My Secret for Staying Successful: A Confession from a Village Tuckshop Owner

I’ve run my tuckshop in this village for more than 15 years. People say I’m lucky, that business always works for me even when others close down. They say customers love me because I’m friendly, but the truth is, my success didn’t come from good service alone. It came from something darker.

When I first came here, I was just a simple man selling bread and cold drinks. But things were slow. I was losing money every month. One night, an old sangoma from a nearby village came to buy cigarettes. He looked at me and said, “You have a strong spirit, but your business is weak. You can fix that — if you’re willing.”

Curiosity got the better of me. I followed him that weekend. He told me I needed to keep my luck “alive” by feeding it with life energy. He didn’t ask for animals or blood — he said the energy of a woman can renew a man’s wealth, especially if she’s young and full of life.

At first, I laughed. But when he gave me a small charm and told me to keep it under my bed, I started noticing changes. Business picked up. People came from far to buy from my shop. I started gaining respect, even fear.

That’s when the ritual truly began. Every few months, I would find a young black girl from the village — mostly someone struggling, needing food or school money. I would give her money, food, sometimes even clothes, but in return, I would sleep with her. The sangoma said I must never refuse when “the spirit asks,” or I’d lose everything.

I told myself I was helping them. But deep down, I knew I was feeding something else. Sometimes after being with one of the girls, I would dream of shadows standing at my door, whispering my name. I’d wake up sweating, but the next morning, my shop would be full again.

Now, I’m older. The money is still there, but peace is gone. The faces of those girls haunt me — some got sick, some disappeared. I don’t even know what became of them. My charm still lies under my bed, wrapped in the same red cloth the sangoma gave me years ago. I can’t throw it away; every time I try, something bad happens.

This is my truth. My wealth didn’t come clean. It came with shame, with secrets, and with souls I can never repay.