Tag Archives: African epic myths

Balladeer’s Blog continues its examination of this epic myth of the Nyanga people.

PART TWO

Mukiti the serpent god of the river reached the village of Tubondo, ruled by Shemwindo, father of the yet-unborn Mwindo. Mukiti arrived in his human form and Shemwindo extended a formal greeting to his relative (as is often the case all around the world the Nyanga people believed their rulers to be descended from the gods and therefore family members of those gods). Per Nyanga tradition no business would be discussed until the arriving guest had rested and eaten so Chief Shemwindo had Mukiti put up in an icumbi (guest house).

After a period of rest and a twilight meal Mukiti made plain to Shemwindo that he desired the chief’s sister Iyangura as a wife. Again, per tradition, Shemwindo, as the male guardian of the prospective bride, told the suitor Mukiti that the formal answer would be given the next day. However, Shemwindo gave Mukiti the gift of a rare black goat as an unofficial sign that his request would be granted.   

The next morning Mukiti made himself “as clean as a snail’s anus” to use a Nyangan idiomatic expression, and dressed extravagantly including a belt made of bongo antelope. Shemwindo and his sister Iyangura likewise dressed in their finest and Shemwindo went forth to greet the river deity. Shemwindo summoned all the royalty of the village, including his seven wives, all pregnant and all still living under his threat of death if any of them gave birth to a boy.  Continue reading →