The Sacred Seed

I wrote the story of Noni and the Sacred Seed to demonstrate that wisdom is more valuable than strength and it is wiser to listen to the quiet words of a poor humble person than to listen to the arrogance of the powerful. I wanted women to show their gifts, singing the songs of hope, courage and victory.

I wanted them to create a place where souls bottled up and trapped like a bird in a cage would be immersed into the cold water of the spring where the impunity of their souls would find an outlet into the lake.

I wanted them to listen to the story of the elephant and the little bird.

The bird had laid its eggs
And the Elephant had caused the eggs
To fall and break
A quarrel started. The Elephant brought a big
Battalion and threatened the little bird with death
The fighting then started
The birds attacked first
They entered the ears of the elephants
Pecking with a deafening noise.
In the end the elephants had to run away.
But the birds would not leave them alone.
They became so exhausted that they collapsed and died.

At a time when African women leaders are scarce, and often unrecognised, it is good to be reminded that there have always been strong African women whose political and mystical powers can act as a guide and inspiration.