Decapitated

Yesterday afternoon, as Simon and I were walking into town, we walked past a neighbour 2 buildings up. Simon wondered why so many people were visiting there and thought there must have been a death or something so he asked another neighbour. This is what he was told:

"Yes, someone was murdered there yesterday, his friends cut off his head in an argument so now everyone is visiting to pay their respects."

I didn't really know how to react, thinking that it happened less than 30m away from me. I asked if that sort of death was common and Simon said, "Yes it happens many times in Tanzania"

I was quiet for a while just asking the odd question here and there as we walked. I asked if Simon was going to visit the house too, and yes he planned to that evening.

It's traditional to take money and write your name in a book when you go to visit the bereaved family. It's also common to party the night away with them, playing cards etc and drinking.

We came back from town later that evening and off went Simon to visit, I didn't particularly want to go anywhere near the house, picturing blood stains etc, so I stayed home working and wondering what had happened.

Simon returned after 2 hours and had the real story:

"He owed someone money or something and he was stabbed in the neck while in town"

Phew... although it still freaked me out because it's apparently 'so common' here to have your head cut off in an argument!!!

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