No one spoke. The silence was deafening. Then it was shattered. The voice spoke loudly after the quiet and Sesanti winced a little.
'Welcome lords', the voice called out in a deep tone, coming from everywhere and nowhere.
'Tembo Kiride of Bunyoro, Ademola of Wanga, Mpho of Nkore, Dingiswayo of Ankole, Odayon of Chokwe, Nyatsimha of Momomotapa, Kwame of Malawi, Edegbe of Ndongo, Thabo of Lunda, Nkuwo of Kongo and Sesanti of Rwanda. The ten of you are kings of your realms. All powerful there but still nothing more than mere mortals. It is our will to change that. As the god you so faithfully worship I will grant you two great gifts. Intelligence far exceeding what you currently posess and a life many times the length of an ordinary man.'
Sesanti was dumbfounded. Still nobody spoke.
The voice continued, 'Of course such gifts are not given without reason. For years beyond number we have watched over this great land of Africa. It is a wide and beautiful land. Truly the richest in the world. But as we have watched it the people have stagnated. Progress is slow in all but turmoil. The people are divided into many nations and states. Invaders come from the north bringing a false religion and further north others plot ways to take this land. This land that must be united under one great ruler. The gift you will receive are so that you may return to your nations. Once there lead it well. Make it the greatest nation in Africa and united you may hold back the forces that would destroy you. Go now.'
Sesanti felt a mild sensation like being pulled apart. Then he was back in his palace in Rwanda. He had no doubt that what had just occured was real and no figment of his imagination. He could feel it. His servants showed no alarm. Indeed they looked to be exactly where they had been before. Apparently his visit to god had been timeless.
There was no time to contemplate the events though. He told no one of the goings on but called for a map of his region and the small world known by him and his people.
The small neighbourhood of Rwanda
He dispatched spies to Bunyoro, Nkore, Ankole and Wanga. No doubt their kings were doing the same as the race began to fulfil the gods wishes.
The spies confirmed Sesanti's fears. His neighbours were worried of attack and had begun fortifying their lands. With no time to lose Sesanti ordered the recruitment of two small armies. Rwanda would take a different path than her neighbours, offense.
Sesanti chose Nkore as the target. He declared war upon them and his armies marched fast. Perhaps Tembo Kiride of Bunyoro and Dingiswayo of Ankole underestimated Rwanda or maybe it was just a wish to go to war but whatever the reason they alligned themselves with Nkore against Rwanda. It was a foolish move.
Nkore's lands were unguarded and captured swiftly by Sesanti's men. With the whole nation subdued his armies split. One moved south the occupy Ankole and the other north to take Bunyoro.
Once again the lands fell without resistance. Now all of Rwanda's known neighbours except Wanga were under Rwandan control. Wanga had seen the coming threat and had nearly completed fortresses to keep out Rwanda. Sesanti had to move fast. He declared war upon Wanga and his men once more marched victoriously through the entire nation in only a few months.
Sesanti summoned all four of the beaten kings before him in Rwanda. Together the five of them signed a peace deal. Under it Ankole, Nkore and Bunyoro would all turnover half of their lands to Rwanda. And all four would submit diplomatically to Rwandan overlordship and agree to help Rwanda militarily in becoming the strongest nation in Africa.
The results of the early scramble for power
Sesanti was pleased with himself. Never before had he realised the power he commanded and what he could achieve with it. He was just about to return to his bedchamber and rest when he once again the gentle tugging sensation swept over him and he was surrounded by white.
Last edited:
