Ciao! We’re In Africa

Entombed in a Wall

Nowadays, we have systems in place to respond to Mother Nature’s force when her fury descends; we watch in morbid fascination as events unfold. Back in 1958 though—with no social media—the loss of lives through floods was not common news. Yet, it made headlines when, in Southern Rhodesia, Africa, part of the Kariba Dam wall that was mid-construction, was hit by tumultuous water in a heavy rainy season; it crumbled like a sandcastle in the tide. Black and white laborers including Italian migrants didn’t stand a chance. To the local BaTonga natives who had been displaced by the ‘white man’s’ development, Nyaminyami, the river spirit had its revenge. For a short time though—regardless of race, religion or social standing—all were united in horror with news of a grisly outcome: bodies that had not been swept away but instead, had fallen downwards and become trapped in the wet concrete trench of the coffer wall, were to be left there … entombed for eternity. My father and mother had firsthand information during this tragic period, as a close friend was working for the Italian Consortium Impresit, that had won the tender to build the dam.