THE LEGEND OF KIWAKAAZI

Kaki sat down in silence. She was half human and half shinko (furry beast). Kiwakaazi walked leisurely to the buduga (serpent’s bridge) to fight the budu. The buduga was shaped like a moving serpent. He noticed for the first time that the river was blue in color. When he got to the bridge, he looked back to capture the image of Kaki one last time before his next battle. He slowly climbed the stairs totaling about twelve or more steps. When he got to the end of the steps, he walked slowly on the bridge. He was attentive. He looked from left to right waiting for the budu to attack. Suddenly, something blue, muscular, long, scaly and heavy struck him in the back and off the bridge into the Gajun (Blue River).

Wait a minute. This true story is about Kiwakaazi — three Kiwakaazis to be exact. I think it is time I distinguished between the three. You might have noticed that I have already started. Kinwa, the first man to be called Kiwakaazi, is still Kinwa or Kiwakaazi I. The second Kiwakaazi is Kiwakaazi II; and our hero in Nomposuro is Kiwakaazi or Kiwakaazi III.

There is one more thing: all three men were blessed to have had beautiful and powerful women by their sides. Half of their success can be attributed to these women. Perhaps that is one of the many themes of this story — any man can achieve great success with a strong woman by his side. What do people sometimes say? “Behind every successful man is a woman.” That nailed it!

 The first man to be called Kiwakaazi was blessed to have Tinle (Empress) Ouzie by his side. He will from now on be sometimes referred to as Kiwakaazi (Ouzie). The second Kiwakaazi was lucky that is destiny was tied to Tinle Dedeli. It is therefore appropriate to call him Kiwakaazi (Dedeli). And finally the third and final man to wear the blessed or cursed name will be called Kiwakaazi (Deila). Yes Deila not Kaki! Soon, you will know why.

Kiwakaazi was pushed off the bridge and fell into the Gajun (Blue River). Meanwhile Kaki had closed her eyes. She sensed Kiwakaazi might be in trouble. This made it slightly difficult for her to concentrate but she must let go. She must learn to trust he can take care of himself. She knows that the further they go, the more difficult it is going to get, and, she may not always be around to protect him.

Suddenly Kiwakaazi leapt out of the water like a toad and landed on the bridge. He was already a rahasi (guardian of hell). He looked even more determined and attentive than ever. He looked all around him for the budu. The budu was hiding once again in the water waiting for an opportunity to attack. Damn! This serpent may be difficult to kill. Kaki sensed this too. ‘He is going to fine,’ thought Kaki. She concentrated harder to win an unknown bet — she will overcome her fears before Kiwakaazi defeats the sibudu (single-headed water serpent).

After about two and a half hours, Kaki was taken to a spiritual realm within herself. She was a complete human being in this realm. It looked like a normal place on earth only much greener; beautiful grass covering acres of land. Interspersed among the grasses were small circular flower gardens — predominantly sunflowers, lilies and roses. There were a few tall trees that provided shade. Others bear fruits like mangoes, oranges and pears. It was nothing like the forest of the shinkos. The sun shone brightly there and yet did not burn. It was beautiful beyond her imagination. She saw a wooden cottage. It was far from where she appeared. She thought perhaps someone lived there; someone who can help her to understand and overcome her fear. She took a step of what will be many steps towards the cottage.

The walk was long but not tiring. The wind was cool and soothing and the view was amazing. She saw many beautiful butterflies and insects of different colors along the way. She saw all kinds of birds; large and small; beautiful colored and dull colored. She kept on moving and saw some snakes and lizards and even they looked harmless. In a distance she saw horses, cattle and sheep mingling with lions, tigers and hyenas. “What is this place?” she wondered out loud.

Kiwakaazi was all wet. But he was definitely focused. The tail of the budu attacked again from above. This time, he saw it early and held the kafunde horizontally above his head to halt the attack. The tail moved and attacked his left and right sides. Each time Kiwakaazi was able to defend himself. Then, it attacked his feet and swept them off the bridge. Kiwakaazi fell on his back. Suddenly, the head appeared where the tail was supposed to be and shot a blue slimy liquid at Kiwakaazi.

Kaki stopped to taste a mango fruit and her taste buds cried for more. Three butterflies displaying an array of colors came close to her and she allowed them to gently sit on her index finger. A few beautifully colored and small sized birds landed on her shoulders and on her head and refused to fly away. They sang beautifully into her ears. She did not understand their song, yet it stirred up something beautiful inside her. She picked up a white bunny and cuddled it on her way. Looking at various animals living in peace together, she concluded that this must be some sought of Ahinsha (paradise). Maybe someday, she will return to enjoy this Ahinsha. Now, she must meet the occupant of the cottage. She was at the entrance of the cottage. It is time to meet the occupant of the cottage.

Kiwakaazi disappeared to avoid being paralyzed by the blue slimy liquid. He appeared almost instantly, screamed, jumped and cut off the head of the sibudu. He landed on the bridge; his back facing the falling head of the water serpent. He heard a loud thud that shook the bridge. The cut off head has fallen. The budu is gone. He turned and could not believe his eyes. “The tail…?” cried Kiwakaazi. It turned into blue water and was flowing back into the river. But he cut the head. He was sure of it. “How did it do this?” he questioned out loud but the distraction was good for the budu.

Once again the tail emerged from the river and swept his feet. He fell flat on his back again. The tail attacked this time. Its plan was to crush Kiwakaazi while he was on his back. He quickly rolled his body out of the way. The tail struck and shook the very foundations of the solid bridge. Kiwakaazi rolled off the bridge and ended up in the blue river again.

Kaki knocked on the door and heard no response. She shouted, “Hello! Anybody home?” and still there was no response. ‘Maybe no one lived inside this house,’ she thought. She tried to open the door but it was locked. She decided to go back and look for help elsewhere. But immediately after she turned, she heard a squeak and the door opened ever so slowly. The environment was beautiful and well-lit. However, inside this wooden house was intimidating darkness. Her companions; the butterflies, birds and bunny fled leaving her to face the darkness alone. Leading with her head, she looked inside the house for a while. ‘Something dark and terrifying must be living inside this darkness,’ she thought.

Kiwakaazi once again leapt out of the river and landed on the bridge. The head of the serpent followed almost immediately and shot a couple of the blue slimy liquids at Kiwakaazi. He jumped out of the way each time. The tail attacked from behind Kiwakaazi. Its intentions were no different from the previous attacks; to force Kiwakaazi to fall on his back. But Kiwakaazi expected that attack. He turned quickly and planted his kafunde into the tail. He did that hoping to trap the serpent and it worked for a few seconds or so. But he realized two things; the kafunde was somehow attached to his palm when he becomes a Rahasi. If the mystical sword is being used to stop the movements of the serpent, then, which weapon was he going to use to cut off the head of the sibudu. While he analyzed the flaw in his plan, the sibudu’s entire body was reduced to water and back into its source, Gajun (Blue River), it went.

‘I guess I have no option. I have to do this,’ thought Kiwakaazi. What was he going to do? He also wanted to kill the budu before Kaki returns from her trip to the spiritual realms. So he decided to take the fight to the budu. He was crazy, right? But wait till you see why he was not afraid. He took a really deep breath and jumped into the Gajun.

Kaki decided to enter and entered what looked like a haunted cottage. There was almost nothing inside the house. A few torches lit up and still the cottage was dark. Only a wooden stool placed centrally occupied the small space inside the house. There was no presence of life in the house. She tried to look around but she could not see much. She kept on shouting, “Hello! Anybody home?”

With nobody home, Kaki decided to exit the house. But like before, when she moved towards the door, it just closed shut. She felt frightened. She quickly grabbed hold of the knob and tried to open the door. She pulled and pushed; she kicked and body slammed and the door remained shut. She heard crying. She stopped trying to open the door. She listened. It sounded like a baby was crying inside the haunted house. Her motherly instincts probably kicked in. She turned and quickly tried to pinpoint where exactly the crying was coming from. There was an entrance leading to another room. She did not spot it at first. She walked through the entrance and saw something quite amazing happening in there.

One side of this room had become a screen showing an interesting movie. Whom the movie was about was initially a mystery to Kaki. She saw a beautiful woman dressed like a queen half sitting and half lying in bed. She carried a baby in her arms. Standing closely beside this woman was a man also dressed like a King. She immediately recognized the man. He was Arangosango — a younger version of him of course. The woman had just given birth. She looked very tired but very happy. She focused all her attention on her baby and rocked her gently. Many elderly women around this woman were trying to take the baby away from her. Not with bad intentions, but just so that the young mother may rest. But she held on to her baby and begged them to let her hold her daughter for a few more minutes.

“It seems you have found baby Deila,” said a voice from behind Kaki.

Baby Deila you say! Did I not promise you adventure, love and magic? There you have it.