04/09/2026
THE DAY THE RIVER CHOSE ME: MY LAST DAY FISHING AT UMKHONDO
One day I went fishing at my local river, uMkhondo River in Mpumalanga.
Every time I approached the river, I would see two creatures swimming by the river bank, and then they would disappear. As respect, I would always throw a silver coin into the water before I started fishing.
But on this particular day, something was different.
The fish would not eat the worm on my hook. I waited and waited. Then at exactly 13:00, the entire river pool changed.
I could see right to the bottom of the riverbed, something I had never seen before. What surprised me was this: the pool was filled with big, long, glowing fishes. Hundreds of them. And all of them were facing one direction, swimming against the flow of the river current.
I threw my hook right next to their mouths, but they would not eat. They were so many, and the water was not deep. My human mind thought, "I can just step inside and catch them with my own hands."
But something deep inside me whispered, "Forget everything and go home."
I obeyed and left.
That night, I dreamt of the exact same fishes, but this time in a big dam. Then the storm began. Heavy rain and lightning filled the sky. From the water, something rose out — 7 gold glitter candles, surrounded by clouds full of rain and lightning.
That was my last time ever going fishing.
Being spiritual is not an easy journey. There are a lot of sacrifices.
I am Sanusi, Son of the Water Spirit. The river did not take me it chose me.