Charles de Foucauld - part 2

Charles de Foucauld 002

“The Victory of the Vanquished”

“The caravan of 24 Touraeg elders moved forward at camel’s pace. It had covered over 400 miles on its way northwards after leaving the Hoggar.  It was only a few miles from the oasis of In Salah, where there was an infidel garrison. Peace had to be made with the French.

Make peace? Not everyone agreed. But Musa thought this was the best course.

At a sword-point, Musa had won a chieftain’s reputation from one end of the Sahara to the other.

How could this warrior of nearly forty years of age make peace with the French?

The reason was to be found at the southern limits of the Sahara, a short way over the Mali frontier.  There Musa had known for some years a marabout, or a man of God, named Ba-i.  Ten years had passed since their first meeting.

Ba-I appeared with his face veiled, one thin hand wrapped in cloth and telling his beads of amber and coral.  H spoke of the horror of death in combat, of peace, of the protection of the poor, of prayer and of almsgiving.

Ba-I engraved on Musa’s heart the spirit of Islam and its sacred rites.  Musa for his part learned from Ba-i’s example and wide-ranging knowledge.

When Musa returned to Hoggar after the defeat of his tribe, he found anarchy reigning there.  There was no one to take command, apart from an aged chief.  Musa realized that his hour had come.  Blindly following Ba-I’s instruction and helped by considerable political acumen, he formed the “peace party”. He persuaded his followers to parley with the French.  Nevertheless, in a style proper to a proud Touareg, he would turn his submission to a political victory.

The parley lasted for hours. The two parties were still suspicious of one another. But peace was made.

Musa accepted the red burnous with gold tassels, which the French presented to the chiefs whom they nominated. For that reason, it lost some of its attraction for the Touareg.

Musa had been appointed chief by the French. But he had already imposed himself upon his own people.  He accepted the French commission, yes - but in his own way.  There was no reason for anyone to be any less respectful towards him. For when his eye grew fiery, the heat was strong enough to cook a goat.”

Reflecting on this account, I cannot help but remember the great warrior and the Paramount Lord of Cotabato – Datu Piang in relation to the American Conquerors when they took over the homeland.

The story of Musa of Hoggar  or the “Victory of the Vanquished” parallels the story of Datu Piang – the Lord of Cotabato.  He too parleyed with the Conquerors (the Americans) of his homeland. Like Musa, Dat Piang accepted the American Commission over the whole Cotabato. But he already was the paramount Datu of Cotabato. Datu Piang accepted the American Commission – yes – but in his own way!

Both the Muslims and the conquerors as in Musa’s case, the lasting impression that still remains is a TRIUMPHANT WARRIOR WHO PARLEYED WITH THE CONQUERORS OR A POWERFUL SOVEREIGN.  People did not witness any public submission…! (Jun Mercado, OMI)