Sally Island 22
They broke the slaves free during the heavy fight on board the ship. Knowing that the crew members who were still asleep would out number them. The freed slaves who helped them, balanced out the number of the crew members they attacked. The slaves were very angry and knew the faces of their enslavers and attacked them specifically, although many of the slaves were killed because they had no weapons, they also killed a large number of their captors, giving Mudshark the upper hand. That was the first ship Mudshark conquered with the help of the freed slaves, after he made them part of his crew, they became large in number and started a buccaneering movement. They didn't want to be called pirates like JohnBull and his crew, so they started attacking pirate ships and slave ships. Freeing a large number of slaves, destroying the business of the slave traders and building an army of both blacks and whites, the finest sea men and women were with Mudshark. His crew became so large they had to convert a slave ship to a pirate ship. And so started the legend of 'a certain buccaneer'. He became a terror to all slave traders, they were so scared for their life that they started sailing with at least a platoon of army. Those that that's get the army to sail with them, sailed with pirates for protection. But it couldn't stop Mudshark and his crew of angry slaves. They wrecked any ship they came across on any waters. They became so powerful that slave ships started avoiding the routes the operated on.
Sheba's mistress feared for her husband's safety and that his slave ship might have run into Mudshark and his dreadful buccaneers. She had always warned her husband against going on slave trade trips since the legend of a certain buccaneer spread across Mafaa Island. But her husband would say it was an exaggeration of the real facts because he listened to Uncle Sam. Uncle Sam only heard about a certain buccaneer from John Bull and believed everything he said since Mudshark was once Captain Blood's boy. John Bull never wanted to appear like a weakling so he painted Mudshark as one, claiming he wasn't up to the standards of a good pirate. Saying he was a Nigger Lover, when in actual sense, Mudshark was a lover of equality. There was no discrimination onboard his ship, everyone was treated equally unlike a typical pirate ship that observed seniority onboard, on the buccaneer ship they were all equally brothers who helped brothers. Although orders were still orders like in the pirate ship, their strength grew in brother deliver brother. Sheba developed a good habit of feeding the children in the Slave camp.
James had finally been deployed to a farm and he stayed with the rest of the slave farmers in the slave camp. He hated being in Mafaa Island. He was always chained and flogged by men he knew he was stronger than. Those who rebelled got shot and killed or hanged by the neck on a tree or lynched. He wasn't even able to fight, he just stayed waiting for a perfect time to revolt. The other slaves in the camp were really nice and friendly, that was one of the comfort he had being in that island as a slave, and also looked forward to seeing Sheba every evening. She always came with fruits and food to give the kids who were mostly fed carbohydrates. The books she read enlightened her on the need for balanced diet especially for kids still growing up. Not being able to do much, she did as much as she could do. At night while her mistress slept or sulked on her husband's absence, Sheba gathered as much fruits as she could from the orchard and took to the kids. Most of those kids were bred by the masters of their parents, selecting the strongest slaves and mating them like animals with other strong slaves to produce strong offspring. While some their mothers where being used by doctor J. Sims the father of gynaecology who performed medical experiments on them to discover new science innovations. most times, the women die in the process leaving their children motherless. For many years, Sims subjected his victims to endless painful, undignified experiments. Many of these women died from infection; indeed, so alarming were his methods that several of Sims’ medical partners and even his own family urged him to stop experimenting. But Sims, believing he was on a ‘divine mission,’ refused to quit. When he ran out of female slaves, he simply ‘rented’ more. “I am going on with this series of experiments to the end,” Sims insisted. “It doesn't matter we what it costs.” Sheba made extra effort to take care of these kids. It really impressed James.
James looked forward to seeing her every night. This particular night, Sheba wasn't able to come out early enough. "You didn't come out early today" James inquired "or didn't you miss me as much today..? I've been in the farm all day with you on my mind even with the cracker on my back." "I'm sorry dear, the cracker always enjoy his job, he derive so much joy from whipping black skins... But of course I missed you dear". She replied. "My mistress kept me back talking about her husband and the fear of a certain buccaneer, she wouldn't stop dear I had to stay and listen. She is a nice woman and for now that her husband isn't around, I'm the only company she has". James was very understanding? And looked beyond her lateness, he always loved her being around. She would make him tell her stories about Sally Island. She really missed home. They talked and talked for hours In the farms, a bit away from the settlement. They wouldn't want Uncle Sam who has a habit of lurking in the dark to run into them. She always wanted to hear about James and his crew back in Sally Island, she laughed whenever James told her about the experience with the mammy water. She never knew about the mermaids of Sally Island, because she was taken at a very young age, so James had to teach her a bit about her cultural heritage.
Mami Wata is often described as a mermaid-like figure, with a woman's upper body, often nude and the hindquarters of a fish or serpent. They are also a type of Mutubu that stayed in waters. In other tales, Mami Wata is fully human in appearance though never human. Just like the one Omin followed in the plantain plantation. The existence and spiritual importance of Mami Wata is deeply rooted in the ancient tradition and mythology of the coastal southeastern Nigerians; Efik, Ibibio and Annang people. Mami Wata often carries expensive baubles such as combs, mirrors, and watches. A large snake symbol of divination and divinity frequently accompanies her, wrapping itself around her and laying its head between her breasts. Other times, she may try to pass as completely human, wandering busy markets or patronizing bars. She may also manifest in a number of other forms, including as a man. Sheba laughed at these tales because she hardly believed such tales, she mostly have imbibed herself with the western culture. But that didn't stop James from sharing still, he had personally experienced all that and Sheba's opinion about his experiences wouldn't change the facts anyway. After a long conversation that night, Sheba gave James a long kiss and walked home.
Sheba's mistress feared for her husband's safety and that his slave ship might have run into Mudshark and his dreadful buccaneers. She had always warned her husband against going on slave trade trips since the legend of a certain buccaneer spread across Mafaa Island. But her husband would say it was an exaggeration of the real facts because he listened to Uncle Sam. Uncle Sam only heard about a certain buccaneer from John Bull and believed everything he said since Mudshark was once Captain Blood's boy. John Bull never wanted to appear like a weakling so he painted Mudshark as one, claiming he wasn't up to the standards of a good pirate. Saying he was a Nigger Lover, when in actual sense, Mudshark was a lover of equality. There was no discrimination onboard his ship, everyone was treated equally unlike a typical pirate ship that observed seniority onboard, on the buccaneer ship they were all equally brothers who helped brothers. Although orders were still orders like in the pirate ship, their strength grew in brother deliver brother. Sheba developed a good habit of feeding the children in the Slave camp.
James had finally been deployed to a farm and he stayed with the rest of the slave farmers in the slave camp. He hated being in Mafaa Island. He was always chained and flogged by men he knew he was stronger than. Those who rebelled got shot and killed or hanged by the neck on a tree or lynched. He wasn't even able to fight, he just stayed waiting for a perfect time to revolt. The other slaves in the camp were really nice and friendly, that was one of the comfort he had being in that island as a slave, and also looked forward to seeing Sheba every evening. She always came with fruits and food to give the kids who were mostly fed carbohydrates. The books she read enlightened her on the need for balanced diet especially for kids still growing up. Not being able to do much, she did as much as she could do. At night while her mistress slept or sulked on her husband's absence, Sheba gathered as much fruits as she could from the orchard and took to the kids. Most of those kids were bred by the masters of their parents, selecting the strongest slaves and mating them like animals with other strong slaves to produce strong offspring. While some their mothers where being used by doctor J. Sims the father of gynaecology who performed medical experiments on them to discover new science innovations. most times, the women die in the process leaving their children motherless. For many years, Sims subjected his victims to endless painful, undignified experiments. Many of these women died from infection; indeed, so alarming were his methods that several of Sims’ medical partners and even his own family urged him to stop experimenting. But Sims, believing he was on a ‘divine mission,’ refused to quit. When he ran out of female slaves, he simply ‘rented’ more. “I am going on with this series of experiments to the end,” Sims insisted. “It doesn't matter we what it costs.” Sheba made extra effort to take care of these kids. It really impressed James.
James looked forward to seeing her every night. This particular night, Sheba wasn't able to come out early enough. "You didn't come out early today" James inquired "or didn't you miss me as much today..? I've been in the farm all day with you on my mind even with the cracker on my back." "I'm sorry dear, the cracker always enjoy his job, he derive so much joy from whipping black skins... But of course I missed you dear". She replied. "My mistress kept me back talking about her husband and the fear of a certain buccaneer, she wouldn't stop dear I had to stay and listen. She is a nice woman and for now that her husband isn't around, I'm the only company she has". James was very understanding? And looked beyond her lateness, he always loved her being around. She would make him tell her stories about Sally Island. She really missed home. They talked and talked for hours In the farms, a bit away from the settlement. They wouldn't want Uncle Sam who has a habit of lurking in the dark to run into them. She always wanted to hear about James and his crew back in Sally Island, she laughed whenever James told her about the experience with the mammy water. She never knew about the mermaids of Sally Island, because she was taken at a very young age, so James had to teach her a bit about her cultural heritage.
Mami Wata is often described as a mermaid-like figure, with a woman's upper body, often nude and the hindquarters of a fish or serpent. They are also a type of Mutubu that stayed in waters. In other tales, Mami Wata is fully human in appearance though never human. Just like the one Omin followed in the plantain plantation. The existence and spiritual importance of Mami Wata is deeply rooted in the ancient tradition and mythology of the coastal southeastern Nigerians; Efik, Ibibio and Annang people. Mami Wata often carries expensive baubles such as combs, mirrors, and watches. A large snake symbol of divination and divinity frequently accompanies her, wrapping itself around her and laying its head between her breasts. Other times, she may try to pass as completely human, wandering busy markets or patronizing bars. She may also manifest in a number of other forms, including as a man. Sheba laughed at these tales because she hardly believed such tales, she mostly have imbibed herself with the western culture. But that didn't stop James from sharing still, he had personally experienced all that and Sheba's opinion about his experiences wouldn't change the facts anyway. After a long conversation that night, Sheba gave James a long kiss and walked home.
Story: Nnagoziem TheVyrus Udensi
Illustrations: Chevelin Pierre and Joseph Kenedy
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