A long time a ago, in a certain place in Africa, a small village lay across a river and half a day´s journey from a city where a great king lived. A man named Mufaro lived in this village with his two daughters, who were called Manyara and Nyasha. Everyone agreed that Manyara and Nyasha were very beautiful.

Manyara was almost always in a bad temper. She teased her sister whenever their father´s back was turned, and she had been heard to say, “ Someday, Nyasha, I will be a queen, and you will be a servant in my household.”

“ If that should happen,” Nyasha responded, “ I will be pleased to serve you. But why do you say such things? You are clever and strong and beautiful. Why are you so unhappy?”

Manyara was almost always in a bad temper.

“ Because everyone talks about how kind you are, and they praise everything you do.” Manyara replied. “I´m certain that Father loves you best. But when I am a queen, everyone will know that your silly kindness is only a weakness.”

Nyasha

Nyasha was sad that Manyara felt this way, but she ignored her sister´s words and went about her chores. Nyasha kept a small garden, in which she grew millet, sunflowers, yams, and vegetables. She always sang as she worked, and some said it was her singing that made her crops grow better than anyone elses´s.

Nyasha in her garden.

One day, Nyasha noticed a small garden smake resting beneath a yam vine.“Good day, little Nyoka,” she called to him. “You are welcome here. You will keep away any creatures who might spoil my vegetables.” She bent forward and gave the little snake a loving pat on his head and then returned to her work.From that day on, Nyoka was always at Nyasha´s side when she was in her garden.

Nyasha talking to the little snake, Nyoka.

The girl´s father, Mufaro, didn´t know how Manyara treated her sister because Manyara always behaved well when her father was around.One morning, a messenger arrived from the city. The king wanted a wife and the most beautiful girls in all the land were to appear before the king so he could choose one to be his wife.

Mufaro called his daughters. “It would be a great honour if the king choose one of you to be his bride,” he said. “Tomorrow we will leave for the city at sunrise.”

“But father,” said Manyara sweetly, “ Nyasha would be so sad to leave you alone. She can stay here with you and I will go to the city alone.”

“ No,” Mufaro said, “ only a king can choose between such beautiful girls. Both of you must go.”

Mufaro and his daughters.

That night, when everyone was asleep, Manyara crept out in to the forest. She was frightened because she had never been in the forest at night before but she wanted to appear before the king before her sister could. In her hurry she stumbled across a small boy standing in her path.“Have you any food?” asked the boy. “ I am hungry and I have nothing to eat.”“Out of my way,” replied Manyara. “ I only have enough for myself.”And she went on her way.

“ Out of my way,” shouted Manyara.

After a while, Manyara came to a small clearing. There in the moonlight she saw an old woman sitting on a large stone.The woman spoke. “ I am here to give you some advice, Manyara. Soon you will come to a place where two paths cross. There a group of trees will laugh at you but you must not laugh back. Then, you will see a man with his head under his arm. Be polite to him.”“How dare you speak to me,” shouted Manyara, “You are an ugly old woman. Out of my way!”

There in the moonlight she saw an old woman sitting on a large stone.

Just as the old woman had foretold, Manyara came to a group of tree and they did indeed appear to be laughing at her.“I must be calm thought,” Manyara. “I must not be frightened.” She looked at the trees. “I laugh at you trees, “ she shouted and hurried on.At dawn, she heard a river up ahead. “ I must be near the city.” she thought to herself.Suddenly, she saw a man with his head under his arm. She was frightened so she rushed on past without saying a word.

Nyasha woke at the first light of dawn. She put on her finest clothes and thought about how her life might be changed forever if the king chose her. Outside she could hear a commotion. Manyara was missing but her footprints were found on the path leading to the city. The wedding party decided to continue as planned.

The wedding party walked deep into the forest. Nyasha saw a small boy standing by the side of the path. “You must be hungry,” she said and she handed the boy a yam that she had bought for her lunch. The boy smiled and disappeared into the forest.Later as they approached the place where the two paths met, Nyasha saw an old woman who silently pointed the way to the city. Nyasha thanked her and gave the woman a small pouch of sunflower seeds.The sun grew higher in the sky when the party came to some towering trees. As they passed the trees seemed to bow down to them.At last someone shouted, “We have arrived.” They had reached their destination.

Nyasha excitedly ran ahead. “ Oh father,” she exclaimed, “a great spirit must stand guard here. I have never in my life seen anything so beautiful!”

Arm in arm, Nyasha and her father descended into the city. Just as they got near, Manyara rushed out of a building. She saw Nyasha and sobbed, “Don´t go in there. There is a monster with five heads. Oh sister, please do not go inside.”Nyasha comforted her sister and left her with her father, bravely deciding to confront the monster.

Nyasha comforted her sister and left her with her father, bravely deciding to confront the monster.

Nyasha walked into the building and there on a little stool she saw a small snake. “Oh Nyoka, my little friend,” she cried, “what are you doing here?”Then suddenly before her eyes the snake transformed into a man.“I am the king.” he replied.“I am the king but I am also the hungry boy to whom you gave a yam and the old woman to whom you gave a pouch of sunflower seeds. I know you are beautiful not only on the outside but on the inside as well and therefore I would be very happy if you would agree to be my wife.”

Then suddenly before her eyes the snake transformed into a man.

And so it was that the king and Nyasha were married and Mufaro proclaimed to all who could hear him that he was the happiest father in all the land to have two such wonderful daughters!

Mufaro and Nyasha