Long ago, in the ancient days when humans and animals still lived side by side, speaking the same tongue and marrying among each other, there lived a Dog named Mbwa and his mother. Unlike the dogs of today, Mbwa could speak with a voice as clear as any man’s, and he lived in harmony with both the beasts and the people. In their small hamlet, only Mbwa and his mother resided, and it was she who urged him to begin his adult life.
One day, Mbwa’s mother said to him, “My son, you are now strong enough to marry. Go to Njambo, and take his daughter Eyale as your wife.” Mbwa answered dutifully, “I will go tomorrow, Mother.” That night, as the sky darkened, both mother and son lay down to sleep, and with the morning sun Mbwa rose, prepared for his journey.
At sunrise, he set out, traveling nearly eight miles until he arrived at Njambo’s household. He was welcomed warmly. Njambo and his wife greeted him with “Mbolo!” to which Mbwa replied, “Ai, mbolo!” When asked his purpose, he spoke plainly: “I have come to marry your daughter, Eyale.”
Njambo and his wife consented, and when Eyale was called, she too agreed with joy. She was a young woman of beauty and fine character, and so the union was settled. That evening, they sat to eat together, but strangely, Mbwa did not touch his food. None questioned it then.
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The next morning, Njambo’s wife prepared water for Mbwa to wash, and before leaving for the plantation, she gave Eyale seeds of nganda (gourds) to split and cook. Njambo and his wife went off, leaving their daughter to prepare food for her new husband.
When Mbwa awoke and came to his bride, he found her working with the seeds. But Eyale, by mistake or in inexperience, was throwing away the kernels, the nourishing part, and keeping the empty husks on the plate. Mbwa watched, puzzled, then spoke to her in his clear human voice:
“No, woman! Not so! You must keep the kernels for eating, not the shells.”
The moment his words reached her ears, Eyale fell lifeless to the ground. Mbwa, in shock, tried to raise her, but she was already dead.
When Njambo and his wife returned, they found their daughter’s body and cried out, “Mbwa! What is this?” He answered first in his animal tongue, “I do not know.” But pressed again, he explained in human speech: Eyale had been casting away the kernels and saving the husks, and when he corrected her, she died instantly. As he spoke, Njambo and his wife also collapsed and died without cause.
The people of the village, hearing of the deaths, declared, “Mbwa carries evil medicine. He must be seized!” Fearing for his life, Mbwa fled into the forest, his skin torn by thorns as he stumbled back to his mother’s hut.
When she saw him, she exclaimed, “My son! What has happened? Why do you return so bruised and in such haste?” At first, Mbwa refused to speak. But she pleaded until he told her of Eyale and her parents. And as soon as his mother heard his words in human speech, she too fell dead at his feet.
The people gathered again, including Mbwa’s uncle, who demanded, “Tell us the reason for this sorrow.” Mbwa kept silent, but the people pressed him. At last, he agreed to speak only to two of them privately. But when he revealed the truth in his human voice, both men fell dead as well.
Terrified, Mbwa cried, “Ah, no! If I continue to speak, all people will perish!” The villagers, too, realized the danger. And so, from that day onward, Mbwa resolved never again to use his human speech. From then until now, dogs no longer talk as men do, only barking “Ow! Ow!” as a faint echo of the gift once lost.
Moral of the Story
This folktale teaches that gifts must be handled with care, for even blessings can become curses when misused. Mbwa’s human speech was a bridge between animals and men, but when it became a source of tragedy, silence preserved life. The story reminds us of the sacred weight of words, how they can heal or harm, create or destroy. In the wisdom of Equatorial Guinea’s tradition, the tale of Dog warns us that not every truth should be spoken, and not every gift is meant to endure forever.
Knowledge Check
Who was Mbwa in this folktale from Equatorial Guinea?
Mbwa was the Dog who once had the gift of human speech.
Why did Mbwa travel to Njambo’s household?
He went to marry Njambo’s daughter, Eyale.
What mistake did Eyale make while preparing food?
She threw away the kernels and kept the husks of the gourd seeds.
What happened when Mbwa corrected Eyale with human speech?
Eyale fell dead instantly, and later her parents also died when he spoke.
Why did Mbwa vow never to speak again?
Because his human speech brought death to those who heard it.
What lesson does the tale teach?
That words carry great power, and gifts must be used wisely or risk becoming dangerous.
Source: Traditional Folktale of Equatorial Guinea
