Alas! Here comes the new king of Sosa Kingdom Fijabi!! The subjects were very happy to have such a powerful and mighty king that is feared among kingdoms. They provisioned on how safe they are and no kingdom can threatened them again. They anticipate the birth of a prince that will take over from his father and will be as strong as Fijabi or even stronger.
But all their hopes and excitement went down the drain. Fijabi was a ruthless king. He would sent out decrees in the name of the king, putting the people he govern in untold hardship and pain. He will say to them, “I am the king and the greatest warlord, even the gods cannot control me” his coarse and loud voice thunders across the kingdom. He became very proud and a law unto himself, he listen to no one, not even the Queen. The Queen had been cast aside because of her inability to conceive after many moon. He found himself another maiden from a distant community who encouraged his brutality and stroke his ego through eulogy. He impose heavy tax on the people and pay deaf ears to their anguish. Those who can’t pay their dues were shown no mercy.
Fijabi became the most dreaded king of his time. He kills his aid and send anyone who dares to question him on exile. He had no good counsel left as no one dare to tell him the truth, he has a very poor sense judgment. His in humane treatment made the palace unapproachable, the people lived in fear and have no access to their king. He doesn’t remit money to the treasury and refused to see to the welfare of his people. He likes to hear his own praise from the lips of deceit.
The princess who is now the queen could no longer bear to see her people suffering. She know she has to do something.
The great Sosa kingdom has a sacred drum that is not visible to the eye. It can only be invoke in the times of trouble. The king has plunged the kingdom into great dilemma and no one other than the gods can judge him. The SURUGEDE Drum has not been invoked for many years as the kings of the past has been kind, merciful and generous which has promote internal peace and harmonious living within the kingdom.
Surugede can not be invoke unjustly, the sacrifice is too steep and the consequences too grave for such an unjust adventure. The princess told no one of her decision. She said to herself; “ invoking the drum in the name of the king is the last resort to save us all”
On one faithful night, the king has yet sent another decree to heighten the suffering of the people; the princess ran to the groove and invoke the great drum in the dead of the night, beating it thrice as required. At first nothing happened, after a while, a loud shout was heard from the king’s chamber. He ran out of the palace and began to render his cloths, dancing to the inaudible tune of the surugede. No one could hold him as he danced his way out of the kingdom, never! to be seen again.
The elders of the kingdom knew what happened but no one knew who invoke the Surugede Drum in the name of the king and what price the person paid to free them from tyranny.
Morals: Be kind and humble in every stage of life.
Fijabi would have had it all but never
With his name written in gold among the stars but now never!
From the mere he came blazing like the sun
Turning stone to diamond with his Midas touch
A tin line between desire and greed, don’t cross it.
He could have had it all but pride greed and viciousness said never!
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