Long ago, in a time when the world still brimmed with wonders and strange happenings, there lived a man and his wife in a land filled with joy. The couple was blessed with four healthy sons, but their hearts ached for a daughter. When the wife became pregnant for the fifth time, they prayed ceaselessly: “Please, God, make it different this time. Let it be different.” Their days and nights echoed with this single plea.
At last, the day of birth came. The father fell on his knees, begging the gods and ancestral spirits to hear his prayer. Soon, the old nurse rushed to him with news.
“Glad tidings, master,” she said solemnly. “It is indeed different this time.”
“Different?” he cried with joy. “God be praised!”
“Yes,” the nurse replied gravely. “Your wife has given birth… to a puppy dog.”
The father stood stunned, but when he laid eyes on the soft, helpless creature, his anger melted into tenderness. Though strange, the puppy possessed a gentle nature. The family loved him dearly, and he grew up following his brothers everywhere, guarding the home with loyalty. Even as a child, he was obedient and kind, and soon, all who knew him adored him.
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Years passed, and the four elder brothers grew into strong, handsome men. Their father urged them to seek their fortune, reminding them that it was not manly to linger in the parental home. To each son, including the dog, he gave a hoe, a knife, and his blessings. Their mother packed food bundles for them, which the brothers carried on behalf of their unusual sibling.
The dog, now large and powerful, almost like a lion in strength, kept his gentle spirit. Together, the brothers journeyed until they reached the land of a wise Chief. They requested to prove their skills, and the Chief set them a task: to carve a path from his palace to the river, fifteen miles away. Tirelessly, the brothers worked in unison, while the dog guarded their tools and protected them from wild beasts. In short time, they created a fine road upon which carts, cattle, and men could travel with ease.
Pleased, the Chief revealed he had five daughters. He gave the four elder daughters in marriage to the brothers, but his youngest, Nalishebo, remained without a suitor. Mockingly, the brothers offered her the dog as a companion. To everyone’s surprise, she accepted.
As the Chief grew old, he divided land among his daughters. The elder sisters flourished, aided by their husbands. They farmed, built strong homes, hunted, and lived in abundance. But Nalishebo, fragile and alone, struggled. She could not till her fields nor maintain her hut. Ashamed, she often borrowed food and clothing from her sisters. One day, overcome by sorrow, she lashed out at the dog:
“Look at my sisters,” she wept. “They have strong men to help them. And I? I am left with only a dog, good for nothing but eating and sleeping!”
The dog whined softly, wagging his tail, but said nothing.
The next morning, Nalishebo awoke to a miracle. Her land was weeded; beds prepared for planting. Each new dawn brought more wonders: her roof thatched, fields tilled, saplings planted, blossoms blooming. Her sisters grew jealous, unable to match her flourishing land. Suspecting sorcery, they kept watch, but no one was ever seen.
One moonlit night, Nalishebo awoke to the sound of labour. Quietly stepping outside, she saw a young man working her land with great skill. She drew nearer, but stepped on something soft. Looking down, she gasped, it was the skin of her beloved dog.
Clutching it, she cried, “My poor pet is dead!”
Startled, the young man rushed to her. “Give me back my skin, quickly!” he pleaded. In that instant, Nalishebo understood. The young man was her dog, transformed by a secret power that allowed him to slip in and out of his skin. He begged her never to reveal it, for if discovered, he would be condemned to remain a dog forever.
But whispers spread among the sisters. Rumours of a secret lover threatened Nalishebo’s honour, and in those days, the daughters of chiefs were held to the highest standards. Fearing punishment, she devised a plan.
The next time the dog shed his skin, Nalishebo seized it and burned it to ashes. Though sorrow filled her heart as the lovely skin turned to smoke, she knew it was the only way to protect his human form and silence the gossip.
Freed from the spell, the young man remained a man forever. He married Nalishebo, and together they lived in harmony, finally equal to her sisters in joy and abundance.
Moral Lesson
This story teaches that true blessings may appear in strange or unexpected forms. The dog, once mocked, proved to be Nalishebo’s greatest gift. Patience, faith, and love can reveal hidden strengths, while courage in the face of ridicule secures lasting happiness.
Knowledge Check
Q1: What unusual child was born to the couple?
A1: A puppy dog.
Q2: How did the dog prove useful to his brothers during their journey?
A2: He guarded their tools and protected them from wild animals.
Q3: Who accepted the dog as her companion?
A3: The Chief’s youngest daughter, Nalishebo.
Q4: What miracle happened on Nalishebo’s land?
A4: Each morning, her fields and home improved as if by unseen hands.
Q5: What was the dog’s secret power?
A5: He could transform into a man by shedding his dog skin.
Q6: How did Nalishebo ensure the young man stayed human forever?
A6: She burned his dog skin to ashes.
Source: Kalulu the Hare and Other Zambian Folk-Tales, Zambia
