In the old days in Sebei, it was not easy for a young man to find a wife when he reached the age of maturity. Families had to search far and wide, visit different villages, and do a lot of lobbying. Gifts like alcohol, cows, goats, sheep, or hens were often used to win the approval of a girl’s family.
One story that people still tell is about a man named Kapchemurya. He once traveled to Bukwo, near the border with Kenya, looking for a wife. He saw a girl he liked, but instead of following the proper customs, he gave in to his desires and raped her. After that, he ran back to Kween.
When the news reached the community, people were angry. They composed songs using his name to shame him. Everywhere you went — people ploughing in the fields, children playing, women collecting firewood or water, and men grazing cows — they sang about Kapchemurya. Because of this, he could not find a wife, and his reputation was ruined.
But Kapchemurya did not stop. Later, he took advantage of a blind woman and raped her as well. The woman went home and reported the crime. She could not say his name, but she told the community she could identify him by touch.
The elders gathered all the men. One by one, the blind woman touched them until she recognized Kapchemurya. He denied everything, refusing to admit what he had done. The community gave him a week to come forward, then another week. But he did not. The oldest women in the community performed a ritual of cursing the offender and went to an unknown place to carry it out.
After a week, Kapchemurya was later found dead. It is said that he hanged himself using a plant called barowetaap-moi. His life ended tragically, a result of his selfish and harmful actions.
This story has been told for generations in Sebei. It is a warning to young people about respecting others, following community rules, and understanding that harmful actions bring consequences. Songs, stories, and oral history like this help keep the values of the community alive.