THE LEGEND OF KIWAKAAZI

Guvive; the festival of abundance and sharing was one of three important festivals celebrated by the people of Jumapafie (Southern Empire). It is said that during the time of Jaazi Sidaaku, the Southern Empire had to endure a long period of drought. This period of scarcity almost destroyed the empire; kings, chiefs and even the common people of the empire became selfish. While some people starved, others lived like kings. This increased crime across the kingdoms united through hard work; theft, rape, murder and conflicts of all kinds were rampant. Great ruler Sidaaku described by many as the “just lord”, and, the man many recognized as a messenger of the gods sent to restore equality amongst men would have none of that.  

He introduced a law that confiscates food from people hoarding it; greedy and selfish men who do not want to share. He met with all his Kings and chiefs and instructed them to share their food, water and anything useful with their subjects. The Emperors words alone could not have convinced them but seeing how little the Emperor himself consumed, and, how with great passion and compassion he shared with his people softened the hearts of his kings and chiefs. They all supported him. A task force of loyal soldiers was introduced to enforce this law. If only we had leaders like Sidaaku around, things would have been less difficult across Africa.

The rains did not come as expected. With no water, crops died, rivers dried up and animals also died. As if that was not enough, people began to die from unknown causes – it was a nightmare. Obviously, the gods were angry with them. To appease the angry gods, they sacrificed fowl, goat, sheep, cattle and even human lives. The gods enjoyed all these heart filled sacrifices and still refused to forgive them. How cruel? How unforgiving? If the gods can’t forgive us, how do they expect us to forgive one another?  

Eventually, Jaazi Sidaaku decided to consult his western neighbors for assistance. A decision, the people of his empire much opposed. Why won’t they? After all, Emperor Sidaaku had incurred the anger of the gods when he consulted the west not long ago. It was Emperor Sidaaku’s wife. She was dying and the Jaazi was desperately trying to save her. The treatment did not work and she died anyway. The westerners (sons of Attawaazi) were people of science and hard facts. Only a few of her people prayed to the gods. And although it was the richest empire at the time, many people believed any kind of association with the west will arouse the ire of the gods.

But Emperor Sidaaku was not only just, he was also decisive and it was his decisiveness that saved the day. The westerners had the best relationship with the southerners and immediately came in their numbers to help their southern brothers when the call was made. They first brought food; sacks filled with maize and rice to feed the hungry. Then, they brought machinery to dig up many wells around Jumapafie. A team of their best healers led by Obenfo Jabari (Doctor or Professor Jabari) were the most helpful; saving thousands from the so called unknown disease. Eventually, Jumapafie was saved.

Emperor Sidaaku felt the period should have thought them a valuable lesson about sharing and hence every year around the sixth month, Guvive is celebrated in remembrance of everything they went through and to unite the people once again in sharing.

The festival was a seven daylong event. The first two days were the days of cleansing. During these days, people will clean their homes and streets, and, they usually do it with singing and dancing. Conflicts and differences must also be settled during the first two days. It is also part of the cleansing – cleansing your heart of hatred, jealousy, anger and their kind. The next three days are days of fasting and thanksgiving. The fasting is a reminder of how the people who lived during those trying times must have felt, and the gods must be thanked for the abundance that have followed ever since. As if they had anything to do with the solution in the past. Then the party starts on the six day and ends after the seventh day. On the seventh day of that year’s celebration of Guvive, the wedding between Jaazi Sasu Basabasa II and Ashanti was scheduled.

There was square hall in the Imperial Palace of Jumapafie. This hall was where marriage ceremonies take place. On the left side of the hall sat the Tinles (Empresses, queens and princesses). On the right hand side, the elders of the empire and some important men sat. The drummer was stationed on the right side of the entrance to the hall. He was a skinny man with a cloth wrapped around his waist. He held two long curved sticks and beat two large drums. The sound of the drums was a call.

They heard the call and begun their slow and gentle walk to the square hall; thirteen of the most beautiful maidens in Jumapafie including Ashanti. They were all dressed the same; a long kente cloth wrapped around their bodies; beads around their necks, wrists, ankles and one particularly beautiful one around their heads. They entered and walked straight toward the platform on which the chief priest stood. Chief priest Odomfo was wearing a long white robe. Behind him were seats for the emperors, kings, chiefs and men of royal birth. The thirteen ladies including Ashanti lined up in front of the platform. The sound of the drums was heard again. The chief priest raised his right hand and it stopped.

A girl about ten years old entered carrying a small pillow. Resting on this pillow was a golden bracelet. She knelt before Jaazi Sasu Basabasa. Chief priest Odomfo said, “Your Highness, please identify your bride for all who are present this day to bear witness to your heart’s desire.”  Jaazi (Emperor) Sasu Basabasa II rose from his seat and picked the golden bracelet.

Emperor Sasu Basabasa II, young and handsome was wrapped in a large beautiful white cloth with golden designs. He walked past the girl. He started from his right and slowly walked past each maiden. He would take his time to examine their faces and nod – his way of appreciating their beauty. After carefully studying all the maidens, he returned to the seventh maiden from either his left or right. He took her right hand and forced the golden bracelet around her wrist. The queens, elders and everyone present welcomed his gesture with a loud round of applause. Emperor Sasu waited for the applause to end before returning to his seat. The sound of the drums was heard for the third time and stopped when chief priest Odomfo raised his right arm.

Next, it was the bride’s turn to do something. A girl carrying a silver cup and a boy carrying a jar filled with wine entered the hall. The Chief priest filled the silver cup with the wine in the jar. Ashanti moved towards the priest and took the cup from him. “Please choose the man whom you want to marry.” She too studied the men sitting on the platform and offered the cup to a chief. The chief smiled and moved to take the cup from her. But before his fingers could touch the cup, she withdrew the cup. Some smiled, some giggled and others simply laughed their hearts out. She did this two more times before finally offering the cup to Jaazi Sasu Basabasa II. She knelt down on one knee before her groom and held the cup above her head. She dare not look into his eyes. He took the cup; emptied the contents and got up to welcome the applause that followed. He took Ashanti’s right hand and moved towards the chief priest. The drummer beat the drums for a while. Once again, the chief priest raised his right arm and it stopped.

This time a young boy carrying a calabash filled with special water entered the hall. He handed the calabash to the priest. The priest took his grulba (a collection of horse tail tied together). He dipped it into the calabash and sprinkled a few on both groom and bride. After sprinkling the water, he said “may you both enjoy blissful marriage”. He walked round them and stopped. He dipped the grulba into the calabash once again, sprinkled it on them and said “may you both enjoy a long life of marriage and happiness while circling and after the third time said “may the gods protect you from evil eyes.” He closed his eyes for a few minutes and when he opened them, the sound of the drums filled the square court. It stopped when the chief priest, Odomfo raised his right arm.

Two muscular men entered the square hall from outside carrying two large wooden thrones. Following them closely were two beautiful girls about thirteen or fourteen years old carrying two golden crowns on a soft small pillow. The men placed the thrones in the middle of the hall; side by side such that their backs faced the entrance and the girls stood beside the thrones. Chief priest Odomfo was first to descend the platform. He sprinkled the special water on the thrones using his grulba while repeating some words. Only his lips moved. No one heard what exactly he said.

He gestured for the couple to draw nearer. Emperor Sasu Basabasa being a perfect gentleman took his bride’s hand and supported her whilst they walked towards the chief priest. He gestured for Jaazi Sasu Basabasa to sit first followed by his wife. Now, Tinle Ashanti of Jumapafie sat on her husband’s right hand side. The chief priest said “this day, the gods and all men in this room have witnessed the holy marriage ceremony between our August ruler, Jaazi Sasu Basabasa II and his new wife, Tinle Ashanti. Everyone who was present offered a loud round of applause whilst upstanding.

No need to bore you with details of what happened next because you know it already. It was the usual music and dancing; wining and dining. Nothing special.

The Imperial palace was very beautiful and had many rooms. The Jaazis of Jumapafie could have as many as four wives. Therefore, the Emperor’s bedroom was designed in such a way that it was surrounded by four other rooms; each room belonging to a wife. Ashanti was made to choose a room which was decorated according to her specifications.

On their wedding night, Jaazi Sasu entered her room with so much desire it was as if he was mad. Empress Ashanti was still undressing. He attacked Ashanti, pushed her onto her bed and moved to indulge in sex. Beautiful Ashanti just lied there like a corpse; completely motionless. The Emperor moved his arms around her body but she did not respond. After a while, he just got up and looked at her face for a while. He kissed her. She was still like a corpse. Then for some unexplained reason, he stopped and left her alone.

He could not believe it; he had the right to do anything he wanted. “So why did he stop? Why was his body that was brimming with desire all of sudden just give up?” he asked – angry at himself.

He could not sleep that night; he kept on tossing and turning in his bed. He was feeling different, thinking different and even acting different. “What is wrong with me?” he shouted at himself.