Mukuve mesmerises with his teeth
RUNDU – Some things have to be seen to be believed – and even then, you have to look closely, wipe your eyes and look again.
The sight of 43-year-old Makayi Joseph Mukuve, picking up a gearbox from an old Volkswagen Caravelle microbus, with his teeth counts as a sight to behold.
It leaves you stunned but at the same time fearing he might damage his teeth in the process.
Mukuve, who is not tall and is slender-built, hails from Kayengona village in the Kavango East region.
Nampa first learnt about his abilities when he shocked a crowd that gathered at Ngcangcana village for the belated Independence Day celebrations in early May this year.
Mukuve could be seen effortlessly walking with the gearbox while lifting it with only his teeth. “It’s not trickery. I don’t believe in trickery or witchcraft. My teeth are not doing the work; the jaw and mind control is. When I do this, I put aside the ‘I can’t’ and only think that I can,” he said.
Mukuve first discovered his skill in 2001 when he thrilled his co-workers at a local garage, where he used to work as a mechanic.
Since then, his colleagues would sometimes make him pick up a bag, filled with sand, with his teeth – just to entertain them.
The news of his abilities spread across the town of Rundu, leading to him receiving invites to attend and entertain at events.
“Some people pay me, and some just want me to do it for free. Currently, I’m not employed as a mechanic anymore. I want to make a living using the talent I have for the sake of my family, but I don’t know where to start,” he revealed.
Mukuve is visually impaired, able to see with only one eye, but he believes his abilities, including
picking up a steel drum and a tyre with a rim with only teeth come from having faith in himself – and it is a gift from God.
A doctor at the Rundu State Hospital, Dr Chantal Riziki Nyembo, in her opinion said teeth make up the hardest substance in the human body and can withstand a lot of pressure. However, she said, no matter how strong they are, they can still become weak over time, depending on their actions.
“‘Teeth can last for many years, and that’s why even when a body decomposes, you will find that the hair, nails and teeth still last. But in the case of Mukuve, along with some strong people, are gifted with just an extraordinary power,” she mused.