Ingwenya the crocodile

6:57 PM
Monday, August 5, 2019

Aim of the Book

May this book inspire a generation of young Africans to be keen observers. One of the most
powerful African symbols is the Oudjat or Eye of Ra because knowledge comes first from
Observating, an attitude we have abandoned as a people. Our children do not know the names of the
plants that are around their houses let alone the uses these plants have. They need to be
encouragd to observe nature and perceive the underlying intelligence behind all things and
phenomena.
Bantu is the plural form of the word “Muntu”. Mun
for “inside” and tu
for “head”. A
muntu, (a human being) is someone who has something in his head, someone intelligent. This is
why God is called Muntu Mukulu
meaning “The absolute intelligence”. What defines us as
human beings is our intelligence, one that is fed by observing. May we grow wiser and fight
every day for the betterment of ourselves and the community.
50% of the resources collected by this book will be shared by the collective of African artists that
took part in the project and the other 50% will be dedicated to funding a Pan-African education
center where modern technologies like CAD programs can meet African craft and creative arts.
The center aim is to be a focal point where both ancient and modern sciences can be thought
from an African perspective; where African cultural traditions can be revitalized and modernized

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from an African perspective; where African cultural traditions can be revitalized and modernized
by training talented kids able to produce modern crafts that are in line with our traditions and
ancestral paradigm.
The center will be located in Dschang, Cameroon a university city, serving as a digital library for the
students that want to have an overview not only
in African history, but also on Pan-African ideologies as well as other branches of sciences. It will
also give an opportunity to those of the students that already share the Pan-African dream to
volunteer at the center and help kids with their knowledge and experience.
The Question
Where ever you go on the continent of Africa, lakes are always inhabited by crocodiles. Even
when the lake is an artificial one, muntus go and look for crocodiles to populate the lake. Given
that an average crocodile can probably eat a grown-up muntu, it seems like a counter-intuitive
strategy. What can explain such a phenomenon?

Once upon a time, in a place called Guusi, lived a mama crocodile with her children. She was
the queen of the lake and every animal that drank from her lake feared and respected her. On a
regular day, you could see her lying under the sun, getting the proper tan for her dark skin.
One afternoon as she was resting after having breakfast, she saw some very strange
creatures coming her way. Never in her life had she met one of those. Smaller than a Kudu, she
could probably eat one of those for dinner, she thought, as they were standing far away.
After an hour, a group of them came to the lake to investigate which ones were the animals
living there. Cautious, Ingwenya told her children to dive deep in the water and hide in the mud.
Flat beneath the surface with just her eyes out of the water, she was spying on the new
settlers. If she was to live with them, she needed to learn as much as she could about how they
lived.
At night, the Bantu lighted a fire to roast the fish they had caught in the late afternoon. They
were standing there around the lake beating djembes and dancing. “They looked peaceful,”

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were standing there around the lake beating djembes and dancing. “They looked peaceful,”
Ingwenya thought to herself. She too was permeated by the joyful rhythm of the music and
dance steps. Yet in her mind, something was bothering her. These other animals were able to
use fire. She had heard countless stories from her ancestors about the great fire that consumes
everything. Her great grandmother had escaped a wildfire when she was still young. Hungry
with a dried lake, she had decided to try her luck on land hoping to find some tired animal. The
dry season that year was pretty severe, and the forest eventually caught fire. She ran for her life
and barely escaped by digging into the softer river bed to hide in the ground.
She knew about the fire, most animals were terrified about it, but not those ones, they were
playing around it all night.
The morning came and she woke her kids and told the three elders. “I spent the night
watching this new animal. I don’t know who they are but they seem peaceful. Please do not
anger them, they know how to use the fire. Kada her firstborn was so shocked when he heard
the word “fire” that he released all the air he had gathered for his hour drive and was forced to
go back to the surface to get some more. He swam down as fast as he could nearly burning all
his oxygen again. ''Mama what do you mean by fire?” he asked as he was getting close to his family.
They all had heard the story she told them about their ancestor, but only Kada had
a glimpse of experience with fire.
The investigation
It was a hot afternoon, so hot in fact they had settled in the mud hiding from the sun. The water
in the river bed was shallow but still enough for them to emerge themselves in the small pools
here and there. The mud offered him a camouflage as he was still small enough to be eaten by
birds. If one day he would be a feared crocodile, as he liked to tell himself, those days he could
only scare grasshoppers and other insects. For bigger animals, he was delicious food. Ingwenya
had told him to always hide in the mud until night time to find some insects. Every day he did
that until when he felt the ground trembling as a herd of kudu was running from all
directions fleeing from a very hot and bright light. They all ran in the river bed, trying to escape.

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directions fleeing from a very hot and bright light. They all ran in the river bed, trying to escape.
Never again had he felt so much fear in the air. So much fear he was paralyzed, and almost got
trampled by the herd. He was never close to the fire, but seeing how scared everyone was, he
knew he must be scared too.
“Hold your breath!” she said. “They used fire, but they were not afraid, they can control it, so
please don’t anger them, for we need to live in peace with them”.
“I have been watching them all night, I will be sleeping, Kada! watch over your little brothers”
“Yes mamma!” replied Kada, following Ingwenya to the surface. “I’ll be resting under the acacia
tree!” she said as she was getting out of the water.
An hour later, Kada, verifying that his mother was asleep, went to his siblings and told the elder
“Ooni, look after your little sister, I have somethings to do” turning to his sister he said “Mamba,
listen to Ooni while I am gone, I am coming back just now”. As he was living, Ooni warned him,
“when mom wakes up, I’ll tell her that you left us alone again to go play with your friends.”
The story of the fire had scared Kada, but he was too curious not to see for himself. “with a little
chance, these animals would be playing with the fire again” he thought, maybe he could learn
that too, “how cool would it be to stop being afraid of the fire and control it?”, he thought to himself as
he was hiding in the bushes close to the territory of the “fire animals”. Standing for a long time
motionless, he fell asleep and woke up to people shouting and rallying, pointing in the direction
of the lake. How long has he been sleeping? Judging by the position of the sun, probably a
couple of hours.

The confrontation
As for the instructions of their elder brother, Ooni and Bamba were playing in the lake for such a
long time. They started feeling cold and needed to get some heat from the sun. The instructions
from Kada were clear, just as the one from Ingwenya, but seeing his little sister shivering he told
her “Let’s go lie on the shore and get some sun” - “But brother told us to stay in the water” she
replied. “Okay stay there and freeze” Added Ooni as he was going towards the shore. She

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replied. “Okay stay there and freeze” Added Ooni as he was going towards the shore. She
nodded and followed him on dry land. A few minutes later, they were both lying on the shore
when some of the little fire animals came to get some water. Ooni and Bamba were standing
right on their path and the little impetuous had no intention on changing course. “Move out of the
way” he shouted. They had just got there, after almost freezing in the water and had no
intention of moving anywhere. That was the perfect spot from that direction, no tree
shadowing the sun. “Get out of the way”, said the “fire animal” throwing a stone at Bamba. Ooni,
known in the family for his hot temper reacted harshly. “Grrrrrrr … Get away from my sister!” he
charged forward on the young fire-animal, biting him on the leg. The young fire animal
screamed in pain and started crying. His little brother ran to the settlement to inform the villagers
who all rallied to go to the lake. It was in the midst of this chaos that Kada who was asleep in the
bush woke up. “What’s going on?” He thought, running towards the lake. “Please mamma sleep,
please mamma sleep” he was chanting, sensing he was in deep trouble.
The warning of the Shaman
Ooni and Bamba had long returned to the waters, and the sun was about to hide behind thick
clouds. Very little time, they had had to heat up, already they had to return to the water. They
can stay 24 hours in the water but they had spent the whole of last night sleeping on the floor of
the lake. Kada’s gone, they had spent the biggest part of the morning in the waters, waiting for
his return. The young fire animals' screams had awaken Ingwenya who ran toward her
children to whom she asked: “Where is Kada?” - “We don’t know, he left four hours ago and
never returned” replied Ooni. Worried sick, she asked with an almost trembling voice. “What
happened?” As Ooni was about to speak Bamba interrupted him “The young fire animal threw
stones at me and I bit him” she lied trying to protect her brother. Ingwenya, wise as she was
said. “I know they threw rocks at you, but it’s Ooni that bit him is it not?” - a deep silence fell on the
place as both kids were looking down ashamed on the whole situation. She lifted their head up
with her long tail. “Don’t be ashamed, you did well to protect your sister and you to protect your
brother, that’s what family is about. I am proud of you”. As she was saying these things, Kada arrived

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brother, that’s what family is about. I am proud of you”. As she was saying these things, Kada arrived
meditating to Sobek the crocodile god, “please don't’ let mamma punish me, please, I’ll be a
good kid” he said while approaching. “You went to the settlement didn't you?” - “Yes mamma”
replied Kada. - “Right now it’s an emergency. I’ll deal with you later Kada!” she said looking
away to the direction of Bamba. Kada knew he was not out of trouble yet, but that was a good
start. “Thank you Sobek” he whispered closing his eyes.
The villagers had long carried their wounded son to the shaman that was about to operate. He
had prepared his Kònanfuru (cloves) water, spilling it to wash and disinfect the wound. “You are
Lucky, young man! It’s nothing serious.”. As he was applying it, Muntu the young fire animal
started screaming. “Shut up, next time you will know better!” said Kamsi the shaman as he was
wrapping up the wound in a clean cloth containing a concoction of Cooked and ground cocoyam
leaves and honey to reduce the pain and help the wound heal. Few banana ropes to tie it all up
and the job was done, in less than a week, muntu would be okay. Half of the village was outside
the shaman’s house, the other was at the lake making sure Ingwenya and her family do not go
anywhere unnoticed. After realizing it wasn’t so serious, they had relief but were keen to sort the
situation out. At the lake, they had gathered so much anger at Ingwenya hiding in the lake that
they were not at all ready to forgive, even after hearing muntu was going to be fine. “Get out of
the lake you coward. You only bite children” they were saying, not realizing Muntu was much
older and bigger than Ooni who had bitten him.
As the last group was leaving to the lake, the shaman told the elder of the settlement, no matter
what happens don’t let them harm the crocodiles.

The exile
As the villagers were taking positions around the lake, Ingwenya noticed Bamba freezing. She
could hear her teeth cracking on one another. “You kids had no sunbath today, did you?” to
which Ooni replied “no…” interrupting as Kada looked at them with a storm in his
eyes. “... We were playing in the water” he followed. Ingwenya observing the scene, asked

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eyes. “... We were playing in the water” he followed. Ingwenya observing the scene, asked
Bamba, “Kada told you to stay in the water, didn't he?” to which she answered yes, and he went for
a long time, ''I was freezing so we went out, that’s when the little fire animal came”. Kada knew at
that moment that his punishment would be harsh, no one could save him. He had to get back
fast in good grace with his family. Already, he was ashamed and sad for disobeying mamma
and causing all this trouble.
Knowing they could not resist two days without heat, Ingwenya was forced to come out of the
lake. She emerged slowly moving peacefully towards the shore and said. “Please my children,
know they did a mistake. They will never behave like that again. Please don’t kill us” - “We are
not going to kill you, but my people don’t trust you anymore. We cannot fear every time we send
her children to get some water at the lake, so you’ll have to go!” - “Please, this is our home”
replied Ingwenya, “my children were born here” - “please just go, and don’t come back, that’s
the only way we can work this out.”. The crowd out of the lake had finished arguing and
reminiscing its anger, but in time, they had learned to trust the warnings of their shaman. A man
of few words, he would often speak only on crucial matters. “Thank you!” said Ingwenya after
what, she called her children and they left. “At least the fire animals are letting us live” she was
thinking while heading deep in the savanna. It was afternoon already and the sun had come out
from behind the dark cloud, warming the little Bamba who was feeling okay again.

The great evil

It had taken Ingwenya and her children 2 years to find a pond big enough to accommodate the
family. Smaller in size than the lake, it would dry up totally during the three hottest months of the
Years. Ingwenya and her family would find refuge under a big baobab tree providing shade. It is
one of the rare trees able to survive in such arid land. Another year had passed and the kids
were bigger now, ready to be independent of the group. Kada was in the age of finding a mate
and was eager to leave, but after the last traumatic event he had caused to his family, roaming
around without eating for nearly a year, he was not yet ready to forgive himself.

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around without eating for nearly a year, he was not yet ready to forgive himself.
In the village too the lake had almost dried, for a couple of months, the people have been waiting
for the rain to come back. The situation was critical, for some time, they had gone with very little
food, eating the last cereals of their food reserve. They needed water to drink and to grow some
vegetables to survives. The tension was rising in the villages so the people rallied in front of the
shaman’s house calling him. Kamsi, we need to talk to you. Tired, he did an effort to get out of
the bed to meet them outside. “Is there any problem?” he asked “Yes” replied the crowd. “The
land is dry and rain is not coming, which evil is haunting us, what have we done to deserve such
a punishment?” the shaman nodded and replied, I have been waiting for you. The ancestors told
me you called this evil on yourself when you decided to ignore justice and send Ingwenya and
her family to suffer in exile. Muntu was the one who caused the situation and they paid the
heavy price, exile from their own home. If you want this evil to go away, you need to repair this
injustice.
The mission
After the talk with Kamsi the shaman, the villagers had counseled to bring justice to a situation
that was long pending. After a talk with the hunters, who had seen the traces of the family of
crocodiles as they were migrating, the council decided that Muntu, now a teenager, was the one
supposed to find the crocodiles to ask for forgiveness. Lacking water, he could not be
accompanied by anyone, the water left was enough just for one person to go on such a long
trip.
The next morning, after receiving the blessings from the villagers and after a due protection
ritual by the shaman, Kamsi gave him a mix of plant. “Take it with you, you will need it, and
Remember that love and compassion are the catalyst” Muntu understood very little but took the road
in
the direction indicated by the hunter. “Follow your intuition my son, the spirits of the ancestors
will be guiding you.” those were the last words he heard from his mother as he was going away.
Observing the birds in the sky, and the herds of zebra migrating, he found some water, but as

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Observing the birds in the sky, and the herds of zebra migrating, he found some water, but as
the one home, this pond was nearly only mud. Digging the pond bed, he extracted some wet
mud, putting it in a cloth. Pressing and sucking, he extracted the precious liquid of life, sparing
the water he had left in his calabash.
A week had gone when he finally found the crocodiles, there she was lying under the baobab
resting, how could he forget Bamba, their encounter, his stupidity, and his little ego had sparked
the great evil, the great drought that was about to destroy his village. Standing there he could
not help thinking he may never see them again. When he left, they gave him so much of the
water left that they surely would not last a week with what was remaining. All the reason to get
done with the mission he had set himself to accomplish.
Redemption
I come in peace shouted Muntu in the attention of Ingwenya that had spotted him and was
moving his way. “Give me one reason not to eat you right now, as hungry as I am, I can surely
use a good meal, a little skinny but that would do”. Every fiber of his body wanted to run, but the
cost of him failing on his mission was too high, he had walked incredible distance to find them. “I
come in peace” he repeated once more as Ingwenya was getting closer to him. “Okay, what
brings you so far from your village fire boy?” she asked looking at him menacingly. “I
came to apologize for what I did” shyly answered Muntu taking a step back. “Do you know how
much pain you’ve caused?” asked Ingwenya, getting closer once more. Tired and scared to
death, Muntu lifted his pants to show the marks of the bite on his leg and said “I wake up every
day with these marks as a reminder of my stupidity. Ever since that day, my people are divided,
those of my clan who wanted you dead and the other clan who wanted to listen to the warning
of the shaman. He had warned us not to harm you, which we did, at least we thought that by
letting you go, sparing your life we were causing you no harm.”, - “No harm? Said Ingwenya
fiercely angry, getting closer she said “No harm? Look at how skinny we are, does it look like
paradise around here to you?” she was getting angrier and that’s when, looking at Bamba he
saw she had an infection on her tail, he said to Ingwenya. “I can cure her”.

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saw she had an infection on her tail, he said to Ingwenya. “I can cure her”.
Ingwenya was not ready to listen anymore, her family had suffered a great deal because of
him. “Mamma!” said Ooni. “I was the one who bit him, have I not overreacted, all this could have
been avoided. To what Kada added, “Had I not disobeyed you, I would have handled the situation
and none of this would have happened” to what with a very shallow voice, Bamba called
“Mamma”, defusing Ingwenya's anger. She moved over and Muntu, getting closer to
Bamba, told her “I am sorry, I am really sorry for what I did. Someday I am going to make it up
to your family.”. To what Bamba replied “You faced my mother, that’s punishment enough” she
said smiling before grunching in pain as Muntu was applying the same mix that had cured his
leg years ago. ''Thank you for curing my daughter'', said Ingwenya to Muntu a second before he
collapsed.

Peace and alliance

The adrenaline of his encounter with Ingwenya had kept him alert, but in fact he was suffering
from a severe dehydration. Afraid of retaliation against her family, Ingwenya was concerned.
The village was too far to get there in time, if they could survive with no water for a while, Muntu
certainly could not. The morning before, while going on his quests, he had found another lake 2
days away from their location. Carrying Muntu on his back, Kada led the way. Because the
ancestors were with him, Muntu reached the lake alive and could recover in a couple of days.
A week later as Muntu had fully regained his strength as he was preparing to leave he asked
Ingwenya, “I don’t want to push my luck but I need to ask, is there any chance my people can
come here?. We have no water and really need your help.”. Reluctant and skeptical, Ingwenya replied
“what makes you think the same problems are not going to happen once more? Muntu closed
his eyes and asked his ancestors for guidance. After what looking straight at Ingwenya, “I will
personally teach all the children of the village, respect or life. We will live together
eventually with mutual respect, we will become one family.” - “this part of the savanna is deserted,
nothing to hunt. if you provide food for us, we agree. In exchange, we will keep the lake clean

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nothing to hunt. if you provide food for us, we agree. In exchange, we will keep the lake clean
of all dead animals and dig up the bed too ” she said looking at her children who all nodded in
agreement. Looking at the stars, Muntu, made for himself a map that was to take him back
to the village. Early in the morning, he would leave.
As he was going back, Muntu was reminiscing on what had happened, how crazy the last week
had been. He had finally understood, not harming Ingwenya and her family meant forgiving. The
injustice of their exile had caused great pain to everyone. She became scared. Was he going to find his
family alive? The heat had been terrible the past week, and wild fires were sparked here and
there, providing food for the ants actively gathering food, insects and animals caught
up in the fire. Observing them was a distraction, taking his mind away from the dramatic
thoughts about what could be awaiting him home.
A week after he had left Ingwenya, Muntu reached the village, the reconciliation with Ingwenya
had brought a little rain of hope allowing the villagers to survive. Back to the lake with the first
feeding ritual, chickens were offered to Ingwenya and her family, the new settlement called
Bazoule. The land where the crocodiles are sacred and live in peace with fire animals. Today
we can still hear the poem that Muntu wrote in honor of Ingwenya the mother crocodile, keeper
of the lake.
Oh mighty Ingwenya
Mother of the land of the lake,
Since millions of years, you take care
of the waters for your sake
And for the faith of wonderers
For your hardship, you collect a fair price
To drink, one must offer a sacrifice
When they do, peacefully you retreat
To enjoy a well earned treat.
May peace be between us, now

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May peace be between us, now
And for the many generations to come.

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