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A long time a ago, in a certain place in Africa, a smallvillage lay across a river and half a day´sjourneyfrom a citywhere a greatkinglived. A mannamedMufarolived in thisvillagewithhistwodaughters, whowerecalledManyara and Nyasha. Everyoneagreedthat Manyara and Nyashawereverybeautiful.
Manyara wasalmostalways in a badtemper. Sheteasedhersisterwhenevertheirfather´s back wasturned, and shehadbeenheardtosay, “ Someday, Nyasha, I willbe a queen, and youwillbe a servant in my household.” “ Ifthatshouldhappen,” Nyasha responded, “ I willbepleasedtoserveyou. Butwhy do yousaysuchthings? You are clever and strong and beautiful. Why are you so unhappy?”
“ Becauseeveryonetalksabouthowkindyou are, and theypraiseeverythingyou do.” Manyara replied. “I´mcertainthatFatherlovesyoubest. Butwhen I am a queen, everyonewillknowthatyoursillykindnessisonly a weakness.”
Nyashawassadthat Manyara feltthisway, butsheignoredhersister´swords and wentabouther chores. Nyashakept a smallgarden, in whichshegrewmillet, sunflowers, yams, and vegetables. Shealwayssang as sheworked, and somesaiditwashersingingthatmadehercropsgrowbetterthananyoneelses´s.
Oneday, Nyashanoticed a smallgardensmakerestingbeneath a yam vine. “Goodday, littleNyoka,” shecalledtohim. “You are welcomehere. Youwillkeepawayanycreatureswhomightspoil my vegetables.” Shebent forward and gavethelittlesnake a lovingpatonhis head and thenreturnedtoherwork. Fromthatdayon, Nyokawasalways at Nyasha´ssidewhenshewas in hergarden.
Thegirl´sfather, Mufaro, didn´tknowhow Manyara treatedhersisterbecause Manyara alwaysbehavedwellwhenherfatherwasaround. Onemorning, a messengerarrivedfromthecity. Thekingwanted a wife and themostbeautifulgirls in allthelandweretoappearbeforetheking so he couldchooseonetobehiswife.
Mufaro called his daughters. “It would be a great honour if the king choose one of you to be his bride,” he said. “Tomorrow we will leave for the city at sunrise.” “But father,” said Manyara sweetly, “ Nyasha would be so sad to leave you alone. She can stay here with you and I will go to the city alone.” “ No,” Mufaro said, “ only a king can choose between such beautiful girls. Both of you must go.”
That night, when everyone was asleep, Manyara crept out in to the forest. She was frightened because she had never been in the forest at night before but she wanted to appear before the king before her sister could. In her hurry she stumbled across a small boy standing in her path. “Haveyouanyfood?” askedtheboy. “ I am hungry and I havenothingtoeat.” “Out of my way,” replied Manyara. “ I onlyhaveenoughformyself.” And shewentonherway.
After a while, Manyara cameto a smallclearing. There in themoonlightshesawanoldwomansittingon a largestone. Thewomanspoke. “ I am heretogiveyousomeadvice, Manyara. Soonyouwill come to a place wheretwopathscross. There a group of treeswilllaugh at youbutyoumustnotlaugh back. Then, youwillsee a manwithhis head underhisarm. Be politetohim.” “Howdareyouspeakto me,” shouted Manyara, “You are anuglyoldwoman. Out of my way!”
There in themoonlightshesawanoldwomansittingon a largestone.
Just as theoldwomanhadforetold, Manyara cameto a group of tree and theydidindeedappeartobelaughing at her. “I mustbecalmthought,” Manyara. “I mustnotbefrightened.” Shelooked at thetrees. “I laugh at youtrees, “ sheshouted and hurriedon. At dawn, sheheard a river up ahead. “ I mustbenearthecity.” shethoughttoherself. Suddenly, shesaw a manwithhishead underhisarm. Shewasfrightened so sherushedonpastwithoutsaying a word.
Nyashawoke at thefirst light of dawn. Sheputonherfinestclothes and thoughtabouthowherlifemightbechangedforeverifthekingchoseher. Outsideshecouldhear a commotion. Manyara wasmissingbutherfootprintswerefoundonthepathleadingtothecity. Theweddingpartydecidedtocontinue as planned.
Theweddingpartywalkeddeepintotheforest. Nyashasaw a smallboystandingbytheside of thepath. “Youmustbehungry,” shesaid and shehandedtheboy a yamthatshehadboughtforher lunch. Theboysmiled and disappearedintotheforest. Later as theyapproachedthe place wherethetwopathsmet, Nyashasawanoldwomanwhosilentlypointedthewaytothecity. Nyashathankedher and gavethewoman a smallpouch of sunflowerseeds. Thesungrewhigher in theskywhenthepartycametosometoweringtrees. As theypassedthetreesseemedtobowdowntothem. At lastsomeoneshouted, “Wehavearrived.” Theyhadreachedtheirdestination.
Nyashaexcitedlyranahead. “ Oh father,” sheexclaimed, “a greatspiritmust stand guardhere. I havenever in my lifeseenanything so beautiful!”
Arm in arm, Nyasha and herfather descended intothecity. Just as theygotnear, Manyara rushedout of a building. ShesawNyasha and sobbed, “Don´tgo in there. Thereis a monsterwithfiveheads. Oh sister, please do notgoinside.” Nyashacomfortedhersister and leftherwithherfather, bravelydecidingtoconfrontthemonster.
Nyashacomfortedhersister and leftherwithherfather, bravelydecidingtoconfrontthemonster.
Nyashawalkedintothebuilding and thereon a littlestoolshesaw a smallsnake. “Oh Nyoka, my littlefriend,” shecried, “what are youdoinghere?” Thensuddenlybeforehereyesthesnaketransformedinto a man. “I am theking.” he replied.“I am thekingbutI am alsothehungryboytowhomyougave a yam and theoldwomantowhomyougave a pouch of sunflowerseeds. I knowyou are beautifulnotonlyontheoutsidebutontheinsideas welland therefore I wouldbeveryhappyifyouwouldagreetobe my wife.”
And so it was that the king and Nyasha were married and Mufaro proclaimed to all who could hear him that he was the happiest father in all the land to have two such wonderful daughters!
