THE LEGEND OF KIWAKAAZI

A long time ago, men used to gather around fire to listen to stories. The stories were often told by the most knowledgeable and the wisest in a village. The stories often combined many characters; trees, men, animals and insects. Some people listen to these stories and enjoy the heroics and antics of the hero; his swordsmanship, his confidence, his grace and how he eventually falls in love and live happily ever after. But each story holds a message — a message only discerning minds can unravel. So open your eyes; open your ears; open all your senses and discern the message — discern the messenger’s message.

Thunder and lightning struck very loudly. It was raining. A woman suddenly jumped out of her bed. She looked terrified, panting and appeared sweating on what was to be a cold morning. It was still early morning, around five, and still her bedroom in a rather small house was very dark indeed. She turned to face her window which was very close to her bed on her right and felt a cold breeze brush her face; a breeze which carried with it a hint of evil. Lightning flashed a couple more times and with it came its brother; thunder. But it was neither the loud thunder strikes nor the very flashy lightning that woke her up; certainly not!

Naa Lamle, Kiwakaazi’s mother, woke up abruptly from a bad dream — the worse dream ever. In her dream, she saw herself washing some bowls in her small kitchen. It was mid-day. She felt happy about something and was humming excitedly. She heard a knock on her door and quickly moved to welcome the unknown visitor. She opened the door and was completely stunned. Standing at her door was her son, her beloved son, Kiwakaazi. She just stood there gazing into his eyes.

Kiwakaazi spoke in a now unusually deep voice, “Hello mother.” He smiled and seeing his smile, his beautiful smile, her eyes welled up. What started as just a few tears of joy turned into a full blown sobbing. She hid her face in her palms. Kiwakaazi slowly moved her close to his body and stroked her back gently with his palm. He told her not to cry; not to worry. He is fine and home now. Everything was going to be just fine. Naa Lamle continued to cry and it was Kiwakaazi who helped her inside and sat her down on a wooden chair in her kitchen. She buried her face in her palms and cried some more. Then she lifted her face to have a glimpse of her son. She got up and touched his face. She touched his arms and his stomach and back. Then she exclaimed, “It is really you! You are really alive!”

Standing at one place, she turned on her axis not knowing which direction to take. She wanted to stay and talk. She wanted to prepare him some food. She wanted to go and get something. She could not remember what that thing was or from where to get it. She moved to her left and then to her right. She turned her back to him and then faced him. She was totally confused. She suddenly stopped and whispered, “Water…! That is it.” Custom demands that you offer your guests at least something to drink. He was no guest but she still must get him some water to drink. She told him to remain put. She will be right back and she was right back after a short while.

She entered the kitchen where her son was supposed to be sitting with a calabash filled with water in hand and was shocked instantly. Her son, Kiwakaazi, who was fine not long ago, was clutching his chest. He appeared to be in pain and collapsed. She dropped the calabash of water and rushed to his side. She shouted out his name repeatedly and cried for help but no one came. No one could hear her voice. Her heart was breaking. Her son was dying. That was what woke her up. She was no believer of dreams or the supernatural and yet she prayed. She said, “If there is a god out there, then, watch over my son. Please protect him.”

It was exactly on the morning of the fifteenth day outside Nomposuro. Kiwakaazi and Deila had just overcome the temptations of the ruhas (gods) and ruhushis (goddesses), Nomposuro’s last line of defense. They were standing in a perfect circle turning round and round and wondering what to do next. You know how you get a feeling over your shoulders when someone is watching or looking at you from a distance? Kiwakaazi and Deila got that feeling and turned to be greeted with their worst nightmare possible.

Facing the partners whom have successfully vanquished everything in Nomposuro were some old foes; Aransango Shinko, Safiri Nhutu, Papa Dwarf and an old lady they had never met. She was old, wrinkly and dressed in all-white apparel.

The old lady stepped forward and said, “I never thought anybody with just the power of Zuulu (strength and determination) but without the power of Oogu (the Cause of all creation) could make it this far inside Nomposuro. I must say I am impressed. But this is the end of the line for you (pointing at Kiwakaazi).” Deila was first to transform. She turned into a creature with white fur and blond hair and a long tail which ended in a cone. She had pointy-long ears. Her eyes were green and only her upper canines were long. She even had a pair of wings to help her fly. She looked very different from a shinko.

Immediately her transformation was complete, the old lady in white appeared in front of her. She said, “You have been a pest for way too long; time to clip your wings.” She first pointed at her forcing Deila to her knees. She grabbed hold of Deila’s head with her right palm and lifted her arm slowly pulling something out of Deila’s body until it all came out; a transparent, amoeboid shaped ball she held in a right palm. She stared at it for a while and swallowed it. While she pulled, Deila was turning to human. She feared she was going to turn to dust. Kaki had been separated from her but that did not happen. Deila tried to move but her body was numb. She could not move any part of it.

I am sure you are wondering where Kiwakaazi was while this was happening. He was right there. After Deila was paralyzed, he came right back to his senses, screamed, and changed into a rahasi (guardian of hell) with a short mark on his face.

He sure had gotten used to the power of the kafunde because even before the transformation was complete, Kiwakaazi had already disappeared and decapitated the old hag in white. Her blood splattered all over the place and her head bounced and danced on the ground. His other five swords had appeared behind the other three kranjus closing in on them.

The kranjus were vulnerable. Their attentions were on Kiwakaazi’s attack on their old leader and did not notice his golden swords. It run through each one of the kranjus and killed or should have killed them. Kiwakaazi thought it was all over when he felt something was off. He moved his head and noticed not only the old witch but all the other kranjus were still alive. His eyes widened and his heart was troubled. He had never felt this great power surrounding him. He shouted to his mind, ‘Get a grip!’ and planned on trying again but wait, he could not move. He tried harder to no avail. “What is happening?” he questioned. The old lady appeared in front of him.

She said, “Don’t worry I will not take the Uhurusa katui (ultimate slayer of the gods) from you. It is useless to me. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Afranto meaning “the white messenger.” But in reality I am the goddess of the senses. Some people call me the first ruhushi; others call me the mother of all the ruhas (gods) and ruhushis (goddesses). I am the strongest of all the gods and goddesses; even stronger than Nompotse (Lord of Nomposuro). After all, the gods operate through the senses — they all operate through me. Having control over the sense of sight, hearing, taste, smell and feeling, I can make anything seem real or unreal. Now do you understand why we are all still alive?”

Kiwakaazi understood alright. But was thinking of a way to get out of the tight spot he found himself in. She closed her eyes for a second and when she opened them, Kiwakaazi saw a green pigment spreading from the corners of her eyes and covering her eyes. This must mean something bad is about to happen. Kiwakaazi tried harder and yet no part of his body will move. Her eyes were now simply green. She pointed her palm at Kiwakaazi’s chest and softly whispered, “kadu-i ma!” which means “receding heartbeat.” Kiwakaazi felt his body suddenly become light. He was floating gently in the air moving away from Afranto. He was looking into her green eyes. While he moved, he heard his heartbeat. It was so loud that he felt like his heart was in every part of his body. It beat three times — loud three times and then it stopped. Three times his heart beat and by the time it stopped, something rushed from the very extremities of his body and exited his body from his forehead. His lifeless body just dropped and he fell flat on his back.

Naa Lamle was out of bed and was getting ready to pay an old acquaintance a visit. She neither ate nor drank; she was confused and danced around like a butterfly. Then she felt it — the pain in her chest. It was pain she had always associated to her son being in danger and since Kiwakaazi entered Nomposuro she had felt that pain only once. That time, it lasted for only a few minutes besides it was not as intense as this time. So intense was the pain that she almost collapsed. She touched her chest in fear. She whispered the prayer again, “Please watch over my son,” already in tears. She summoned her strength and stormed out to visit that old acquaintance; Nuumo Tsuru.

The other kranjus did not have to get involved. She herself did not even break a sweat. It was over in like one minute. The so called Kiwakaazi. The first man to defeat all the challenges Nomposuro threw at him; the first man to reach the home of the gods, Nomposomu, had fallen. He fell when he battled Afranto. Let no man or woman ever forget that.   

Back in the world outside the forest, dark clouds were gathering everywhere. So dark were these clouds that the sun was completely blocked out. It was a black day for the world — a really bad omen. The wind blew violently and carried with it a hint of evil. Children stopped playing and ran to hide under their mothers’ skirts; farmers stopped their farming activities and sought hiding places. An unmarried couple was getting ready for sex. They had both stripped to their underpants and were kissing passionately. The man lay on his back on the bed and the woman sat on him. She lifted her head and the darkness she saw through the window frightened her. She slowly got off the man and knelt beside the bed. Initially, the man was upset. What on earth could make her change her mind suddenly? But darkness soon covered everything and he too joined the woman to pray to a god they did not know for forgiveness.

All the herbalists, wise men, priests and sages in the world at the time including Nuumo Tsuru stopped everything they were doing and started praying too. The end of man’s time on earth might be drawing near and prayers needed to be offered to beseech the gods — forgive us our sins were the prayers being offered everywhere.

Darkness was not the only phenomenon being experienced. There was commotion everywhere on earth. The sea became turbulent; destroying homes and claiming lives around its shores. Strong winds blew destroying crops, lives and property. There were reports of natural disasters everywhere. Some people even reported of fire falling from the skies. Earthquakes, lightning and thunder strikes had become rampant. Even the very earth was beginning to open up and swallow people whole. “What is going on?” wondered ignorant men. “Is this really the end?” they questioned in fear.

Fear drove some men to temples to pray for forgiveness. Fear drove some men to confess to their neighbors and enemies their misdeeds. Everyone was begging for forgiveness. The rich miser was going round sharing his wealth. He no longer needed it. The pauper did not accept anything from the generous man. Of what use are his gifts to him now that the world will be destroyed soon. Fear spread its dark wings over the earth. The end is nigh.

Back inside Nomposuro, Afranto said, “What a troublesome boy. I guess it is over. She turned to face her children. She was quite agile for her age. She looked at Deila and snapped her fingers. Deila felt flat on the ground — face down. She got up and run very fast towards him. Her beloved has fallen. He has fallen to Afranto. She ran very fast but to her it was taking forever. She felt like something was pulling her back — holding her back from love. After what to her was a long run, she finally got close to him. She knelt by his side. “Wake up Kay! Please wake up!” she cried. She shook him, slapped him, kissed him and he will neither open his eyes nor make even the slightest of movements. Tears run down her cheeks and fell on his face. She was still whimpering, “Wake up… I beg you, please wake up.” What a pitiful maiden?

Unexpectedly, Deila rose up and stepped away from his body. Something fascinating had started happening forcing her to move away. It frightened her. A teardrop from her face struck Kiwakaazi’s forehead. The tear drop just sat on his forehead. Suddenly, she saw a bright light shining on his forehead. Her tear drop dispersed the light and it shone with different colors. A few seconds later, his entire body was wrapped in beautiful, bright light of intensity comparable to the sun’s if any man was stupid enough to get close to it. ‘What is going on?’ thought the beautiful maiden, Deila.

Afranto and her company were walking away when this started. The eldest goddess turned. She looked around her and noticed they were standing in a circle — a third and powerful circle believed to be called Nompodua (circle of knowledge). Within this circle the history and possible future could be revealed to anyone. Afranto buried her head in her wrinkly palms and while looking at the sky, shouted, “No…! Curse you Anambre!”

Kiwakaazi awakened somewhere. He did not know where exactly. There was no earth or ground to stand on. Even if there were, there was no way he could see it because it was too bright there. Great light with intensity comparable to about three suns shone from the sky and brightened everything. Even the plants shone brightly. His body too was different. He was dressed just about the same way he was inside Nomposuro and looked the same. However, his body was like a billion particles of light. He was studying it. He admired it and yet was scared. He asked himself, “Am I dead?”

Appearing before him was a freakishly large man who commanded an even more freakishly larger army — you know who; Gbelemantse Kakai. He laughed and his laughter resonated in this strange realm. Kiwakaazi was terrified of him. He probably wet his pants. But a few seconds after appearing and laughing like a true villain, the freakishly large man and his freakishly larger army disappeared. Kiwakaazi was even more confused now. He was an alien in yet another strange world and stranger things keep happening. “Why do these things keep happening to him? What now?” he asked. He heard something or someone coming from behind.

Gentle footsteps were slowly approaching. He turned. Initially, he could not see a face. The body and face of whom ever was approaching was too bright. He shielded his eyes but soon realized it was not necessary. With every step this stranger took, his brightness waned. He got closer enough and Kiwakaazi saw his face.

He exclaimed, “You! Don’t I know you?!” while pointing at him.