Pride Of Ghana!

ONE

Sooner than expected, these people had invaded our town and seemed to be friendly. We were all summoned into the chief palace and there, the fair people tried communicating to us. It wasn't easy, for the linguist had to understand them by signs. We all didn't understand their language and resorted to the use of signs and objects. To them the stones we walked on were of importance to them. It gradually came to be known as 'Gold ' We called it 't3' in our language. For we thought it was any other ordinary stone. So the word 't3' means stone.

As time went on, these fair people began to put up big structures. Very big ones, bigger than our huts and they came to be known as "forts"and "castles " Some of us were hired to work for them. They taught our leaders their language in these castles and soon we were all communicating well with them.

But then, we had sold ourselves without charge to Devils in disguise of Angels. A lot of our people and those from neighbouring towns were also forced to work for them. Some were under harsh labour and soon our women became sex machines for the fair men. My mother was busy sweeping when soldiers swarmed into our compound and forcefully took her away. I couldn't help but cry out loud. I had given my own self away. They took me along also. At the castle I was made to to clean and cook. Things I had not done before. I didn't know how to prepare their dishes, I managed to learn it.

My mother was slept with. Not only one man touched her. She became a sex tool for a lot of the fair men. I wept on several occasions seeing her treated that way. Later she was thrown into the dungeon. It was said that those who were thrown there were exported and never returned. I couldn't help thinking of the fact that I was going to be away from my mother soon. After retiring from my work, I tried taking a kip. No sooner had I settled than I heard a voice so familiar. In hiding I traced the voice and I saw my father before the governor. He was screaming and asking for the release of my mother and I. It was then I noticed my father had become conversant with their language. The governor seemed to be furious at my father's utterances and disrespect. He had the soldiers hold him tight, and for a moment I held my breath waiting to see what next. It was the loud echoing sound like a blast that brought to reality what had just happened. My father ceased to exist from that very moment. Oh how I wept!. I rushed back into my abode and spent the rest of the evening mourning my father since his death was known to only me. It is shameful as I would sit one day and recollect the fact that my father died without a befitting burial.
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As I was sweeping the vast compound of the castle, I noticed the princess being pushed in and my brother also. For the princess, I knew she was going to satisfy the sexual desires of the fair men. I was utterly disappointed.
Our chief seemed to be under their control due to the influence they had on him. Unfortunately for me, I was found guilty of stealing from the foodstuffs in the kitchen hence was thrown into the dungeon. Unlike the foam I slept on with other workers, I had to struggle with other prisoners in the dungeon. We received food once a day, and even with that ,it was thrown at us. It was sad to note as we struggled for crumbs of bread here and there. Our water for drinking came from the waste drain that run through the walls of the dungeon. It's stench alone made it impossible to drink. And each time it keeps dripping down making our habitat an unpleasant one. At such times, I wished I had died with my father. I didn't know when I would be released, but I knew for sure that I would perish in the dungeon as some others did...