THE LEGEND OF KIWAKAAZI

Tete was finally banished from Nananompofie (Home of the Ancient ones). What did he do? Well, last I heard he was going to teach Empress Ouzie a lesson; maybe a lesson in math or science or how to run an empire would have been welcomed by the Empress. Instead, he suddenly changed all the guards of the imperial mansion and placed people he trusted in charge. He attacked the Empress one night in her bedroom and tried to force himself on her. The Empress fought hard. She screamed but no one came to her rescue. Tete was very resolute in his desire to teach her this lesson. With no one around to come to her aid, she prayed saying, “My beloved husband, you call yourself the true one of Akaani (Nameless One). Please do not let this man bring shame to your household.”

Tete had just finally subdued her. He pinned both her arms to her bed with just his big left arm and was undressing her with his right. Tete had wrapped his waist with just a piece of cloth which he easily took off before he commenced undressing her. Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain in his left knee. He let go of the Empress. She pushed him off her. He fell off the bed and groaned in pain. Kaaziba Ouzie run out of her own bedroom shaking with fear and never returned until fifteen days had passed. During all this time, Tete was still in pain. He was bed ridden and had to be catered for by some servants.

On the sixteenth day, Kiwakaazi returned. He immediately visited his brother. Tete was in excruciating pain. Looking into his brother’s eyes, Tete’s eyes welled up and tears begun to flow. Kiwakaazi knew instantly that his brother was repentant. Kaazi Kiwakaazi (the first) simply nodded and left Tete’s bedroom. Tete woke up the next day feeling no pain at all.

He begged for forgiveness from his brother and his dear wife. They rightly forgave him. But his sins had gone on for too long. His cup was full. This time, he must be punished. The Emperor and his wife never mentioned this incident to anyone and ordered the guards who knew about it to do the same. The punishment for such a crime was certain death. However, Kiwakaazi was merciful and banished his brother only after he had given him gold, food and water. He did not want Tete to lack anything.

So the once great general; the commander of the Sakatsatsu (The red ant army) and the second in command to Supreme Kaazi, (Emperor) Kiwakaazi, Tete was banished and he headed northwards.

Nananompofie (Central Empire) was quite wealthy and the northern kingdoms were also wealthy. The routes from the north to the central empire were unsafe for travellers. Three groups of bandits led by Abu, Muhiru and Mustapha, terrorized these routes. The northern villages and kingdoms were in good terms with the Central Empire and traded with them. Therefore, most traders from the Central Empire first travel to the east and continue from there to the north. Even this route was sometimes being patrolled by these same groups. They were such menaces.

Tete was, however, not afraid of the stories. He travelled on horseback on one of many routes leading to the north directly from the Central Empire when he was attacked by Abu’s group. Six men dressed like ninjas in turbans surrounded him with swords. One of these masked bandits stepped forward and said, “Give us your wealth, clothing and food and we will spare your life.” Tete dismounted his horse and drew his sword. He said, “If you really want it, then come for it!” Tete sustained a few cuts on his back, across his chest, around his arms and legs but you should have seen Abu and his men, they were worse. Abu fell at Tete’s feet and begged, “Please forgive us great warrior.” Tete rightly forgave them and in exchange for his forgiveness, he assumed the role as leader of Abu’s group of bandits. He taught them; he trained them and he perfected their craft. Abu’s group, no! Tete’s group became the best group of bandits.

Two years passed and Tete desired to expand his operations. He planned on stealing from the rich kingdoms of the north. He set his eyes on one in particular — Ishlalabad.

Ishlalabad was the largest and richest kingdom in the north. It was more to the eastern side of the northern part of Africa. Some people argued that it was perhaps the first empire not Nananompofie. Anyway, Ishlalabad was ruled by Muaazi (title of Emperor) Raman Akbar bin Abdullah bin Hakim bin Mohammad — a man believed to be very sensitive about security. Since his ascension to the throne, no thief had ever been able to steal and escape the borders of Ishlalabad, and a few had tried. Abu advised his leader that this was impossible and Tete agreed, but Tete had a plan which would require more bandits. “It is time to unite the three groups of bandits again,” remarked Tete.

The three men leading the bandits were family. Muhiru and Mustapha were brothers and Abu was their cousin. The three brothers led a group of bandits totaling about twenty before they split. Abu was the leader in charge of weapons. Muhiru was the scout. He patrolled the routes and personally handpicked targets and Mustapha was the big brother. A very rich miser heard that Kaazi Kiwakaazi I had a white horse that could fly and wanted to buy it. He carried more than half of all his wealth in pure gold and travelled with the best security he could afford from the north. However, his security detail turned out to be incompetent and not only did he lose his wealth but also his life because there was no way he was returning home without his white horse that could fly. He struggled and got himself killed by Mustapha.

Mustapha, Muhiru, and Abu were now going to be rich when all of a sudden Mustapha suggested they needed just one leader. Muhiru and Abu suspected their brother would be up to no good. He had probably become too greedy. The three brothers locked the gold in a room and entrusted the key to a man they considered family named Yusuf. Yusuf was a childhood friend. One day, they finally agreed to share the gold and go their separate ways. But Yusuf had outsmarted them all. He had disappeared with the gold. The three brothers instead of learning from this blamed each other and parted ways forever.

Abu sent a messenger to his brothers inviting them for a special meeting. Tete, Abu, Mustapha, and Muhiru met. Tete explained to the three brothers that he needed their help to steal from Ishlalabad. Muhiru turned to Abu and said, “Who is this fool and why have you brought him before us?” Abu answered, “He is Tete of the Sakatsatsu.” Mustapha rose and explained, “We heard Tete of the Sakatsatsu left the Central Empire to find his own destiny. Are you really him?” Tete answered, “Yes! I am Tete. Brother of the great eagle, Kaazi Kiwakaazi, and the general of the red ant army.” Mustapha and Muhiru still needed some convincing. They attacked Tete and he gave them the beating of their life. They agreed to lend him and sacrifice their own lives so that Tete would become the first man to rob the Muaazi (Ruler) of Ishlalabad. All they wanted was for someone to succeed.

So, Tete divided his bandits into three groups. Abu’s team of six came to Ishlalabad to sneak into the palace and assassinate the Muaazi (King). Muhiru commanded some twelve men and they attempted breaking into a part of the palace where the Muaazi’s gold was stored. Finally, Mustapha and his largest group of twenty bandits attacked the palace of the Muaazi. All these three groups were the distraction while Tete and his three men would proceed to steal.

 Now, the Muaazi’s precious jewels were stored in his bedroom but whenever he would be attacked, he would move to a secured underground chamber until the threat was neutralized. Abu, Muhiru, and Mustapha were captured and all their followers were killed during the robbery. Tete and his team were successful. He made it out alive and with majority of the precious jewels belonging to the Muaazi of Ishlalabad. Abu, Muhiru and Mustapha were imprisoned and the three brothers finally made up. They always wanted to die after a big robbery and this was that big robbery they wanted.

“Tell me the name of the man who has my precious jewels and I will spare your lives,” offered the Muaazi of Ishlalabad. However, Abu, Muhiru, and Mustapha remained silent. They did not know who this person was. The Muaazi (Ruler) himself drew a sword and was about to cut off the head of Abu when some of his guards walked in. They entered from behind him. The Muaazi quickly pointed the tip of his sword towards the neck of his guard and said, “Give me just one good reason why I should not kill you instead?” His guard swallowed saliva and answered, “We just arrested a man claiming he is the brains behind the attack, your eminence.” The Muaazi lowered the sword in his right and shouted, “Bring him in now!”

Two guards entered first and then the supposed mastermind surrounded by four other guards and in chains was ushered in. He wore a necklace made of pure gold and diamond around his neck. This necklace belonged to the Muaazi. He noticed it and asked, “Who are you and how dare you wear the necklace of Hamir (The Holy Man)?” The man answered, “I am Tete! Brother of the white eagle, Kaazi Kiwakaazi, and general of the Sakatsatsu (red ant army)!” Abu, Muhiru and Mustapha were astounded. He came back just to save them. He was perhaps not a bandit after all. The first rule of being a bandit is ‘sacrifice your men so that you may live.’

However, Muaazi (title of Emperor) Raman Akbar bin Abdullah bin Hakim bin Mohammad was more surprised than they were. He was a big Tete fan. While the world talked about Kinwa he admired Tete. To him, he was the unsung hero in the war against Dofa and the man behind the success story of the Central Empire. He prayed to his own god, Alkar (The Only One) to bless him so that someday, he may meet his hero. He understood it. This was Alkar’s way of making them meet. Instead of arresting or killing Tete and the three remaining survivors, he invited them to stay in his palace as guests.

He taught Tete his culture, his language and everything he knew and also learned from Tete. He even forced Tete to marry his only child and daughter Mirabi Aida (Princess Aida). That was how badly he wanted Tete to be part of his family. Before he died, he named Tete his successor and even though his sons hated this idea, they followed because none of them could match Tete.    

After he died, Tete ruled Ishlalabad. He waged war on many of the Kingdoms and villages that surrounded him and won all his battles expanding the lands of Ishlalabad all through the north of Africa. Tete was nothing like Kinwa. He was a warrior to the core and never wanted to stop until he commanded the entire world. Only Nananompofie would have been spared. During his campaign, his first son and the one he was grooming to succeed him, Farid, became ill and died.

This opened the great ruler, Muaazi Abdulla Akbar’s eyes to the harsh realities of life (note: Tete changed his name to Abdulla after he accepted the ways of the North). Death is real and even if he should conquer the world and beyond, he would still die. ‘What comes after death? Will he rule in the afterlife or would he be subjected to torture for his evil ways?’ These questions tormented him. He abandoned the way of the sword and dedicated his life to self-cleansing and service to Merciful Alkar (The Only One) to the fullest. So now the world knew two empires; Nananompofie (Home of the Ancient ones) ruled by Kaazi (Title of Emperor) Kiwakaazi and Islamani (Peaceful Empire) ruled by Muaazi (Title of Emperor) Abdulla Akbar. The city of Nananompofie was Tsutsukoman (The Ancient City) and Ishlalabad was the city of Islmani.

Kaki had been fighting the third dwarf, Kuntunku, for quite a long time now. She was only happy that this dwarf who goes by a few other names; the “red dwarf” or the “honorable dwarf” was probably “honorable” indeed.

When Kaki reached the Walanuntso (the river of cleansing), four reptiles welcomed her; crocodile, black mamba, chameleon and an agama lizard. She could not believe her luck. She was ready to destroy her new foes with her cry when she heard approaching footsteps. He appeared from the shadows holding an hour glass and introduced himself as Kuntunku (the third dwarf or the lord of reptiles). Unlike the two previous dwarfs, this dwarf had reddish brown hair.

Kaki feared. Not for herself but for Kiwakaazi. He was a highly wanted intruder. She feared the dwarf might take advantage of his situation and finish him off. She will not leave his side. The dwarf seeing her determination promised not to harm Kiwakaazi until she had fallen. He had kept his promise thus far. That did not mean that Kaki trusted him even the slightest bit.   

 It was difficult for her; fighting with divided attention. She had to keep watch over Kiwakaazi, fight the reptile pets of the third dwarf and also keep an eye on the hour glass.

You know that strange glass with sand in it that ancient people used to tell time. Kuntunku (third dwarf) placed it down and the sand moved from the upper portion to the lower portion. He told Kaki that if she is serious about saving Kiwakaazi, then she must defeat him before he runs out of time, or in this case; sand. The dwarf’s whole body glowed red, then the black mamba laid an egg. A few minutes after laying the egg, it hatched and grew into an oversized black mamba. That was too fast and unnatural. But what do you expect in Nomposuro? Certainly, not the natural!

The newly hatched snake opened its mouth to show Kaki just why it is called a black mamba. This black mamba had grey skin but the inside of its mouth was black thus the name black mamba. It had a slender and really long body but moved quickly. Kaki saw the blackness in the mouth of the snake. She knew the serpent was serious. But she, Kaki was even more serious.

Meanwhile, the Agama lizard had also laid an egg. Its egg hatched quicker compared to the mamba’s egg. It was growing when Kaki finally caught the mamba somewhere around the mid-section and lifting it above her head, ripped it into two. She discarded the two halves of the snake. Each half disappeared returning to the earth as dust.

The Lizard had completely grown. It attacked and swung its tail at Kaki. She flew to avoid being hit by the long thick tail. The chameleon had prior to this laid its egg. Then this was followed by the laying of an egg by the crocodile. The egg of the chameleon also hatched and had climbed the tree. She did not see the chameleon. After all, its color was similar to the branch it was perching on. The reptile caught Kaki with its extremely long extensile tongue and released her downwards. She was falling very fast into the widely opened gape of the crocodile. Besides, the crocodile was sucking her into its mouth like a vacuum cleaner.