Little Lukatazho

There’s a little boy here in my village that I decided one night I just had to write about. His name is Justin Kyumisha and he’s 6 years old, but I have nicknamed him Lukatazho, which in the local language, Kaonde, means “problem.”

I’ve dubbed him this because after my first two months in the village I noticed he was constantly filthy, rambunctious without fail, and his pants — his pants — were always falling down or on backwards, or both. But he was sporting a big smile every minute of every day.

Very rarely do I ever see Lukatazho sad or down.  Usually he's showing his teeth in a big grin.

Getting to know him more, I’ve found that the kid is just wild. Not in a bad way, but in the kind of way a kid should be, and because of this he’s easily one of my favorites in the village.

Now well into my second year, there are still kids that are terrified of me, as in they go out of their way to avoid seeing me — but not little Lukatazho.

He does what he wants, when he wants. He loves to wander into my hut while I’m writing and stand there, well inside my personal space, staring at the pictures above my desk. He’s not much taller than the desk, so the pictures are about the only things he can really see. But, he’ll stand there for as long as I’ll let him — just looking.

Other times, his willingness to go his own way causes problems.

For instance, the other day his mom ordered him to take a bath. Instead of using clean water, he walked to the nearby well and began bathing in the runoff water from that, which had collected in a muddy hole.

I wish I knew why I like him so much, but I don’t. When I think about he and I we’re really not alike at all. I’m 21 years older, we can barely communicate to one another (he speaks no English and I speak broken, rudimentary Kaonde) and he even makes my job more difficult. He’s a whirlwind of destructive force.

Repeatedly I’ve seen him rip up by their roots seedlings that I’ve planted with the community for no other reason than enjoyment. He’s a little devil, a little problem, but for some reason we get along and I still like the kid.

This picture almost perfectly sums up my relationship with Lukatazho... as I'm trying to write he comes up to me without regard for what I'm working on and does what he does best - anything he wants.

In fact, I like him so much that we recently made up a handshake. I figure what 6-year-old doesn’t enjoy a good secret handshake? 

Having him around, though, is a constant reminder of how hard, even cruel, life can be here. Not only does Lukatazho sport a big smile, but he also sports a big swollen belly — the kind that comes from malnutrition.

That malnutrition has lead to his physical stunting. And due to this malnutrition his body is slow to fight off illnesses.

In February, Lukatazho nearly died from being infected with malaria. He spent four days in the local clinic under intense supervision.

When he did return, it was on the back of a bicycle, in a rainstorm, with only a thin cloth to protect him — he looked absolutely miserable. I felt terrible for him, but he was alive.

A few days later he was smiling again and back to his normal antics.

Lately he’s been doing a lot of dancing. He’ll hike his pants way up, put a hand on his hip, and start dancing around — kicking up a storm of dust. All this is done while I’m trying to read during the midday heat, and nearly every time he manages to make me stop reading and laugh.

Whenever I leave this village for good I’ll have a few very special people that I’ll think back upon and know my time here wouldn’t have been so wonderful without. I’ll think of them for years and years I’m sure. Justin “Lukatazho” Kyumisha is one of them.

Although the youngest, the smallest, and the one with the most problems wearing his pants correctly, he’s the one that has made me laugh the most without speaking a single English word.