Lost Heritage: Royals in slave clothes

By PHYLLIS ASIBOR

Slave trade and circumstances have forced Oba Ookpala, of 19th century West African Benoni-Obadom, to live life without his faith in God, his beloved Queen Iredia, and their children. There is a Slave pirate on the prowl.  Royals were sold as slaves. There is a missing pregnant Queen. She possibly carries the heir to the throne. Will the lost Queen and the heir of Benoni be recovered?

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bananaleaf Press LLC
• Release date: Aug 4, 2023
• ISBN: 9781961417083

PHYLLIS ASIBOR

Phyllis Asibor is a Christian mother of two children. A corporate African American career lady, she holds two degrees, one in insurance, and a second degree in nursing. She is a certified registered nurse case manager and a specialist in healthcare utilization management. She is a retired Olympian. An international chess player, who represented the country of Nigeria twice at two World Chess Olympiads. Her love for children, teaching, and storytelling motivated her to write children’s books. Her children's books are intertwined with early childhood lessons and wisdom for life.

Book preview

Lost Heritage

Royals in slave clothes

A 19th-Century African tale of uncommon slavery

Written

By

Phyllis Asibor

Disclaimer

HERITAGE: ROYALS IN slave clothes is a work of fiction. It is an inaccurate historical depiction of 19th-century African royalty and slave trade practice.

Any similarities between living or dead people, current or past works of art, actual events, names, places, characters, and incidents are completely coincidental.

This book contains some sensitive material, reader discretion and parental guidance is advised.

Copyright

All Rights Reserved

Copyright registration © 2023 by Phyllis Asibor

www.Phyllisasibor.com

Published in 2023 by

Bananaleaf Press LLC

Forney, Texas 75126

HARDCOVER: ISBN: 978-1-961417-07-6

PAPERBACK: ISBN—978-1-961417-00-7

E-BOOK:-—ISBN—978-1-961417-08-3

Printed In the United States of America

First Edition

Dedication

THIS FIRST BOOK AND all my future books are dedicated to the one true God. He is God Almighty, the father of our Lord, Jesus Christ. All the glory regarding this book and all the glory regarding my life belongs to Him.

Acknowledgment

TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO saw potential in me, and urged me to actualize it. Thank you.

I hereby acknowledge my entire writing team, all my family, and friends that supported and assisted me during the creation of this book. Thank you.

Special thanks to Dasilver and Latoya who had to listen to me talk about my book incessantly.

Thank you.

Richard Asibor Memorial

I ACKNOWLEDGE MY LATE father, Richard Asibor. He was a renowned Editor at the Nigerian Television Authority and the Chief Cinematographer and owner of Video One Productions, Benin City, Nigeria.

He gave me my first fiction novel to read while I was in the fifth grade. The book was titled My Father’s Car. I read that book multiple times before I finally passed his grueling tests of reading comprehension.

His corrections to my written work thereafter were endless. He flawlessly edited my writing numerous times. He demanded excellence and refused to settle for less. He succeeded in planting a love for fiction in my heart. Today, as my first editor, I salute and acknowledge my late father’s efforts.

With much ado, I give you my debut novel; Lost Heritage: Royals in slave clothes.

About The Book

AGE-OLD AFRICAN CUSTOMS, ancient traditions, the slave trade, and unusual circumstances have forced Oba Ookpala, the King of 19th century West African Benoni-Obadom, to live life without his faith in God, his beloved Queen Iredia, and their children.

Queens were sacrificed alive. Twins were killed at birth.

Royals were sold as slaves. Different types of slavery abounded in the land.

There is a missing pregnant Queen. She possibly carries the heir to the throne of Benoni Obadom.

With the intervention of the Christian God, will the lost Queen and the heir of Benoni be recovered?

There is an oyinbo royal slave stud, he is used for slave procreation.

Will an "oyinbo’ Oba rule the land of Benoni in West Africa?

Will the love of the royal couple triumph over the trials of unusual slavery? Will the slave trade give back what it has snatched from this royal African family?

Join me on this voyage, as these questions and more are answered within the pages of Lost Heritage: Royals in slave clothes.

Contents

Disclaimer

Copyright

Dedication

Acknowledgment

Richard Asibor Memorial

About The Book

Chapter 1: A Silent Funeral

Chapter 2: Revenge

Chapter 3: Innocent Blood

Chapter 4: Identical Twins

Chapter 5: Duty Calls

Chapter 6: Bad Omen

Chapter 7: The Coronation

Chapter 8: Portuguese Pirate

Chapter 9: The Serpent’s Bite

Chapter 10: The Night Slave

Chapter 11: Another African Prince

Chapter 12: He is not my Son

Chapter 13: Pedro’s Heifer

Chapter 14: The White Slave

Chapter 15: A Son Returns

Chapter 16: Counterfeit Confession

Chapter 17: The Darkest Hour

Chapter 18: Mirror Image

Chapter 19: The Debt

Chapter 20: The Mission

Chapter 21: Homecoming

Chapter 22: Blood Line

Chapter 23: A White Oba

Chapter 24: The Lost Queen of Benoni

Chapter 25: Rescued

Chapter 26: The Sons of the Oba

Chapter 27: The Royal Slave

Chapter 28: A New Heritage

Chapter 29: Destiny

Chapter 30: Freedom

Chapter 31: Royal Pardon

Epilogue: Restoration

Chapter 1: A Silent Funeral

IN THE MID EIGHTEEN hundreds, Old Oba Eluu of the Benoni Obadom passed away from old age after four decades of ruling Benoni. It was time for Benoni to commence its funeral rites and traditions following the demise of its Oba. The queens of the Oba were going to be buried alive along with the body of the Oba, accompanied by their seven slaves.

Efe, the favorite aide of Prince Ookpala, the third son of the deceased Oba, walked into the chamber of the Prince. He had confined himself in one of the rooms of the Red Palace. He was mourning for his deceased father and soon-to-be deceased mother.

Prince Ookpala? Efe asked as he stepped inside the chamber.

The prince stared out his window and his eyes were fixed on a particular sight - his mother was being escorted to the Priest Ground. Efe ran to the window and drew the curtain to spare Ookpala the torment of watching his mother walk to her death.

You don’t deserve to see this, Efe told Ookpala as he reached out his hand to draw the curtain away, trying to catch a last glimpse of the queen.

I have failed her. I’m helpless here while my mother marches silently to be killed by those old snobs! Ookpala sobbed.

Efe glanced at his feet. He didn’t have anything left to say to a man who had just seen his mother healthy and alive for the last time.

Oba Eluu’s three wives were escorted to the Priest Ground which was occupied by the Red Palace’s priests. They were seated on three chairs beneath the platform of the Priest Ground.

As the widows remained seated, three priests approached them with white sheets and scarlet coral-beaded necklaces. The widows kept their sight fixed at their feet as the priests covered them with white sheets across their chests along with the red coral-beaded necklaces.

The row behind the widows was occupied by the seven slaves who were standing behind them, awaiting their grave fate. They remained silent as they watched the queens get dressed for their eternal journey.

A balding man, dressed in white robes ascended the platform and stood upright. It was Chief Ajala, the chief priest of the Priest Ground of the Benoni kingdom.

We have gathered here to witness the final rites of Oba Eluu and his entourage to the afterlife. The entourage is comprised of his three beloved wives and seven slaves. Oba Eluu has ascended to a world from which he won’t return, but he won’t be alone in his afterlife. His queens will embark on the journey and accompany him for eternity, Priest Ajala said. Priests! Prepare the slaves for their final journey.

He gestured to the priests standing alongside the widows.

The priests painted the slaves’ faces with liquid chalk, gave them white masks, and took off their tunics, leaving them bare-chested. All of them were given the same white sheets, which were tied across their waists as they prepped for their own funerals.

My Queens, please honor your great Oba by drinking the water that was used to wash his corpse. It will lead you to your Oba so you can join him in his afterlife, Priest Ajala said to the widows as they were approached by priests holding small calabashes of water.

From the date of their royal marriages, the widows had already been groomed to accept this grim fate. It was the tradition of Benoni that the queens would accompany their Oba to the afterlife. They had no choice and voiced no objections. The widows drank the water which contained poison.

They got up from their chairs and then, without another word, they walked to their wooden coffins and lay down in eternal rest.

The chief priest addressed the slaves.

All of you have served the Oba until he has breathed his last. Your life has been that of service, and you are bound to your Oba. You will remain together in the afterlife as well. Accept these last tokens as Benoni’s gratitude for your service and loyalty to your Oba. It will mark the beginning of your eternal journey, the chief priest continued.

The slaves were given emerald stones set in bronze rings which symbolized that they were separated for royal sacrifice in Benoni. They wore the rings, and the priests gestured to them to kiss the rings. Once their lips came in contact with the emerald stone, they turned a purplish color which quickly spread; it was the kiss of death as the rings were poisonous.

Your final journey awaits you, Priest Ajala announced. The slaves walked to their coffins and were laid down for their eternal journey to the afterlife.

After a few minutes, a priest stepped up and put his finger beneath the nostrils of the widows and slaves, checking on them, one after another.

They have departed, he said to Ajala.

Once the priests had confirmed that the widows and slaves were no longer alive, servants of the Red Palace lifted the coffins onto their shoulders, moving them from the Priest's Ground to their final resting place.

The procession of coffins came into the graveyard silently, as Oba Eluu’s three sons, family members, and members of the council waited at the graveyard of the Priest's Ground. The sons appeared uptight, not allowed to shed a single tear as the coffins of their parents were laid out in front of them. Prince Ookpala’s eyes began to get damp as he saw the coffin of his mother in front of him, but Efe elbowed him softly.

The Oba’s descendants are not supposed to shed tears during the funeral. You can’t be weak, Efe whispered to nineteen-year-old Ookpala.

As the coffin of Oba Eluu was lowered into his grave, Priest Ajala gestured at Prince Nosa to come forward. Prince Nosa was the oldest son of the departed Oba and his rightful heir.

Prince Nosa grabbed a hand full of red-colored sand and threw it on the coffin of his father and mother while maintaining a stern posture, not letting anyone witness his emotions. After he had partaken in the funeral tradition, Osu, Oba Eluu’s second son, walked forward and threw sand over the coffins of his parents as well.

The last one to come forward to throw the red sand was Prince Ookpala, Oba Eluu’s youngest son. He threw the sand at his parents’ coffin, with tears streaming down his cheeks with a huge sigh of defiance. He did not care about the tradition of not showing emotion during the burial of the royal party.

Efe, Prince Ookpala’s personal aide, squeezed his hand, whispering in his ear, Stop weeping, my prince. Any show of emotion during the burial of the Oba is forbidden.

Ookpala just shook his head without any response.

Chief Maina, the Head of the Palace Chiefs, put his hand on Crown Prince Nosa’s shoulder, patting it gently as he watched his parents get buried.

These are challenging times, but you must understand your role in the kingdom. Your father wanted you to ascend the throne swiftly after he left this world. You and your queen are responsible for Benoni’s fate now, Maina said as he looked at Nosa and his wife, Princess Aboma who was standing beside him.

I know my responsibility. You don’t have to hammer it in me, Prince Nosa responded curtly.

Princess Aboma immediately excused herself and with her handmaiden, Osaze. No one paid them any attention as they hurried out of the graveyard.

C lose the doors, Princess Aboma commanded Osaze as soon as she entered her chamber. Osaze closed the door, ensuring no one was lurking around to eavesdrop on their conversation.

He must meet his father in the afterlife BEFORE he ascends the throne, Aboma said in a serious voice. If it does not happen in that order, he will already be the Oba, and both of us will be buried alive with him!

Why don’t you lie down for a while? Osaze suggested as she pulled a pillow for Aboma.

It’s not the time for rest. We have to hurry with this matter. What about the palm wine? Aboma asked as she paced around the chamber.

I’m working on it, Osaze answered.

It should have been ready by now. We have to prepare it before his coronation seclusion, Aboma emphasized.

Osaze and Aboma’s conversation was interrupted by a loud thud outside the doors of their chamber. Osaze ran to see the cause of the intrusion but when she opened the door, she found her younger sister, Mishkia standing outside.

Who is there? Aboma screamed.

Just a maid, Osaze responded. I will return shortly.

Osaze grabbed the hand of her sister, Mishkia, and dragged her across the hallway.

What were you doing there? Osaze whispered to her sister.

Are you planning to kill the prince? Mishkia whispered.

Did you hear everything? Osaze asked, stunned.

Yes, Mishkia answered. My sister Osaze is conspiring against the crown. Princess Aboma wants to kill the prince so she does not die as his queen.

It’s not that simple. You need to understand the reason, Osaze said.

Understand what? Mishkia asked.

Prince Nosa is why Princess Aboma lost her twins, Osaze explained.

Twins? Mishkia asked.

Yes. You know of the evil forest, right? Do you know why it is called that? Osaze asked.

Of course! Everyone does. It’s because it has ghosts and such. Mishkia awaited her elder sister’s response.

Benoni wants us to believe it’s a forest haunted by spirits and ghosts, but that is not true. They are the ones that put the ghosts there. It’s the place where all the twins that are born in Benoni are buried. It’s also the place where Aboma’s twins were killed!

I know our people kill twins. I hate that custom Mishkia leaned against the window sill as she crossed her ankles.

There is no place for twins in Benoni. They are considered a bad omen, so you never hear about them. They’re killed before they are even given a chance to grow up.

Why is Prince Nosa being blamed for this? Mishkia asked.

Prince Nosa was the leader of the band that snatched away Aboma’s twin daughters when she was a commoner from her. She had been married for only ten months. She was also widowed after her previous husband hung himself on the same day his twins were killed, Osaze explained.

Mishkia’s eyes widened. She covered her mouth with her palm as she listened to Princess Aboma’s history.

Not only did Nosa kill Aboma’s twins in the evil forest, but he also forced her to marry him since his last two wives passed away during childbirth without any heirs, Osaze continued. "He longed for a fertile woman and when he saw Aboma, a commoner birthed effortlessly with twins, he became hellbent on marrying her and he succeeded.

Her marriage to him was barely two months after her husband’s death! Notwithstanding, Prince Nosa has been a cruel husband to her. Mishkia, you do not need me to detail his cruelties to you. Again, you are well aware of them."

Ahhh. I am already aware that Princess Aboma has indeed suffered before becoming our princess and continues to suffer as the wife of our Prince, Mishkia empathized with anguish in her voice.

Osaze nodded her head in agreement.

But that does not justify plotting against the crown, she added viciously.

I arrived in the Red Palace with Aboma as her hand-maiden. She gave birth to Uyi after a year, but Aboma swore to subject Prince Nosa to the same fate as her children and late husband, Osaze explained. I remember her words vividly. She told me that the heir Nosa desperately yearns for would be the one to usurp his throne. She promised to ensure that Nosa joins her deceased husband. She plans to join her deceased family in the afterlife when she gets buried with Nosa.

Interesting, I am no talebearer, but I am not in support of this plot. Uyi, Princess Aboma’s son, is just eleven years old. How will he usurp the throne? Both of you are bound to get in big trouble for this. My ears are closed. Please do not involve me in treason, Mishkia said as she lifted her palms up.

You ask too many questions. Who is going to involve you? Please leave quickly before the princess finds you here, Osaze responded.

Princess Aboma began looking for Osaze, who