THE LEGEND OF KIWAKAAZI

Kiwakaazi found himself in oblivion; everything was complete darkness. He was scared and confused. Then he heard music; melodious music. It was the most beautiful sound he had ever heard from the flute. It was like the sound was calling out to him. He felt hypnotized by this sound and followed it. Slowly he walked in utter darkness just following the sound of a flute. “Light…!” He exclaimed when he saw a tiny speck of light. He followed that tiny particle until after a while he was out of darkness.

It was like he was back in the world, only this part of the world was really beautiful. He stood on a vast piece of land with nothing but well maintained green grass. A narrow foot path had been created within the grass. The music continued to play. It sounded really close but it took him a while before he finally got to the source; a handsome looking man sitting on a spherical rock and playing the flute like no one had and could ever play.

His back was turned to Kiwakaazi. But when he got close, the man turned and said “nice to finally meet you Kiwa-kaazi” in a soothing voice. Kiwakaazi did not know this man. He had never seen him before, so how does he know his name? This man had dark skin but completely white hair. He even had blue eyes; something Kiwakaazi had never seen before. Wrapped around his body was his beautiful kente cloth. He wore a golden necklace and bracelets. Kiwakaazi asked him “who are you and where am I?”

The man answered, “All that must wait till later. I have to show you something.” They immediately left the beautiful meadows and appeared among the living. They walked and saw the people but no one could see, hear or feel them. He asked Kiwakaazi “tell me all you know about Kinwa-si-kaazi?

 Kiwakaazi’s perplexed expression was enough; he clearly knew nothing about the first man to be called Kiwakaazi, the creator of empires and the man said to be as wise as Anambre. They appeared in a different time of men and watched how Kinwa was born, named and how he grew. Kiwakaazi witnessed how Kinwa used magic and later how his banishment to stay with his uncle changed him and made him a hero. But the story did not end with a group of warriors tossing Kinwa in the air and shouting “Kiwakaazi! Kiwakaazi! Kiwakaazi!” or some goofy kid telling a sick girl he was named after that man. Oh no! There was more and this man is not only going to show it to Kiwakaazi but to us all.

He saw his ancestor, Kinwa, and his brother, Tete, kneeling before King Doji. King Doji sat on his throne. A stool carved from a unique tree. The King was pleased with the two men whom defeated and vanquished his worst nightmare, Dofa, and granted them audience in his palace. He gave them a glorious opportunity to make a wish and whatever they wished for will be theirs.

Tete knew exactly what he wanted. It was what his father wanted for them both — to be more than mere kaazis. He wished to be given a place in the King’s army and a status equal to a Paraka (warlord or commander of an army). It was that simple; nothing more and nothing less. It was now Kiwakaazi’s turn. The young man knelt there for a long time not knowing exactly what to ask for. He later decided to ask for the same thing. After all, his uncle wanted the same thing for them both. He barely spoke a word when a door was opened interrupting him.

Barging into the court where Kinwa and Tete knelt before their King was a lady. She was hurriedly being followed by three guards whom immediately apologized to the king for the interruption. They tried to stop her but she will not listen; besides she was the Tinle; Tinle (Princess) Ouzie, the king’s only and beloved daughter.

She walked slowly like a true princess — swinging her beautiful hips left to right, back and forth, to and fro. She wore a beautiful white skirt with pink flower decorations. Protecting her delicately rounded and beautiful breasts was a piece of cloth of the same design. Hanging majestically around her head, waist, neck and wrist were thick beads that made a rattling sound with every step she took. Tradition in Gamufie insisted that no man but the princess’s husband see her face. So the young princess’s face was covered with a beautiful white veil.

Kinwa and Tete made no attempt to look at her even though they heard her footsteps and her beads echoing in the hall. When she got close to her father, she said, “Father, I do not wish to marry the son of Lord Okoro, Arinze. I will rather marry… marry this kaazi (pointing at Kinwa) than to marry that womanizer. I have heard rumors that the only reason why he is so determined to marry me is to win a bet — that he will be the first man to see me naked.”

Arinze was the son of Lord Okoro, a Paraka (warlord) and a very close ally of the King. Both King Doji and Arinze lost something to the war. Arinze lost his father and King Doji lost his only son. The lucky man who will marry Princess Ouzie will be the next king of Gamufie. The king decided the son of his friend, Arinze, was the best choice.

The King looked at his daughter and then at Kinwa. Then he said, “Fine, I will grant your desire. Tomorrow, it will be announced that my beautiful daughter, Ouzie, is marrying Kiwakaazi instead of Arinze.” Kinwa immediately interjected, “Your highness! I think your daughter did not really mean what she said.” The King turned to his daughter and asked, “Is this what you really want or not?” The princess stood there for a while and answered, “This is what I want. I will marry this Kiwa whatever.”

Kinwa was sweating. Even his palms were sweating. He was terrified. He was ill-prepared for the emotional, physical and mental demands of both marriage and ruling a kingdom. What if he fails? He could not go through with this marriage. He wanted to escape but if he did, Tete and anyone remotely close to him will be put to death. So, Kiwakaazi stayed and married Princess Ouzie. He was on the same day of their wedding crowned Prince of Gamufie.

Next, they witnessed Princess Ouzie, proud Ouzie and her new husband discussing something important. She told Kinwa that their marriage was a sham; something she agreed to so that she can avoid marrying that pig (her words not mine), Arinze. This is how it is going to be; outwardly and during the day, they are the perfect couple but at night, they will be complete strangers. She was prepared for an argument. He would protest but she is no pushover. She will not succumb to the whims of a man. Never!

Instead, Kinwa smiled and suggested, “You can have the bed. I will sleep on the floor.” Ouzie’s expression changed — she wore a dumbfounded expression. He was supposed to argue with her. He was supposed to tell her how she has to fulfill certain responsibilities as a wife. They were married for goodness sake. So why did he just accept her proposal? She watched while Kiwakaazi prepare his bed on the floor.

He laid a mat on the floor. Covered it with some bed sheets and placed a pillow at one end. He looked down at his bed and said, “Yes, just the way I like it,” with a very big smile. He turned to Ouzie who was still shocked to see how excited her husband was about sleeping on a hard mat on the floor. He smiled again and said, “Good night my beautiful wife.” He lay down on his mat and closed his eyes. Ouzie still watched him with surprise. She moved sluggishly towards her bed. When she got to the edge, she stopped and turned to take one last mental picture of her husband. He looked very peaceful and smiled even in his sleep.  She shook her head, climbed into her bed and closed her eyes.

One thing Ouzie and all the people of Gamufie did not know was that Kiwakaazi had actually met this beautiful face before. Remember the dream he had about Dofa. In that dream, there was a beautiful girl whom served as a guide. When Kiwakaazi pulled back the veil that covered Ouzie’s face, he was shocked to see the very same face. He knew that it was no coincidence that a spirit chose to appear to him as Princess Ouzie. It is fate or destiny at work.

Kinwa felt a connection with his spirit guide but he liked Ouzie from the first day he laid eyes on him. He was drawn to women with strong will. A woman who knows what she wants. A woman who is not afraid to express her thoughts and stand her ground — a true Miss Independent. He thought such a woman did not exist until he met her; Tinle (Princess) Ouzie. Like, Jaaziba Ashanti he played a game; the dangerous game of love.

Outwardly, they were the perfect couple; they would hug, kiss and do the things only a couple in love would do. They were such great actors (better actors than Richard Gere and Julia Roberts — the actors of my favorite movies,  ‘Pretty Woman’ and  ‘Runaway Bride’). The whole of Gamufie adored them and many men were under pressure to treat their wives with the same respect and love Kinwa treated his wife. But at night, Kinwa slept on a mat on the floor while his wife slept in their big bed alone.

One afternoon, after about three months of marriage, the entire royal family went out for a picnic in the preserved forest. Princess Ouzie had been watched all her life. She had to walk a certain way; talk a certain way; jump to a certain height. Everything about her life was controlled by her family and servants. After marriage, the shackles came off. She could do whatever she wanted to do with limited supervision. She played with her husband — a simple game. She ran and he chased after her. That was also part of their big play to show the entire world they were in love. Nevertheless, she was very happy; never felt such freedom her entire life. She kept turning to see if he was catching up. She stumbled over a root sticking out of the soil during one of those many turns and fell. She injured her knees and suffered a cut on the side of her delicate right thigh. She still managed to laugh. It was very exciting for her.

Kinwa rushed to her side. He touched her knees and wanted to assess how deep the cut on her thigh was. But she quickly slapped his hand; a reminder of the agreement they have. A few of the guards whom were able to get there were surprised. Kinwa immediately apologized for exposing her delicate and beautiful thigh to mere guards. He knelt before her and commanded her to climb on his back. She was reluctant but he suddenly became assertive shouting, “Clomb onto my back, now!” Princess Ouzie had never seen him like that before. She did what every good girl would do; she climbed on his back and wrapped her arms around his neck. He slowly rose to his feet and whispered, “Hold on tight.” He started running with her towards the royal palace holding on firmly to both thighs.

People saw the crowned prince running with his wife on his back across town. The men could not believe it. Most of them shook their heads. Man this guy is ruining it for all men. Men are not supposed to do shit like that. Sorry I used “shit” but it was “shitty”. What kind of a man does that? But the women loved it. To them, it was another romantic gesture. They wished their husbands will give them rides on their backs. Ouzie saw the looks of envy in the eyes of the women they run past. She liked it but she still could not understand why Kinwa would do something like this for her.

“What a big fool. I treat him so poorly and yet he will not let a chance pass to treat me with love. He is never going to win me over. He should just quit trying so hard and accept his fate. He is a kaazi and not worthy of a beautiful princess like me,” she thought.

 But that same night, she could not sleep. She sat at the edge of her bed reminiscing. First she got injured. Then her husband carried her back to the palace for treatment. When they arrived, he would not let the palace doctor touch her. He applied the herbs himself and bandaged her thigh. At first she wanted to protest but she simply lacked the strength to do that. The application of the herbs and the bandaging process was supposed to be painfull but she felt nothing at all. And what did he do? He just asked her to look into his eyes while he worked his magic. And indeed it was magic. She only recalled hearing him saying it was done. “What was done?” she questioned initially. Then with a smile, he explained that she will be well in no time. That was when she remembered being injured and what exactly her husband was doing to her. But what he did was more than treat her body — he treated her heart and soul as well.

 She stared at him for the gods know how long. He slept like a baby on a hard mat on a floor just to please her. “Who is this man!?” Someone please tell her. He was facing the ceiling while he slept and the rest of his body save his face was concealed under his blanket to warm up his body that cold night. She could have sworn he was smiling while he slept. He must be having a great dream. She got off her bed took two or three steps towards him. Then she knelt by his side and felt really drawn to him. For the first time in many days, weeks or perhaps months, she desired her husband’s touch. Her mind kept on replaying how she felt when his big strong arms held on to her thighs while he carried her on his back. The thought disgusted her but she could not control herself. What was happening to her? Was she going insane? While kneeling, she moved closer and closer until her face almost touched his; her lips ready to caress his.

Suddenly she heard a voice; deep and frightening, ask, “What do you think you are doing?”