The moral of this story is that no one should try and alter the course of fate, the will of the gods, or whatever has been written by destiny.  The good dragon Bida deserved to receive a girl once a year for giving sustenance to the city of which it was the protective deity.  Human sacrifices were widespread in olden times, and most victims offered themselves willingly, believing that it was necessary for one person to die so that the whole community could live in peace and prosperity.  How much better would it have been for the city of Wagadu-Bida and its citizens if Sia had been duly sacrificed to the benign dragon!  She and Mamadi were the cause of the city’s downfall.  No one should be permitted to interfere with the course of traditional religious ceremonies anywhere.

For a woman of standing in the world of Islam, there is nothing more shameful than to be seen in the company of a slave as her lover.  By her silly demands this proud woman had not only destroyed the perfectness of her husband, but also his love for her, without which she could not live.  Apparently the narrator agrees with Mamadi’s revenge on his wife.  Indeed the women in the town are themselves active in preparing Sia’s undoing, anxious to stop this foolish woman from going too far in her pride and in her faithlessness, which they knew would be the downfall of the town.  For evil people destroy their own land.  Such is the madness of wickedness.

A prideful queen brings Wagadu further misery

Annalia Tu-Bari was the only child of the last king of the new Wagadu, now called Wa-Gana.  The king’s wars against his neighbors had not been successful: He had lost all but his city and a handful of villages.  When even these villages were conquered by a ruthless warlord, the king died of shame.  So Annalia Tu-Bari became queen of Wa-Gana.

The young queen was famous for her beauty.  She decreed that she would marry only the Prince who could succeed in reconquering all the eighty towns and villages of old Wa-Gana.  Many young men were tempted to try their luck, but none succeeded.  Many good men died in the wars and no one in Wa-gana laughed anymore.