A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.
Overview
Theal’s selected tale introduces the igongqongqo with an explanatory parenthesis: a fabulous monster resembling a man and capable of eating immense quantities. A woman who has returned to her emptied family home hides in its roof and gives birth to twins while animals occupy the building below. After driving the animals away, she traps a buffalo but cannot skin it. The approaching glutton agrees to help and begins roasting its liver. While she goes to fetch a calabash, he eats the liver and starts on the legs.
The woman blows the empty calabash from behind a bush. The unexplained noise frightens him into packing the remaining meat and fleeing. Continued blowing makes him drop the bag and entangles him in thorns before he escapes. She retrieves the food and raises her children. Despite her warning that the glutton will swallow them, the boys eventually find him asleep and shoot both eyes with their arrows. After discovering his death they hear people speaking inside. Their mother opens the body, releasing people, cattle and dogs; the rescued community rewards the twins with cattle. The human-like description belongs to the edition’s explanation, while the actions and release are narrated in the tale.
Origins & earliest records
Theal’s introduction attributes the main collection to Xhosa contributors. His preface distinguishes their narration, writing and collective revision from his direction and notes; no individual narrator is named for this tale.
Records & interpretation
Complete selected tale read: The Story of the Glutton, pp. 172–175; igongqongqo definition and buffalo episode pp. 173–174, death and release p. 175.
In the literature
“like a man, but capable of devouring enormous quantities of food”
THE STORY OF THE GLUTTON. Complete selected published episode, printed pp.172–175 · Episode’s individual English translator not identified
A deserted wife hides among animal occupants of her emptied home and gives birth to twins; a frightening noise later drives off the personlike glutton who has taken most of her buffalo meat. The twins subsequently find it asleep and wound its eyes. Only on returning next day do they find it dead; their mother opens it and releases people, cattle and dogs, who reward the sons. The initial unnamed monster and animal gathering are not made into a zoologically defined species.
Selected bibliography
Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.
- 01
Kaffir Folk-Lore, second edition
The Story of the Glutton, pp. 172–175; igongqongqo definition and buffalo episode pp. 173–174, death and release p. 175.; preface and introductory chapter distinguish contributor roles.
- 02
Kaffir Folk-Lore — Igongqongqo complete selected episode
Actual1886 second edition, London Swan Sonnenschein, Le Bas & Lowrey, independently read title; preface datedJan1882. Theal directs native telling/copying/revision and claims only explanatory notes as his own. Individual episode tellers and English translators not identified in inspected text.
Family & connections
A source-supported family tree or inspiration record has not yet been compiled for this profile. Related reading below indicates a connection in subject matter, not a proven lineage or creative influence.
Located primary passages
Specific passages supporting details in this entry, grouped by their published witness.
Kaffir Folk-Lore — Igongqongqo complete selected episode
Actual1886 second edition, London Swan Sonnenschein, Le Bas & Lowrey, independently read title; preface datedJan1882. Theal directs native telling/copying/revision and claims only explanatory notes as his own. Individual episode tellers and English translators not identified in inspected text.
- A deserted wife hides among animal occupants of her emptied home and gives birth to twins; a frightening noise later drives off the personlike glutton who has taken most of her buffalo meat. The twins subsequently find it asleep and wound its eyes. Only on returning next day do they find it dead; their mother opens it and releases people, cattle and dogs, who reward the sons. The initial unnamed monster and animal gathering are not made into a zoologically defined species.
THE STORY OF THE GLUTTON. Complete selected published episode, printed pp.172–175
No whole collection/introduction or original oral recording reviewed. Publication-fragment status retained where editor states it; colonial racial hierarchies and descriptions not endorsed.
References
Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.
- Collected primary narrative; digitized second editionTheal 1886 — IgongqongqoResearch access: 2026-10-05
Image credits
A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.