Week 5 Storytelling: Nenpetro's Test

(Mountain Gazelle courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

Long ago there lived a man named Nenpetro. He was blessed with not only two beautiful daughters but also all of the riches he could ever desire. Nenpetro named his two daughters Lunga and Lenga. Nenpetro loved his daughters dearly, and only wanted the best for them. So when the time came for them to get married Nenpetro decided that they would marry for love and not for wealth or power.

“How can I ensure my daughters will be taken care of when I am gone?” Nenpetro asked his wife. “Many men will try to come and marry our daughters because not only are they the most beautiful they come from a very wealthy family.” His wife replied. “I must make sure I screen their suitors to make sure they are here for my daughters and not only here for their beauty or money.” Nenpetro said.

From that day on, Nenpetro required that any suitor that came for his daughters’ hand in marriage would have to know their names. This simple test would ensure that they took the time to get to know his daughters before asking for their hand in marriage. Many suitors came with lavish and extravagant gifts, but all were turned down.

One day Nsassi, a prince from a town quite far away came to see Nenpetro. He brought along many gifts as well as his dog to try and convince Nenpetro Nsassi and I have come to marry your daughters. I have brought gifts from far away lands that will surely make you an even richer man.” said Nsassi. “Well met Nsassi. As you may have heard from others I will only give my daughters’ hand in marriage to anyone who can guess their names.” replied Nenpetro. “Why surely that is an impossible task. Perhaps you would be so kind as to tell me their names?” asked Nsassi. “I will not. Come back when you have figured it out.” said Nenpetro.

Nsassi left feeling depressed as he had seen the faces of Nenpetro’s beautiful daughters and he knew that he could not live life without them. He was so distressed that he left without taking his dog with him. The dog decided that he would stay and try and find out the names of the daughters. That very night Nenpetro called his daughters back for dinner: “Lenga! Lunga! Dinner is ready!”. Nsassi’s dog heard everything and decided to go straight home to let his master know.

Nsassi jumped for joy when he heard what that his dog had brought him the names and went straight to Nenpetro’s home to marry his daughters. Nenpetro was true to his word and Nsassi lived happily ever after with Nenpetro’s two daughters and his faithful dog.

Author’s Note: I stayed pretty close to the original story. In the original story Nsassi comes to see Nenpetro’s daughters and leaves without knowing his names. His dog figures out their names and goes back to tell his master. He keeps forgetting their names on the journey back home and has to make the trip several times. Eventually they remember it and go and get married. In my version I added the part about Nenpetro wanting his daughters to marry for love and that is why he requires his suitors to know his daughters’ names. In the original story it is never explained why Nenpetro wants people to know his daughters' names. I thought I would add some back story to why he thought it necessary.

Bibliography: The story I am refering to comes from the Congo Unit. It is the story: How Gazelle Got Married by Richard Edward Dennett (1898).