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Overview
Mainu is the frog who volunteers when the son of Kimanaueze insists on marrying the daughter of Sun and Moon. The animals approached before him cannot complete the journey to heaven. Instead of attempting the flight himself, Mainu waits in the well used by the celestial household’s water-carriers. With the letter in his mouth, he slips into a jug, rides upward unnoticed, leaves the letter on a table and hides in a corner. The water-carriers travel by a spider’s cord. Their ordinary repeated errand gives the little messenger a reliable route between the two households.
The first letter receives no reply. After six days the suitor sends another, and Mainu returns with Sun’s acceptance conditional on a personal visit and a first present. Subsequent trips carry forty macutas, a request for the marriage payment and then the payment itself. Sun and Moon cannot identify the visitor, but leave cooked hen and mush on the table for him. The messenger eats unseen and continues the exchange. The suitor accepts the delivered letters while still doubting that a frog can bring home the bride.
Mainu’s final device is more troubling than his ingenious transport. He enters the sleeping daughter’s room, removes both eyes, ties them in a handkerchief and returns to his hiding place. A diviner attributes her sudden blindness to the intended husband’s spell and recommends sending her to him. The narrative has already shown the frog’s intervention, so that explanation is not evidence that the young man actually cast a spell. Sun orders Spider to weave a large descent cord, and the daughter is brought to the well.
Mainu emerges, tells the daughter that he is her guide, restores her eyes and leads her to the suitor’s house. The marriage takes place, and the closing contrast recalls that the others had abandoned the attempt to reach heaven whereas Mainu succeeded. His named identity, speaking, concealed journeys and physical restoration belong to this complete Mbaka episode; the tale’s outcome depends on his combination of persistence, deception and the household’s existing water route.
Origins & earliest records
Tale XIII is attributed to Jelemía dia Sabatelu, identified elsewhere in Chatelain’s contributor notes as Jeremias Alvares da Costa. Both its dialect and origin are labelled Mbaka. Chatelain prints the Ki-mbundu text with a facing literal English translation; the 1894 publication date is not a date for the tale’s first circulation.
Records & interpretation
Complete tale XIII, The Son of Kimanaueze and the Daughter of Sun and Moon, bilingual pp. 130–141, English pp. 131, 133, 135, 137, 139 and conclusion p. 141; contributor note XIII pp. 287–288 and notes 437–445 p. 288.
Selected bibliography
Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.
- 01
Folk-Tales of Angola
Complete tale XIII, The Son of Kimanaueze and the Daughter of Sun and Moon, bilingual pp. 130–141, English pp. 131, 133, 135, 137, 139 and conclusion p. 141; contributor note XIII pp. 287–288 and notes 437–445 p. 288.
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.
- Collected Ki-mbundu text with facing English translation and contributor notesChatelain 1894 — Mainu the FrogResearch access: 2026-10-05
Image credits
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