African Folktales (The Pantheon Fairy Tale and Folklore Library)

by Roger Abrahams

  And the pipes that Shemwindo possesses,

  May the pipes also come to Mwindo.

  The spears that are at Shemwindo’s,

  May the spears come to Mwindo.

  The adzes that are at Shemwindo’s,

  May the adzes come to Mwindo.

  The billhooks that are at Shemwindo’s,

  O father, may the billhooks join Mwindo!

  May there be none left to go gardening.

  The pruning knives that are at Shemwindo’s,

  May the pruning knives come to Mwindo.

  Little pruning knife, little scraper of mbubi lianas.

  May the little pruning knife come to Mwindo.

  The little dog bells that Shemwindo possesses,

  May the little dog bells come to Mwindo.

  May there be nobody left to go hunting.

  The bags that Shemwindo possesses,

  May the bags also come to Mwindo.

  The razors that Shemwindo possesses,

  May the razors also come to Mwindo;

  May there be nobody left who is shaved.

  The butea rings that Shemwindo possesses,

  O father, the butea rings,

  May they be ready to come to Mwindo;

  May there be nobody left who wears them.

  The necklaces that Shemwindo possesses,

  May the necklaces also come to Mwindo;

  May there be nobody left who wears these.

  The needles that Shemwindo possesses,

  May the needles also come to Mwindo;

  May there be nobody left to do hook work.

  The pre drill that Shemwindo possesses,

  May the fire drill also come to Mwindo;

  May there be nobody left who makes fire.

  The hoes that Shemwindo possesses,

  O father, the hoes,

  May they come to Mwindo;

  May there be nobody left who hoes.

  The pots that Shemwindo possesses,

  May the pots also come to Mwindo;

  May there be nobody left who cooks.

  The baskets that Shemwindo possesses,

  May the baskets also come to Mwindo.

  May there be nobody left who goes to work.

  The mumanga piercer that Shemwindo possesses,

  May the mumanga piercer come to Mwindo;

  May there be nobody who bores shafts.

  Let us recite from the story

  That the Babuya are used to reciting.

  The bisara billhooks that Shemwindo possesses,

  May the bisara billhooks come to Mwindo;

  May there be nobody who prunes banana trees.

  And the bellows that Shemwindo possesses,

  May the bellows also come to Mwindo;

  May there be nobody left who smiths.

  And the hammers that are at Shemwindo’s,

  May the hammers also come to Mwindo;

  May there be nobody who smiths.

  And the blacksmiths at Shemwindo’s,

  May the blacksmiths also come to Mwindo;

  May there be nobody who smiths.

  The nkendo knives that are in Tubondo,

  The nkendo knives that Shemwindo possesses,

  May the nkendo knives come to Mwindo;

  May there be nobody who plaits.

  The raphia palm trees that are at Shemwindo’s,

  May the raphia palm trees come to Mwindo;

  May there be nobody who plaits

  Or who traps.

  And the drums that are in Tubondo,

  O father the drums!

  May they join Mwindo;

  May there be nobody who dances.

  Thus did Mwindo invoke and call to him magically all of his father’s possessions.

  Mwindo and his uncles and his aunt and the servants who had arrived with them, the singers and the drummers, when the latter opened their eyes—all the things that were in Tubondo and at Shemwindo’s had come to them. When Mwindo’s aunt saw all these things, she said to her son Mwindo: “You will suffer because of those things belonging to other people that you brought together here.” And it was true, for all those with Mwindo got sick, gorging themselves with food. They were not cold any more, they found their warmth again. They said: “Lo! Mwindo is a man who does not lie when he says that he is the Little One Just Born He Walked. He always has something to rely upon. The one who will try to climb over him will be the first to die alone and abandoned—he is not a man to provoke.”

  When Mwindo had seen that all the important things of his father had come to him, he said that now his father remained there, drunk and abandoned. He said to his aunt that he wanted his uncles to start the fight, and that he, Mwindo, would remain there with her for awhile so that he might see how his uncles handled themselves in battle. His uncles fought on the land and in the air, but the people of Tubondo said: “You will not win out today.”

  After a time, Mwindo’s uncles were completely wiped out. They died. The people of Tubondo finished them. One of Mwindo’s uncles escaped from the midst of the battle, but he was seriously injured. He ran to Mwindo to tell him the news. “The people of Tubondo have overcome us. All the people, all your uncles, are lying there in their own congealed blood.” When Mwindo’s aunt saw this messenger—blood had covered his whole body—and also heard the news of how the people had completely dried up like water into the soil, she exclaimed: “O leader, Mwindo, I warned you of this. I said that you were going to be helpless against the people of Shemwindo. But you said, ‘Not at all.’ Now just pick up this useless tooth here, the fruit of your victory. Just look how your uncles have been wiped out.” Mwindo said to his aunt: “First, I’m going to find out why my uncles were all defeated. And if Shemwindo does not meet me face to face, then I am not Mwindo.” His aunt said to him: “Oh, Mwindo, don’t! You will be responsible for all of us getting killed. If you enrage the people in Tubondo, then we are all going to die.” Mwindo did not listen to the mouth of his aunt, and said that he was going to fight: “You, aunt, stay here with my axe and my little bag in which there is a rope. And I will carry my scepter with me.”

  Mwindo went climbing up to Tubondo. As soon as the people saw Mwindo arriving, they pointed to him, saying to Shemwindo: “See the little man who just appeared at the village entrance alone.” Shemwindo answered his people: “What can one little man do all by himself? Even if he comes, we shall cut his throat and he will die.” His people answered him: “There, from where bisibisi insects emerge, one day red ants will come out of it. This little man will be able to make us run away from the village and we won’t be able to do anything against him.” Shemwindo answered his people: “Let this little fool go swaggering into the garbage heap.”

  Mwindo came through the village entrance singing and swinging his scepter around. When Mwindo arrived in Tubondo, he came to the middle of the village. He talked to the people. He demanded to dance to the rhythm of their drums. The people of that village taunted him, seeing his size: “You are helpless against our drums here, you are a little fool.” Mwindo answered them that this was an insult. Before he even had time to rest, they began the challenges and slanders. The people of that village told him that there was no drum there. To that Mwindo said that the drums would be coming. Mwindo went on speaking to them in that way while his father was in his compound. Mwindo sang his boast about himself:

  He is climbing up here in Tubondo,

  He is going to fight with Shemwindo.

  While he was singing, he declaimed: “May whoever dies and whoever is saved join Iyaugura.” He raised his voice to the sky, singing:

  What will never die but will be saved,

  May it, O father, join Iyaugura,

  Iyaugura, sister of Shemwindo,

  The most exalted mother of my cradling string.

  O father, whoever will die and whoever will be saved,

  May they join their aunt,

  Sister of Shemwindo!

  My junior and my senior sisters,<
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  Be ready to join me.

  What will never die but will be saved,

  May they join Iyaugura,

  Aunt, sister of Shemwindo.

  My senior brother, come,

  Who will die and will be saved,

  May they join Aunt Iyaugura.

  May you, O my mothers, come!

  What will not die but be saved,

  May they join Aunt Iyaugura.

  I die, O Bira!

  What has been said will be said again.

  Let me fight here in Tubondo,

  Even though Tubondo has seven entrances.

  Rightly have the counselors feared to advise Shemwindo.

  Whoever will die and whoever will be saved,

  May they join Aunt Iyaugura.

  The counselors retreated before Shemwindo.

  Who will die and who will be saved,

  May they join Aunt Iyaugura.

  Hatred is in the heart.

  When I have a bridge built for myself,

  He who crosses it will be cut in two.

  I prayed for Aunt Iyaugura,

  Aunt Iyaugura, may you be blessed with the favor of the spirits.

  Mwindo shouted, saying:

  Hatred is in the heart,

  My friend Nkuba, god of lightning, may you be on my side

  And make me victorious.

  I shall fight here in Tubondo,

  Even if Tubondo has seven entrances.

  Here, in Tubondo, send seven lightning flashes to close them off.

  I shall fight here in Tubondo.

  I send seven lightning flashes now!

  Mwindo thought back over his grievances.

  The counselors ran away leaving Shemwindo.

  For the counselors were not worthy of their office.

  It’s you who will die, and turn into dried leaves.

  My father threw me into the drum.

  I shall fight here in Tubondo;

  May Tubondo turn into dried leaves, merely.

  The counselors ran away leaving Shemwindo;

  The counselors were not worthy of that office.

  May the counselors turn into dried leaves.

  My friend Nkuba, may you strike in victory.

  Hatred is in the heart.

  I implored Aunt Iyaugura,

  Whoever will die or be saved,

  May they join Iyaugura,

  Aunt, sister of Shemwindo,

  My little fiery father.

  My insignificant father threw me into the grave.

  My insignificant father believed that I would die.

  Mwindo raised his eyes into heaven and said:

  My friend Nkuba,

  Here in Tubondo send seven lightning flashes!

  While Mwindo was looking up into the sky, he pointed his scepter there as well. From the sky where Nkuba dwells, seven lightning flashes came, descending on Tubondo, on the village. Tubondo turned into dust, and the dust rose up. All who lived there turned into mere dust.

  Where Shemwindo was sitting in his compound, he exclaimed: “There is no time for lingering here.” Having spoken, he went down behind the house without looking back. Where he fled, he arrived at a place in which there was a kikoka plant. Tearing it out, he went into the ground at the base of its root.

  After his victory at Tubondo, Mwindo boasted in the middle of the village. He said: “This time the one who climbs on me, the one who digs into me while fighting with me, will be wearing himself out in vain.” He spoke like this when the corpses of the first of his uncles to die had already begun to decay. Mwindo went down to where his aunt still stayed in the glen in order that they should walk together to the crest of the hill at Tubondo. The aunt asked him: “Is it good news that you carry from where you are coming?” Mwindo answered her that Tubondo was ablaze. He also said to her and the others gathered: “Let’s go to Tubondo now, for it is higher up. Let’s get away from here in the lowlands.” When the aunt began to gather her belongings, Mwindo stopped her from doing so. He said to her: “Leave all of these things, for they will bring themselves to Tubondo.” Having spoken, he went on up the hill, and his aunt followed him, together with the group of servants who had come with them. They climbed up to Tubondo. When they got there, all those things they had left in the low ground came to them. Mwindo said he could not chase his father so long as he had not resuscitated his uncles. Then he brought them back to life, smiting them with his scepter, and singing:

  He who went to sleep, awake!

  My uncles, brothers of my mother, wake up.

  I have been testing the people of Yana.

  My uncles, brothers of my mother, forge me!

  You who are powerful blacksmiths and followers of Nkuba, forge me.

  Shemwindo, you are powerless against Mwindo,

  Mwindo is the Little One Just Born He Walked.

  My uncles, brothers of my mother, forge me,

  You who are blacksmiths of light spears.

  The Visit to the Underground

  Mwindo finished waking up all of his maternal uncles. They came back to life. Where Shemwindo had fled, he went bumping into everything, and hurting himself in the process. Finally, he got to the place of the god Muisa, who lives where no one ever clusters around the fire, for fire is unknown there in that dark place.

  In Tubondo, where Mwindo settled with his aunt, with his uncles, and with his servants, singers, and drummers, he told them: “Let’s search out Shemwindo where he headed to Muisa’s. Let us go to find him.” His aunt gave him his bag in which there was the rope. She also handed him his axe, whereas he still clasped his scepter in his hand, he the owner of its great powers. Mwindo said to his aunt: “My aunt, stay here in the village of your birth, in Tubondo. Here is the rope. Stay here holding one end of it in your hand. I’ll follow my father to Muisa’s dark and desolate realms. If you feel that this rope has stopped moving, then wait for me no longer, for lo, the fire will have dwindled and I will be dead then.”

  After he had spoken, Master Sparrow alit where Mwindo was sitting, and told him: “Come here, for I will show you the path your father took to the bush, and where he entered at the base of the root of the kikoka plant. Indeed, when your father fled, I, Sparrow, was on the roof of the world and saw him fleeing and stumbling.” After Sparrow had given him this news, Mwindo said farewell to his aunt. Holding one end of the rope, Mwindo rushed hurriedly toward the village gate. When he arrived at the kikoka plant, where his father had entered, he too pulled it up. Then he went into the earth, passing through. He went to the well at Muisa’s place. Arriving there, he met Kahindo, the spirit of good fortune and daughter of Muisa. Kahindo embraced him, saying: “This is my welcome, Mwindo.” Kahindo was sick with yaws. The yaws started from her tooth and went up to the crotch, they descended down her legs and went to the toes of her feet. When Mwindo tried to get by, Kahindo prevented him. She said: “Where are you going?” Mwindo answered that he was going to Muisa’s to look for his father, because he knew it was there that he would be found. She told him again: “First stop here where I am. In Muisa’s village one can never get through. Will you succeed in getting by, when all others have not?” Kahindo said to Mwindo: “If you are going to Muisa’s, when you arrive there, when you enter the meeting place, you will see a very big man and tall, too, curled up in the ashes near the hearth. He is Muisa. If he greets you, if he says: ‘Blessing be with you, my leader,’ you, too, will answer, ‘Yes my leader.’ When he offers you a stool, you will refuse it. You will tell him: ‘No, my leader. Will the head of a man’s father become a stool?’ When he hands you a little gourd of banana beer for you to drink, you will refuse, answering: ‘No, my father, even though a person is one’s child, is that any reason why he should drink the urine of his father?’ After Muisa has recognized you that way, he will say to you: ‘Blessing, blessing, Mwindo.’ And you will answer him: ‘And to you blessing, blessing also, leader.’ When he gives you paste to eat, you will answer him: ‘Even though a person is one’s
child, is that a reason why he should eat the excrement of his father?’ ”

  After Mwindo had heard Kahindo speaking these words of wisdom, he said to himself that he must not leave without washing Kahindo’s yaws. Mwindo began washing, smoothing them, taking away all the scabs. After Mwindo had washed them like that for some time, they were healed entirely.

  Now Mwindo went on ahead of Kahindo. He went and climbed up to Muisa’s. He arrived there and headed for the meeting place. Muisa, seeing him, greeted him with “Blessing.” Mwindo answered, “Yes, my father.” Muisa recollected: “Bring a chair for Mwindo to sit on.” Mwindo answered him: “Not at all, don’t bother, for even though a man is a guest, is that a reason for him to sit on the head of his father?” Muisa also said that he had a gourd of beer left there: “Let me pour you a bit.” Mwindo said: “No, I would not do that. For even though a man is a guest, is that a reason for him to drink the urine of his father?” Muisa said: “Let them prepare some paste for you, O Mwindo!” Mwindo answered him: “No, for even though a man is a guest, is that a reason for him to eat the excrement of his father?” Hearing that, Muisa said to him: “Twice blessings, Mwindo.”

  Seeing Mwindo pass those tests, Muisa said to Mwindo: “Go and take a rest in Kahindo’s house.” Mwindo went inside, he looked around in it. He saw Kahindo inside the house, cleansing herself, dressing up and rubbing herself with red powder and castor oil. Mwindo, seeing her, was stunned for she appeared as a sunbeam inside the house. Kahindo noticed, and greeted him: “Come in, O Mwindo!” Mwindo said: “May the one who remains behind hurt himself, O my sister!” When she saw that Mwindo had come into the house, she said to herself: “Lo, Mwindo is hungry.” She got up, she went to make some paste of ashes, the mythical food of Muisa. After she stirred it, she brought it there to Mwindo in her sacred hut. When Muisa saw Kahindo bringing the paste to Mwindo, he dashed quickly toward the house of his daughter where he might see where Mwindo was sitting. He said to Mwindo: “Oh, Mwindo, I see you are eating this food. Tomorrow, as soon as you are up and about, you must begin cultivating a new banana grove for me. You must first cut leaves, then plant the banana trees, then fell the trees. You must then cut the newly grown weeds, then prune the banana trees, then prop them up, then bring the rope bananas to me. After you have performed all those works I shall know to return your father to you.” After Muisa had spoken like that to Mwindo, he also said to him: “When you leave for the fields, I will send a man with you to make sure you are doing the farming correctly.” After he had thus spoken, he left the doorway, returning to his meeting place. Mwindo, sitting in the house, started eating the paste.