Kintu and Nambi Folktale #59
by Gloria Ssali
Title
Kintu and Nambi Folktale #59
Artist
Gloria Ssali
Medium
Painting - Pen On Canvas
Description
During ancient times as many legends begin in Buganda....on Earth lived a man named Kintu {(meaning - thing/a thing) in Luganda and some other Bantu languages} alone with his cow .. he lived by farming and the milk his cow produced. High above Earth lived Ggulu (Luganda meaning is Heaven) who is King of Heaven with his many sons and daughters who regularly visited Earth travelling by sliding down a rainbow . The rainbow always led to Buganda and after the initial fear at seeing a man (Kintu) seated watching his cow at pasture on their initial visit to Earth , Ggulus children slowly and thereafter formed a joyous amicable friendship with Kintu. Nambi the daughter of Ggulu on her trip to Buganda saw Kintu and fell in love immediately wanted to seek her father’s approval for matrimony. This accompanied by Kintu’s admission of heartache at his solitude captivated Nambi and who then made her way excited and enthused to Heaven to seek out Ggulu . Her enthusiasm was not matched by her brothers and despite her pleas expressed their outrage and opposition to her decision. Nambi insistent and very persistent appealed to her father to permit her marriage to Kintu revealing her love for Kintu and shared her desire approval for this union. Ggulu very unhappy initially opposed her request but eventually agreed after seeing Kintu did well in the tasks he was asked to perform .The first task was to fetch water in ekisero (sisal woven basket) which despite Kintus first efforts to carry the water to Ggulu it was lost through crevices in the basket wall. Determined and driven by his attraction and love for Nambi he then made certain by collecting dung from his cow then sealing the basket allowing it to dry and therefore was able to ensure that the water he carried was not squandered and therefore able to satisfy and please Ggulu .The following day elated and with great joy the happy couple then with His Blessing made their way to live on Earth . Ggulu then cautioned them to leave Heaven secretly and quickly following their marriage fearing Walumbe( Luganda meaning ‘’ causes sickness and death’’) ( one of Nambi’s brothers who fiercely opposed the marriage would discover the news about their marriage and would follow them on their journey back to Earth and bring them nothing but misery.
Nambi took some hens, and seeds to sow for crops as she bade farewell to her relatives. She was seen off by some of her brothers and sisters. Walumbe who is the most feared of Nambi's brothers was not present they made a quick departure to avoid any confrontation. Whilst Nambi was on her way to Earth she remembered she had forgotten her millet for her chickens. Filled with fear Kintu and concerned for her safety tried to persuade her not to return but with Nambi’s determined insistence he gave way. With the millet for her hens with her secured from Heaven and in her bag Nambi happily rushed back to meet Kintu. Whilst en route back to Kintu she was met by Walumbe who consumed with curiosity demanded to know her destination. Out of fear Nambi kept silent about her plans and her final intentions. Walumbe furious with her silence insisted on accompanying her and thus Kintu back to earth their journeys end in Buganda.
Kintu and Nambi formed a family and cultivated crops at their new home. Walumbe then tried to persuade Kintu to give him one of his children to do housework in his home to which Kintu flatly refused remembering Ggulu’s advice. Walumbe infuriated then killed one of Kintu’ s children . On discovering the death Kintu overcome with grief and anger related his fury and pain to Ggulu feeling terrible loss of his child. Ggulu then asked very moved at Kintus grief asked Kaikuzi( meaning(that which shakes the Earth) (Kaikuzzi means he who digs holes) ( Nambis brother) to go to Earth and return Walumbe back to Heaven. Walumbe found, Kaikuzzi offered to help him back to heaven. Walumbe then adamant in his dislike of Nambis union with Kintu insisted on a joint return to Heaven with Nambi. Kaikuzi then began to tackle Walumbe as they struggled Walumbe managed to escape and make his way to a hole in a hillside into which he entered. Kaikuzzi ultimately feeling drained in strength advised Kintu and Nambi to keep their children indoors and ensure they do not make a sound if they see Walumbe. He then made his way underground to locate Walumbe. Kaikuzzi feeling Walumbe exhausted by the struggle would be easy to capture and return to heaven. However Kintu and Nambi in their house did not ensure all the children were indoors. These children then seeing Walumbe screamed in terror. Kaikuzzi seeing this remonstrated with Kintu for not following his orders and that he was going to make his way to heaven immediately Kintu regretful assured Kaikuzzi he woul ensure he had several offspring to prevent his disappointment to redress those lost to Walumbe.. Kintu then on reflection made a deal with Walumbe to take half his offspring confident he would procreate endlessly. Walumbe then remained on earth to share half man’s offspring. Walumbes presence on Earth is believed to be a cause of suffering and conflicts and is according to the legend how death and sickness began. Walumbe then made his home underground in a place called Tanda . The Tanda Pits are the location where Walumbe is traditionally thought to have fallen to earth to hide from Ggulu which is located west of Kampala on the south side of the road leading to Mityana. Walumbe’s presence on earth is considered to be the source of suffering and conflict on Earth and it is widely believed that this is the beginning of death and sickness on Earth. Meanwhile , Kaikuzi it is believed is always looking for Walumbe digging huge holes in the earth to find his brother.when he does encounter him they fight very fiercely causing the earth to shake so much and and hence earthquakes erupt on earth . This is how the legend is told how sickness and death began and how Kintus descendants will always remain as Kintu....literally in the Kiganda saying ‘’ Abaana ba Kintu tebaliffa kugwawo which directly translated means that ‘’Kintus children will never be wiped off the face of the Earth’’. Nambi and Kintu then lived happily ever after.
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April 29th, 2018
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