THE LEGEND OF KIWAKAAZI

You guessed it must be impossible to command an infinite number of bugs. Don’t get it wrong. The number of insects that come out each time I point to a square was large enough to be approximated as infinite. After killing all the bees, you realized that the bee painting on that square had disappeared. The same thing happened when all the ants were vanquished. So you had two options; kill all the insects and render me powerless before taking me on or figuring out another way to kill me while I still commanded my armies of insects. You were very certain that killing the creator destroys the creation. So why fight endless battles against insects when you can just kill me and end it all. You however revised your plans when the spiders showed up.

Now, the earth always shakes when a group of insects come out of a square because of the numbers. However, only one spider comes out at a time. They were huge but sneaky. Besides, with so many insects with a desire to kill, you struggled to distinguish between the sinister desires of the spider and that of all the other insects roaming and attacking within Kokrowa (the circle of eternity). So you decided that the only way to win was to defeat the spiders. If Kuntun was really a king of insects, then, the number of spiders (spiders are not really insects) he can command must be less than all the insects. And you were right. There were only twelve of them.

 So after killing the spiders, you used the Kaki-lala (the cry of death) to undo the thick web I used as secondary protection from your strange weapon. Also, after being punched by me, you experienced firsthand just how physically strong I am. So you deliberately, withdrew your facial marks and made up a story about how your head aches using your golden swords.

Once Kaki’s cry had destroyed my secondary protection (the web), you attacked head-on with your weird sword. I caught it and held onto it. But your golden swords unlike your bonelike weapon can respond to your thoughts. All you needed was just one golden sword.

This was Kuntun’s assessment of Kiwakaazi. The boy impressed perhaps the strongest of the five dwarfs.

Unfortunately, his ultimate defense was not able to protect him from the sting of the wasp. The wasp stung him. He was poisoned, injured and slowly losing consciousness. First, all the insects disappeared and then Kuntun’s mummification started. Deila rushed to his side, lifted his head and placed it on her delicate laps.

Kiwakaazi could not believe that all it took was for him to come close to dying to gain an invitation to rest on her lap. He should have sacrificed himself earlier. He voiced this jokingly to Deila, who was very upset with him. How can he be telling cruel jokes at such a crucial time? She did not know what to do. He was coughing up so much blood and his back was completely torn. He was dying and yet he looked so unconcerned about his own demise.

Kuntun before he was swallowed up by stone looked at Deila. She was weeping bitterly. He said, “The sting of the wasp is poisoned. For defeating me, I will show you how to save him. There are special power centers in each region of Nomposuro. Within Adopedan, there is a lake called Walanuntso (the lake of cleansing). It is has healing abilities. Immerse him in this lake and he will recover. But you must hurry before he dies because the walanuntso does not return dead people to the land of the living.” Deila shouted, “Where is this lake!?” But it was too late. Kuntun was too short and had already turned into stone.

Kinwa-si-kaazi was born special. He had spiritual powers and was a prankster in his home village. After his encounter with an old lady, he stopped using his innate spiritual abilities. He married Ouzie and after he defeated Eboman (the land of the knowledgeable ones), the Nkulus (The powerful kingdom) and Hanfusu (the land of brave men), he united these three with Gamufie to form a small empire he called Nananompofie (Home of the Ancient ones). Under his rule, the empire became prosperous and peaceful. Other kingdoms, notably Akoman (Kingdom found by Ako) and Zimakro (land of beautiful women) joined Nananompofie. After a while, a total of eight kingdoms united to form perhaps the first empire known as Nananompofie.

One day he stood on top of a really tall building and looked down upon his empire — the land he built. He was so proud. He could even see beyond the Central Empire. Suddenly, the earth shook and the tall building that supported his feet collapsed. Kinwa was falling. All his pride changed into fear. He closed his eyes and felt light. His fear was receding. He believed that perhaps he could defy gravity. He opened his eyes and saw a face — an old and wrinkly face with long white beard. The old man smiled and said, “I will be waiting for you.”

Kinwa opened his eyes. He sighed. It was just a dream. He turned right and looked at his beautiful wife’s face. ‘She must be having a better,’ Kinwa thought. She wore a smile and kept rubbing her head and hair on his chest. He closed his eyes again, calmed his thoughts and prepared to sleep.

Kinwa was running, he knew he was running but he was getting far. His brother Tete held a sword and had backed his wife Ouzie into a corner. Kinwa’s wife shouted, “Help!” but before Kinwa could make it, Tete drove his sword through Ouzie’s chest. Kinwa immediately went on his knees and….

He opened his eyes again. He thought, “It is just one bad dream after another.” He turned right to the side where he expected to see his wife but she wasn’t by his side. However, sitting in a chair on that same right side was the old man in his first dream. The old man was simply smiling. Kinwa asked, “Who are you? Why and how did you enter my room? Where is my wife?” The old man repeated again, “I will be waiting for you,” and vanished. Kinwa was ready to jump out of his bed when he woke up again. It was another dream. The next day, Kinwa thought for a very long time and came to a decision; he was going to find that old man. He travelled towards the east, the part of Africa where the continents greatest sorcerers, warlocks and powerful men can be found. As usual, he put Tete in charge before he travelled.

 After about three months, he returned a changed man. He had become an even more powerful but humble Kaazi (Emperor). The mantle of teaching men about their innate heritage, the Shosuma (Soul or Life) was passed on to Kinwa. Where love exists, understanding also exists. After many weeks of discussions, Ouzie accepted her husband’s message and became his first disciple. However, his brother, Tete could not be convinced.

The demands of liberating this so called Shosuma were too much. He had to live a pious life. Why should he? He was born and bred a kaazi — a lowly life of suffering and little to eat, drink or wear. He was recently introduced to the sweet side of life; a life of milk and honey only to be told to be pious. No sir! He couldn’t do that.

Tete lived the kind of life Kinwa abhorred but the Emperor loved his brother too much to take any action. Many times he tried to force himself on the girls that worked in the imperial mansion and was stopped by Empress Ouzie each time. He drank too much wine, ate any kind of food and lacked self-discipline. Many reports were brought before Kinwa about his brother’s behavior. “Please forgive my conflicted brother. He will change one day,” begged Kinwa each time.

Kinwa’s teacher, the old man who appeared in his dream, died and Kinwa had to travel again to the east for his funeral. Tete was the commander of sakatsatsu (the red ant army) of the Central Empire and the one who ruled the empire in the absence of Kinwa. However, for the first time, he put his wife in Charge of running the empire in his absence. This shocked the entire empire. Why Ouzie this time? Did something happen between Tete and his brother? Tete was angry at his brother but angrier at his brother’s witchy wife. She was a snitch — the worst kind. She tells lies about him to his beloved brother in his absence. She was influencing his brother and since marrying him, had been trying to separate the bond of brotherhood which they shared. It was all her fault. “In Kiwakaazi’s absence, he would teach the bitch (pardon my language) a very important lesson,” Tete thought.