I have always found bullfighting, boxing and wrestling to be the most insane and downright stupid of sports. Busted lips, busted heads, beating each other to a literal pulp and squeezing the daylight out of each other. Really?.
But people enjoy it, and participants get a high off of the sheer excitement and exhilaration of danger.
The first time I learned about the Festival of San Fermin in Pamplona, Spain, people running down a street with bulls chasing them, I was flabbergasted. Some of them even getting killed sometimes. I was shocked. Why? For the sheer fun of it, they answer. Still it happens every year.
What is life without it's enjoyable dangers?.
Meet my metaphorical Bull.
Amina, Queen of Zaria, Nigeria, ruling from 1576 until roughly 1610. I have the greatest admiration for fierce women. Amina was one of the best.
She learned the art of war from an early age. She trained with her country's military. Her mother was queen before her, having founded a kingdom, the ZauZau Kingdom. But she shared it with a man, because men were the dominant species back then.
When Amina became queen after her mother and brother died, she refused to marry or have children. She would not surrender her power or independence to any man.
This woman ruled for the better part of thirty four years. Leading her army, conquering and hopefully uniting nations. She gained the respect of leaders from far and wide.
My epigraph to this woman would be;
She ruled like a gentlewoman, conquered like a bull and united her people in love and harmony.
But for all her prowess in battle nothing prepared Amina for the day that she came face to face with the largest bull she had ever seen.
She was tired, she had been out all day scouring the surrounding territory for renegade warriors who were threatening her stronghold. It was her turn to scout the area. She liked being out on her own sometimes, it gave her time to think whenever she needed to plan a new strategy, or just taking some time for herself.
It was really quiet today, as if all the creatures were taking a rest. Amina decided to take a rest herself. She turned around to find a shaded spot when there he was, just standing there with a menacing stare and totally motionless.
The biggest, blackest, meanest looking bull she had ever seen. What was she to do. Run?. Stand still?. None of her training had prepared her for this scenario. She decided to stand as still as the infernal bull.
They stood there staring each other down. The bull snorted, started pawing the ground and glared at her. He lowered his head and Suddenly he charged. Amina had her spear with her, she also charged the bull, dug the spear into the ground when she was close enough and vaulted the entire length of the bull to land behind it. She landed with both knees bent, supporting herself with the spear and was ready to defend herself.
Amina did not want to hurt the animal. She would only if she had no choice.
The bull did not hesitate this time, it again lowered it's head and charged, and again she ran and vaulted over it's body. The animal was clearly annoyed. It started charging randomly and more violently and Amina kept side stepping it, much like a matador in the ring.
Nearby there was the farmstead incorporating a corral-like structure, newly built for the new horses. It was empty for now. Amina turned and ran towards it. The bull, now angry enough to be blinded by rage, ran towards her. She stopped and quickly undid the gate, and, blocking the gate with her body, taunted the charging bull.
It took the bait. Amina shifted from the entrance just as the animal made a mad dash for her , into the enclosure went the bull, down went the latch. He was trapped.
He pawed the ground and raged and tried every way to get out. Finally, accepting defeat, he quieted down and became calm.
"We shall become great friends with time, my worthy adversary, someday I will ride on your back into victory and demand peace."
And so it was.
Days turned into weeks just trying to win the trust of the bull now called Kaa. They developed a bond. Bulls were temperamental, so only short visits were tolerated. There were times when as a woman she stayed clear of Kaa. They grew to understand each other
She trained with Kaa, but was always on the alert for danger signals.
He had plenty of hay, grain, grass and cottonseed to eat.
Whether or not they will go to battle together, time will tell. Meanwhile, Amina is happy to have won one more victory. Kaa is free to roam the countryside.
He always returns to his friend.
Everyone else steers clear. they are not as confident to have a bull as a pet.
~~~~~~~~~~~```````````
Information based on C.J. Stanley's article - Travel and History writer. Buzz Nigeria. Nov. 6, 2018.
About the Creator
Novel Allen
Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky. ~~ Rabindranath Tagore~~
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