THE LEGEND OF KIWAKAAZI
BOOK ONE — A NAME BOUND BY DESTINY
The story revolves around a nineteen year old intelligent young scientist, Kiwakaazi, in ancient Africa. He was accused and found guilty of an incident that claimed many lives in the then Nibooman (Land of Inventions or Western Empire) of Africa. As punishment, he was banished to find a special plant that bears a special flower in Nomposuro (dark and evil forest). There was only one slight problem. The kranjus (immortal guardians) stand in his way. How is thin, weak and naive Kiwakaazi going to survive in Nomposuro? The epic and yet very spiritual journey of Kiwakaazi and other related stories has been captured in this story. Hope you enjoy it!
Chapter 18 — The history of man Story Index >>
They say that the gods created men so that man could worship them. They say that after having this desire among the gods, the earth opened and out came man. Some say, that it was rather trees that grew for thousands of years and when they were about to die, they cracked open and out came man. But a few people believe that man emerged from rocks and stones after many years. Either way man came and occupied the earth. Initially he was naked and ate just about anything, but then he evolved and started wearing clothes, distinguished between what was edible and what was not until he started growing his own food.
He lived on trees and in caves, but, when he evolved he built simple structures. Slowly those structures evolved and he started living in solid buildings that could withstand just about anything. He started fire and learned how to cook. He developed a taste for meat and started hunting. With every passing second man evolved and discovered new and wonderful things about his new home.
No one knows why but man struggled to understand differences. The differences in language, mode of worship, choice of clothes, color and even simple appearance caused many conflicts. Men gathered in small groups called tribes and if one tribe should conquer another, the two tribes become one tribe. Slowly the tribes grew and became clans.
Tribes and clans were always on the move. They feared other tribes, clans and wild animals. They only settled at a place they believed was safe and started a village. Each village had a leader and each leader had a title. There was still no end to the fighting; always bloodshed. Man barely knew peace.
To shed light on man’s origin and to unite men, he was born – the greatest man ever to be born. He was the man who went by a thousand names. Some called him Gyaati-so-Dzani (Messenger of Knowledge). Others called him Yaabi-so-Rakiambe (son of The Creator). Those who opposed him called him zaminyanka (demon of confusion) and beiyoo (warlock). Anyway, the name his parents gave him was Anambre and some added the title Jawezi (the wise) to it. He was Anambre Jawezi (Anambre the wise).
Many years after the death of Anambre, another man came. He was known as Zakaru Sidiata (Zakaru the immortal) son of Zimbaru Sibombe (Zimbaru the conqueror). He was the exact opposite of Anambre. With a peculiar sword in hand, he felt the only way to unite men was to breach the gap between the so called weak and strong people of the world. He conquered the Akantis, the Gamas, the Wontoses and the other known powerful tribes and villages. He united a few of the villages he defeated to create a couple of kingdoms, and, other villages united creating more kingdoms to stop him from conquering the world. Eventually, he also died. And for the first time, it seems the world will know peace until one King decided to change all that. To stop him, the third man was born.
From mere villages, kingdoms were born. Each kingdom comprised of at least ten villages. Each village was ruled by a chief and the king was the chief of chiefs.
The world’s change created a caste system. At the top of the system were the Azenfos (noble families into which kings and chiefs were born). Below the Azenfos were the Parakas (great families from which the best warriors and warlords were chosen). Closely following the parakas were the Osomfos (the families from which the custodians of knowledge and priests were chosen). Then very far beneath these people were the kaazis; the families into which the farmers, hunters, weavers, dressmakers, carpenters and so on were born.
The moon was shining brightly on a cold rainy night in Zinpa (good name village) inside Zimakro (Kingdom of beautiful women). People stood under sheds and at their windows gazing out at the full moon on the rainy night. It was amazing. Some said it was a sign of something good coming into the world. In one house, an old woman was shouting “push…push”. A woman cried and shouted in pain; apparently the pain of childbirth. Pacing outside the door was a man. He was the husband of the woman in labor. He was restless and looked genuinely worried. He saw the young ladies whom assisted the older woman coming out and going back in hurriedly. They carried towels and kept on boiling water. They appeared worried but will not share anything with him. Finally after about eight hours of being in labor, she finally gave birth. It was boy – a bouncy baby boy. This baby’s mother was tired and covered in sweat but she commanded the old woman to place her son in her arms. Holding her son, she smiled and cried and whispered the name “Kinwa” meaning “great king.” Her husband walked in. She looked at him and smiled. He smiled back and said “yes! He shall be called Kinwa!” Watching his wife, Kuuku remembered an interesting encounter that made him know that he will have a son and he will someday be a great king; great enough to be called Kinwa.
Kuuku-si-kaazi was a hunter famously known in Zinpa as vukanga (the white fox). He was hunting one day and encountered a deer or antelope; he was not exactly sure and neither am I. You thought I said I was there? You know you are going to make me stop telling this story? But let us agree the animal he encountered was a deer. Kuuku hid behind a tree after spotting the deer. He drew his bow and arrow and was ready to shoot down the deer when the animal disappeared. Vukanga could not believe his eyes. “What kind of trickery is this?” he questioned.
He was scared and was looking round when he heard a voice coming from his right side. He turned and noticed it was the deer. The animal told him that he was a spiritual messenger of the gods. It had been sent to observe the human condition. If Kuuku were to spare it, the curse placed on his wife’s family will finally be lifted. She will conceive and have a son whom will someday become a king – a very powerful king. He was a great hunter but even he was not in the business of killing talking animals. He spared the deer’s life. “A son… whom will become a great ruler…? I shall name him Kinwa,” he thought happily.
Fafali-si-Kaazi belonged to an odd family. History has it that her ancestor, once an ugly girl could not find any man to marry her. She prayed for many nights and the goddess of beauty and attraction, Suome visited her. By just waving her arm, Fafali’s ancestor became the most beautiful woman in the world. She seduced and slept with a great priest. The priest had been chaste all his life and fell into a deep sleep after sleeping with Fafali’s ancestor. Before he fell into his deep sleep, he cursed the girl that stole his virginity. He said “never shall the sound of a boy be heard from you or any of your descendants. Like you they will be beautiful; beautiful enough to be called ruhushis (goddesses) but will never find true love and happiness.” And it all came to pass.
So when Kuuku-si-kaazi decided to marry from that cursed family people tried to talk him out of it. But the stubborn Kaazi was in love and against all odds married Fafali. They were blessed with two beautiful girls but his wife was never happy. She desired a son with every atom of her body and that troubled her husband. Then Kuuku encountered the deer and knew his wife’s third pregnancy will deliver a boy. But he kept it all to himself. He wanted it to be a surprise; a pleasant surprise. But an unwelcome visitor ruined the surprise and Fafali did not only except to have a son but also knew his name.
There lived a seer in Gamufie (land of corn growers) known as Jenba. She was feared because she was known as a prophetess of doom. She only sees the bad things that will happen and ten out of ten comes to pass. For some reason she visited Zinpa. No one wanted to know when or how they or a loved one will die and simply avoided her. Kuuku returned from the bush for the first time in like forever empty handed to meet Jenba in his home. He was furious with his wife and wanted to throw the witch out. Jenba immediately said “don’t worry, I was just leaving but thank your wife for welcoming me into your home. Kuuku, you must stop hunting for a while if you want to live long enough to see your son born and grow.” Fafali was surprised “a son… but that was impossible,” she thought. What did I tell you? She ruined the surprise and also a doomsday prophet. She got up and on her way out, she mentioned “Kinwa… It’s a name befitting the great man he will grow up to become,” she added. So later, Kuuku had to spill the beans about his encounter with the deer. His wife was happy but she had to wait to see it with her own eyes. Looking at the boy, she loved him more than anything in this world.
Until age thirteen, the boy himself did not behave like a king at all. He was a nightmare. Kinwa was special from his very infancy. He possessed abilities that no one did. When he was still an infant, it is said that one of Fafali’s sisters who could not conceive carried him and gave birth to twins (boys) after nine months. Then, he grew and allowed power to corrupt his soul. He changed from the sweet kid into a little demon. He made a swarm of bees attack some boys whom will not play with him. A fish monger will not sell him her fish. All her customers swore they say the fishes crying and shouting “run… run away from this evil woman.” It scared and forced them to run. These are just a couple of the many evil things he was doing whilst in Zinpa. When finally Kuuku could take no more, he banished his son to go and live with one of his many brothers in Ga-man inside Gamufie.
Kuuku sent his only and beloved son away despite his mother’s pleas. “It was all for the best. Maybe a change of environment will make him change. If he should, he will come back home and we will all welcome him with open arms,” said Kuuku to his beloved wife whom could not stop crying and begging. But perhaps Kinwa was beyond saving. He travelled to Gamufie with a close friend of Kuuku whom was a trader. It was a wise decision since it would have been difficult for both Kuuku and Fafali to go with him. On his way to Gamufie, he saw an old woman sitting on a rock. Her eyes were closed and absorbed in prayers. The young prankster decided to play one last prank. He looked at the old woman and commanded her skin to itch instantly. Nothing happened. He tried again and still the woman appeared not to be feeling it. Then, he tried it for the third time and started rolling on the ground. He scratched his skin and whilst scratching he cried and begged for mercy. The poor trader was distraught. “How did this happen?” he wondered. The old woman whom happened to be the same seer, Jenba, the doomsday prophetess forgave him on one condition – that he never tries that in Gamufie. He agreed and was healed. Some say, he stopped using his abilities and with time completely forgot about them.
Kelu-si-kaazi was one of the many brothers of Kuuku-si-kaazi. He was a maize farmer living in Ga-man. Kelu had a son and a daughter. He was a kaazi but unlike other kaazis he was not content with his “kaazi” status. He dreamed of a better life – a life of riches, respect and fame. Unfortunately, an Azenfo (royalty) was out of the question. He neither liked learning nor did he believe in the gods. That eliminates an Osomfo as well. That lives only one – a Paraka (warlord or general).
Like the Azenfos and Osomfos people don’t become Parakas. They are born Parakas but Kelu questioned “who is a Paraka?” A Paraka is simply a man who has mastered the sword or the spear or the bow and arrow. He spent his childhood learning how to use these weapons and mastered them all. But no one gave him a chance to prove his worth.
Kelu did not believe in the gods but he believed in change. He believed a time will come when people will realize the worth of a kaazi and he will be recognized. He hoped this kaazi will be his son, Tete. He therefore passed on everything he knew about fighting to his son. At age thirteen, Tete was showing he possessed talent far greater than his father’s and was surely destined for great things.
Then, Kelu’s nephew, Kinwa, joined his little family. Kelu welcomed him and commenced training Kinwa. But Kinwa was too weak and showed no talent at all. Kelu feared he may not survive the rigorous training and Kinwa regretted having misbehaved while he stayed in Zinpa. His father has sentenced him to death were his thoughts.
Six years passed and Kinwa became a fine warrior, not to the level his uncle expected. But considering his shape when he first joined them, Kelu will say the boy has surpassed his expectations. He was a changed boy. The people of Ga-man loved him and many women wanted their daughters to marry him. News about changes in Kinwa reached his parents. His mother visited him frequently in Ga-man but wanted him by her side. He was her only beloved son and a day away from him breaks her heart. Kinwa received a message from his parents inviting him to come back home – permanently.
But homecoming must wait. Hanfusu; land of brave men, believed to be descendants of Zakaru Sidiata (Zakaru the immortal) wanted to expand their kingdom. They wanted to build an empire and set eyes on their relatively weaker neighbors - Gamufie.
The people of Gamufie were terrified of the prospects of war. Even the kaazis have to fight during wars. The kaazis were usually the pawns and easily sacrificed during wars. But war was what Kelu had been praying for. “Finally, those pompous Parakas will know who the real master of war is!” he thought.
[Continued]
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