In the animal kingdom, the legend of the "Azali Maisha" has been passed down for centuries.  From the smallest creature to the most magnificent, from the oceans and rivers to the forests and deserts, all passed down the story of the Azali Maisha... a leader, a barer of burdens, a wise one who traveled with his court.  It was said that mother Earth would give a sign that could be seen throughout the world... and when this magnificent event occurs, all creatures should send an ambassador abroad.  Where to?  The legend didn't say.  It was believed that the location would reveal itself through the Earth sign.  

The AZALI MAISHA's birth was not exceptional... he was of average size and weight when he entered this world on the salty, barren plain some seventy years ago.  His beautiful mother named him BAAKARI.  He was an African Elephant.  As a youngster, he loved to roll in the mud after savoring a long drink from the swamp and munching on branches of Acacia trees in the late afternoon sun.  

As it turned out, BAAKARI was the "Azali Maisha" but no one knew, not even the elephant himself.  He grew into the mightiest bull African elephant ever to live.  He roamed free in the distant land of Amboseli.  He shared his wisdom, he listened to the creatures, he studied the world and the state of things but found himself powerless against inevitable change.  To those that knew him personally, he was a gift to all.  A leader.  A barer of burdens.  To those that didn't, he was a legend. 

Over the years, Baakari was saddened to see his precious home threatened by man's reckless use of the land and selfish desire for ivory elephant tusks.  Many of his friends suffered at the hands of poachers or starved from lack of food.  He wished for the help of the "Azalie Maisha" and did what he could to ease the suffering of those around him.  When Baakari's days became numbered, the old but mighty elephant trod slowly to a distant, secret place along the Ivory Coast of Africa.  His royal court of bull elephants followed respectfully.  It took several days to arrive there, but finally, late one summer night, Baakari found his resting place.

He laid himself onto the soft ground and rested his gaze upon the twinkling stars above.  Ocean waves rolled in gently and lapped at the shore.  Baakari's royal court surrounded him and stroked him gently with their trunks.

"It is time," he said.

Baakari made a special wish for all living things upon the Earth.  His wish, so pure of thought and full of wisdom, soared to the Heavens like a comet.  Before his eyes, the two brightest stars turned... one green for all the creatures of the land; one blue for all the creatures of the water.  Both stars shimmered like brilliant diamonds in the quiet night sky and the world paused...  Baakari's royal court gasped, now realizing that their leader was the legendary "Azali Maisha". They all knelt on one knee and bowed their heads in reverence.  Baakari himself suddenly recognized that he would become more powerful in death than he was in life.  He said, "Now they will come and when they do, bring all the baby bulls before me."  The royal court stood and formed a protective circle around Baakari, backs turned to him.  They would not eat or rest until the last ambassador had an opportunity to see the King.

All creatures on Earth looked to the sky.  The brilliant diamonds shined day and night.  The animals knew... this was the Earth sign they had been speaking of for centuries.  Ambassadors traveled at great risk to meet the "Azali Maisha".  Across the globe, a representative of all creatures great and small made the trek to Africa. On the twenty-first day, Baakari finally saw the last ambassador and shortly thereafter, chose a baby bull elephant named "Bron" to be his successor.  As Baakari drew his last breath and slowly closed his eyes, his giant heart was filled with hope for the future.

Baakari has gone where all mighty elephants go, but his legend and the "Azali Maisha" lives on.  If you look real hard on a clear, starry night, you will see the two colorful diamonds in the sky.  May they inspire you to keep Baakari's wish alive and turn his hope for the future into a reality.