Once upon a time, there was a noble king named King Vusumuzi. He ruled his kingdom with kindness and wisdom, and his wisdom brought great prosperity to his people. Gold, silver, precious stones, and other exotic goods were plentiful in the land, for he built great ships that sailed the seas to many islands to trade with many people. All of the king’s people were happy and all of them loved him.
But none loved him as much as a young fair maiden named Makanaka. She was sweet, generous, and kind, and all who met her loved her. But none loved her as much as the king did.
King Vusumuzi and Makanaka loved each other so much that the king was preparing to make her his queen.
But one fateful night, the king went to Mumvuri Beach for a walk, which, admittedly, was the most foolish thing he had done all his days. For nighttime is the time when creatures of the deep sea arise to find new victims on whom they can practice their sorcery.
While the king was walking along the seashore, a wicked mermaid poked her head out of the water and watched him from afar. “He is a handsome king,” she said to herself. “I shall take him for myself. I shall sing sweetly for him, and he will fall in love with me, and make me queen instead of the other woman.” So she transformed her fish tail into legs and walked onto the sandy shore, and sang sweetly to the king, putting him under her spell.
The king, now bewitched by the mermaid, fell in love with her and married her the very next day.
Makanaka was heartbroken when she heard the news, but there was nothing she could do, for the king was bewitched, and the mermaid wouldn’t allow her to enter the king’s court.
Many months later, the wicked mermaid was with child, and she was filled with glee. “Now my offspring shall rule land and sea!”
But unbeknownst to the wicked mermaid, her magic was starting to wear off on the poor king. For even though she sang sweetly to him every now and again, no enchantment of hers could get rid of the king’s true love for his fair maiden.
One day, while the wicked mermaid was in bed sick, the king wandered through the nearest town aimlessly and ran into Makanaka.
Upon seeing the king, Makanaka wept. “You said you loved me! I was certain you would marry me. Everyone thought you would. Why did you deceive me?”
At this, the king’s heart was so grieved, that the wicked mermaid’s spell broke at once. “I do love you Makanaka, I always have. I don’t even know who that woman is! She came to me from the sea and sang a beautiful song, and I can’t remember much after that.”
“She is a siren!” Makanaka said. “She bewitched you!”
As all this was happening, the wicked mermaid went into labor and gave birth to her child, but right after giving birth to the girl, she felt her magic spell had been broken. Now, when a mermaid makes a spell that ends up breaking, it breaks their very soul. That was how the mermaid died, and her baby girl lived.
Upon hearing the news that the wicked mermaid was dead, the king was relieved. He quickly married his true love, and Makanaka became his queen. All the kingdom rejoiced and were glad.
“But what of the wicked mermaid’s child,” the king’s servants asked. “What shall be done with her? Her birth is no doubt cursed by the mermaids.”
King Vusumuzi and Queen Makanaka asked their royal advisor what was to be done.
“She shall remain with you,” the royal advisor said. “For she is the king’s daughter. But as for the mermaid’s curse, have her dedicated to the Lord and have her baptized that she may be cleansed.”
The king followed the royal advisor’s advice, and all was well. The king and queen were happy together, and the whole kingdom was made merry that the wicked mermaid was dead.
But that joy was not to last.
For the wicked mermaid was the daughter of the Mermaid King. Upon hearing that his daughter was dead, the Mermaid King blamed the King of Mushana for her death. He cursed the king of Mushana and swore that any sailor from Mushana who dared to attempt to sail across his part of the sea would drown save for one.
Just as he said, any trade ships that attempted to cross the Mermaid King’s part of the sea were destroyed. No man was left alive but one to tell the tale. After that incident, the King named the wicked mermaid’s daughter Shupikayi, because of the suffering he and his kingdom had so unjustly endured.
No trade ships can cross that part of the ocean to this very day, and it is now known as the Dead Man’s Crossing.
However, time heals all wounds. The great and noble King of Mushana and Queen Makanaka had a healthy and wonderful son, the perfect heir for the throne.
All the kingdom rejoiced for the newborn heir, and the royal family of Mushana lived happily ever after.
Note: This story was written by the royal family’s scribe Mr. Goodwell. For the sake of the story, minor embellishments were made, but all creative choices were approved by King Vusumuzi.
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