Princess of the Night

As the night turns into the light of dawn, Princess Banza awakens early with a zest for the day as her fiancé is set to arrive at the palace for their engagement ceremony. Banza sits up in her bed and slowly and elegantly stretches out and erases the slumber of the night before from her body and face. She hops out of her massive bed with ivory sheets, gold pillars and headboard to walk to grab her favorite deep red silk robe. She puts her robe on as she royally glides to her balcony to gaze at the beauty of the Congolese terrain. The sky has hues of pink, orange, yellow, and white as Banza gazes with adoration of God's creation but then a sudden knock at her door interrupts her alone time.

She walks swiftly to open the door and when she opens it she is happy to see it is her two favorite and most trusted servants Remo and Bahati. Remo is older has been with the family since she was a child and King Muganza was a teenager. Remo is Banza's personal seamstress and stylist and has shown up at Banza's door with some outfits that she altered from the night before. Bahati on the other hand is Banza's best friend and also the head chef of the palace.

"Habari za asubuhi, binti mfalme." (Swahili for Good morning, princess) Remo and Bahati say simultaneously.

"Habari za asubuhi" replies routinely.

"We have come get you ready for today. It is going to be long and you are going to being changing outfits frequently." Says Remo as she runs the water for the bathtub. "Let's get the bath running and your hair started, Diane is coming any second to do your hair and makeup."

"Alright, but I didn't sleep that well. I had a very strange dream last night." says Banza.

"Well for one, you don't look like someone who has lost sleep and two, what was this dream about dada?" (Swaili for Older sister) Asks Bahati. " Well, I was in the forest, I was running toward a stream or a lake of some sort because I was thirsty. Then, as I neared the side of the stream to bend own and get some water I hear a voice that sounds like Kapya's. I couldn't make out what he was trying to say but it was like he was trying to say hey or alert me of something. Before I could even turn around, I have been shot in the back with an arrow. I am just laying there in the grass by the water and then, I wake up." Banza says with fear in her voice.

"It is a bizarre dream but I don't think you have anything to worry about, not on such an auspicious day. However, if you are that concerned about the dream, maybe you should go and see Madame Ajabu." Bahati says as her and Remo finish helping Banza with her bath.

"Ehh. You want her to go into town with commoners and get some fortune telling from a woman who does black magic?!!!" Remo exclaims. At this point, Diane has walked in the room hastily and with some hair and makeup supplies.

"Habari za asubuhi, ma princesse. Samahani kwa kuchelewa." Diane says with labored breath. (Samahani kwa kuchelewa: Apologies for being late)

"Remo, tafazali. As some one who still practices my traditional faith, I can assure you and Princess Banza, it is not black magic. She is just someone in the community from my tribe that has a special clairvoyance has helped and is helping people. I trust her." Bahati replies as she helps to dry Banza's body and hair off. (Swahili for please)

"Princess let's put your robe back on and get you in this chair by the mirror. Eh, you two always find something to have a disagreement about." Diane says as she is combing Banza's hair. Banza has long, thick, kinky jet black hair. It is healthy from all the natural remedies she uses to treat and take care of her hair.

"Yes that is how we show our love." Remo replies. Diane giggles at this response. Diane is a reasonable women. She is Congolese by birth but grew up in Brussels, Belgium for 15 years. She has a talent for makeup a hair and is the best in the country. She became Princess Banza's personal makeup artist and hair stylist when Banza was 19. "Princess, how many people will be attending this engagement ceremony? I need to find myself a husband also." Asks Diane, "Also, how do you want your hair done today? I was thinking either a wavy wig or wearing your beautiful long natural hair up in a bun so that we can wrap a kitambala on top." Suggests Diane (Swahili for head scarf).

"I was thinking more of the natural route but perhaps Bantu Knots and a kitambala. Perhaps we can wear the kitambala in the daytime and at night time take the kitambala off? What do you think?" Princess Banza asks.

"Since you are the most beautiful woman in the world even more beautiful than your mother, you can make any style work. But, what will your parents think?" Asks Bahati.

"As part of the Illunga royal family, it is customary for the bride to be to have her hair covered to show respect for culture, you know this Princess Banza." Remo says.

"You are right Da Remo. On a day like this it is best not to offend anyone's sentiments. Diane, let's do the Bantu Knots but if you can use gel to have the edges of my hair lay nicely. Then when you put the kitambala on, don't make it too tall heh. Make it classy and low and make sure some of the edges of my show outside the kitambala. I will wear the kitambala the whole time." Princess Banza asserts.

" Oui, ma princesse." Diane says (French for: Yes, my princess). Diane continued to do Princess Banza's hair and Bahati assisted Diane with her makeup as she already finished preparing breakfast and the rest of the kitchen staff was setting the table. Banza finally to take the time to smell the warm wholesome scent of fresh baguettes, manteka, mayayi, nshima, (French bread; Swahili for: butter, eggs, and doughy starch) and assorted tropical fruits filled the palace.

Remo was showing Banza the choices of fabrics for her to choose from. Banza almost chose the red kitambala but she thought to herself, " too traditional". She chose a dark green and gold kitambala and the outfit that corrdinated with the kitambala was a beautiful one of one elaborate kanjo (Swahili for dress)with a traditional Congolese neckline and modern embroidery. It represented Princess Banza's personal style. Classic yet modern. But she couldn't put it on just yet, she had to put on a less festive dress to eat breakfast and perform her morning duties as she will need the fuel for this long and busy day and she wouldn't want the dress to be sullied.

As Diane finished Princess Banza's hair, there was another knock on the door. Remo got up from her chair and ran to answer the door which is a heavy, massive gold door. She had to pull and turn the door knob with both hands to open it and standing in front of her was Her Majesty Queen Mutwabene and Princess Nyota.

END OF CHAPTER 1