Lukala in Na Nzua’s Tale

Overview

Katumua is repeatedly sent to the Lukala to catch fish for Kimanaueze’s pregnant head-wife, who accepts no other food. One day the net becomes unusually heavy and will not come ashore. When he asks whatever holds it to release it, he pulls up a frightening speaking presence. It tells him to stop running, identifies itself as lord of the land and orders him to fetch the chief and his wife. In the servant’s explanation, this is Lukala himself: the river has come ashore.

Kimanaueze, his wife and prime minister find Lukala seated on a chair. The river recalls that the chief settled in its land and objects that the daily fishing is consuming its people. It makes a condition over the unborn child: a daughter will become its wife, while a son will be its friend or namesake. The party assents, and the presence disappears without their seeing where it goes. The narrative identifies the fish as Lukala’s people through his own speech, not as separately named spirits.

A son, Na Nzua, is born and grows to marriageable age. Lukala then sends dreams demanding that his friend be brought to stay with him, threatening death if the family refuses. The frightened young man leaves with his father’s instruction to avoid crossing rivers and go around their sources. His later animal transformations and marriage occur during this flight. The complete ending awards him the governorship after another rescue; it does not narrate a final defeat or killing of Lukala. No crocodile body is assigned to the river merely because the fisherman initially wonders whether a crocodile is holding his net.

Origins & earliest records

Chatelain attributes tale III to Jelemía dia Sabatelu (Jeremias Alvares da Costa), with Mbaka dialect and associated contributor explanation. He prints the Ki-mbundu text and facing literal English translation. The royal and governor households are narrative settings, not verified biographies of named historical rulers.

Records & interpretation

Complete tale III, Na Nzua dia Kimanaueze, bilingual pp. 64–81; English pp. 65, 67, 69, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79 and conclusion p. 81; contributor and dialect note III p. 272.

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 III, Na Nzua dia Kimanaueze, bilingual pp. 64–81; English pp. 65, 67, 69, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79 and conclusion p. 81; contributor and dialect note III p. 272.

Family & connections

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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 — Lukala in Na Nzua’s TaleResearch access: 2026-10-05

Image credits

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