Mark Stanton

An African Warrior: City of Stone Mark Stanton

Zusa, a young herds boy is severely injured defending his father?s lives stock from a leopard attack. Once he recovers, he is summoned to his nation?s capital, Nyazimba, the city of stone, to be presented an award for bravery by his King. Travelling with his mentor Gemba, he is enthralled to experience the wonders outside of his community. As he goes through the African low veldt towards his nations capital he begins to understand the extent of his tribes influence on the land. From newly developed farming techniques, the mining of iron and gold to the unique industry which quarries countless granite stone bricks, the construction material this Bantu nation uses to construct their gigantic communities and monuments throughout the region, many of which are still evident today, leaving forever the indications of their advancements in the untamed wild. While at the city his nation is clandestinely attacked by a neighbouring tribe who through a surprise assaults manages to secure a number of key towns and villages. Zusa realises that the enemy had raided his family?s community he rushes home to find the kraal destroyed, his father and brother murdered and mother and sibling taken into captivity. Returning to the capital, the city is defenceless and in panic, after the attackers manages to subdue the hastily assembled Nyazimbian army leaving the developing nation virtually defenceless. The brave young man proposes a concept, born from desperation, which offers a glimmer of hope to the impeding defeat and Zusa marches to war.