THE LEGEND OF KIWAKAAZI

The world is ruled by Ishfa (time) and Xhoba (desire) rules the hearts of men. Some believe that when a man desires something or someone above all things, the gods themselves move to meet the desire.

For how long had Kelu been carrying around his desire to show his worth as a warrior? Is it twenty, thirty or forty years? He dreamt about it every single night. It was the only thing he saw whenever he closed his eyes.

His dark brown eyes can never forget the number of times they have seen him rise to glory. His large pointy ears can never forget the number of times they have heard people shouting his name. His body can never forget the excitement of being on the battle field. Songs will be written about his bravery; poems will be recited in praise of him. Not even the immortal, Zakaru, will be compared to him. And now was the time.

Zakaru Sidiata (Zakaru the immortal) had a dream. His dream was to unite. He wanted to protect the weak and still create an environment where the strong will thrive. To fulfill this dream, he entered Gbeleshie (Afterlife) and returned with a peculiar weapon – the sikan nifanum (the five-edged sword). He marched from his home, Gondwa, in the north to the center of the world (to the people of the Saharan Civilization, the continent of Africa was the world). He was going to build a great city – a symbol of his power and greatness at the center of the world right before he met his untimely death.

The three centrally placed kingdoms in the world after his death were Hanfusu, Gamufie and Akotso (the kingdom established under Ako’s tree). Since the two other kingdoms; Gamufie and Akotso did not really boast of many brave men, the Hanfus believed that they must be the descendants of the great warrior, Zakaru.

Their reigning king, Sinkala, and, the man whom had waged war on Gamufie was the youngest of the three sons of King Goma. But at age seventeen, he started a coup; killed his father and brothers and ascended the throne. But he did not do this alone. He had an accomplice. A man whose was feared in many kingdoms. His actual name was Dofa but many knew him as Kintunka (invincible crocodile).

His first decision as King of the Hanfus was to appoint Dofa as the general of his army. Dofa; the man said to have been cut a thousand times and yet has no injuries or scars to show for it. His skin was said to be as tough as a crocodile’s skin if not tougher. Some even called Sidiata (The immortal).This man was leading the army of the Hanfus. The world was certainly doomed.

The war commenced and just after day one, both sides have suffered causalities. Heads, limbs, blood and cut up bodies of dead men littered the battle field. Flies and vultures descended on the battle field to feast on decaying carcasses. It was horrible. Unfortunately, Gamufie suffered more casualties. One of the many brave men who died on that day was crowned prince of Gamufie, Diibe (Prince) Diakite – the only son of King Doji. Three days passed before the next battle was fought. King Doji joined the battle. He wanted to avenge his son. He wanted to kill Dofa, the man responsible for Diakite’s death.

King Doji was kneeling before Dofa looking exhausted, weakened and covered in sweat and blood. Dofa was looking down on Doji as if to say he was no match for him from the very beginning. He raised his sword ready to take the king’s head off when an arrow struck his chest around his heart. It should have pierced right through his heart. Instead, it pierced his chest and pushed him a few steps away from King Doji. No blood was spilled; no injuries were sustained. The King’s men closest to him quickly carried him away to safety. Dofa looked at the arrow in his chest, removed it and discarded it. He looked at his chest, where the arrow struck. The tiny incision was sealing. After it was sealed, he looked up.

“Who shot the arrow?!” shouted Dofa. Emerging from the shadows behind some men from Gamufie’s army was a man no one could recognize. He protected the greater part of his body by wearing the tough skin of lion or some other animal. He looked tall and wore a frown or maybe that was just his serious face. He had some really big eyeballs and no eyebrows. He had a unique hairstyle – Mohawk. His nose was flat and his lips were reasonably thick. He neither turned his head to his right nor to his left. He carried three swords; two strapped around his waist and one at his back alongside his bow and arrows. The swords on his left waist and back were longer than the one on the right side of his waist. He focused all his attention on the man he wanted to fight, Dofa Kintunka (Dofa the invincible crocodile).

This foolish man whom just made Dofa angry said “my name is Kelu-si-kaazi, never forget it!” Dofa frowned and remarked “my head will explode if I were to remember the names of every insect I have crushed. Prepare to die you little insect!” while pointing his sword at Kelu.

Kelu understood this as an attempt to stir him up and make him angry. He had little battle experience but knew that it was imperative to maintain your cool in combat. The two men suddenly became silent. Then, Kelu reached for his back, grabbed his bow with his right; withdrew an arrow with his left and fired an arrow at Dofa. Dofa held his sword horizontally across his chest and used it as a shield. Kelu shot another arrow and another arrow in quick succession. Dofa shielded the second with his sword and allowed the third to strike his body. Once again, it perforated Dofa’s body but he did not bleed. He simply pulled out the arrow and threw it to his side.

Kelu soon realized was in for a long battle. But if his arrows will not work then he will have to try using his super sharp swords. He drew the long blade strapped to the left side of his waist first and attacked. He swung his blade and attacked Dofas left and his right and aimed for the stomach. Each time his blade was stopped by Dofa’s blade. He attacked again and again and could not land a hit. He stopped attacking for a while. Then he came at Dofa again this time with greater speed and power. Dofa defended himself excellently and attacked once in a while. Kelu’s blade could still not even scratch his opponent’s skin.

With his long blade in his right hand and short blade strapped around the right side of his waist he attacked some more and left an opening. Dofa went for it swinging his sword to cut Kelu’s head. Kelu ducked just before the blade made contact; quickly drew his short blade with his left hand and cut Dofa’s exposed left leg with all his strength. Kelu cut Dofa. He was sure of it. Kelu moved and rose to his feet while Dofa went on his knees. But maybe Kelu underestimated Dofa. He looked at Dofa’s left leg and realized it neither bled nor was there any sign of even the slightest injury. 

This certainly surprised Kelu. He could not believe it. Yes, his left hand was not as strong as his right hand but that was why his short blade was the sharpest amongst all his blades; to compensate for the lack of power in his left. Besides he was sure there was a lot of force in that attack; it did cut through Dofa’s leg. So why is he not bleeding?

Dofa noticed the surprised look on Kelu’s face and said “don’t tell me you thought the name the invincible crocodile was just for fun? I really am invincible” while he rose to his feet. But Kelu will neither believe nor accept that. “No man is invincible. He must have some weakness” he thought. Kelu revised his plans. He will fight to find out Dofa’s weakness. It will only prolong the battle but he will surely win.

Kelu did not want to join the battle alone. He asked his son and his nephew to join him, so that together they may show the world that they could be more than farmers or hunters or common traders. Initially they both agreed but on the day they had to join the battle. Kinwa opted out. He even tried to stop his uncle from joining the war with a cock and bull story about having a dream about the war; a dream that they will all die if they should join the war. It is war and people die during wars. Don’t tell me Kinwa was too naïve to know this?

“He is a coward just like my other fourteen brothers” Kelu told his son, Tete. “Let him be” he added. He warned Kinwa not to set foot at his funeral if he died on the battle field. Kinwa has disappointed and shamed Kelu. He expected more from Kinwa, especially now that he thought his nephew has certainly grown stronger and was destined for greater things.

Meanwhile his battle with Dofa had just become intense. After cutting the invincible crocodile a number of times, Dofa became serious. He was faster and more skilled than Kelu. He used all parts of his sword to attack and Kelu was struggling to keep up. But Kelu was not going down without a fight. He decided to attack Dofa’s eyes. Maybe that part of his body was not immune to swords like the rest of his body.

Kelu’s thought he had uncovered Dofa’s weakness; Dofa’s eyes. He started to work out a strategy to attack them. Wait, world, Kelu-si-kaazi will surprise you all. He will defeat Dofa. Please don’t make me laugh!