In the summer 2020 edition of the Eco-Congregation Ireland newsletter Fr Michael O’Shea SMA wrote a reflection entitled Umululu, The Big One – A Story About a Tree. Fr Michael now writes of the story behind Umululu:
The first African priest of the vast Luangwa Valley in Eastern Zambia, Fr John Kalale was a quiet holy man and an ecologist at heart though that term wasn’t in use then. After his ordination in 1952 he was appointed to the new Jesuit Minor Seminary of Mpima. He brought with him a rare species of tree which he planted behind the Father’s house. The tree prospered, eventually becoming ‘King of the Forest’ and recognised as sacred by the villagers.
After half a century of friendship and helpfulness to man and fellow creatures, the King was assaulted one night by an unnatural violent wind which broke one of its mighty limbs. Tearing away from the trunk, the limb came crashing down narrowly missing the old mission house, then occupied by a seminary worker and family, but smashing its water tank and tower. The rector at the time, not noted for tree preservation, deemed it necessary to bring the whole tree down for fear of further accidents.
The axe men sharpened their weapons and attacking from all sides after a few hours had nearly cut the tree through. It stood balancing precariously on its almost severed base. Tractor, ropes and more men were then employed to pull it down. But still it stood, defeating their best efforts. Now the knowing men worried. It couldn’t be left like that, which way would it fall? On the house? On those who were chopping it? Or even on innocent passers-by. Tempers rose, opinions differed, no one really knew. Stumped! Then a gentle breeze blew up. As if responding to it, the King sighed, shuddered and unhurriedly, majestically came down westwards to land on a clear space, sparing all and doing no damage.
Later this author, engaged in writing a history of the seminary, remembered he’d seen a photograph of the old mission house; the tree should be behind it. He searched and found it but to his consternation there was no really big tree in the picture. On showing the remains of Umululu to a Zambian priest, he was informed that a sacred tree might not like to be photographed by a foreigner and could hide itself. Wishing to show the photograph which he’d stowed safely in his room, he rushed to find it. He searched every file and folder, nook and cranny, high and low, but nowhere could he find it. It had vanished!
Michael O’Shea sma, Mpima Forest, September 2020.