Long, long ago, in the middle of a dark forest in the Congo, there lived a Jackal. He was big and strong, and all the other animals were afraid of him. At nightfall every evening, he would take his gold tipped bamboo spear and go out hunting.
One night, as he set out into the forest, the Moon, up in the sky, was watching him, as he hunted among the trees with his gold tipped spear. In a few hours' time, he had killed two Kudus and a wild Pig. The Moon became jealous of the Jackal's success and planned to steal the spear.
So, the next night, as the Jackal returned home after killing four Bushbucks, the Moon came out from behind a cloud and watched him to see where he hid his spear. She saw him hiding it behind a cupboard.
The next day, an Owl knocked at the Jackal's door. It was really the Moon in disguise.
"What do you want?" demanded the Jackal.
"Please, Sir," replied the Owl, "I have come from a far-off land."
Pray, let me sleep in your house tonight. "Oh, all right," agreed the Jackal.
That night, when all was quiet, the Moon took the spear out of its hiding place and tried to run away with it. But she tripped over a big drum and the noise brought the Jackal running to the spot.
"Go away, miserable thief!" he shouted when he saw what had happened.
The Moon went back to her home in the sky.
The next day she disguised herself as a Cat and went again to the Jackal's house and knocked at the door.
"What do you want?" asked the Jackal.
"Please, Sir," replied the Cat, "I have come from a far-off land.
Pray, let me sleep in your house tonight." "Oh, all right," agreed the Jackal.
That night, when all was quiet, the Moon once again stole the spear. But just as she was going out of the door, she knocked against some cooking pots. The noise once again brought the Jackal running to the spot.
"Two thieves in two nights!" he growled, "go away, and don't come back!"
The Moon went back home, but she was determined to have a last try. So, the next day, she knocked again at the Jackal's door, but this time, without a disguise.
"What do you want?" asked the Jackal, in his usual gruff voice. "It is so cold up there in the sky." replied the Moon, "please let me sleep in one of your cosy beds tonight."
After his bad experience, the Jackal was reluctant to grant the Moon's request, but her charming manner soon made him change his mind. So, that night, when all was quiet, the Moon took the gold-tipped spear for the third time. She managed to get out of the Jackal's house, but in the garden, she fell over a bucket. The Jackal woke up but was not quick enough to catch the Moon this time, as she was already high up in the sky.
The gold-tipped spear had a magic power that enabled the Jackal to hunt successfully, but now, without it, he was helpless. He became thin and sickly, and the only food he got was the leftovers from other animals' meals.
So, to this day, the Jackal climbs a hill at night and howls at the Moon to make her return his spear.
More Zambian folk-tales
How the Monkeys Come to Be
A long time ago, deep in the African jungle, there was a clearing where a particular tribe had built their huts and lived peacefully. In their midst were a skinny older man and his wife, a thin older woman. These two were always complaining of their hunger and poverty. Naturally, all the good neighbours took pity on them and often invited them to share a meal with them. However, whenever they visited a hut, they made it a point to steal something to keep for themselves.
Why the Sky Is So High
According to an early Zambian belief, the sky was like a roof over the earth. It was so low that the people could reach and touch it. At certain places, it was even hanging down loose, like a mosquito net that we use over our bed at night.
The Gods and Spirits of our forefathers lived inside this sky, and they could always listen to the prayers, songs, chatter and squabbles taking place on Earth.
The sky was so low, that the people could talk to the Gods and get their wishes fulfilled immediately.
The Fourth Gourd of Cowrie
Chipila and Zongwe were friends. They lived in adjacent huts and owned adjacent pieces of land. They helped each other with the tilling, hoeing, sowing and reaping. They were such good friends, that people called them the Twin Gods.
A Different Baby
This story took place a long time ago, when strange things used to happen off and on. In those days a man and his wife lived in a country full of happy people. The couple had four healthy sons, but they yearned for a little daughter. When the wife was expecting their fifth child, they hoped it would be different this time, a girl child, for example. The man and his wife prayed day and night, repeating the same worlds, "Please, God, make it different this time, make it different this time."