Nothing ever created by man or nature can stand for ever. Just as they say in the Bible (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8), there is time for everything. The stars develop and explode when their time comes; rivers and lakes also dry up. Lake Chad that once upon a time was so full of water to serve the surrounding areas is now almost a total desert. In other words nothing stays for ever, even some of the greatest political institutions in history such as those of Greece and the Romans also passed away over time.
One of the most fascinating places around the world that also suffered decline and death is ‘Tekidi’, or what others have called Napata; a city of ancient Nubia located on the west bank of the Nile, that was also the southernmost permanent settlement in the New Kingdom of Egypt. Tekidi was the great politico-economic capital of the kingdom of Kush that flourished and even rivaled Egypt for many years.
As a political capital of the Kushites, Tekidi; the Luo cradle land and the grand court for the people at the time, was so powerful. According to Ku Odong(1976) and Dr. Okello Paito(2015), Tekidi was making numerous progress in all forms of human activities before its invasion and destruction by foreign armies from Egypt. Napata was the seat of government which later became the meroitic state of the Luos, or the “Itiyo-pi-anu” people of the Nile valley. This great civilization, which had experienced numerous scholastic battles as to who were its original creators, finally got breathing space after Ante Diop’s book written in 1974 confirmed that the Luos built it. If you are a true Luo, it would be easy to realize that the word ‘meru’, which eventually culminated into the use of the term ‘meroe‘, one notices that this is basically a Luo word. The word ‘Meru’ in Luo is translated to mean ” cultivate an harmonious relationship‘(Okello Paito, 2015).
During those good days, apart from being a political capital of the Kushites, Tekidi was also ripe with big businesses. There were trades in wheat, gold, iron, domesticated animals and much more that actually benefited not only the Greeks, but also Romans.
However, just like anything else, this powerful and towering capital of the Kushites or the ‘Itiyo-pi-anu’ people, had to die as well following numerous political and military battles including those from Augustus Caesar and the final Achaemenid conquest of Egypt by around 591 BC. Napata or ‘Tekidi” is now a UNESCO site. It still stands not only as a monumental design of the politico-economic symbol of success for the ‘Itiyo-pi-anu’ people, but also its spiritual aspect that the Luos cherished during those days. It now stands as a grand reminder that for the Luos to regain their past glory, their future politico-economic power must be built and based not only on spirituality, but also ensuring that the so called foreigners are in constant check. Tekidi part II should all be about Afro-centricity at its best.
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