I CAN TELL A STORY from ZAMBIA …CAN YOU?
By Oliver Mupila from Zambia, Africa
I can tell a story is a book with fertile legacy of folklore that talks life in the Animal Kindom this took place in Villge Mupila Kameya,Chife Chibwika,Mwinilunga, Zambia thousands of years ago. For many years folk tales and myths serve as a means of handling down traditions and customs from one generation to the next. For a long, long time stories have been passed down by word of mouth. Often they where told by the light of the moon around a village after the completion of a long day work. The story telling tradition has thrived for generations . Usually the stories taught a lesson and frequently, the selfish person learned . Folk tales prepare young people for life, as there are many lessons to be learned from the tales.
Here comes the story ......
Mutupa the Lion and Kalulu the rabbit go hunting
Kalulu the rabbit like the jackal and the monkey is known by other animals for his cleverness.
Kalulu the rabbit is a celebrated trickster his reputation is widespread through the woodlands, water lands and grasslands, even such animals as lion the king and the leopard, respect him. In many traditional folk tales, Kalulu the rabbit will visit the lion king who will give him a job to became a care giver for his household. Typical stories are like the following the Lunda speaking people descendants of the Great King Mwanti Yamvwa of the Luba -Lunda kingdom now living in the North-Western part of Zambia in the South of Africa. Even the largest beasts as lion the king and the leopard have had respect for Kalulu the rabbit for many, many, many years.
A long, long time ago, it is said that once lion the king caught Kalulu the rabbit and was about to eat him. Why does your mouth water so when you look at me? Asked Kalulu the rabbit.
Are you you not meat? Lion the king asked in surprise.
“But I’m too small and so thin”, Kalulu the rabbit said. After you have finished eating me you will still be hungry. Why don’t we go hunting together for something better, larger and fat?”
“You go hunting with me? Lion the king laughed, ha ha ha ha, hoo , ho ho ho ho.
What could such a ridiculous animal as you catch?
“Let us go to the village where men live”, Kalulu the rabbit said. If we do not find something fatter than I, then you may eat me”.
So Lion the king and Kalulu the rabbit went together and prowled around the edged of the village where men lived and on the outskirts Lion the king captured a fat young bull. Kalulu the rabbit also hunted, but found nothing but a mangy donkey who was rolling on its back in the dust of the trail.
As the drove and took their catch home, the rabbit looked with envy at the Lion the king’s fat bull and said, Ah , lion , what bad luck you have had!”
“How?” Lion the king said in surprise.
“Your poor bull is so thin and under nourished. You’d have been better of eating me.”
“ Everyone knows that when you strike a fat animal he gives out steam.” Kalulu the rabbit said.
Lion the king did not know about that, but replied, yes, everyone knows that.
He picked up a stick and struck his bull across the back, but there was no steam coming out of the bull.
He struck again, still there was no steam, see, he is fat, lion the king said without conviction.