Respecting the rigor of traditional precepts and prohibitions protects against misfortune, and the eternal aura of spiritual beings enriches the hearts.
In a village on the outskirts of Manianga and Mbanza Kongo, there lived a modest family raising two daughters: Nkééngé, the elder, and Nkééngé, the younger. They were so beautiful and helpful that they became famous in the region.
Only the gossiping tongues spoke ill, recalling the saying, "The dog with white and clean teeth also feeds on dirt." Soon after getting married, their reputation declined: neither of them had a baby.
To avoid gossip, the unfortunate sisters no longer dared to go to the markets of Tsaba, Nkooyi, Bukondzo, and M'Pika.
The seasons passed, but still, they remained childless. With his wife Ma Ngudi's consent, the father took the two Nkééngé sisters to the Nganga's healing hut. From a raffia bag, Nganga took out statuettes, kola nuts, a mirror, hunting powder, a gazelle horn whistle, seashells, corn grains, and devil's leaves. The two sisters silently followed the proceedings, waiting for the verdict.
Nganga made shrill noises, his eyes turned white as he communicated with Mpémba, the sacred world of the beyond. When he came back to his senses, he prescribed a list of five prohibitions to observe, and then everyone returned to the village. The next day, without any trouble, the two young wives returned to their homes.
The rainy seasons followed the dry seasons: Ndoolo, Tsikaala, Vuhuundula dyi-ba, Nzeenze, and so on. One day, the parents learned that the Nkééngé sisters were pregnant. The Nganga confirmed these rumors and demanded a new consultation. Immediately, the message was sent to each of them.