Queen Moremi knelt by the river and cried. She was about to make the ultimate sacrifice to liberate her people, who were being stolen and enslaved by a neighboring kingdom.
With a last look, she lowered the straw basket in the water and turned away. What had she just done?
According to legend, this powerful queen went to the river to pray to one of their goddesses for a plan to save her people. But the cost the goddess charged to do her bidding was extremely high. Could she make the sacrifice?
The river goddess told Queen Moremi to sacrifice her firstborn son – and then allow herself to be taken as a slave to infiltrate the enemy kingdom!
The plan was harsh but brilliant, and when she rose to be the enemy’s king’s wife, she was able to learn his strategies – and ultimately defeat him when she returned home and was reinstated as Queen! Though the costs haunted her, her people celebrated her bravery and sacrifice.
She’d liberated her people by any means, securing the freedom of her country, saving thousands of lives.
Sometimes we must make difficult sacrifices to defend and liberate our people. The cost may be high, but keeping future generations alive and leaving them a legacy of bravery is worth it.