In a prosperous village where wealth flowed like honey and fortune smiled upon the fortunate, there lived a man named Nenpetro. He was blessed with two wives, and in the fullness of time, each wife bore him a daughter of extraordinary beauty. These girls grew like flowers in the morning sun, their grace and loveliness becoming known throughout the surrounding lands.
As the daughters blossomed into young women of marriageable age, Nenpetro and his wives faced a dilemma. Suitors would surely come from far and wide, bearing lavish gifts and making grand promises. How could they choose wisely? After much deliberation, the family made an unusual decision.
“We will not accept presents for our daughters,” Nenpetro declared. “Instead, we shall give them only to the man who can discover their names.”
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The daughters were called Lunga and Lenga, names kept secret from all outsiders, spoken only within the privacy of their home.
News of the beautiful daughters and their father’s strange condition spread across the region like wildfire. The first to arrive was an antelope, a creature of some standing in the animal kingdom. He approached Nenpetro’s compound with confidence, a large bundle of fine cloth balanced on his back and other valuables gathered at his feet.
“Great Nenpetro,” the antelope said with a respectful bow, “I have brought these generous gifts for your daughters. I wish to marry them.”
Nenpetro shook his head slowly. “We cannot accept your generous presents, for we have sworn an oath. We will give our daughters only to the man who can guess their names.”
The antelope’s ears drooped with disappointment. He gathered his gifts and scampered away, his mind racing with schemes to uncover the secret names. But no plan came to him, and he could only wait and watch.
Not long after, a prince named Nsassi arrived from a town some distance away. He was known throughout the land as a gazelle of noble bearing and kind heart. Behind him trotted his faithful dog, a creature whose loyalty to his master was legendary.
Nsassi stood before Nenpetro and made his request with quiet dignity. “I have come to ask for your daughters in marriage.”
“My son,” Nenpetro replied, his voice gentle but firm, “guess their names, and they shall be yours.”
“Well, what do you call them?” Nsassi asked.
“No, I may not tell you.”
The dog sat at his master’s feet, watching and listening to every word. He saw the hope fade from Nsassi’s eyes and felt his master’s heart grow heavy. The daughters were indeed beautiful to behold—their eyes sparkled like stars, their laughter rang like sweet music and Nsassi yearned for them with all his being.
Dejected, Nsassi turned and walked back toward his town, so consumed by grief that he didn’t notice his dog had stayed behind.
As evening fell, Nenpetro called to his daughters. “Lunga! Lenga! Come here, my children.”
The dog’s ears perked up immediately. “Lunga and Lenga!” he thought triumphantly. “Oh, I must run and tell my father these names so that he may return and marry these beautiful daughters and be happy again!”
Without hesitation, the dog set off down the road, his paws flying over the earth. He ran for hours, driven by love for his master, until hunger gnawed at his belly so fiercely, he could go no farther. Desperate, he searched for food and finally managed to catch a wild kitten. He devoured it quickly and continued his journey, his heart full of joy and purpose.
But as he ran, turning the names over in his mind, a terrible realization struck him, he had forgotten them! The names had slipped from his memory like water through his paws. With no choice but to return, the exhausted dog made the long journey back to Nenpetro’s town, arriving around midnight. He collapsed in sleep and didn’t wake until late the next day.
When morning light filled the compound, Nenpetro’s voice rang out once more. “Oh! Lunga and Lenga, give that little dog of Nsassi’s some food.”
The daughters brought him food, but no water to drink. Still, the dog licked their hands gratefully and set off again with renewed determination. His mission was too important to fail.
Along the road, he came upon a clear stream, its water sparkling invitingly in the sunlight. Overcome by thirst, he drank deeply, satisfying his parched throat. But when he lifted his head and tried to recall why he was traveling, the names had vanished from his mind once more.
Frustrated but undeterred, the dog returned again to Nenpetro’s town and spent another night there.
Success Through Persistence
The next morning, Nenpetro called out, “My children, give food and drink to Nsassi’s dog.”
This time, Lunga and Lenga gave him both food and water. The dog accepted gratefully, and once more headed toward his master’s town. But now he had learned his lesson. He repeated the names constantly” Lunga, Lenga, Lunga, Lenga” thinking of nothing else during the entire journey. He would not let hunger, thirst, or any distraction steal the names from his memory again.
When Nsassi saw his dog approaching, joy flooded his heart. “O, my dear dog, where have you been? Can you tell me the names of Nenpetro’s daughters?”
“Yes, my master, I know their names,” the dog replied proudly.
“Tell me then!”
“First, you must pay me, father.”
Understanding that loyalty deserved reward, Nsassi killed a pig and gave it to his dog. Then the dog told him everything the names of the beautiful girls and all that had happened during his journeys. Nsassi was overjoyed and immediately organized a great dance. The entire town celebrated, for everyone knew their prince would now win the daughters of Nenpetro in marriage.
The Final Test
Nsassi and his dog set out together to claim the brides. But the dancing and singing had made them terribly thirsty. When they reached the clear stream, they both drank deeply. To their horror, when they finished, they found they had forgotten the names!
The wise dog knew what to do. He went alone to Nenpetro’s town and once again heard the father call his daughters by their names. The daughters gave him food and drink, and he rushed back to his master. This time, they neither ate nor drank along the road but went straight to Nenpetro’s town, repeating the names with every step.
When they arrived, Nsassi stood before Nenpetro and called out with confidence, “Lunga! Lenga!”
Nenpetro smiled broadly. “Take them, my son, for you have fulfilled the condition upon which I promised them.”
The antelope, who had been watching and waiting all this time, was furious. He declared war against Nsassi, and they fought fiercely. But Nsassi, strengthened by his perseverance and aided by his faithful dog, gained the victory. He killed the antelope and ate him, and the matter was settled forever.
The Moral Lesson
This folktale teaches us that persistence, loyalty, and learning from our mistakes are the keys to achieving our goals. The dog’s repeated journeys show us that failure is not final; it is an opportunity to learn and improve. His loyalty to his master demonstrates the value of faithful companionship, while his eventual success proves that determination can overcome any obstacle. The story also reminds us that true rewards cannot be bought with material wealth alone; they must be earned through effort, intelligence, and perseverance. Finally, it shows that working together as Nsassi and his dog did is often more powerful than working alone.
Knowledge Check
Q1: Why did Nenpetro refuse to accept presents for his daughters in this African folktale?
A: Nenpetro and his wives swore an oath to give their daughters only to the man who could guess their names, Lunga and Lenga. They refused all material gifts and presents, believing that discovering the secret names would prove a suitor’s worthiness and determination rather than simply his wealth.
Q2: What role does Nsassi’s dog play in the folktale about marriage?
A: The dog is the hero of the story. He loyally helps his master by traveling multiple times to Nenpetro’s town to learn the daughters’ names. Despite forgetting the names twice due to eating and drinking, the dog perseveres and eventually succeeds, making it possible for Nsassi to win his brides.
Q3: Why did the dog forget the names Lunga and Lenga during his journeys?
A: The dog forgot the names twice because he became distracted. The first time, he stopped to eat a wild kitten to satisfy his hunger. The second time, he drank deeply from a clear stream to quench his thirst. Both times, these physical needs made him forget his important mission.
Q4: How did the dog finally succeed in remembering the names?
A: The dog succeeded by learning from his mistakes. On his final successful journey, he thought of nothing but the names “Lunga and Lenga” throughout the entire trip. He focused completely on his mission and didn’t let hunger, thirst, or any other distraction interfere with his memory.
Q5: What happened to the antelope who first tried to marry Nenpetro’s daughters?
A: The antelope tried to win the daughters with generous gifts of cloth and valuables but failed because he couldn’t guess their names. Later, when Nsassi succeeded, the jealous antelope declared war against him. They fought, and Nsassi won the battle, killing and eating the antelope.
Q6: What does Nsassi paying his dog with a pig symbolize in this folktale?
A: The pig represents the importance of recognizing and rewarding loyalty and hard work. Before revealing the names, the dog asked to be paid, and Nsassi honored this request. This shows respect for the dog’s efforts and acknowledges that faithful service deserves compensation, reflecting values of fairness and gratitude.
Source: Central African folktale (Kongo people tradition)
