Namid the Star Dancer
Long before white man reached our land, Namid would wander from the village at sunset each day, with a single purpose in mind. With the name she was given came great responsibility that of setting the stars aglow each evening. If she did not begin her dance when the last rays of the sun vanished from the western sky, the stars would not appear. No matter the weather; hot, cold, dry, or wet, Namid danced the stars into the sky.
One day, strangers arrived at the village, white of skin with weapons that thundered when used. They took from the villagers their belongings, most of their land and their women. Namid was among those taken, and she was sent to serve in the house of the white man’s leader. Those that were taken were not allowed to outside the house at night, for fear they would run away. When Namid requested permission to go outside to dance the starts into being, her request was denied. That night, when the last rays of the sun vanished in the western sky, no stars appeared. Night after night the same thing happened. The white men couldn’t understand what was happening and demanded answers fro their leader. In turn, he approached the village and demanded to know what happened to the stars. The shaman explained about Namid and the dance she did each night. The leader of the white men laughed at such nonsense and demanded an answer. The shaman repeated what he had said. The followers of the white man believed the shaman and asked their leader to let Namid dance at sunset the next night.
Not wanting his men to turn on him, the leader agreed. The next evening, Namid was escorted to a nearby hill as the sun sank into the west. The white man ordered her to dance and bring back the stars. Instead, Namid stood upon the hill and shook her head. She told him she would not dance unless her people were allowed to return to their village and be left in peace. The leader refused and Namid was returned to the house.
For the next seven days, Namid was brought to the hilltop at sunset, but she refused to dance. The white men’s anxiety and fear increased and whispers passed among them, saying if their leader didn’t agree to Namid’s terms, they would take matters into their own hands. The whispers reached the leader’s ears and fearing for his life, he agreed to Namid’s terms. Once her people were set free, Namid went to the top of the hill and as the last rays of the sun vanished from the western sky, she began to dance. With each step she took, stars began to appear in the sky. When she finished her dance and the stars once more filled the sky, the leader of the white men escorted Namid back to her village and ordered his men to leave the villagers alone.
As she had done before the white man came, Namid danced the stars into the sky.
Anna Dobritt -- Author 