Long ago, in the land of the Kimbundu people, there lived a man named Kimanaueze who had a son destined for greatness. When this son grew into manhood, his father urged him to take a wife. But the young man refused every suggestion. “I will not marry any woman of the earth,” he declared firmly. “If I marry, it must be the daughter of Lord Sun and Lady Moon.”
His family and neighbours were astonished. “Who can reach the heavens?” they asked. “How can such a marriage ever be made?” But the son of Kimanaueze stood by his word: he would wed no one else.
He began by writing a letter of marriage and entrusted it to the animals. First, he gave it to Deer, but Deer admitted, “I cannot reach the heavens.” Antelope also declined, and so did Hawk and Vulture, who said he could only fly halfway. Disheartened, the young man stored the letter in a box and fell silent.
One day, by the well where the servants of Lord Sun and Lady Moon came to fetch water, Frog appeared. “Young master,” Frog said, “give me the letter. I will carry it.” The young man laughed bitterly. “When even those with wings have failed, how could you, Frog, reach the sky?” But Frog insisted, “I am equal to the task.” At last, the letter was given to him, with a warning: “If you fail and return, I will beat you.”
READ: A Bride and Her Brothers-in-Law: A Kimbundu Folktale
Frog carried the letter to the well. When the heavenly maidens came to draw water, he slipped into a jug unnoticed. They lifted the jug and carried it up the web of Spider into the heavens. Once there, Frog crept out and placed the letter upon the water room’s table before hiding in a corner.
When Lord Sun entered, he found the letter and read it: the son of Kimanaueze asked for his daughter’s hand. Surprised, Lord Sun stored the letter quietly, uncertain of the messenger’s identity. When the water jugs were later returned to earth, Frog slipped back to Kimanaueze’s son and reported his success. At first, the young man doubted him, but Frog urged him to wait.
After six days, another letter was written, reminding Lord Sun of the unanswered proposal. Once again, Frog carried it secretly in a water jug. This time, Lord Sun decided to reply. He agreed to the marriage, but on one condition: “Let the man himself come with a first-present, so that I may know him.”
The son of Kimanaueze was overjoyed. He entrusted Frog with gifts of money and further letters, each time carried safely to the heavens and delivered unseen. In return, Lord Sun accepted the presents, sharing the news with Lady Moon. They even set food on the table for the mysterious messenger. Frog feasted secretly each time before carrying letters back to earth.
At last, Lord Sun demanded the full bride-price: a sack of money. The young man complied, sending it once again with Frog. This time, after delivering the gift, Frog crept into the chamber of the maiden, the daughter of Sun and Moon, as she slept. He stole both her eyes and bound them in a handkerchief, hiding them in his corner.
When morning came, the maiden could not see. Her parents summoned diviners, who declared that her affliction was caused by a spell from her earthly suitor. The remedy, they said, was simple: she must be sent to her husband on earth, or she would perish.
Thus, Lord Sun instructed Spider to weave a great web to the earth. The maiden was lowered to the well, where Frog awaited her. He returned her stolen eyes and led her safely to the house of the son of Kimanaueze. There, at last, the earthly man married the heavenly daughter, all thanks to the unlikely persistence of Frog.
And so it was that no creature of earth or sky could bridge heaven and earth, except Mainu the Frog.
Moral Lesson
This folktale reminds us that greatness often depends not on strength or stature, but on determination and cleverness. Even the smallest and most underestimated can achieve what others cannot. The son of Kimanaueze’s prideful dream could only be fulfilled through the humility and persistence of Frog, teaching us never to dismiss the unlikely ally.
Knowledge Check
Q1: Who was the young man seeking to marry?
A1: The son of Kimanaueze sought the daughter of Lord Sun and Lady Moon.
Q2: Which animals first refused to carry the marriage letter?
A2: Deer, Antelope, Hawk, and Vulture all admitted they could not reach the heavens.
Q3: How did Frog manage to reach the sky?
A3: He hid inside a water jug carried by the heavenly maidens up Spider’s web.
Q4: What role did Spider play in the story?
A4: Spider wove the cobweb pathway used by the maidens to carry water between heaven and earth.
Q5: Why did Lord Sun finally agree to send his daughter to earth?
A5: Diviners revealed that her blindness was caused by her destined husband’s spell, and only joining him would cure her.
Q6: What is the central lesson of the tale?
A6: Even the smallest or least expected, like Frog, can accomplish the impossible through determination.
Source: Kimbundu folktale, Angola. Collected in Folktales of Angola (1894), Heli Chatelain. Smithsonian Libraries.
