Nubia: Her Pride Will Echo

By Omar Hakim Diggins

Nubia gives us a story of growth, struggle and overcoming personal odds. its relatable in every sense to modern times in a way that confirms that from ancient to current times the human struggle has been constant. it gives hope to us all that if pushed we will have the strength to push back and persevere.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Aug 20, 2020
• ISBN: 9781664123588

Book preview

Copyright © 2020 by Omar Hakim Diggins.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 09/30/2020

Xlibris

844-714-8691

www.Xlibris.com

816587

CONTENTS

Kush

Mahmoud

Mading

Duk Lau Lai

Circe

Thieves of Thebes

Ballana

A Lioness’ Pride

A Floating Leaf

Broken Slumber

Tradewinds

From the Crysilus

A New Hope

The Prodical Son

Aswan

Thebes

Kush

On the banks of the Upper Nile, in the Land of the Bow, the Kingdom of Kush, two young girls play. Their voices are absorbed by the soft mud and deep onyx waters of the great river. They are best friends since birth. Amani is the youngest child and only daughter of the Nubian King Nedjeh. She is the sister of three brothers, pampered and raised on her father’s knee, but not spoiled.

Her friend is Amara. She is the daughter of Machupa, the Chief Guard to the Royal Family and good friend to the King. This girl is tough. If she were a boy she would be training to join the guard but it seems fate has chosen another path for this adventurous soul.

They play games of strategy, war games, and plans of attack. They are taught that these things are not for little girls but they fascinate them. They are good at what they do, but they play those games in secret, away from the watchful eyes of their fathers.

The sun shines high in the sky and the tall palms part to let its rays through. There is a breeze coming off of the Nile that keeps the two young Generals cool as they plot and plan each other’s demise. They are startled by a rustling in the bush and stare into each other’s eyes waiting to see who is coming. As they stand together, a voice calls out. Amani …..Where are you girl? It is the voice of the Princesses third brother. She doesn’t speak. She grabs her friend by the hand and she began to run.

Her brother stepped from the trees, a look of annoyance on his face. Didn’t you hear me call you girl? Father wants to see you.

Hi Mading said the princesses companion, with a friendly grin. Hey Amara, he replied. What does he want with me? asked Amani.

I don’t know, just come now! His annoyed expression has turned to one of anger. He turned to walk and the two girls reluctantly followed.

Amani is tougher than she is tender but feminine all the same. She loves her jewels and all the beads her father brings her. She loves the exotic fabrics and clothes and beaded sandals. She always wears shells in her hair and her head wrap always match her garbs. Amani gets the finer things, because her father is ruler of the lands that govern the trade routes.

Kush is mostly barren with the exception of the banks of the river and a few oases scattered throughout the lands. In the north of the Kingdom there are plains occupied by the Masakin, herdsmen. These people live the poorest but are the backbone of Kush. Besides the goats and few oxen, and the very little agriculture, the people of Kush deal in the trading of goods.

The lands to the north and south cannot conduct business without traveling through these lands and without paying tribute to the Kushite Royals. Despite his control and power, the King is generous and humble. He often entertains at the palace and offer lodging to weary travelers.

As the trio walks through town the girls study the many strangers in the market place. At eleven years old, the many different sites and smells, all the strange dialects no longer overwhelm the girls. Exposure to new culture is commonplace for the people of this Kingdom. At this point in their lives they look for new things to collect. Amara stops to look at a copper bracelet and seeing the urgency on the face of the princess, she tells her friend that she will see her later.

When approaching the palace she notices an entourage with four armed guards. Looking at their style of clothing she could tell they were Egyptian. Amani never trusted the Egyptians. These two nations have battled for many of years. There has been peace, then broken treaties. The Egyptian lands desperately pushing up the Nile in attempts to swallow up their southern neighbors. Now is a time of peace, and distrust must be pushed to the side for the sake of commerce. The Egyptians did bring the best silk garbs. They traded their gold and bronzed goods with the men who came across the sea.

To avoid any guests the young princess went along side to the garden and entered her home at the servant’s door and was immediately rushed off by the bed maids. Amani hated this ritual of presentation. Her father wanted her to always look her best in the presence of outsiders. When her mother was with them, she would never be seen with as much as a hair out of place. Her beauty seemed to start on the inside, beneath her skin. It would shine through and make everything near her beautiful. The queen was missed by everyone and Amani was proud to be compared to her late mother.

The Queen had a very difficult pregnancy with her last child, also a girl. The child struggled to join us in this world, but in the end, her heart wasn’t strong enough to endure the stress. Shortly after, the queen joined her youngest child in the afterlife. Amani wondered if she were strong enough to make that kind of sacrifice.

Amani entered the grand chamber of the palace with an air of superiority. She was dressed in a beautiful silk garb accented in crystal beading. Her head cover lightly draped over her beaded locks and she wore a gold chain that left her ankle and met a ring on her middle toe. Her feet were covered in ceremonial paints that shown a pattern like wild flowers. Her father’s eyes lit up when he saw her. He was always the proudest of his little girl. He knew that she was greater than he was. She has her mother’s spirit, and her talent to command the adornment of all who met her.

The smiles, nods and whispers of the room made her a bit uncomfortable, but she would never show it. She is graceful as she walks through to join her father’s side. The King sat in the center of the room at the head of a great circle. Inside the circle was a feast. There was goat and game foul, fruits and dates, breads and fish and rice. There was enough for everyone to get more than their fill.

The Egyptians already had their fill of wine and it was starting to show in the men. The wandering hands and eyes were an embarrassment. Amani found the way they treated the servant girls to be disrespectful to every woman in the room. If she were Queen she would accept none of this. She thought her father was too compromising.

As always her brothers sat to the left and right of the king. To his immediate right was a seat reserved for his Queen. He vowed this seat will forever be open. To his left was a seat for his Princess. Machupa sat next to the princess and next to him was Amara. Sitting next to the Kings eldest son Nastasen was a finely dressed Egyptian man and to his right an equally dressed woman and a boy next to her.

Finally!, exclaimed the King. My beautiful daughter can be properly introduced. This is Amani. Amani this is Rahotep, Priest to Ahmose, Pharaoh of Egypt. She smiled and nodded, and inside she thought, why didn’t this Pharaoh present himself? She found this to be disrespectful as well. Rahotep added and this is my wife Hassiba and our son Circe. Circe just looked past her with the blank expression of arrogance.

You know I had a good plan, one you wouldn’t have defended against. Amara said to get her friends attention. Let’s not discuss that right now! Amani said through clenched teeth. So, what brings you to us on behalf of your Pharaoh Amani asked Rahotep. We need to pass through to travel south for important business, but I will discuss these things with your father.

And since business is on the table, what exactly do you need from me? asked Nedjeh. A party of three, traveling with armed guards, about fifty… Nedjeh interrupted the priest in mid thought. Parties traveling through my Kingdom are allowed up to four armed guards, and that is all. No more than that can be allowed.

But your exulted one, my people will be returning with very valuable cargo, we must be able to protect ourselves! Rahotep continued. I am sure we can arrange a suitable compensation… again the King interrupts, My warriors are more than capable of providing your men with protection, on this we cannot yield. after a long sigh the priest reluctantly agreed. Now, it is only to discuss a price added the King.

As the two negotiators worked things out Amani and Amara managed to sneak off to the garden. The two sat in silence, looking up at the stars, each in separate thought.

Amani broke the silence.

Did you buy that bracelet you were looking at?

Yes and some mud cloth too. answered Amara.

So, what do you think of your dinner guests?

Before the princess could answer the girls were startled by a voice behind them. What do you people have for entertainment? They turned to see the priest’s son Standing there.

I am afraid a kept boy like you could not handle our kind of entertainment. We wouldn’t want you to get your manicured hands dirty. said Amani.

I can handle anything you have to offer. replied Circe. Amara smiled a devilish grin. Follow us she ordered him.

The girls started down a path from the garden through the trees. The Egyptian boy followed, with the feeling of butterflies in his stomach. Where are we going. he demanded. The girls said nothing. They walked in silence and the boy did not break that silence.

In the distance was the sound of laughter and cheering. The farther they walked the louder the sounds became until they came to a clearing and could see the cause. There was a group, some younger than the three, some older. The group formed a circle and in the center were two boys, locked in each other’s grasp. They pulled and lifted at each other and it seemed as if they were trying to throw one another to the ground. They didn’t appear to be angry, but the intensity of their efforts charged the air with an energy that swept over the crowd like the currents of the Nile cataracts.

Circe did not watch the combatants. Instead his fixation was on the crowd of spectators. He felt a hint of jealousy. He wanted that kind of attention on him. He wanted to be admired by people he did not know, to hear chants of his name. The thought of it intoxicated him.

He turned his attention to the fight and watched closely as the two combatants struggled to steady their stance. Just under the cheers he could hear the sound of flesh slapping flesh. The dust that was kicked up during the struggle clung to the moist perspiration on their skin making it easier to grip. Suddenly, it seemed as if in one movement, one of the boys managed to slide his arm past the others shoulder and hang his opponent’s arm from pit to elbow over his shoulder. Then he destroyed his stance by sweeping his leg. In a great thud his back was to the ground.

Circe heard the boys lungs empty from the impact, and then watched him quickly recover. The aggressor was on top and the bested warrior thrust his arm between their two bodies. He wrapped his legs around his opponent and with his free arm grabbed his opponent by his bicep.

The fallen was now on top. His strength and speed was awesome to watch. This is what Circe was missing. He realized he needed competition. He looked for his escorts and noticed Amara looking at him and smiling. He was flattered.

It was dusk and the three started to walk back to the palace. I would like to thank you for showing me this, Circe said to no one particular. Amara took him by the hand. We are only glad you enjoyed yourself. she told him. It made him blush, but that warm feeling was interrupted by a hard bump of the shoulder from behind.

The force almost knocked him over, and so he shouted angrily, Hey, Watch where you are going! Circe had a year on the two girls, and when turned around it was obvious the boy Who bumped him had at least three. He was bigger and his bronzed skin made his long muscled more defined.

He had a menacing look on his face and walked so close to Circe that his sweat dripped onto Circe’s nose. What did you say to me? He barked. Just then Amani pushed her way between them. She was scared, but didn’t show it. She looked the huge man-boy into the eyes and demanded him to back down. You mind your manners! He is a guest of my father’s.

My apologies princess, I did not know you kept such delicate companions, he replied. He was grabbed from behind and thrown to the ground. The three companions was in awe as a boy equally strong stood over the one who had been molesting them.

You dare insult our princess and a foreign delegate. As the boy came down on the other with a short rod, Amani shouted, NO! ………it’s ok, I don’t think we will have any more trouble from him. He lowered his rod and gave the boy a long menacing look. The boy crawled and stumbled his way to a full out sprint, and then was out of sight.

As the three started on their way once again, their hero introduced himself. My name is Mahmoud. he said almost directly to the princess. Circe turned to him, I am Circe, and this is …. he was interrupted. Don’t mean to be rude, but I already know who they are. Amani couldn’t help but notice how no matter whom Mahmoud was addressing his eyes were fixed on her. She felt indifferent. As they walked, he followed answering Circe’s questions. How did you do that? he asked. I guess it just comes natural, I am Masakin, and we play harder than that. Mahmoud replied.

OK, but its more than just a game. It’s a life skill, a true martial art said Circe.

It does come in handy at times.

Can you teach me? Circe asked earnestly.

Ha …. I don’t think we have time.

The walk back seemed short, and when they reached the garden, Amani thanked Mahmoud. They all said their goodbye and parted ways. Circe announced his plans to ask his father’s permission to stay behind. That is if the girls didn’t mind and the king would have him. He wanted to learn more about Kush and the Masakin. He was twelve, on the verge of being a man and he has seen little more than Thebes. He retired that night thinking of the right words to say to his father and mother.

Amara went to bed with thoughts of Circe. She found him to be most hansom and wondered if he noticed how pretty she was. She hoped he would stay in Kerma for a little while. She had illustrious plans for this boy Circe.

Amani’s thoughts were with the incident after the wrestling matches. She was angry that Mahmoud had to step in and protect them. Weakness was not an option for her. She felt determined to learn to protect herself. She knew in her heart that someday it would be her responsibility to protect her people and she did not want to fail. That night the city was still. Not even the wild dogs made a sound. Sleep was good for all.

Mahmoud

The morning market place bustled with urgency. It was a typical morning in Kerma. The traders set up shop, getting their carts in place, setting out their wares. Mahmoud had already moved his mother’s cart into place. He had set out the side tables and began to arrange the pottery. His mother’s pots sell very well in every market they’re sold. After the pottery is gilded she hand paints them with intricate design. She then glazes the pieces to seal the paint to insure it lasts. Her pots are both decorative and functional. Some are even jeweled. She used emerald, topaz, amber, and one occasion she got small diamonds from the south.

People began to gather in the market place early. If you were a late comer you could miss out on the best items. Mahmoud arranged the display in a very particular way. After trading so long he knew how to minimize loss. Theft was always a big problem, no matter where you trade so he got into the habit of placing the most expensive items out of reach. The bottom table close to the road was for the more inexpensive. The higher the item the more it cost. The real big spenders always requested the top shelf items.

You didn’t eat this morning, said Mahmoud’s mother.

I have something for you, now eat up and leave the sales to me. She handed him a platter with bread, dates, and dried lamb. There was also a few grapes and goats milk. He smiled, kissed his mother and walked off.

He found a rock to sit on, near the edge of the market place, where the tent city begins. The foreign merchants use this for temporary housing. While he ate he thought of home. His father and uncle tend to the herd while he escorts his mother to markets to trade. Not having men to talk with saddens him at times. Young men need the company of other men to help them grow into strong productive members of the village and he feels he will be softened by so much time alone and among women. He doesn’t realize the advantage of learning so much about the fairer sex.

The goat’s milk is warm and does nothing to quench his thirst. There is a spring nearby and he decides to take the walk. This time of the day the market becomes over run with people. Everyone is there for something, whether it be those things that are necessary or the things that are desired. Some are collectors trying to find the best, the most unique. The rarer the item the more it is desired so the marketplace is crowded early in the day. Mahmoud thinks to himself, I would wait until close to closing and get the most for less. As he effortlessly circumvent through the manic crowd he watched people haggle prices.

He watched sneak thieves and pickpockets stalk the unsuspecting shoppers. He noticed two young boys following an old woman. She was obviously happy with her purchase because she could not stop smiling. She held the package tight to her body while, most important, her coin purse hung freely from her hip. One of the boys signaled to the other and they separated.

While one of the boys stayed on course behind the woman the other circled the crowd to come up on the ladies theft side. He then cut in front of the woman making her stop suddenly in her steps. The other, that followed quickly ran by and snatched her coin bag.

Mahmoud started after them when he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned to see who it was and saw the boy who had accompanied the princess the night before. He quickly turned back to see the boys in the distance with no one in pursuit. With much frustration he turned to face Circe. What is it you want, he said as if he had no patience. Circe, with the biggest smile, began to speak, you are Mahmoud, and we met last night … at the clearing. I was with two girls, the princess and her friend..

Yes I remember, said Mahmoud and began walking. Circe followed as he continued.

You still did not say what it is you want .

Conversation mostly, there aren’t too many men around I can talk to. Circe replied.

You are a quest at the palace, the King has three sons… there are plenty of men around. said Mahmoud.

They are too busy with their own lives. They don’t have time for me.

So you think I don’t have a life! Mahmoud said. He saw a sad look in the eyes of Circe. He took a deep breath and let it go slowly. Ok, come with me. Circe’s expression changed. His face lit up and he stood taller.

He being an only child most of his days are lonely. Back in Thebes he spends most of his time observing the affairs of his father, who wants him to someday be a high priest. Circe has no desire for that life. He is not sure just what he wants with his life but politics is definitely not it.

The two boys walked to the springs for a drink. It seemed Mahmoud knew every one. Circe was kind of envious. He stood by and listened to short conversations and small talk. After each encounter Mahmoud gave a brief explanation of how he knew the person. Circe was happy just to have someone to listen