THE LEGEND OF KIWAKAAZI

The sikan nifanum (five-edged sword) and the sikan dompesan (three-edged bone sword) clashed. Kiwakaazi immediately released the mark of Uhurusa, three golden swords came out of nowhere and attacked Aran. An attack Aran did not expect. Just before the golden swords cut through Aran’s body they stopped. Kiwakaazi thought, ‘Not again.’ But that was nothing. His body ceased to move again and again Afranto was already in front of him. She said, “This time, I will make sure you have no body to return to.”

Mayale and her brothers waited for Kiwakaazi’s answer. Which of the two paths before him was he going to choose? Was he going to choose the path of revenge or will he prefer a do over?

Kiwakaazi remembered that first day he fought Yedi. The first fight he lost and the fight that brought humiliation down upon him. While his mother treated his wounds that day, he remembered telling her that he will someday make them pay. His mother suddenly became serious and she warned, “Be careful what you wish for my son. I know you. You have a very good heart. Don’t allow darkness to deceive you.” Kiwakaazi responded, “Yes mama.” But he was not able to prevent darkness from deceiving him. He hated the people of Tumushie and secretly wanted revenge.

Kiwakaazi delivered his first answer to the ruhas and ruhushi. “It is my fault,” said Kiwakaazi. The ruhas and ruhushi did not understand. Did he not watch the movie they showed or is he just stupid? “My mother warned me that day but I did not listen. She told me to be careful what I wish for. But I wished for the destruction of Tumushie and that is exactly what I got. At the end of the day even simple wishes come with a price. I have learned my lesson. Never again will I choose a path of vengeance.”

Shutu said, “It seems you have made your choice. We will get you out of here and erase the past few days of your life. The world around you will change. Your father will still be alive and the incident that led to your banishment will be just a dream. Things in Nibooman will return to normal again.”

Kiwakaazi interjected. He said, “Wait, before you do that. I have a  few questions to ask. What will happen to Deila when I leave?” Mayale responded, “Good question!” She passed on another blank A4 sheet to Kiwakaazi.

Kiwakaazi saw himself meeting Deila’s doppelganger. It was raining. They have forgotten one another. She was carrying a small bag that contained everything. He was soaking wet and was simply walking briskly. He walked past her and she offered to share her umbrella with him. But her umbrella was too small. They decided to wait out the rain under a shed. She was cold. He took off his jacket and gave it to her. She blushed. She said, “My name is Adiki.” He smiled and said, “I am Sinduye (the black genius) but please call me Kiwakaazi.” She blushed again and smiled. They started talking and never stopped. The talking led to marriage and to having five children just one shy of the dream his mother, Naa Lamle had for him. It was perfect. It was just how Kiwakaazi imagined meeting his future wife. He was tempted. Ninety percent of him wanted to take the deal but one thing still bugged him. He asked the ruhas and ruhushi, “Is my father dead or alive?”

“Shia bafo ko,” whispered Afranto. It means “Body disintegrating.” Kiwakaazi’s eyes were closed before Afarnto whispered these words. He thought, ‘I understand. I can’t win without you.’ Then he said, “Oogu Jaka Wala… wa mi!” (It means Supreme Power Oogu, help me!”). Once again he burst into a light flame. Afranto disappeared. She appeared far away from Kiwakaazi and said, “That was close.” “What do we do now?” asked Safihutu. “We return to the basics; attack the girl and hope he makes the same mistake.” All eyes moved away from Kiwakaazi to Deila once again.

Mayale answered, “Your father is dead.” Kiwakaazi screamed, “How can he be dead when he was the mastermind?!” Abra said, “This is not necessary. Just come with us and he will be alive again. Forget the past.” Kiwakaazi said, “No, I want to know how he died.”

Papa dwarf lifted her by just showing her his palm. She was flying towards Papa dwarf and Kiwakaazi did not even lift a finger to save her. Afranto and her kids were puzzled. He should be running to her side by now. “What is he planning now?” wondered Afranto.

Deila heard a voice in her head. It called, “Deila… Deila… Can you hear me?” She asked, “Kiwakaazi, how come your voice is inside my head?” She closed her eyes and met Kiwakaazi. He was glowing. He was so bright that initially, she had to shield her eyes. The glowing rescinded. “How can you be out there and in my head at the same time?” asked Deila. Kiwakaazi replied, “I am not Kiwakaazi. I am Oogu. I am formless and reside in all men and yet no man ever pays attention to me. Anyway, I knew you will only listen to me if I appear in his form; in the form of the man you love.”

“Okay, if you have always been here, then why am I now seeing you?” Kiwakaazi (Oogu) smiled. He responded, “It is because of love. All men are linked by an invisible string called love. When someone you love awakens Oogu, the higher the probability of you too awakening it; the stronger the love, the greater the chance of meeting me. I hope you have understood?” asked Kiwakaazi (Oogu). Deila nodded. “So, why are you here?” asked Deila.

“I am here because Kiwakaazi wants me to save you. He has surrendered his will to me.” “How are you going to save me?” asked Deila. “Just call out my name,” answered Kiwakaazi (Oogu). Deila shouted “Oogu Jaka Tumi… Sore!”

Papa dwarf had summoned his sword. He pointed it at Deila and froze. Her body was covered with light. She too had awakened Oogu. Papa dwarf wanted to escape but it was too late. Afranto disappeared and tried to stop Deila from destroying Papa dwarf. She placed her right palm on his head as if blessing him. Light rushed out of her arm and it was Papa dwarf who turned into dust — a million light particles.

Draco Kalala asked, “Are you sure you want to sacrifice your own son?” Before Obenfo Molade could answer, his phone rang. He reached for his pockets with his right hand. Seconds later, he flipped his phone and pressed it firmly against his right ear. He greeted, “Hello.” He listened and asked, “Now…?” He listened again and said, “Fine, I will be there soon.” He flipped his phone and returned it to his pocket. He turned to his friends and said, “I have to attend a meeting, but think about my plan.” He exited, leaving Prince Kuame, Draco Kalala and Obenfo Munyiwa.

Obenfo Munyiwa rose to his feet and shouted, “He is bluffing! He can’t do it! He loves that boy too much!” “I know,” added Prince Kuame. “But we must admit; his plan is excellent,” said Draco Kalala.… The three men suddenly became silent and exchanged suspicious glances.

Afranto, Safihutu and Arangosango Shinko now had to fight two people whom have awakened Oogu. Aran changed and assumed the beastly form of Shinko. He asked, “Now what do we do?” Afranto just stood looking terrified. Shinko disappeared. He swung his right claw behind Kiwakaazi. Kiwakaazi did not even turn and yet he was already facing Shinko. He grabbed Shinko’s forehead and threw him backwards.

Safihutu’s eyes suddenly turned green. She lifted her left arm and darkness covered the skies. She lowered her arm and lightning came down upon Kiwakaazi. Deila suddenly lost her light. She dropped to her knees and was breathing very loudly. Kiwakaazi did absolutely nothing. The lightning struck him and the light around his body became very intense. He looked down at Deila and said, “Close your eyes. You do not want to see this. Deila closed her eyes. Kiwakaazi shouted “Oogu hain npem npem… shrein! (Thousands of light rays of Oogu… shine!)”

“You are right Kalala, his plan is perfect,” said Obenfo Munyiwa with a wicked smile. So they maintained Obenfo Molade’s plan. They just modified it slightly. How slightly you ask? They were going to add Obenfo Molade to those who will fall to his own plan. Why?

Because they feared he will chicken out and expose them all later. They did make him aware that his plan had been accepted but left out the part where he too was going to die. “So it was Draco Kalala, Obenfo Munyiwa and Prince Kuame who killed your father,” said Abra. Kiwakaazi said, “Thank you.”

He now understood the situation some more. He still wondered why his father chose him to take the fall. He knew his father. He was not a perfect man but he loved his son. And he always had a reason for the things he does. Like that time when he took Kiwakaazi into the woods. Kiwakaazi remembered.

Deila opened her eyes and asked, “Is it over?” She looked around and nothing had been changed except the light around Kiwakaazi was gone and he was also no longer a rahasi. Nothing was out of place. Not even a grain of sand. But she felt it and saw it even when her eyes were closed. She felt and saw bright light. ‘So what happened?’ she wondered.

What happened was simple. When Kiwakaazi invoked the thousand rays of light, Safihutu erected a thick brick wall around her and Afarnto. The wall was destroyed and their bodies were also destroyed. The light was bright but it destroyed only the wall and returned everything to normal at the same time. Believe me when I tell you, “Oogu is beyond compression. Those who seek to understand Oogu must first understand themselves as Shosuma because the yudu (mind) can never comprehend Oogu.” Deila questioned, “What do we do now?” Kiwakaazi said, “We sit and wait for him to show his face.” While sitting on rocks, Kiwakaazi asked, “What did you see when you awakened Oogu?”

When Obenfo Molade was young, he partook of a family tradition. Molade’s father took him to the woods when he was about thirteen to explore the flora and fauna. It is a tradition that was started by Obenfo Miwaazi; cousin of Attawaazi himself. Obenfo Miwaazi was Obenfo Attawaazi’s first pupil. He specialized in the isolation of useful chemicals from plants and animal parts. He took his son, Obenfo Jobanga to explore the woods and Jobanga repeated this ritual with his son. Ever since, fathers from that line have taken their sons to the woods to study the plants and animals whose body parts are of medicinal value.

But since the time of Jobanga every son of that family feared the forest and it was the father’s role to inspire the son. That morning, Naa Lamle was unhappy about the trip. Molade told his son about three days before the trip and Kiwakaazi was terrified. Naa Lamle wanted the trip to be cancelled but Obenfo Molade said, “Don’t worry. He will be fine. He is a survivor, remember.”

Kiwakaazi remembered the frightened look in his eyes as they approached the forest. He pulled his father’s trouser and said, “Father, I am scared.” His father squatted and looked into his son’s eyes and said, “Listen to me carefully, Kiwakaazi. These words have been passed down from father to son since this tradition begun. Never forget them.”

Deila was excited. She said, “I saw my past, I saw my present, and I saw my future.” Kiwakaazi was so happy to see her beaming with life. He asked, “Can you share some specifics.” She said, “I am sorry but Oogu instructed me not to share anything with you.” Kiwakaazi smiled and replied, “That sounds like Oogu. He is so secretive. Tell me, whose form did he assume to communicate with you?” Deila was about to speak when the earth begun to shake. Kiwakaazi said, “He is finally here.”

“Entering the forest is a test. The uncertainty of what will happen scare you, doesn’t it?” asked Obenfo Molade. Kiwakaazi nodded. “I know. I was there. But it is very important that you learn, my son. In life, you will be faced with making choices. Each choice is simply a path. If you want to, we will return home this instant. But you must learn to keep moving forward. To walk the narrow path even if it promises danger and failure. Never give up and never turn back. You never gave up to death on the day of your birth and when the people of Tumushie tormented you, you never allowed your heart to be corrupted. I know you can survive anything. I believe in you so believe in yourself,” advised Obenfo Molade.

Kiwakaazi whispered, “Thank you father. I finally understand why you did it. I will neither look back nor give up. I promise you, father.”

While Kiwakaazi thought about these words, the ruhas and the ruhushi were turning into stone. Mayale before her head turned said, “It seems you did not need to put it into words. You have made your choice. But this is not the end.”

No! It certainly is not!