{"id":731,"date":"2023-03-29T10:45:36","date_gmt":"2023-03-29T10:45:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/trove.aui.ma\/?p=731"},"modified":"2023-03-29T10:45:36","modified_gmt":"2023-03-29T10:45:36","slug":"the-saviour-part-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/trove.aui.ma\/?p=731","title":{"rendered":"The Saviour (Part 2)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Part II: <\/span><\/b>The Odd visitors<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Meanwhile, inside the palace the emperor had received visitors of strange appearance. Two plump individuals wore large beige robes held together with white knotted ropes. Their heads covered with pointy hoods and their hairless faces made a bizarre dimple in a court full of bearded men. Next to the odd men stood the kings military chief Samory Koulibaly who quickly introduced them.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy emperor, sorry to disturb but these are the men I mentioned yesterday before the celebrations and you asked to see them today at first light\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u202f\u201cI will let them introduce themselves\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Mansa Moussa while still playing with his new born, without looking up, lifted the hand in sign of approval. With no moments pause one of the men stepped forward, removing his hood, clearing his throat and began speaking Bambara.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f \u201cGreat emperor, it is an honour to finally be in the presence\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe have heard tales of your multiple explorations of the vast earth\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe are stupefied by the magnitude of your many achievements\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy companion and I, are priests from a faraway land called Europa\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe have journeyed on wooden ships, in perilous circumstances during several months to meet your highness.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTales of your countless pilgrimages to Mekka have crossed the blue seas to reach the rest of world\u2014and as a result, we have voyaged many moons to explore the true prosperity of the wealthiest man alive.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Suddenly, the emperor turned around with a piercing glare and discontentedly shouted.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f \u201cDon\u2019t you see I am busy!\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f \u201cSpeak plainly and stop with the banalities.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f \u201cWhat I would like to know is where you\u2019re from?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f \u201cWho sent you and why are in my court?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A brief deafening silence overtook the room, the priest shaking in fear of the unpredictable resumed his oration. With a precarious voice and sweaty palms crossed he began again by saying.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f \u201cI apologise for wasting your time, sire\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe are envoys of the king of Spain Phillip II who recently took control of Portugal to form the Portuguese empire.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe king sends his regards coupled with some of the best cotton, tobacco, silk, expertise from Asia and Europa.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIn return, he hopes the two empires will be able to embark on future transfer of goods and knowledge.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOnce again we are honoured to be in your presence and deeply value the hospitality.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSoon we will be leaving for Europa, it will be our pleasure to take any message you may have for king Phillip II.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As the Christian missionaries began to lethargically move in the back of the room the emperor turned around and whispered.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f \u201cWhere are you off to?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Panicky the priests in tandem replied.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f \u201cNowhere your highness!\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Surprised by the missionaries mastery of the native tongue Mansa Moussa\u2019s curiosity grew further so he uttered.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f \u201cHow have you learnt to speak our mother tongue so well?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

With a worried beam the monk replied:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAs missionaries it is our duty to learn the various dialects of the places we visit, this allows us to make deeper connections and enhance relations.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt has taken me several years to learn Bambara and I trust there is still more improvements to be made.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Walking forward towards the missionaries the emperor firmly griped his staff while gazing into the eyes of the strangers before him. With an indulgent voice he said.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f \u201cI am glad you came all this way to see me and my people.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f \u201cI appreciate your outstanding gifts and praises.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f \u201cAlso I have enjoyed hearing you make the effort to speak our tongue\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f \u201cHowever I do not trust you or your king.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAlthough my empire\u2019s faith and culture promote collaboration, I cannot bring myself to believe the words you say.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI see a great divide between the verses and the person.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis may come to you as a surprise, but I know of Europa.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

King Phillip\u2019s envoys could not believe what they were hearing, the look of shock plastered all over their faces. The slacked jaws could have caught any insects flying by. Unimpressed, the emperor carried on speaking.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI am aware of its conflict ridden history and the tales of power thirsty men who would stop at nothing to gain additional supremacy\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOnce enough information on the empire\u2019s strengths and vulnerabilities have been cumulated, what stops your from using your superior technology to invade our lands and misappropriate riches without local consent?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy people are self-sufficient and will never depend on others for their prosperity\u201d\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNow, go back to your master and inform him I decline his offer\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLeave my lands at once and never return\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cwe will not be as endearing next time\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Terrified,the two men hastily walked out the door accompanied by the king\u2019s military chief SamoryKoulibaly who tried to reassure them.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe emperor was probably upset you interrupted him on such an important day\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry you will have friends here\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Still rushing to leave the imperial compound one of the missionaries responded in a more authoritarian voice.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f \u201cYou people are unbelievable\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f \u201cYour emperor shall regret those words\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f \u201cWe will return\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the emperor now in the palace garden unrelentingly continued pondering about his most recent meeting with the European missionaries. A hollow feeling crushing his insides as if though a thousand doves had decided to fly around in there. He wondered whether his actions derived from pride and short-sightedness or pure love for his people. The emperors\u2019 crown felt heavier than the previous night. Gripping the staff even tighter the emperor senselessly wandered about the garden. For the first time since the beginning of his reign, Mansa Moussa was unable to envision the prosperity he had always fought to protect. Soon after he remembered the words of the oracle which prophesised the start of a new era, characterised by great change in customs and traditions. The fear was momentarily alleviated by the idea that the oracle also foretold the coming of the saviour Kaya Maga. As a result, he decided the following years as emperor will be spent fortifying the military and training the future leader to oppose those who may seek to destroy the land.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Part II: The Odd visitors\u00a0 Meanwhile, inside the palace the emperor had received visitors of strange appearance. Two plump individuals wore large beige robes held together with white knotted ropes. Their heads covered with pointy hoods and their hairless faces made a bizarre dimple in a court full of bearded men. Next to the odd … Continue reading “The Saviour (Part 2)”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_ppma_block_editor_authors":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[54],"ppma_author":[39],"class_list":["post-731","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-novelettes","tag-sylla-djibril-tamsir"],"authors":[{"term_id":39,"user_id":12,"is_guest":0,"slug":"mhamedtaik","display_name":"M'hamed Taik","avatar_url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/28445226b8a1211c44f492f3339658d94c787b21c55d0212cb481c851c7054f9?s=96&d=mm&r=g","author_category":"","user_url":"","last_name":"Taik","first_name":"M'hamed","job_title":"","description":""}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/trove.aui.ma\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/731","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/trove.aui.ma\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/trove.aui.ma\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/trove.aui.ma\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/trove.aui.ma\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=731"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/trove.aui.ma\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/731\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":732,"href":"https:\/\/trove.aui.ma\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/731\/revisions\/732"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/trove.aui.ma\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=731"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/trove.aui.ma\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=731"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/trove.aui.ma\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=731"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/trove.aui.ma\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fppma_author&post=731"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}