KING Maqwela’s story started when the man was just a boy and the crown was only the future.
Maqwela was 8 years when his father gave him his biggest shock as a kid.
The man was the reigning king of the Cape Islands then. His title was the Chaka-Hulu.
He was the third Chaka-Hulu to rule the kingdom. So he wanted his house to hold the king line.
Chaka-Hulu called his heir Maqwela, so he ran to answer him.
But while he was nearing the king’s court, he met another boy on the way who looked so much like him.
Only he looked a few years older, and taller.
Now the boy crossed the running prince on his path, as he dashed to the same place from elsewhere.
‘Hey, you!’ he cried after him. ‘You’ve got speed!’
Maqwela glanced back yet kept running.
His lookalike doubled up.
‘You know I’ll have to catch up wi’ you an’ outrun you.
‘But if you’re this fast, I’ll just forget about the race and cheer you on!’
Maqwela stopped, surprised at the boy’s gut.
It was upsetting enough that he saw a boy looking Chaka-Hulu, and then that boy had the confidence to play.
No, Maqwela wouldn’t take it.
But then he shrugged a shoulder and walked up to the court. And still the lad followed.
So the younger one turned when he got to the entrance.
‘Who are you? Why is it you’re following me?’
It was then that kids noticed that the king was coming out to them. He’d been watching them from the windows all along.
So now Chaka-Hulu came out talking at them.
‘Have you two met? You are brothers... children of the same father.
‘So from now on, you two will grow and study together.’
The younger kid glared at the new one.
‘Hey Maqwela!’ snapped Chaka-Hulu.
‘Your brother has a name, but right now I’m giving him another – one befitting of a prince!’
He looked at the older boy for seconds then he spoke the words.
‘Come, your name will be Zadeque! ZA–DE–QUE... is that taken?’
The young kids mastered the name, muttering.
The ruler called in the two boys and had a talk with them. It was between the three men alone.
He addressed the new one there, a son he’d just brought into the family...
One whom his young crown prince, Maqwela, wouldn’t know.
He set him standing beside his brother, and then addressed him as the heir.
‘Listen to me, Zadeque. You’ve been living as commoner before now that I took you from your mother.
‘But now you’re a son of the lineage of the great Chaka. So you must fight for the name!
‘You’re just three years older than your brother...
‘And your brother Maqwela is a great man – he is the heir to the Chaka-Hulu title.
‘He is my crown prince, because is worthy of the proud name.
‘I bet you have a lot to learn from him, because no son of mine is a loser!’
He shook him by the shoulders.
‘So prove yourself from here – if you’re worthy of the name as he!’
He stood up to leave. ‘I heard you joke about dropping out of the race.
‘Don’t even think about dropping out. If you do, you are dead!’
Now it was this day when a father set two children at war, it was this day the tragedy started.
Yet Maqwela didn’t tell Sand and Muse this, as it was only a piece of his long story.
No, Maqwela didn’t share the part with the duo. He told them something more.
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