Unanana-bosele and the Elephant
Zulu folktale · izinganekwane
Kwesukasukela. Unanana-bosele was a woman who built her house defiantly in the middle of the road, where all the beasts must pass, for she would not be moved. She had beautiful, fat children whom she loved above all things.
One day, while she was away, the animals passed by. Each beast that came upon her splendid children asked who had borne such fine little ones, and praised them, but went on its way. At last came a huge elephant with one tusk, who asked the same question. When the children boldly answered that their mother Unanana-bosele had borne them, the great elephant, in anger or in greed, opened its mouth and swallowed the children whole, then lumbered off.
When Unanana-bosele returned and found her children gone, she learned from the others that the one-tusked elephant had taken them. Fearless in her grief, she sharpened a knife, took provisions, and set out, walking until she found the monstrous beast. She demanded her children, and the elephant simply swallowed her too. But inside its vast belly she found a whole country, with forests and rivers and many people and animals it had devoured, and there were her children, still alive. She lit a fire and began to cut at the elephant's insides until the beast sickened and died, and she cut her way out, freeing her children and all the others trapped within. Cosu cosu, iyaphela.
The lesson: A mother's love and courage will brave any danger; determination can deliver even from the belly of the beast.