for the python to come out so they can see him. Some people say the snake will actually eat cornmeal out of the basket. When the snake appears, people leave, content that rains will soon come, giving life to farmers' crops. This story comes from Malawi, a country in southeast Africa. Luckson Ngalu, a native of that country, related it with a smile. Then he added to the tale's credibility. "In the past, I am told, when they (priests) get back to their homes, they are wet from rain," he said. Ngalu is 1.6 meters (5 feet, 3 inches) tall. His dark skin accents the brightness of his smile. His right eyelid droops over a useless sliver of white. When he was a young child, "so small I cannot remember," he fell against a mortarboard where his mother was pounding corn. His other eye discloses the friendly spirit within. His voice is as soft as if he had swallowed chalk. Ngalu received an undergraduate degree in civil engineering at the University of Malawi. He came to Logan in the fall semester get a master's in irrigation engineering. He and Thomas Reuben, another Malawian, came on scholarships from their government. Before coming to the United States, the two scholars worked for the administration of irrigation where they coordinated workshops on the subject from guest lecturers. Now they encourage each other in their studies. "Whenever we have an assignment, we remind each other of our plan that we teach at the university," Reuben said. One difficulty they have is trying to work with American measurements. "We have to convert," he said. "It's a big problem." Ngalu's adviser, Lyman Willardson, said the two have shown much more independence than other graduate students. "They've been very diligent and determined and have done as much as they could for themselves," he said. Ngalu left his family in Malawi while he studies for two years. He looks forward to seeing his daughter, Flora, and his son, Innocent, again. Innocent? The name refers to a conflict within his family. Ngalu is his father's fifth son, but the eldest of his father's second wife. His four half-brothers resented his father's second family. "People may not like me, but I believe I am innocent," he said. "So I called him Innocent." Ngalu's family had to pay $50 for his wife. In Malawi, the groom's family has to pay the bride's family. Ngalu said spouses are much more expensive in the North, where the price may be as high as 10 cattle. But it appears the country has taken a lesson from the American financial system, many pay a down payment and give the rest in installments. There is a drawback. "If she dies, your wife will not be buried until you pay (the rest)," he said. Ngalu has no plans of getting a second wife like his father. "There are things I will never do," he said. "Take a second wife, or divorce a wife. I encountered some problems because of these things." Ngalu phones his family weekly. It costs about $10. He buys phone cards from Wal-Mart. However, Ngalu says the opportunities he will have because of his degree will be worth the sacrifice. Before coming to America, Ngalu lived in Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi. There, most people have running water, electricity and other modern conveniences. Outside of Lilongwe, many people live in mud huts, and their lives resemble those of their ancestors. After he returns, Ngalu said he'll probably leave the government work. "The government is the lowest paying place," he said. "I was making $100 a month, and some of my friends were making $500 a month." Ngalu said that some commercial tobacco farmers are very rich, making $10,000 a year. That sum is nearly double what one can make in the city, $6,000 a year. According to the CIA's World Factbook, Malawi is one of the least developed nations in the world. The country is hot and dry, with agriculture accounting for 37 percent of the country's gross domestic product. Tobacco, tea, sugar, cement and sawmill products are the country's main industries. Chikwawa is one of those agricultural towns. Daytime highs are around 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). Those working in the fields get up around 3 or 4 a.m. "Some may sleep as late as 6, but not 7," Ngalu said. They work until late morning, when they go home to escape the heat and have lunch. "When it comes 9 or 10 o'clock, very few can manage to continue working in the field," he said. Work continues from 2 p.m. to early evening when they return home for dinner and to tell stories. "They are going to be sharing stories about ancestors or grandparents," Ngalu said. "Children go out playing if there is moonlight." One of the biggest problems growing up was the threat from Mozambican refugees. People were fleeing the country that surrounds Malawi on two sides because of a 20-year civil war. Ngalu still remembers one night in 1993 when refugees from Mozambique raided his village. "We were just chatting and we heard gunshots less than 100 meters away," he said. Ngalu and his family ran and hid in their hut, waiting for more gunfire. "We didn't sleep until 2 a.m.," he said. "We were afraid they would come to shoot us." Ngalu said he worried because his father was a businessman. The refugees often murdered businessmen because of their money. "Most people closed their businesses and moved to other areas," he said. In addition to the heat, Malawi is dry from May to November. The other six months are the rainy season. Ngalu said sometimes the rain doesn't come. In the dry years, locals turn to M'bona for help. Like the python, Ngalu's favorite food is made of cornmeal. The dish is called nsima, and it's a corn pudding covered with fish, chicken, meat, beans, or therlere leaves. Therelere is a weed in Malawi. The leaves are boiled with salt. While nothing hits the spot like nsima, Ngalu said combination pizza is his favorite American food. American people are quite different. The average person in Malawi is 1.75 meters (5 feet 9 inches). "When I was coming here, someone told me, 'You are going to where there are a lot of giant people. You need to go to the children's area for clothes.'" Ngalu said he has been shopping for clothes in the children's section of Wal-Mart. He's also bought many other things there. The national chain is his favorite place to shop. "I find it to be cheaper," he said. It has everything I need except for the computer." While he couldn't find a computer at Wal-Mart, Ngalu did find movies. Among the movies next to the computer are Rush Hour, Cobra, Cyborg, My Cousin Vinny, Navy Seals, Fists of Fury and Out for Justice Steven Segal is his favorite actor. While his movies may be American, Ngalu prefers traditional Malawian music. He put a tape into his player and a song called Mwandilaula started. As the quick beat of a trumpet polka filled the room, Ngalu explained that the title translates from Chichewa as Puzzling. The song refers to "Sugar Daddies," old men who marry young girls. Ngalu isn't certain what he wants to do when he returns. If he doesn't teach at a university or college, he's going to work for a non-government organization, or NGO as he calls them. He would like to help the farmers get water for their crops, or teach them how to run their businesses so they can pay back loans. Like M'bona, he said he believes he owes something to people. "Money has come to my country for these farmers," he said. "I have benefited from my education so I just want to dedicate myself to helping these farmers." His government hopes he will accept that gift and bring water to farmers' crops. From what Ngalu says, they'll be wet as soon as he gets home.
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