WENYE PLOTI (the story)

W E N Y E P L O T I (plot owners)

T H E S T O R Y

There aren’t many African superheroes. But I guess you could think of us as them. Hidden identities. Nicknames given by the community. Vast wealth. Respect and admiration from everyone who heard about us. Of all the names given to us, our favourite would be, WENYE PLOTI.

Respect and privilege in African settings comes with age first, then wealth. Since we lacked in age, by far, we decided to earn our community’s respect through wealth. In the end, we didn’t only earn respect but admiration as well because everyone wanted to be like us.

TAABU. He’s naturally intimidating, with his height and arresting face. A tough nut. Not your average gentleman. He is built different. From the way he dresses, to the way he graces you with his presence. People say he has a mean streak, but he’s just coated with toxic masculinity. If by any chance you lock eyes, you will feel intimidated. He deals with the cash transactions. It’s easier that way because he’s not a people’s person. It would be in your best interest to avoid crossing him.

MIRADI. Naturally easy going and a smooth talker too. Tales have been told of his cunning trait but a man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do. He handles most of the meetings and business deals. Has a very good eye when it comes to scouting investment plots and making friends with the right people. Has an impressive talent of stealing ladies.

From rags to riches would be cliché but what better way to describe tailors who rose to become wealthy merchants? Being as gifted as they were, their white employers kept them close, taught them the ropes of the business. After a few years, with gained independence, while everyone else was celebrating the country’s newfound freedom, the tailors built their empire in secrecy. They took over the lands and accumulated wealth from oblivious members of the community. The community saw them as “Watu wa Mkono” whenever they came around to buy land or claim it with the title deeds formerly stored away by their former employees. Tales spread of the unknown merchants who were acquiring land at an alarming rate all over the country, that’s how they were dubbed “WENYE PLOTI”.