The First Gohu

A great Lion was the undisputed ruler of the plains and would hunt the wild cattle as he pleased. When the first Mijikenda settlers arrived with their domestic cattle, the Lion saw them as easy prey. The elders knew they could not fight the Lion with spears alone. A wise elder, a woman named Mepo, went to the Lion not with a weapon, but with a song. She sang of the Lion's strength and his noble lineage. The Lion, who had only ever known fear, was captivated by her respect. Mepo made a pact with the Lion. "Great King," she said, "Our cattle are our children. We will set aside a special bull for you, the strongest of our herd, which will be sacred to you. In return, you must see our herds not as prey, but as your subjects, to be protected." The Lion agreed. This first pact between a human and a Lion over cattle was called a gohu, a sacred oath. From then on, the Lion would often be seen watching the Mijikenda herds from a distance, protecting them from other predators, in honor of the ancient agreement.