A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.
Overview
Sikulume returns from a hazardous journey to find his settlement apparently empty. An elder sheltering in ashes says that all the people have been swallowed by the inabulele, which has gone to the river. The book explicitly glosses the name as a fabulous monster. Sikulume carries an assagai into the water and lets himself be swallowed without injury. Inside he finds his father, mother, many other people and cattle still present. The interior therefore holds a displaced living community rather than merely representing eaten bodies.
He pierces the monster from within. The disturbed river and its eventual redness signal the fight and death to his companions, who open a large hole in the creature’s side and release the captives and animals. Later his sister sings to the inabulele when she comes for skin to make sandals and a mantle. The body comes out of the water in response, though the story does not state that it is alive again. The mantle later becomes a stone-hard shelter during rain. That subsequent power belongs to the crafted mantle in Sikulume’s continuing adventure; the slain creature is not credited with independently creating huts while alive.
Origins & earliest records
Theal’s introduction identifies Xhosa contributors for the main collection; his preface attributes narration, writing and collective revision to contributors while he directed the work and supplied notes. No individual narrator is named for this selected tale.
Records & interpretation
Complete selected narrative independently read: The Story of Sikulume, pp. 78–88; swallowing, internal killing and release p. 84, summoned body and skin p. 85, later mantle shelter p. 87.
In the literature
“without tearing him or hurting him.”
THE STORY OF SIKULUME. Complete selected published episode, printed pp.78–88 · Episode’s individual English translator not identified
The river devourer has swallowed Sikulume’s community, including his parents and cattle, without destroying them. Sikulume is swallowed intact, kills it from within, and his companions release its occupants. Subsequently its body answers the sister’s summons and provides skin; the complete later courtship includes a mantle becoming a protective hut. The response of the dead body is not separately narrated restoration to life. Songs and practical invocations omitted.
Selected bibliography
Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.
- 01
Kaffir Folk-Lore, second edition
The Story of Sikulume, pp. 78–88; swallowing, internal killing and release p. 84, summoned body and skin p. 85, later mantle shelter p. 87.; preface and introductory chapter for contributor context.
- 02
Kaffir Folk-Lore — Inabulele 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 — Inabulele 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.
- The river devourer has swallowed Sikulume’s community, including his parents and cattle, without destroying them. Sikulume is swallowed intact, kills it from within, and his companions release its occupants. Subsequently its body answers the sister’s summons and provides skin; the complete later courtship includes a mantle becoming a protective hut. The response of the dead body is not separately narrated restoration to life. Songs and practical invocations omitted.
THE STORY OF SIKULUME. Complete selected published episode, printed pp.78–88
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 — InabuleleResearch access: 2026-10-05
Image credits
A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.