Kasilami was a small rural town a little north from the equator. The rumour around town was that, some on the greatest leaders in the world retreated here to come and hide when terrible wars went on in their own countries and they were forced into exile. It’s a pity really, that except for the hear-say of the locals in this town, no one documented these historic moments when they happened.

Kasilami was mainly known for its excessive heat. The sun rose to scotching temperature in this town. This served the community a severe penalty. Many here were laymen and survived off the produce of their bare hands. But when the sun was too hot, they didn’t produce much. The seeds struggled to germinate and blossom into food – Mealies, tomatoes, spinach, all lays dead, burnt and broken open on their stocks, from the heat of the warm burning sun. Except for this though, the scenery of this small town replicated paradise. It had the most beautiful landscape – a pleasure for the human eye.

One humongous mountain walled this small town. The winding mountain alone was a sight to look at. It went on twisting forever – totally breathtaking – posing a question to the imagination of those who dared to dream, what lies on the other side. A thin gentle stream flowed at the bottom of the mountain. This life source was a gathering place for almost everyone at Kasilami.

The women went there to wash their clothes. The girls went there with large barrels to collect drinking water from the stream. The children fooled around happily along the stream as they waited for their mothers. The men went there as well. A little further down the flowing stream, the water formed into a lake. The men gathered there to bathe their dark, strong, naked bodies. It was an unwritten rule. It was protocol – neither the children, nor the women, or the young girls that went to the stream to collect drinking water for their families go to that side of the stream – where the men were bathing, talking and resting.

Not everything was innocent around the river. Young lovers in courtship went there as well. The beauty of nature set a perfect backdrop for romance. They sat on the huge rocks or played in the water, simply just wallowing in a child-like manner in each other’s company.

Others even gave into the strong temptations of love. If the little children waiting by the stream saw them, they would begin to giggle and point them out to their mothers. The women would rush there like hyenas and pounce recklessly on the young lovers. Tearing them apart and scolding at them – the young girl would usually receive a whipping from all the mothers. But not all lovers’ rolls were this innocent. There were times married men were found with young girls. There were also times when married men were found with ladies of the night. There were times when married men were found with married women. There were times men were found with men and there were times women were found with women – all hiding under the dark covering of the shadow of the mighty mountain.

This was no ordinary mountain. It stood pregnant, conceived with their darkest secrets of the people that came down to the stream every day. Yet it was the’ most beautiful and priceless treasure in Kasilami. Children as young as 2 years old ravished when telling folktales they have heard about this mountain. A mountain that stood proud, with its feet embedded strongly into the crust of the soil and its size spread widely with confidence. To these people, this mountain symbolized a time period, a moment, and experience that they will never forget.

The rocks of the mountain were a light shade of grey with clear visible markings made in a mud red colour along one face of the mountain. There were many debates by the locals and people passing through this town over what the red mud markings were. At first, the locals guessed they must be the first signs of man writing. The other assumption therefore was: the markings presumed to being man’s early attempt to write, could perhaps be prints made by monkeys on the mountain stone whenever playing about with mud. There was a tangible wealth of possibilities in this town – yet there was no concrete proof of any of it.

Much like the origin of the name bestowed upon the mountain. The rumour was a legendary man who once led his army heroically down the mountain to the stream whilst under heavy attack by the opposition. Once he reached the stream, he found shelter and retaliated against the opposition until he defeated them and set the people of Kasilami free. At that time, there were great big disputes in Kasilami over land gain between themselves and their neighbours and the shipwrecked pirates who wanted to inhabit the land.

A battle broke out and grew. Many lost their lives. Many lost their valuables. Madiba, a local in this town, pained by the depletion he saw around himself, decided to take the threat head on. He recruited an army of young and old men. His call was for the young and old, the strong and the brave. He trained them – tirelessly – hidden comfortably in the dark covering of a cave at the bottom of the mountain.

He trained their minds then he trained their strength. He trained them in the art and the disciplines needed to win battles. Once he was confident that the men completely understood the course of their war and mastered the skills of defence and attack, he led them into battle against the pirates –fought and fought hard with purpose. He defeated the enemy and restored Kasilami to its usual peacefulness.

The women and the Church played a pivotal role in winning the battle. By day they took food and water to their husbands and sons hiding in the stomach of the mountain. By the fall of night-time, they gathered at the church and prayed relentlessly to God, for the safe return of their loved ones home. And so it went on for months and months on end until the pirates were defeated and they left Kasilami and retreated a little further north. The whole town was touched by his heroic action. They mayor in Kasilami saw it fitting to celebrate him and immortalised his name by naming the mountain that stood tall and proud in Kasilami, Mount Madiba.

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