The Region of Botswana, South Africa, circa 1211 A.D. The sun rose over the beautiful City of Dumazile, crown jewel of the Zulu people. Andile Bafana lay in his bed, feeling a tiredness that had nothing to do with the mercilessness of the Southern African sun that was high in the sky. The six-foot-three, ebony-skinned young man finally got up. As the son of King Fundani, Warrior Chief of the Zulu people and the grandson of Zulu Emperor Gabangaye, he had certain expectations he had to meet. That's why he left the beautiful mansion made of polished wood in which he dwelled. As he walked through the busy streets of Dumazile, he was greeted by men and women from all walks of life. Commoners and aristocrats alike always paused and smiled when they saw the Prince of the City.
Andile Bafana smiled at them, but inside he felt no joy. The City of Dumazile sat in the heart of Botswana country, and the Zulu people always had to defend their crown jewel from rival tribes. Andile Bafana walked with a strong stride as he made his way to the Royal Palace. As the Prince of the City, it would be his dwelling someday. For now, it was the house where his father, King Fundani dwelled with his mother, Queen Gabisile. The short, stocky and dark-skinned King Fundani had proven himself to be a mighty ruler. Thirty six years ago when he took power following the death of Emperor Gabangaye at the hands of Persian invaders from the Desert Realm, many of the Zulus doubted Fundani's ability to rule. The Zulus were a tall people, and they were notorious for their fierce beauty, their gorgeous Black skin and their great height. Yet King Fundani was short and round. He definitely didn't look like the average Zulu man. And his skin was slightly lighter than most Zulus, which made sense since his mother came from the land of the Brahmin.
King Fundani had proven himself time and again by defending the Zulu Empire from rival tribes across Southern Africa and the constant threat of the Persian invaders. The Sons of Islam had many designs on South Africa. Already the Mali Kingdom had fallen to them, and the King of Mali himself had converted to Islam. The people of South Africa, particularly the proud and unconquerable Zulus, continued to worship the Gods and Goddesses of the African Motherland. For this reason, they were targeted by the harsh-voiced and bronze-skinned men who dwelled in the North African desert and waged war against anyone with beliefs different from their own. The last time the Persian King sent his armies against the people of Southern Africa, the Zulus rose as one and slaughtered the Persian legions. The Persian King never forgave the Zulus their victory over him. And his people swore revenge. To protect his Kingdom from the Arab threat, the King of the Zulus ordered the construction of massive walls around the most important cities and towns of South Africa. The City of Dumazile had a population of eight hundred thousand and was considered the most important place in the Zulu Empire. It wasn't the biggest town, not by far. The City of Gamalakhe to the south boasted of a population of three million souls. However, metropolitan Dumazile was the Capital of the Zulu Empire. Thus, it had the largest of all ramparts. Under no circumstances could it be allowed to fall to the enemy.
As Prince of the City and future Heir of the Zulu Empire, Andile Bafana was well aware of all this. Upon entering the Royal Palace, he was greeted by his good friend and fellow warrior, the esteemed Prince Gatsha. The tall, lean and wiry Gatsha was one of the toughest Black men that Andile Bafana knew. Gatsha was born to a Zulu mother and a foreign-born father from distant Nigeria. He didn't have an easy life growing up because the Zulu customs forbade Zulu women from marrying foreign males. Of course, Zulu men could and did marry whomsoever they chose. That double standard never bothered anyone until the day Princess Jabhile married the Nigerian nobleman. It almost caused a war between the Zulus of Southern Africa and the ruthless, isolated tribes of Nigeria. Fortunately, peace prevailed. Nevertheless, Gatsha was considered an oddball by the people of metropolitan Dumazile in spite of his royal title and family wealth. The only person who embraced him was the infamous Prince Andile Bafana, the playboy of the Imperial Zulu world.
No one in the City of Dumazile knew that Andile Bafana and Gatsha, the two Princes, were actually lovers. Everybody knew they were the best of friends. At the University of Dumazile, where ten thousand of the Zulu Empire's wealthiest young men and young women studied to become the leaders of tomorrow, they were the toughest athletes. At chariot racing, archery and swimming, Andile Bafana and Gatsha were unrivaled. They went everywhere together. When Gatsha impregnated a Zulu noblewoman named Londiwe, scandal erupted in the Imperial Capital of the Zulus. For Londiwe was the wife of Khayalethu, a wealthy Zulu merchant. To save the life of his best friend ( and secret lover), Prince Andile Bafana brought the matter before his father King Fundani. The King allowed Prince Gatsha to pay six hundred pieces of gold to Londiwe the merchant to restore his family honor and permitted him to marry Londiwe, after the subsequent divorce. Now, Gatsha found himself a husband to Londiwe and the father of their son Lungelo. Andile was happy for Gatsha, even though this meant that he wouldn't be able to see his male lover anymore.
