The African Storyteller
Qwebethe
QWEBETHE
Now for a story.
A woman married, and went to live with her husband at her home of marriage-it was far from her home of birth. She gave birth to twins, and when the children were old enough to walk, she repeated the way-she returned to her home of birth where a great celebration would take place, to commemorate the coming into existence of new lives.
Early one morning, she set off with her two children. It was a long journey-two and a half days, so her husband, a farmer, did not accompany her because he was working in the fields. She carried with her food for the journey and blankets to sleep under at night. Then she took her two children, and set off on the long journey.
In the middle of the first day, she saw a huge tomado-like object coming after her. It was a cloud of dust. It approached, then stopped in front of her, and when the smoke cleared, it was a beast. It said, "Qwebethe! Qwebethe!"
The woman answered, [sings]
"Qwebethe,
Qwebethe, what is it?
I'm
leaving my food behind on the veld,
I'm
leaving it behind on the veld,
I'm
leaving it behind!"
Then she took the meat that was on her back, and she threw it to the beast.
It took the meat and put it into its mouth, then chewed it-qwam! qwam!
The woman pulled her children close to her, and they hurried on their way. Night fell, and she and the children slept in a forest.
Early the next morning, they started again. At noon, she again saw the column of dust. Again, it approached, and again the confrontation: "Qwebethe! Qwebethe!"
She said, [sings]
"Qwebethe,
Qwebethe, what is it?
I'm
leaving my blankets behind on the veld,
I'm
leaving them behind on the veld,
I'm leaving them behind!"
Then she took the blankets that were on her back, and she threw them to
the beast.
It took the blankets and put them into its mouth, then chewed them-qwam! qwam!
The mother hurried across the veld with her children-they were whimpering, afraid.
Later that day, as she looked warily about, she again saw the cloud of dust. Again, it approached her, again the confrontation. It said, "Qwebethe! Qwebethe!"
The mother said, [sings]
"Qwebethe,
Qwebethe, what is it?
I'm
leaving my clothing behind on the veld,
I'm
leaving it behind on the veld,
I'm
leaving it behind!"
She removed her clothing and-naked now-threw the garments to the beast.
It took them, put them into its mouth, and chewed them-qwam! qwam!
The mother, crying now, naked, hurried off with her two children. Night fell. She would not get to her home of marriage until noon, the next day.
Early in the morning, she journeyed on with her children. A short time later, she saw the cloud. It approached her, then stopped in front of her. It said, "Qwebethe! Qwebethe!"
The mother said, [sings]
"Qwebethe,
Qwebethe, what is it?
I'm
leaving my child's clothing behind on the veld,
I'm
leaving it behind on the veld,
I'
m leaving it behind!"
She removed the clothing of one of her children-he too was now naked-and
threw the clothes to the beast. It put them into its mouth and chewed
them-qwam! qwam!
Then she went on her way-the mother and one of the children naked. In the distance, she could just make out the homestead, on the lip of a ridge. She could see the brilliant colors of the capes worn by those moving towards the place of the celebration. She could hear the music. But she was too far away, they could not hear her cries.
A short time later, she again saw the cloud of dust. It again approached, and then it confronted her: "Qwebethe! Qwebethe!"
She said, [sings]
"Qwebethe,
Qwebethe, what is it?
I'm
leaving my child's clothing behind on the veld,
I'm
leaving it behind on the veld,
I'
m leaving it behind!"
She removed the clothing of her other child-they were all naked now-and
threw the clothes to the beast. It put them into its mouth and chewed
them-qwam! qwam!
Then she took her children and ran-she was crying, screaming for help. She could see the people more clearly now, and hanging in the kraal she saw the carcases of the cows that had been slaughtered for the feast.
The column of dust approached again, and it confronted her. "Qwebethe! Qwebethe!"
"No!" she said. "You cannot take my children!"
But the beast only looked at her and said, "Qwebethe! Qwebethe!"
She said, [sings]
"Qwebethe,
Qwebethe, what is it?
I'm
leaving my child behind on the veld,
I'm
leaving him behind on the veld,
I'm
leaving him behind!"
She took one of her children, and threw him to the beast. It took the
child into its mouth, and chewed him-qwam! qwam!
She pushed on, crying, shouting, but no one could hear her-the music was so loud. And the cloud of dust again approached-again the confrontation: "Qwebethe! Qwebethe!"
"Not my other child!"
"Qwebethe! Qwebethe!"
She said, [sings]
"Qwebethe,
Qwebethe, what is it?
I'm
leaving my child behind on the veld,
I'm
leaving him behind on the veld,
I'm
leaving him behind!"
And she took her other child, and threw him to the beast. It took the
child into its mouth, and chewed him-qwam! qwam!
And the mother, crying, exhausted, scrambled up the side of the ridge. And again the column of dust approached....
The
story is over, it is over.