Long ago, in the lands of the Kimbundu people of Angola, there lived an elderly man who had only one child, a daughter named Nga Samba. She was admired by many men who sought her hand in marriage. Yet her father, cautious and discerning, did not give her away easily. Each time a suitor approached, he set the same impossible condition: the man must bring him a living deer. Time and again, eager men withdrew, muttering that such a demand could never be met.
One day, however, two determined men arrived together. They went directly to Nga Samba’s father and greeted him respectfully. The old man asked them their purpose. The first declared that he wished to marry Nga Samba. The second echoed the same request. The father reminded them that his daughter was only one, while they were two. He repeated his condition firmly: whoever brought him a living deer would earn the right to marry her. The men agreed and left to prepare for the challenge.
As they walked along the path, one said, “Tomorrow I will search the forest for the deer.” The other agreed, adding, “I too will go. Let us meet at the great muxixi tree outside the forest.” They parted and went to their homes, determined to prove themselves.
At dawn, both men rose, armed with their machetes, and met as planned. Together, they entered the forest. Soon, they spotted a deer and began the chase. One man pursued it but quickly tired. Exhausted, he muttered to himself, “Shall I lose my life for the sake of a woman? If I marry her and she later dies, must I then seek another? Women are many. I will not suffer so.” He sat beneath a tree, deciding to wait for his companion.
The second man pressed on with relentless determination. He chased the deer deep into the forest until, after a long struggle, he captured it alive and bound it securely. Triumphant, he carried it back and met his weary companion. “Friend, did you truly catch it?” asked the first. The hunter replied, “Yes, I caught it. Nga Samba pleases me greatly; I would rather sleep in the forest than fail to win her.”
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Together they returned to the old man’s home, bringing the deer as proof. The father received them warmly and instructed that the animal be cooked. When the meal was finished, he called four respected elders to witness the matter.
The old man explained: “I have one daughter, Nga Samba, and no sons. I seek not just a husband for her but also a son-in-law gentle of heart. For this reason, I have always demanded a living deer. Yesterday, two men asked for my daughter. Today, only one has returned with the deer. I ask you, my neighbors and elders, to help me choose wisely.”
The elders then questioned the suitors. The successful hunter explained, “We both chased the deer. My comrade gave up, but I pursued it because Nga Samba captured my heart. At last, I caught it and bound it, then rejoined my friend.”
The elders turned to the one who had abandoned the chase. “Why did you give up, if you truly desired the girl?” they asked. He answered plainly, “I have never seen a woman wooed with such a task. When I saw how much running was required, I thought, ‘This woman will cost me my life.’ Women are many. So I stopped and waited. When my comrade caught the deer, I walked with him, but I do not seek your daughter any longer.”
The elders conferred and made their judgment. They turned to the father and said, “This man who gave up the chase shall be your son-in-law. The one who caught the deer may keep it, he may eat it or sell it, but he is not fit to marry your daughter. A man with such fierceness of heart would act without patience. If his wife erred, he would strike her without hearing counsel. Such a man would not listen even to our pleas. But this other, who gave up the deer, has shown patience and humility. Even in anger, he would calm when elders intercede. He is gentle enough to be your son-in-law.”
And so it was decided: Nga Samba was given to the man who had shown patience, not the one who proved only his strength.
Moral Lesson
This tale teaches that true strength in marriage is not found in unyielding determination or force, but in patience, humility, and the ability to listen. The elders recognized that a man who cannot restrain his anger or accept counsel would make a harsh and unkind husband. In contrast, one who demonstrates patience, even by stepping back, shows the qualities of gentleness and self-control that sustain harmony in a family.
Thus, the story reminds us that wisdom and humility are greater virtues than pride and brute strength. It is not always the fiercest hunter who makes the best husband, but the one who knows how to temper his will for the sake of peace.
Knowledge Check
1. Who was Nga Samba?
Nga Samba was the only daughter of the old man, sought after by many suitors.
2. What condition did her father place on suitors?
He required that any suitor bring him a living deer.
3. Why did one of the suitors abandon the chase?
He decided no woman was worth risking his life for and chose patience instead.
4. What did the successful hunter prove by catching the deer?
He proved determination and strength but also revealed a fierce and potentially harsh nature.
5. Why did the elders choose the man who gave up the chase?
They saw him as patient, humble, and more likely to be a gentle, understanding husband.
6. What cultural origin does this folktale come from?
It is a traditional folktale of the Kimbundu people of Angola.
Source: Kimbundu folktale, Angola
