A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.

Overview

Kabulu, translated as Hare, enters the dispute between Nianga dia Ngenga and Na Ngo after the hunter has rescued the leopard from a tree fork. The hunter explains that the rescued animal has eaten both his dogs and his cartridge box but continues demanding food. Hare does not provide another meal or challenge the leopard in a contest of strength. He asks that it return to the original position in the tree so that he can inspect the situation.

Once the leopard obeys, Hare moves away and calls the hunter aside. He explains that the predator wants to devour its rescuer and tells Nianga to shoot it. The hunter does so. Kabulu’s decisive action is a staged reconstruction that restores the danger to confinement, followed by a private warning. Chatelain calls the hare an umpire in note 473 while acknowledging that the narrative never states either party asked him to act in that office. The episode therefore supports an intervening animal adviser; it does not establish a formal appointment or an unseen trial.

Speaking hareRequests reconstructionRestores predator to confinementPrivate warningHunter follows advice
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Origins & earliest records

Jelemía dia Sabatelu contributed this hunter narrative to Chatelain. The collection identifies the narrative dialect as Mbaka; the collector’s comparative character judgments are kept separate from the actual episode.

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Records & interpretation

Complete tale XVIII, Nianga dia Ngenga and Leopard, bilingual pp. 156–157; complete English p. 157. Contributor note XVIII and note 473 p. 291.

Selected bibliography

Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.

  1. 01

    Folk-Tales of Angola

    Héli Chatelain, collector, editor and literal English translator; named contributor in origin · 1894

    Complete tale XVIII, Nianga dia Ngenga and Leopard, bilingual pp. 156–157; complete English p. 157. Contributor note XVIII and note 473 p. 291.

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.

References

Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.

  1. Collected Ki-mbundu text with facing English translation and contributor notesChatelain 1894 — Kabulu of the Leopard HearingResearch access: 2026-10-05

Image credits

A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.

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