Tanzania - When a story becomes a skin condition
As Peace Corps Volunteer, James taught Maths and basic computer skills at Mzumbe secondary school. In his final year, he set up computer labs across the region.
When we visited in June, 2011, we heard the following story from one of the teachers:
One night in the rainy season, some students claim to have seen a creature with a bushy tail pass through the school campus. In the Kiuluguru language, this is called a zombwe. After the sighting, the students noticed a rash appearing on their bodies, especially on their faces and necks, and connected this with the sighting of the zombwe.
They called the disease Mzumbeitis Zombwesis, until their teachers heard about it and laughed at the students: “These are just normal insect bites! The students study late in the night and insects swarm around their desk lights.While the students are studying hard, all heads down, they get bitten by insects! That's the real cause for Mzumbeitis Zombwesis.”
Superstitious beliefs even among the top students are common and teachers feel that it's their responsibility to clarify the scientific causes.
The traces on the skin of the fabulous creature zombwe makes the better story, though.
