A very long time ago, in the dreamtime
of the world,
before the before […]
there were already some
men and women
who, from their first years,
could see
what had really happened;
what had not happened at all;
what might never happen;
what would definitely happen
and what should definitely happen:
these were the accountants.
Even earlier than the lost civilisation of
the Etruscans,
someone had collected, counted and curated
the spoils of war
and the profits of peace,
holding those less ethical, to account –
by adding,
subtracting and
sharing the bounty or the blame.
In Africa, the praise singer lauds
kings, chiefs, in company with headmen, judges and seers,
the counter of currency,
the keeper of records,
the settler of debts,
the recorder of figures;
who will tell the story of the accountant
in my country?
The imbongi will,
He will sing of such wonders as
the clan’s name, the fathers’ name,
and the accountant’s own name;
the birth country, the region and village,
town or city’s names;
the status and titles of forefathers, and,
above all,
the ancestors, much revered;
the places of learning,
the land protected;
the importance of the title […]
accountant.
The imbongi will present both
the private and the professional faces of
this follower of rules,
the observer of process,
the protector of numbers,
the prudent thinker.
Salve, domine numerarum.
