Chapter 76: The Promised Land
In the vast region of East Africa, there existed eight indigenous kingdoms west of the Great Lakes. Calavi Kingdom, one of these eight kingdoms, was established by native aborigines along the west bank of the Great Lakes, specifically in the area that corresponds to modern-day Tanzania.
These eight indigenous kingdoms, including Calavi, had formed nations, but their governance systems were somewhat primitive. They relied on their armies to exert control over the indigenous tribes in their territories, similar to the ancient Chinese Shang Dynasty, which imposed tribute through military conquest.
Calavi Kingdom, situated between the Great (Victoria) Lake and the Frederick (Albert) and Solon (Tanganyika) Lakes, covered an area of approximately 150,000 square kilometers. Among these indigenous nations, the Kingdom of Buganda was the most dominant in East Africa.
As the "purge" campaign in the East African colonies intensified, indigenous tribes fled northwestward, entering neighboring kingdoms such as Buganda, Igara, and Burundi.
At the border of the Karawi Kingdom, another group of refugees arrived. This group was led by Odebiao, a tribal leader who had consolidated his power through conquest. Despite his military prowess, Odebiao's tribe was ultimately defeated by the East African colonial forces, prompting them to embark on a challenging journey to escape.
As they fled, Odebiao noticed that the pursuing colonial forces had suddenly halted their chase. To Odebiao, it appeared as if the demons were afraid to advance further into the northwest.
Odebiao, a tribal leader, decided to use this situation to his advantage. He performed a ritualistic dance, incorporating chanting and movement, which led to him appearing to faint dramatically. The tribe, steeped in superstition, believed that he had a divine revelation.
This performance convinced the tribespeople that Odebiao had received guidance from the gods, directing them to a promised land in the northwest. The gods resided there, and the colonial demons dared not approach.
With the tribespeople convinced of their divine mission, they cheered, hailed Odebiao as an angel, and celebrated their newfound direction. Odebiao's authority was reaffirmed, and he led his revitalized tribe confidently towards the Kingdom of Karawi.
The East African colonial soldiers watched this scene unfold with confusion and uncertainty. They found themselves unexpectedly facing a determined and superstitious group of indigenous people who believed they were blessed by the gods.
And so, Odebiao and his tribe continued their northwestward journey, driven by the belief that they were guided by divine forces, while the colonial soldiers remained puzzled by the turn of events.
(End of Chapter 76)