The Woman Who Exchanges Her Baby For Honey

Sweetness or present pain should not make us forget the past, nor should the fruit hide the roots. That is the fertilizer for future seeds.

In a village called Njambé, a man who had several wives decided to marry one more, the one he loved the most. She became pregnant and nine months later gave birth to a beautiful and chubby baby boy. The husband doted on this woman even more, consumed by his love for her.

One morning, this young woman went fishing with a basket and caught many fish. As she was about to return home, she heard chimpanzees making a ruckus. Curious, she approached slowly to see what they were up to. They were extracting honey, bwoyi.

Without hesitation, she called out to them, "Hey, you chimpanzees, give me some honey, and you can take the child there."

"Do you want to make an exchange like that?" they asked.

"Yes!" she replied.

"Very well, hand us the child!"

She gave them the child, took the honey, and returned home. When she arrived near the village, she broke open a termite mound, itutuwa, and wrapped it in a cloth. In her hut, she placed the bundle in the cradle and lay down. Her husband asked, "What's wrong?"

She said she was feeling sick, so he asked her to bring the child. As she didn't hurry, he looked over her shoulder and didn't see the child but a termite mound!

"Where is the child? Bring me my son!" he exclaimed, carried away by anger, striking his wife to the point of causing her harm.

Early the next morning, she went into the forest and ventured deep into the place where the exchange with the chimpanzees had taken place. There, she heard the primates playing. They were moving away, but she pursued them while singing, "Ah, you Bakwula chimpanzees... njié! Bring me back the child! njié!"

Title

The Woman Who Exchanges Her Baby For Honey

Themes

interspecies cooperation | family | ancient knowledge

Emotions

love | curiosity | regret | anguish

Lesson

Actions driven by impulse and lack of foresight can lead to severe regret and unexpected consequences.

Animals

Chimpanzee

Characters

Njambé: the husband, shows favoritism to his new wife and expresses anger when his son is lost The Wife: makes a rash decision, endures hardship, and eventually finds her son.

Back-grounds

Village, Forest, Bwuando, Second Village

Source

Story told by Mr. Lajoie's mother in the village of Ollémé in 2017, and translated by Théophane Bokaka Bouanga. 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