THE SECRET OF THE KIAMA 



many of the blunders and mistakes which we made in 

 the past could have been avoided by a better acquaint- 

 ance with the history of the race as handed down 

 through the Kiama. My sincere desire is that what I 

 reveal may reach those who are in sympathy with my 

 ideals or who are prepared seriously to study the secret 

 of the past in the ever growing interest of Africa and 

 humanity as a whole. 



It is believed that the ancient Kingdom of Equatorial 

 Africa comprised a territory, which was, as nearly as I 

 can discover, more than half the size of the United 

 States. Some romanticists might conclude that the con- 

 ception of this ancient kingdom is founded on the 

 preaching and teaching of Prester John. Be that as it 

 may, the idea almost universally persists, although the 

 Kiama is all that remains today of its pristine glory. 



In the past the functions of the Kiama have been 

 many. Not only has it safeguarded tribal history and 

 acted as a standing court of justice, but it has exerted 

 didactic functions, it has taught the people. It has even 

 been to them their Bible, and here we find African 

 versions of the stories of the flood and the building of 

 the Tower of Babel. It was with keen interest that I 

 listened to an ancient sage unfolding the story of what 

 must surely be the African version of the story of the 

 Tower. The following is a literal translation of the tale 

 as told to me. 



Once upon a time there was a king, and he called 

 all his chiefs together, and spoke to them as follows, 



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