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Overview

Nchonzo Nkila rules a village near Nzambi's dwelling and makes the first drum so his followers can dance. Nzambi wants it for her own people. He refuses to give it up but lends it to an antelope, which runs off with it; his people catch and kill the thief. Mpacasa attempts the same theft and also dies. The small ant Mfiti finally succeeds by slipping in unseen while everyone sleeps and carrying the drum to Nzambi.

When Nchonzo Nkila hears Nzambi's people dancing, he discovers the loss and summons the birds to demand a hearing. Both parties go before the judge Neamlau, also given in contracted form as Nenlau. Nzambi argues that as mother of all she is entitled to the drum.

The judge separates the beings Nzambi created from the things those beings make themselves: the bird made this drum, so it is his. Nzambi pays him and is fined, and both parties then give the judge presents. Kingsley's appendix adds legal and religious commentary, which is her interpretation rather than part of the narrative.

Small long-tailed birdRuler of a village of followersMaker of the first drumSeeks arbitration of drum ownershipWins a property judgment against Nzambi
01

Origins & earliest records

An account by R. E. Dennett reproduced and discussed in Mary H. Kingsley's Appendix I, About Nzambi, in Notes on the Folklore of the Fjort (French Congo), 1898. This is the earliest attestation inspected, not a date of oral origin.

02

Records & interpretation

Appendix I, About Nzambi, pp. 124–128, read from the Internet Archive OCR text; bibliographic details confirmed through Internet Archive metadata.

Selected bibliography

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

  1. 01

    Notes on the Folklore of the Fjort (French Congo)

    R. E. Dennett; introduction and appendices by Mary H. Kingsley · 1898

    Selected bibliography; Appendix I, About Nzambi, pp.124–128. Published in London for the Folk-Lore Society by David Nutt, 1898.

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 public-domain book (OCR text)Notes on the Folklore of the Fjort (French Congo) — full OCR textResearch access: 2026-10-07
  2. Catalogue metadataInternet Archive metadata for cu31924006487999Research access: 2026-10-07

Image credits

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