Go Fish: Chipfalamfula, the River God

Today's story comes from the people of Mozambique, a country in southern Africa. It tells of a river deity who helps out two young girls. I love the similarities to Cinderella (the river god could be compared to the fairy godmother) and to the Judeo-Christian story of Joseph and his brothers.

The rivers of southern Mozambique were said to be the home of Chipfalamfula, an enormous fish who was a river god. Chipfalamfula was a kind being who often helped those in need.

 

There was a tribe whose chief had many wives. His favorite wife had two daughters – Chichinguane and her younger sister. Though the chief had many other daughters, these two were his favorites because of their mother. He showered them with gifts and doted upon them.

 

The other wives and daughters of the chief were immensely jealous of Chichinguane's family. They were cruel and took every opportunity to bully them.

 

One day, all of the girls had been sent out to collect clay by the riverbank. The other daughters of the chief forced Chichinguane to climb down the bank and fill their baskets for them. One by one she passed up baskets filled with clay. When she had finished, Chichinguane waited for the other girls to pull her up...but they did not. Instead, the girls turned and left.

 

The clay was slick and slippery. Try as she might, Chichinguane could not climb out. Eventually it began to rain, and it was then that Chichinguane grew scared. The water was rapidly rising, and the girl feared that she would drown.

 

She cried out for help – and help came.

 

A giant fish appeared behind her. Chichinguane was frightened at first, but then remembered the tales of Chipfalamfula, who was a helpful god. The fish introduced himself and then opened his mouth wide. He invited her to climb inside his belly, where she would be safe and happy.

 

Chichinguane climbed into the fish's mouth and down into his stomach.

 

It was bigger on the inside (like a TARDIS!).

 

 

There were many people living there, growing plants and catching small fish. Chichinguane was happy.

 

However, her little sister was not. The other girls had returned to the village and claimed that Chichinguane had run away. With Chichinguane gone, the young girl was sent to take her sister's place doing the chores.

 

The little girl was too small for this. Sent to gather water, she found herself unable to pick up the filled pot. The other daughters of the chief laughed at her and left her behind, crying.

 

Chichinguane heard the sobs of her sister and asked Chipfalamfula to let her go to her. The fish opened his mouth and Chichinguane popped out, running to meet her sister on the riverbank. The young girl was overjoyed to see her, but Chichinguane made her promise not to tell anyone. The older sister picked up the water jug and put it on the girl's head, where she carefully balanced it. Chichinguane climbed back into Chipfalamfula's mouth. The young girl was able to return to the village with her water jar.

 

Every day Chichinguane helped her sister, and every day she returned to the fish god's stomach. Then, one night Chichinguane's younger sister was asked to carry a jar of beer to the chief. Try as she might, the girl could not lift the jar. Her mother was flabbergasted; the girl carried the jar on her head every day when she returned with water!

 

At length the younger sister was forced to explain that Chichinguane helped her every day. Her mother was overjoyed to hear that her eldest daughter was still alive. The next morning she went with her daughter to the riverbank. When Chichinguane appeared to help lift the water jar, her mother raced out to hug her. She begged her eldest daughter to come home, but Chichinguane refused. Her time spent in the water had turned her into a fish; she now had scales of pure silver.

 

Chichinguane returned to the belly of Chipfalamfula, and her mother and sister returned to the village.

 

The sight of her mother had filled Chichinguane with homesickness. After a few days she spoke to Chipfalamfula and told him that she missed her family. She begged to be allowed to return to them and to a life on land.

 

Chipfalamfula agreed, wanting her to be happy. He gave her a magic wand and opened his mouth, letting her loose into the world.

 

Chichinguane ran back to her village. The chief's other wives and daughters stared at her in disbelief as she headed for her mother's hut. When she arrived she touched the magic wand to her skin. Before her mother and sister's eyes Chichinguane's scales dropped off of her. As they hit the ground they turned into silver coins, making Chichinguane's mother rich beyond dreams.

The chief was overjoyed at his favorite daughter's return. A party was thrown, and he showered gifts upon both Chichinguane and her sister.

Of course, this only made the other wives and daughters even more jealous.

Some time passed, and all of the girls were sent to gather firewood. The older girls bullied Chichinguane and her sister into climbing the tallest tree. They were ordered to cut off all of the branches and toss them down to the other girls.

Chichinguane and her little sister did as they were told. When they were finished, the girls left – and Chichinguane and her sister were stranded in the top of the tree.

With no way down, they waited there. Night fell, and their situation worsened: a group of ogres arrived.

Ogres were monstrous creatures who loved shiny jewelry – which the girls were wearing – and the taste of human flesh. Young girls were a particular delicacy. Catching sight of Chichinguane and her sister, the ogres began to try and cut down the tree.

The younger girl panicked and began to cry, but Chichinguane shushed her and told her not to worry. When the tree was about to topple she touched it with the magic wand from Chipfalamfula. The tree immediately was whole again – it was as if the ogres' axes had never touched it.

The ogres were furious and continued to hack and chop. Chichinguane kept healing the tree. Eventually the ogres grew weary. They fell asleep, knowing that their prey was trapped.

Seeing no other choice, Chichinguane pushed her sister out of the tree and jumped after her. The landing was rough, but they both stood and began to run. The noise awakened the ogres, who chased them through the forest. Chichinguane headed for the river.

They got there with the ogres hot on their heels. Chichinguane touched her magic wand to the riverside and begged Chipfalamfula to halt the water. Immediately the river was dry, and she and her sister were able to cross. Once on the other side she used her wand again, asking Chipfalamfula to restart the river.

 

The ogres, running across the dry riverbank, were swept away by the wave of water.

 

 

(I totally thought of this scene.)

They were safe, but Chichinguane and her sister realized that they were lost. They wandered for some time before coming to a cave. Within it was much fine jewelry...but also human skeletons. They had stumbled across the ogres' lair!

Chichinguane and her sister put on as much of the jewelry as they could. Fearing that an ogre would return to the cave and find them, they left quickly.

It was dark, and they still didn't know where they were. Chichinguane asked Chipfalamfula to help them. Her magic wand began to glow, and she held it above her head as a light.

Little did Chichinguane know that another had also been praying to Chipfalamfula. There was a rich king who had two sons. He had prayed to the river deity that two beautiful, wealthy wives might be found for the princes.

The river god led Chichinguane's footsteps to the wall surrounding the king's home. The guards who stood there were astounded by the beauty of the women before them, who stood bedecked in jewels and lit by a magic light. Knowing that they had been sent by Chipfalamfula as an answer to the king's prayers, the girls were led inside and introduced to the princes.

They were married, and lived the rest of their lives in the king's kingdom.

What did you guys think?