The Birds And The Forging Stone

The great birds, puffed up with pride, proclaimed their glory even before the task was completed.

Dear trees, my children, resumed the calm voice of the Forest. If you feel abandoned by a part of humanity, don't forget that all the animals are still here to cheer you up, and especially the winged tribes who sing day and night.

All the birds of the forest lived in a community in Zokabossala, the great animal village located in the republic of Lossi.

After a few decades, an unknown epidemic decimated half of the village's winged population; it seemed only they were targeted. Thinking that a curse had been cast, the birds held a meeting. During this, it was decided to leave Zokabossala to go far away. They set off in search of the so-called place Lengui-Lengui: "Very far". They worked to build, and life regained its rights as in Zokabossala. After a few months of hard work, the workers stopped, their tools - hoes, axes, machetes, and spears - had worn out.

Mbimbitueze Soui-manga, the bird blacksmith, convened a new meeting and proposed:

– Everyone must get involved in transporting the forging stone left at Zokabossala!

The winged folk accepted the idea, the departure date for the stone transport was set. The stone was so heavy that they had to build a tipoye, a porter's chair, allowing everyone to participate in the titanic undertaking. The birds set to work. With the help of levers, the stone was tipped at the cost of a thousand efforts. Mbombalisohoo the nightingale set the tone for the start of the song taken up in chorus. Then, the tipoye itself was lifted and the march towards Lengui-Lengui began. To reach Lengui-Lengui, they transited through Ndiba, Mouangui, Ombo, Oyoho, Benda, Akéllé, Ngouandzouo, Ekomba-lebonga and finally Lamba, the so-called "middle" village.

The refrains of the tipoye bearers at the entrance of each village attracted the residents who came to celebrate the passage of the brave:

Title

The Birds And The Forging Stone

Themes

interspecies cooperation | pride vs humility | exodus

Emotions

pride | frustration | exhaustion | humility

Lesson

Even the smallest members of a community are essential for its success.

Animals

Birds, Eagle, Rossignol, Vulture

Characters

Mbimbitueze Soui-manga: The bird blacksmith who proposes the idea of retrieving the stone Mbombalisohoo: The rossignol that leads the singing and marks the departure Pobi: The calao, a large bird who helps to carry the stone Nkongonioe: The eagle, a large bird who helps to carry the stone Niwungou: The vulture, a large bird who helps to carry the stone Kwulangou: The giant touraco, a large bird who helps to carry the stone Ikémé: The spotted guinea fowl, a large bird who helps to carry the stone Éwuli: The golden bulbul, a small bird who observes the larger birds struggling.

Special Objects

The forging stone, which is critical to the birds' livelihood and the main goal of their journey.

Back-grounds

Forest, Multiple villages along the migration route.

Source

Story told by the late Pierre Mbandzibari, transcribed by Mr. Maret Mouendet and adapted to the book: ‘Congo Tales’ Told by the People of Mbomo, written by S.R. Kovo N'Sondé, Wilfried N'Sondé published by Prestel Publishing