Nayela (Bogondi tribe; Solomon Kane)

nayela-bogondi-ssoc54-intro NAYELA

Real Name: Nayela

Identity/Class: Human
16^th century;
African (Bogondi tribe)

Occupation: Caretaker, nurse

Group Membership: Bogondi tribe (Goru, Kuroba, Loga, numerous others unidentified; all apparently deceased)

Affiliations: Solomon Kane

Enemies: The Akaana

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Unrevealed;
formerly Bogonda of the Shadow (formerly Upper Bogonda), a village in an unidentified region of 16^th century Africa

First Appearance: Weird Tales Volume 20, Issue 1 (July, 1932): "Wings in the Night";
(Marvel) Savage Sword of Conan I#54/4 (July, 1980)

nayela-bogondi-ssoc54-care Powers/Abilities: Nayela was capable of administering basic nursing care and tending to the wounded.

Height: Unrevealed (she wasn't that much shorter than Solomon Kane, so perhaps 5'6" to 5'8")
Weight: Unrevealed (perhaps 115 - 130 lbs.)
Eyes: Unrevealed (never clearly shown, but likely brown)
Hair: Black (in some images, she appears to have a shaved head with tattoos or painted design)

History:

(Savage Sword of Conan#54/2 (fb) - BTS) - Nayela was the member of the Bogondi people who had resigned themselves to living in terror of the winged Akaana creatures.

(Savage Sword of Conan#53/2 - BTS / Savage Sword of Conan#54/2 (fb) - BTS) - After slaying an Akaana, Puritan warrior Solomon Kane was knocked unconscious and presumably severely concussed and/or soon after suffering from infection from the creature's claw rents, at least.

(Savage Sword of Conan#54/2 (fb) - BTS) - Kane was found by the villagers of Bogonda and brought to their village, where they (likely including Nayela) cared for him as he raved in delirium for many days.

(Savage Sword of Conan#54/2) - After Kane revived, Nayela introduced herself, noting that she would feed and care for him until he was strong again. She further told him that this was the land of Bogonda, ruled by their chief Kuroba and the priest Goru.
Having encountered a man sacrificed by Goru, Kane demanded to talk to speak with him.
nayela-bogondi-ssoc54-assaulted

(Savage Sword of Conan#54/2 - BTS) - Goru told Kane of how the Akaana fed merciless on their people and how they had initiated sacrifice in an effort to protect the tribe from attacks.

Impressed with Kane having slain the Akaana and with his weapons and noting how the Akaana had left them alone, Goru implored Kane to stay with them and protect them from the Akaana. Kane agreed to stay and offer his protection.

(Savage Sword of Conan#54/2 - BTS / (Sword of) Solomon Kane#6) - For months the people of Bogonda lived in joy, singing in the plantation fields, dancing about the fire, and gazing at him with adoring eyes.

(Savage Sword of Conan#54/2 (fb) - BTS) - One night, the Akaana attacked en masse, slaughtering the Bogondi. nayela-bogondi-ssoc54-death

(Savage Sword of Conan#54/2 - BTS) - Kane was awakened by the screams, and he rushed outside to attack the Akaana furiously with pistol, dagger, rapier, and axe.

    Hearing the screams of Nayela, Kane slew her attacker and then rushed to kneel by her side. She whimpered and kissed his hand with uncertain lips before her eyes set as she died.

    Apparently, none of the Bogondi survived the Akaana assault.

(Savage Sword of Conan#54/2 - BTS) - Vowing vengeance, Kane ultimately trapped all of the Akaana within Goru's hut, which he then set aflame, apparently killing them all.

Comments: Created by Robert Ervin Howard.
Adapted to Marvel by Don Glut and David Wenzel...and then again by Ralph Macchio, John Ridgeway, and Al Williamson.

According to what I see in superficial research, Wings in the Night was REH's last Solomon Kane story published during his lifetime.

--(Sword of) Solomon Kane#6 retold Wings in the Night, in color but compressed into single story. There were a few differences, including the appearance of the Akaana, Kuroba, Goru, and Nayela. Nayela had straight hair in the retelling, but I think it fits into artistic license.

Most significantly, in (Sword of) Solomon Kane#6, it specifies that Kane stays with the Bogondi for months, and when the Akaana attacked again, the dying Nayela asked Kane, "My -- God -- why have you failed us. Why?

Profile by Snood.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Nayela should be distinguished from:

other "Nayela" or African tribeswomen, 16th century or otherwise

images: (without ads)

Savage Sword of Conan I#54/4, story pg. 3, panel 3 (introducing self to Kane);
            panel 4 (telling Kane of their tribe);
        pg. 11, panel 1 (Akaana standing over Nayela);
            panel 3 (death)
(Sword of) Solomon Kane#6, pg. 8, panel 5 (face, front);
        pg. 9, panel 3 (upper profile);
        pg. 10, panel 4 (holding pot);
        pg. 12, panel 3 (Akaana standing over Nayela);
            panel 5 (asking Kane why he had failed them);
            panel 6 (death);

Appearances:
Weird Tales Volume 20, Issue 1 (July, 1932): "Wings in the Night" - Robert Ervin Howard (writer)
Savage Sword of Conan I#53/3 (June, 1980) - Don Glut (script), David Wenzel (art), Mark Gruenwald (associate editor), Lynn Graeme (consulting editor), Roy Thomas (editor)
Savage Sword of Conan I#54/4 (July, 1980) - Don Glut (script), David Wenzel (art), Mark Gruenwald (associate editor), Lynn Graeme (consulting editor), Roy Thomas (editor)
(Sword of) Solomon Kane#6 (July, 1986) - Ralph Macchio (script), John Ridgeway (penciler), Al Williamson (inker), Carl Potts (inker)

First posted: 12/19/2021
Last updated: 12/19/2021

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

Non-Marvel Copyright info
All other characters mentioned or pictured are ™ and © 1941-2099 Marvel Characters, Inc. All Rights Reserved. If you like this stuff, you should check out the real thing!
Please visit The Marvel Official Site at: http://www.marvel.com

Special Thanks to www.g-mart.com for hosting the Appendix, Master List, etc.!

Back to Characters