THE MAGIC SPEAR

An African Tale

Text copyright: Allison Hall, 2012 Illustrations: Microsoft Clipart Online The story is just for reading purposes and should not be sold without the permission of the author and illustrator

Once in Africa, the great Izu tribe owned a powerful spear. This spear was

different from other spears. Its power laid in the magic it did, and this came

from the gods and the spirits of the ancestors of the tribe. The spear was

sometimes used to settle disputes the village elders felt they could not solve

fairly. This is a story of how the spear

settled one such dispute.

One year, after a terrible war

with another tribe, the chief of the Izu

tribe suffered injury and later died.

There were two men in the village

who the elders felt were worthy of

becoming the new chief, but they just

could not agree on which of the two

was more worthy.

There was Nkuma, a mighty and brave warrior, who killed men in war.

Mambusikele, however was quiet, calm and had only been to one war.

One day, the village elders gathered

around the circle of fire in the village and asked

the babalawo or Divine One to help them

solve the problem. They felt that everyone

should agree on who should be become chief to

avoid any division in the tribe.

“You should have known by now which of

you should become chief,” said the babalawo, as

he walked around the men and stared in their

faces. “I am only doing what the Ancient Ones

have revealed to me.”

He held the spear in his hand, and then

raised it to the sky. “Our chief must be wise. He must have the strength of a li-

on and the wisdom of an ant. Nkuma,

why do want to become a chief? “

“I have the strength of the

l ion, as I have killed many of our

enemies,” said Nkuma. “I can protect the

people of this village, by placing fear in

our enemies.”

“Very well ,” said the babalawo. “Now Mambusikele, why do you want to

become chief.”

“I want the wisdom of the ant,” said Mambusikele. “The small ant can help

or hurt even those that think they are more powerful than it. I want peace with

our tribes, oh Divine One.”

“What if the other tribes do not want peace with us Mambusikele?” asked

the babalawo.

“We must never give up hope,” replied Mambusikele. “Let us meet with

them again and again.”

The babalawo placed the spear on the ground and together he and the

village elders chanted over it. All of the villagers looking on were quiet, as they

waited for the announcement of the new

chief. The chanting stopped and the

babalawo gave out, “The spear shall sail

through the Dark Forest until it reaches the

end of our tribes’ land. The Ancient Ones

will not allow it to go any further. The one

who returns with it shall be chief. The

babalawo then threw the spear in the air; it

sailed through the air into the Dark Forest.

The two men chased after it.

The Dark Forest was very dark with tall trees, and many strange wild

animals and people. Only brave warriors, the village elders and the babalawos

were allowed to go deep into it.

Nkuma was very strong and quick runner. He led the way through the

forest quickly with Mambusikele following behind.

“I must get that spear,” said Nkuma to himself. “With it I shall be

powerful. All the other tribes will fear us.”

Nkuma was so busy thinking about the spear that he did not see a huge stone

in his way. He tripped over it and hurt his knee. Despite his pain Nkuma

continued to plod on. Mambusikele soon joined him.

“You are hurt my brother,” he said. “Let me take you back to the village.”

“And leave the spear? Don’t you want it?” asked Nkuma.

“But you are ill Nkuma,” said Mambusikele. “Leave the spear. Its powers

can always decide which one of us is

worthy.”

Nkuma watched as the spear

moved slowly along, as if it were waiting to

see what the men would do. Mambusikele

lifted Nkuma’s arm and placed it around his

neck. Nkuma groaned as he started to

hop back to the village. But his hunger

for the spear was too much.

“You are trying to trick me

Mambusikele. I will not let you have the spear,” he said.

“Nkuma, you know that I am the chosen one. Our ancestors revealed it to

both of us in our dreams. They do not want any more war. And moreover you

have taken too many innocent lives.”

Nkuma grew angry when he heard what Mambusikele said. In his rage he

pitched him into a nearby ditch and quickly hopped towards the spear. The spear

slowly moved through the forest and soon fell at where the tribes’ land ended.

Nkuma smiled and picked it up. “Now I shall be

chief,” he said. However, the spear began to jerk. It was

fighting to get out of Nkuma’s hand, however he held on to it

very tightly, as he could not bear to lose it. He started to

scream as the powerful shock from the spear ran through his

body. Nkuma dropped the spear quickly.

“You have not been fair Nkuma,” said Mambusikele,

who had now joined him. Nkuma was very frightened. He could not believe

what he was seeing. Beside Mambusikele were two

masked men with light beaming from their eyes. One picked up

the spear; then they both floated towards him.

“Do you think you could kill the chosen one?” said the one with

the spear. His voice sounded thunderous.

“Who are you?” said Nkuma. The men did not respond.

Instead, the one with the spear handed it to Mambusikele. They

then held Nkuma’s hand and started to lead him off into the

forest.

“Spare his life Ancient Ones,” said Mambusikele. They

stopped and looked at Mambusikele,

“As you wish, Chief Mambusikele,” they said. They took Nkuma to the

edge of the forest.

“Do not come back to our land, or you shall be

destroyed,” they said to Nkuma.

“But you know the other tribes are evil and do not

like our tribe. They will kill me,” replied Nkuma.

“Mighty warrior, go,” said the men as they

pointed to the other lands. Nkuma looked around, then slowly and timidly

walked over into the other land.

Mambusikele watched as Nkuma walked into the lands of other tribes.

The two men bowed down before Mambusikele. They then slowly

melted away into the forest. Mambusikele held the spear in his hand, lifted it in

the air and walked to the village.

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