Chapter 8 : Water

The common definition of water is that, it is a clear liquid that has no color, taste, or smell, that falls from clouds as rain, that forms streams, lakes, and seas, and that is used for drinking, washing for example but water is a source of life and where there is a source of life there is war! We called it mezi (water )in our Lozi dialect and in the river, a war broke out! You see the supernatural often picks its moments in the right time to shock us and reveal secrets amd realities that are beyond our understanding but understand this, there was a tribe that used to live under water! They called themselves the Koranna, the river lights and water gypsies! These were a great people although they were different from other human beings! They only came ashore to bury their deceased and for war! Fish and trepang, a sea cucumber specie that is a delicacy and is used in soups and medicine made as far away as China, were their staple food. The Koranna had big broad shoulders and a wide chest to accommodate their big lungs and they had a proper full natural asernal and natural built of a sea diver and Olympic swimmer! They could dive into depths of 30 metres(100 feet) whilst holding their breath and tire out a family of killer whales with their stamina and resilience before catching a calf using diamond tridents called Koh-i-Noor ! Chitapo/MaMLambo or Mami Wata as they called her, gave them these magic Koh-i-Noor's after they had saved her and nursed her injuries when she had a head on collison with Mafuta(Africa's diamond mining and biggest ship). The propellers had bit into her tail as she was slithering away into the deep which bruised her and the Koranna helped her during their hunting expedition although some died as they tried to try a reptilian diet! This mighty enemy was my salvation and only hope!

Nyaminyami and Chitapo were nomadic water gods meaning they didn't belong to any particular ethnic group or tribe unfortunately! However this meant they served a complex and vast number of supernatural and diverse purposes for whoever belived in them! All the time l was searching and trying to appease them, the river gods had migrated to the southern edge of Africa in modern day Cape Town and other African regions. This is where they revealed,manifested and assimilated themselves into the Koranna traditions and religion! The Koranna believed that Mami Wata was their female water spirit ,deity, goddess and healer who was a shapeshifter. If someone came with an incurable, languorous illness, Mami Wata would take the blame. The illness was evidence that Mami Wata had taken an interest in the afflicted person and that only she can could cure him or her. Barren mothers could call upon Chitapo to cure their affliction although she was barren herself, so when she gave the barren women children through blowing water bubbles onto them, the women inherently became more drown to the goddess' true nature. The women would thus be more likely to become wealthy and attractive through their devotion to Mami Wata. Sometimes the Koranna used Dufuna canoe spirit boats to sail into the open waters in order to cast off offending spirits away from their community as suggested by Chitapo. These people followed her and following her meant following Nyaminyami and these two river gods were set for an epic reunion back in the Kariba basin where l laid in wait for my fate as my enemies marched torwards me near the river shore!

Similarly, Nyaminyami was also wandering off the waters as all beasts and conquerors do until he met the Akan people ; the Agona, Akuapem, Akwamu, Akyem, Ashanti, Bono, Fante, Kwahu, Wassa, and Ahanta. They called him Ta Kora/Tando/Tanoe (the immense) because during wars, Nyaminyami could use his famous tactic the 'captured on purpose' tactic, in which he would transform himself into a little boy during wars, allowing himself to be taken to the enemy kingdom, then spread pestilence, water and air born diseases amongst them, leaving them vulnerable to his worshippers and death. He was a heroic deity and very much appreciated because he encouraged his followers to be brave,precise and swift which became the Akan belief that bravery in battle and life is honorable but cowardice should be punished by death. So as he journeyed back after spreading his worship and shrines, Nyaminyami found me knees deep inside the river water and ready for war, with Sankara and few men and chiefs that were loyal to me!