The Code of Ndazula

The humid, sunny summer was hostile, and the man in front of them was unbearable.

It was barely forty-eight hours since the Ndazula National Councilors had crowned the new King, but they already missed the 'good old days'.

King Sondeza was tirelessly talking.

"I will not, by any means, allow the Ndazula nation to be flooded with dirty Western culture. Therefore, if you have Satellite television in your home, tell your respective people to take down the dishes tomorrow and destroy the decoders. I don't have to explain what will happen to you if you think I'm joking."

There was a rumble of disapproving murmurs in the crowd, but no one dared to speak up in protest.

"I realize that my forefathers had abandoned some very important Ndazula customs; they are all back. Starting tomorrow, I will be visiting schools."

The Councilors all stopped murmuring. Maybe the man was going to say the first sensible thing since the meeting started, they each hoped.

"Why schools? Because it's a custom, which my rather ignorant predecessors overlooked, that every year the King should choose a beautiful, reasonably young girl to be his..."

King Sondeza's voice drowned in the angry roars of protest. The Councilors had heard enough. One stood up and headed for the door. In seconds, the Ndazula House of Councilors was empty but for one man, clad in leopard skin and an obviously Western crown, and his security details.