The final sentence was almost a roar, Juma shouted it at the top of his lungs. The entire banquet fell silent at the sound of his last outburst. Even the music came to an abrupt halt.
Everyone paused what they were doing and turned to look in the direction of Wentworth and Juma Kalembo.
After a few seconds of silence, Juma gently clapped his hands. The music resumed as if nothing had happened, the guests returning to their dancing and dining, only now, there was a subtle consensus among them to steer clear of where Wentworth and Juma stood.
Looking somewhat apologetic, Juma turned to Wentworth.
"Forgive me. I got a little carried away."
But Wentworth waved it off casually.
"No worries. If it were me, I might've been even more worked up."
They clinked glasses lightly and each took a sip of red wine. Juma continued.
"My mother once said: the most powerless display a man can show… is fury."
"That's why, ever since then, my father made it his life's mission to bridge the gap between African wizards and the Western world."
"We studied European culture. Adopted European ways of thinking. In every way possible, my father tried to align the Kalembo clan with the wizarding world of Europe. Under his influence, this became a growing trend among many African wizards."
"And now, with your arrival, I've seen a new path forward. In my opinion, what we most need to learn… is European education."
Hearing this, Wentworth's heart stirred, though he remained outwardly composed.
"Oh? European education? And what exactly do you mean by that, Juma?"
Juma smiled, pointing directly at Wentworth.
"Everyone in Uagadou knows why you're here. The International Confederation of Wizards sent you here under the guise of an investigation, what a public humiliation for Uagadou!"
"Even though I'm a student here myself, I have to admit: Uagadou has much to learn from schools like Hogwarts, especially when it comes to one thing: structure."
Wentworth understood immediately. The real conversation had finally begun. Curious about what Juma was truly getting at, he motioned for him to continue.
Seeing that Wentworth was intrigued, Juma grew more animated.
"Right now, Uagadou operates under a headmaster-led model. All decisions rest with the headmistress alone."
"Although our Kalembo tribe maintains a good working relationship with Headmistress Adisa, I firmly believe this kind of system presents serious problems when it comes to the school's long-term development."
"The biggest issue is that there's no oversight, no one to truly monitor Uagadou's academic standards or its direction. If there had been, perhaps this current incident would never have happened!"
Wentworth nodded calmly, then asked:
"So what exactly are you proposing, Juma?"
Juma smiled again and pointed, not at Wentworth, but at the Hogwarts crest on his robes.
"I believe Hogwarts sets a fine example. As far as I know, it is governed by a Board of Governors, responsible for overseeing the school. In fact, they even have the power to appoint or remove the headmaster, correct?"
Wentworth gave a small nod, confirming the point without objection.
Seeing this, Juma's eyes gleamed.
"Even Albus Dumbledore, the greatest white wizard in history, had to answer to the Board. Who else could claim more authority than Dumbledore?"
Wentworth finally understood.
"So… you're suggesting Uagadou adopt a Board of Governors? I'm guessing your Kalembo tribe would hold a seat?"
Juma met Wentworth's half-smiling gaze without flinching.
"Not just our tribe. Naturally, other major tribes across Africa as well. Many of them are hesitant, of course, power always comes with responsibility."
"If a Board of Governors were established, each represented tribe would need to significantly increase their funding. Running a school like Uagadou isn't cheap, it requires immense yearly support to sustain the faculty, facilities, and students."
Wentworth gave a neutral nod of agreement.
"You're right. It's nearly impossible for one person alone to keep a school of this scale afloat. I have a great deal of respect for Headmistress Adisa for managing it as well as she has."
Juma nodded as well.
"Exactly. She's someone we all admire. But that's also why reform is necessary. She won't be headmistress forever. Who's to say her successors will be just as capable?"
"That's why we need checks and balances. This isn't a criticism of Headmistress Adisa, it's about ensuring Uagadou's future."
"And besides, if a Board were established, every student's performance would be observed by leaders from the continent's most powerful tribes. That kind of visibility could open doors for their careers after graduation."
"You know as well as I do, Uagadou may be the finest magic school in Africa, but that doesn't mean all its graduates find good jobs. Every year, countless graduates leave their homes to seek opportunities in Europe or America. Some even end up working as bounty hunters."
At last, Wentworth saw the full picture. It wasn't just Juma Kalembo, it was the Kalembo tribe behind him, working toward something bigger.
But there was still one thing Wentworth didn't understand. And since he didn't, he asked directly:
"So, Juma Kalembo, what does any of this have to do with me?"
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TN: This fanfic has been fully translated and is available on my Patreon —— patreon(.)com/PrimalDemon [remove the parentheses ( )]