Apelu and Nyaranga
Hadithi, Hadithi,
Hadithi Njoo?
This is the story of how Nyaranga won the heart of the beautiful Namikasa, Apelu’s daughter
Hadithi, Hadithi,
Hadithi Njoo?
Once upon a time, in the village of Sibwani, there appeared a house that hadn’t been there before. The people of the village were amazed at the house and the couple, who walked out of the front door, acting as though nothing strange had taken place, laughing and working together. Together with the house, there also appeared a big corral, full of healthy cows and goats, signaling the great wealth of the strangers.
The couple’s fame spread through Sibwani and beyond. Visitors came from far and wide to the mysterious house, but only during the day because of the fierce dogs which roamed at night. During this time, they discovered the couple’s beautiful daughter. Her name was Namikasa. As she carried out her daily business, everyone in the village was struck by her gorgeous features and kind heart. When the season of marriage came around, all the young men arrived at the mysterious couple’s gate to offer the dowry they could afford.
The beautiful girl’s father laughed in their faces. “None of you will marry my daughter. Not unless you can guess my name.”
The men were devastated. How could they know the name of a man who had appeared out of thin air? They followed him, asking him if name after name was his, to no avail.
One of the young men named Nyaranga thought of a plan. Strong, dark-skinned and soft-spoken, he was Sibwani’s most intelligent man and the village blacksmith. He waited until nightfall to execute his plan.
Creeping through the darkness, he edged up to the fence of the corral. Ensuring none of the stranger’s guard dogs could see him, he launched a large stone into the middle of the flocks. As the cows and goats startled, they began a stampede. Through the commotion, Nyaranga listened carefully. The stranger’s wife awoke in terror, fearing thieves had come to rob them blind.
She shook her husband. “Apelu! Apelu!” she cried, “Wake up, there are thieves stealing our flocks.” Yet he slept deeply, snoring away as she called.
Nyaranga smiled with the satisfaction of having learned the stranger’s name. He would wait patiently until the public gathering where anyone who thought they knew Apelu’s name would be able to officially state their guess.
The day came soon enough. And the forlorn gentlemen gathered, lined up before the man whose name they could not guess. Each, with a sigh and a downward glance, shared his guess, met with the laughter of the stranger and the gathered crowds.
Nyaranga stepped forward with confidence. The people perked up as they watched him, wondering why he seemed so at ease.
“Young man, we don’t have all day. If you know, tell us! What is my name?” bellowed the stranger.
“Your name is Apelu!” declared Nyaranga. The crowd began to laugh, but promptly stopped when they noticed the silence of the stranger. Apelu growled with annoyance at the fact that his name was no longer a secret.
Without waiting for her father’s cue, Namikasa ran to Nyaranga’s side, gladly allying herself with the man who had proven his worth. The village rejoiced. Even the rejected suitors clapped the groom’s back, applauding him for his ingenuity. Their wedding procession was big and colorful. The merrymaking went deep into the night.
Nobody could’ve expected the empty field left in the morning. Apelu and his wife had disappeared, never to be seen again. But, Namikasa and Nyaranga lived happily ever after, helping the village through times of turmoil.
QUESTIONS
1. What was Nyaranga’s occupation?
2. How did the village know Apelu and his wife were wealthy?
3. What can we learn from this story?
