‎🎊 The Drum of Two Compounds
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‎A tale of rivalry, rhythm, and the festival that changed everything.
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‎Phase 1: The Drums Awaken
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‎The sun rose lazily over Tsaunin Doki, a village that waited all year for a single event: the grand Kade Festival. It was a celebration of dance, drums, and destiny — a spectacle that brought the entire village together in a whirl of rhythm, color, and laughter. Bright fabrics fluttered from windows and balconies, dust rose in golden clouds along the streets, and the scent of roasted maize and sweet pastries mingled in the morning air.
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‎The festival was long-awaited, a time when rivalries were displayed in friendly combat, and stories of skill, courage, and cleverness were written with every step and every beat. Villagers remembered last year's contest well: it had ended in a draw, leaving hearts pounding and tongues wagging. Now, a full year later, curiosity and anticipation had everyone on edge — who would claim victory this time?
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‎Excitement buzzed through the streets. The rivalry between Gidan Liman and Gidan Dogo had become legendary.
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‎From Gidan Liman came Aisha, whose graceful movements made the night air shimmer like poetry. Her brother Abdussalam, a whirlwind of mischief, could not resist stirring trouble, and his laughter often echoed before he appeared. Their cousin Mariya, sharp-tongued and quick-witted, darted through the crowd, teasing anyone who gave her an opening.
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‎Across the dusty path stood Gidan Dogo — loud, proud, and fiercely competitive. Zainab, known as "Zee Walan," could make a drum sing like a heartbeat, the deep tones vibrating through the ground. Her brother Faruk (DJ ya Sheikh), skilled and confident, commanded attention with every rhythmic tap, earning the nickname "lion of drums." Their aunt Rabi'a, self-proclaimed "Queen of the Festival," strutted around in gold bangles that jingled with every step, offering her "expert" advice to anyone who would listen.
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‎When Albashir, the town crier, struck his gong, its sound rolled over the hills and into the valleys beyond. He cleared his throat, his voice carrying across the village:
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‎> "Hear me, people of Tsaunin Doki! The time has come for our greatest celebration — the Kade Festival, where drums speak, dancers soar, and hearts race with anticipation!
‎Last year, the contest ended in a draw, and all our eyes have waited a full year to see who will triumph this time. Today, the stage is set. Let the drums speak, let the dancers move, and may the best side win — fair and square, under the watchful eyes of Sarki Barde!"
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‎The crowd cheered, the clatter of footsteps mixing with the jingling of bangles and the distant thump of practice drums. Excitement hung thick in the air, electric as the sun dipped lower and the festival night approached.
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‎That evening, both compounds came alive with practice. Aisha twirled beneath the moon, her anklets tinkling like soft bells, while the breeze carried the scent of jasmine and roasting corn. Across the fence, Zainab's drumbeats answered with a bold, rolling challenge that made the ground vibrate.
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‎Somewhere between the two, Abdussalam quietly swapped Faruk's drum with a water pot, his grin barely contained.
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‎The next morning, as Faruk began his performance — "Gbum! Gbum! Splaaash!" — water exploded into the air, drenching him and sending villagers into roaring laughter. The morning sun caught the droplets, turning them into tiny sparkling jewels. Tears rolled down cheeks, and even the elders had to wipe them away.
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‎ "Ah, Tsaunin Doki!" chuckled Sarki Barde, smiling from his porch. "Even rivalry here is entertainment!"
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