Sinanda

The kingdom of Bamanga was once ruled by a monarch called Sinanda. Sinanda had not been born into a royal family. He did not look or walk like a king but he was a very tall man and he had a very tough appearance.

Sinanda had joined the royal army of Bamanga when he was fifteen. His family was poor, like most most families then. There were few jobs and little chance for a good education. He had told his mother that he would work hard, become an officer and she would be proud of him.

People laughed when his mother told them, but his mother knew that Sinanda had been clever since birth.

First of all, she knew that the army would give Sinanda good food, free clothes, free education and accomodation in the barracks. He would also receive a weekly wage that can support him and help thd family.

Secondly, the army was very important in Bamanga. If Sinanda did well, he could make a good career for himself and provide money for the whole family.

Sinanda had worked hard and done well. He had become an officer. When he was in his late twenties, although he was not popular with his men, he had risen to the rank of colonel in charge of a regiment but now he was not just thinking of providing for his family. He had bigger plans.

Two days after his twenty-ninth birthday, Sinanda seized power from the reigning king, Fernando the Third and became king of Bamanga in his place.

Fernando was an old man and the army was tired of him. In the last three years, ge had spent less and less money on the army and other things that needed attention in Bamanga but spent more and more on his great houses, wives and relatives.

When Sinanda had plotted with the irher officers to become king, he had promised that he would make the army the most important thing in Bamanga again.

Some of the officer shad eagerly agreed to support him.

On the night of the rebellion, he and the other officers from other regiments attacked the palace. The soldiers in the palace had not surrendered easily, it was a long fight before Colonel Sinanda captured the buildings.

Sinanda declared himself king and moved into the palace at once, taking his wife Miramar and his son, Danta with him.

That afternoon, all the leaders in the country came and promised to support him. With the army helping Sinanda, there was very little they could do.

****

Sinanda found the palace more beautiful than anything he had seen. It was a dream come true. It had every luxury you could wish for. No African king had ever lived in such a luxurious place.

On his first night there, Sinanda slept very deeply. Queen Miramar had to shake him to waken him the next morning.

"Wake up, wake up!" She said. "It's morning."

Golden rays of sunshine poured into the room.

"What time is it?" Sinanda asked.

"It's eight o'clock. You have your first appointment at nine."

"Hmm.. it can wait. A man must rest. I'm the king now. Let me enjoy this marvellous palace, this soft bed and all the paintings on the walls."

Sinanda lay for a while. Then he got out of the bed, walked to the window and peered out at the new day.

****

For the first few months, Sinanda worked quite hard. Though he now turned lazy, he seemed to work harder.

He did some of the things he knew a good king would do but this work did not last very long. He enjoyed being king and didn't want to work. He loved the beautiful palace, the swimming pool, the palace grounds and he even loved playing soccer but he also worried that others might want to take his throne and become king in his place.