In a time when hunters roamed the Zambian bush with bows and arrows, two brothers, Singambala and Kabwell, were famed for their skill. Brave and sharp-eyed, they spent their days tracking animals through the tall grass and thick forests, their arrows swift as lightning. One day, as they wandered deep into the wilderness, fate placed before them a test that would change the course of their lives.
As they journeyed, the stillness of the forest was suddenly broken by a woman’s desperate cries. She was chasing after a hyena, whose powerful jaws clutched her helpless baby. Her steps faltered, yet she pressed forward, her voice raw with terror. Singambala and Kabwell, moved by her plight, raised their bows. With steady aim, Singambala’s arrow struck first, lodging in the hyena’s jaws in such a way that the infant was not harmed. Kabwell’s arrow followed, crippling the beast further. The hyena, snarling in pain, collapsed helplessly, unable to kill its prey or escape.
The brothers rushed to the woman, pried her child from the beast’s mouth, and placed the baby safely in her arms. The mother was so overwhelmed she could neither speak her gratitude nor properly thank her rescuers. Her tears and trembling silence spoke louder than words. The brothers, satisfied with their good deed, continued their hunt.
Not long after, they came upon a cave they had never seen before. Its walls were decorated with vivid paintings of animals, scenes of hunts and creatures of the wild. At the entrance sat two beautiful young women, their faces marked by sorrow, their quiet sobs echoing in the still air.
“What troubles you?” Singambala asked gently.
“Why do you sit so sorrowful?” Kabwell added.
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The women hesitated, but finally the elder spoke. “We are tormented by two hares. They threaten us, saying: ‘Marry us, or we will reveal your cave to the lion. If he finds you, you will be devoured.’”
The brothers exchanged amused glances. The threats of hares seemed laughable to seasoned hunters like them. “Is this what makes you cry so bitterly?” Singambala chuckled. “Do not fear. Allow us to stay in your cave until the hares return. We promise, not a hair on your heads will be harmed.”
The women studied the men’s faces. Strong, confident, and kind, the brothers inspired trust. Smiling shyly, the sisters welcomed them inside. The cave grew quiet, anticipation heavy in the air.
Soon, soft footsteps rustled the earth outside. The hares had come again. Standing tall, the brothers waited in silence as the tricksters shouted, “Maidens of the cave, listen! Either you marry us, or we will summon the lion to feast on you!”
The women trembled, but before they could reply, the brothers leapt forward. With a swift snare, they captured the hares, holding them fast. “Tell us now,” Kabwell mocked, “who will marry whom?” The brothers laughed heartily as the tricksters squirmed helplessly.
“Now,” Singambala said to the women, “you may wed these hares, or kill them for your supper if you wish.” With that, the brothers turned to leave.
But the women, grateful beyond words, abandoned the captured hares and followed the hunters like shadows. They walked silently behind them, their loyalty clear. Moved by their devotion, the brothers resolved to marry them. That very evening, in the cave, they celebrated their union.
Night fell. The forest grew thick with sound, and then came the rhythm of footsteps. Many men, carrying torches, approaching the cave. Singambala and Kabwell readied their bows, while their wives whispered urgent news. “These are the chief’s men,” the elder woman explained. “Our village chief has been gravely ill for many months. His indunas, counsellors, search everywhere for a healer, but none can cure him. See how the Ngambela, the chief’s prime minister, leads them.”
The younger woman added, “We know the medicine of the bush. Yet the hares kept us trapped, preventing us from reaching the chief to heal him.”
Hearing this, Kabwell said firmly, “Tell us the medicine. We will carry it to the Ngambela ourselves.”
The women gave them the cure, and the brothers stepped out to meet the torchbearers. They shouted their promise to heal the chief.
The next morning, Singambala and Kabwell arrived at the village with the medicine their wives had prepared. The remedy worked with astonishing swiftness. Within a day, the chief rose, his strength renewed, his illness gone.
In gratitude, the chief showered the brothers with rewards. Each received cattle and even a village of his own. There, with their wives, they settled and prospered, living long and honoured lives as men who had turned courage and kindness into lasting legacy.
Moral Lesson
This Bemba tale teaches that bravery combined with compassion leads to great rewards. Singambala and Kabwell did not hunt for glory but acted to protect and help others, the mother, the maidens, and even the chief. Their story reminds us that true strength is not just in skill with weapons but in the wisdom to use it for good. Those who act selflessly in times of need often find that their deeds bring blessings beyond measure.
Knowledge Check
Q1: Who were the main characters in this tale?
A1: The main characters are Singambala and Kabwell, two Bemba brothers known for their hunting skill.
Q2: How did the brothers save the baby from the hyena?
A2: They shot arrows into the hyena’s jaws, disabling it without harming the baby.
Q3: Why were the two women in the cave distressed?
A3: They were threatened by hares who demanded marriage or threatened to expose them to a lion.
Q4: How did the brothers deal with the hares?
A4: They trapped them with a snare, ending the hares’ harassment of the women.
Q5: What illness-related challenge did the chief face?
A5: The chief had been sick for many months, and his counsellors had failed to find a cure until the brothers brought the bush medicine.
Q6: What reward did the brothers receive for curing the chief?
A6: Each was given cattle and a village, securing their future prosperity.
Folktale Origin Source: Bemba folktale, Zambia. Collected in Folktales of Zambia (see: Chiman L. Vyas, comp., “Folktales of Zambia” collection).
