Folk-tales of the Wambo: Volksverhale van die Wambo

ISBN 0 86981 272 6

This anthology of seventeen Wambo folk-tales consists of traditional tales told through the generations. Some originated in time immemorial, others were influenced by more recent events or catastrophes, but all portray the Wambo culture, their superstitions and environment. There are several elements common to many other folk-tales: the struggle of good against evil, the supernatural creator Nambaishita has to contend with the forces of Katakula, evil ruler of the world. The intelligent and the stupid, bravery and cowardice, envy and covetousness play a role as in all other folk-tales but these universal themes have a specific Wambo character in these narrations. This is one of the most interesting aspects of the collection: as in the folk-lore of Europe and other African countries there are an intelligent Tortoise, a sly Jackal, a stupid Crow, a dumb Wolf (Hyena), but they act in the landscape and culture of the Wambo. among the baobab and the mopani, the holy turkey buzzard and the owl, the mount of sorcerer. Laws concerning taboos, familiars, superstitions, bizarre and inexplicable happenings all a part in these folk-tales as they do in the life of the Wambo. In translating the original Ndonga and Kwanyama texts every care was taken to ensure that, as far as possible, the atmosphere and phrasing of the original were preserved. Though the English forms are sometimes unusual, they are nevertheless graphic, thereby providing the reader with a revealing glimpse of the language, life and culture of the Wambo people.

The Authors

J.J Viljoen worked for the Bureau for indigenous Languages in Windhoek from 1970 to 1979. During this time, he was involved in the development of Ndonga and Kwanyama as school subjects. It was then that he decided to introduce Ovambo and its folk-tales to a larger reading community.

P. Amakali, a Ndonga tribesman, was born in the Okambonde district in Ovambo. He taught in Oniipa from 1958 to 1965 he became a member of the Bureau for indigenous Languages in Windhoek. With his knowledge of the Ndonga people, he was responsible for the Ndonga text.

Paavo Hasheela, the son of Kwanyama-speaking parents, was born in Ongenga, known today as the no man’s land on the Angolan border. He taught in Ongenga, the Kwambi tribal area from 1957 to 1968. In 1968 he joined the SWABC in Windhoek as an announcer. He became a member of the Bureau for indigenous Languages in 1975 as a language assistant for Kwanyama.

Oor hierdie boek

Hierdie versameling van sewentien volksverhale van die Wambo bevat oorleweringe wat al geslagte lank saans om die vuur vertel word. Die verhale is tekenend van die Wambo se oorsprong en kultuur, hul bygelowe en omgewing. Daarby toon dit ook ooreenkomste met ander volksverhale: die goeie voer ‘n stryd teen die bose, die bomenslike skepper Nambaishita staan teenoor katakula, bose heerser van die wereld. Die slimme en die domme, die dappere en lafhartige, afguns en gierigheid speel soos in alle volksverhale ‘n rol; tog het die universele gegewe ‘n eie Wambo-karakter in hierdie verhale. Dit is juis een van die interessantste aspekte van die verhale: Soos in Europa en ander Afrika-lande is daar ‘n slim Skilpad, ‘n skelm Jakkals, ‘n dom Kraai en Wolf (Hiëna), dog hulle tree op in die landskap en kultuur van die Wambo,tussen hardekool en kremetart, die heilige bromvoel en die uil, ryvoël van die towenaar. Afgodsdiere, taboewette, bygelowe, onverklaarbare gebeure en afwykende verskynsels speel almal ‘n rol in die verhale soos dit ook ‘n plek in die lewe van die Wambo Inneem. Daar is gepoog om die Afrikaanse teks so na as moontlik aan die oorspronklile Ndonga of Kwanyama-teks te hou sodat die leser die idiom van die tale kan ervaar soos dit in die volksmond voorkom. Daarmee ook word die onontginde kultuurskat van die Wambo vir die anderstalige meer toeganklilk gemaak.

Die skrywers

J J  Viljoen was vanaf 1979 tot 1979 verbonde aan die inboorlingtaalburo in Windhoek en daarna was hy gemoeid met die ontwikkeling van Ndonga en Kwanyama as skoolvakke. Dit was in hierdie tyd dat hy besluit het om Owambo en sy volksverhale aan ‘n groter leserskring bekend te stel.

P Amakali is as lid van die Ndonga-stam gebore in die Okambonde-wyk, Owambo. Hy gee onderwys vanaf 1958 tot 1965 in Oniipa. Vanaf 1965 is hy verbonde aan die inboorlingtaalburo in Windhoek as kenner van die Ndonga.

Paavo Hasheela, seun van Kwanyama-sprekende ouers, is in Ongenga, deesdae die niemandsland aan die grens met Angola,gebore. Vanaf 1957 tot 1968 gee hy onderwys op Ongenga, in die Kwambi-stamgebied,en op Endola en Engela in die Kwanyama-gebied, waar na hy hom as omroeper by die SWAUK in Windhoek aansluit. Vanaf 1975 was hy aan die inboorlingtaalburo as taalbeampte vir Kwanyama verbonde.