Mwalé

Overview

Mwalé has never ground sorghum since birth. She marries and goes to her husband’s household with her younger sister. At first she eats bread supplied by her mother-in-law, but the older woman comes to resent this dependence. While the husband is away hunting, she gives Mwalé grain and demands that she grind it. Mwalé explains that she does not know the work; the mother-in-law refuses to continue doing it for her. The young woman takes the grain, mortar and utensils, fetches water, and begins pounding while lamenting her new position.

The mortar starts sinking. Mwalé’s legs and utensils disappear, followed by the mortar, her body and the pestle. A small bird, nalougwana, carries news to her mother. Her younger sister goes to the place, circles it weeping and calls for her sister. As she continues, the pestle reappears, then an utensil, basket, mortar, hand and head, until Mwalé emerges. She returns to her own home. When the husband comes back, neighbours explain both the forced grinding and his sister-in-law’s recovery of Mwalé. He is greatly distressed. The tale ends with that separation, rather than a renewed marriage or punishment of his mother.

Origins & earliest records

Jacottet’s 1901 Textes Louyi prints original-language tales with French translations. Introduction pp. i–ii distinguishes Kaboukou’s 1895 dictation from material supplied by Akaende and Maroumo in June–July 1900. It says individual assignments depend on contents markers; the inspected narrative heading does not independently identify this tale’s teller, so its individual attribution remains unconfirmed.

Records & interpretation

Complete selected French text and surrounding notes read. Unexplained mechanisms remain unexplained; neighbouring tales and collector hypotheses do not supply extra actions.

Selected bibliography

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

1. 01

   Études sur les langues du Haut-Zambèze, III: Textes Louyi

   Édouard Jacottet; volume contributors Kaboukou, Akaende and Maroumo · 1901

   XX, Mwalé, pp. 56–58, entire descent, messenger, recovery and husband’s return. Individual teller assignment unresolved.

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. Digitized primary collected textJacottet — Louyi leopard marriageResearch access: 2026-10-05

Image credits

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