The tale of the Tortoise and the Kite explores the consequences of broken promises. After making a pact of blood-brotherhood, the Kite requests an electric fish from the Tortoise, who asks for the wind in return. The Kite deceives the Tortoise by failing to fulfill his promise. The Tortoise’s clever response exposes the Kite, leading to the Kite’s punishment: losing the ability to glide effortlessly like the Eagle.
Source
Among Congo Cannibals
by John H. Weeks
Seeley, Service & Co.,London, 1913
► Themes of the story
Moral Lessons: The story underscores the importance of keeping promises, especially those made during significant rituals like blood-brotherhood.
Trickster: The Tortoise employs cleverness to expose the Kite’s deceit by disguising himself as a bundle, leading to the Kite’s embarrassment.
Conflict with Authority: The Tortoise challenges the Kite’s betrayal, confronting the broken promise and seeking justice.
► From the same Region or People
Learn more about Bantu peoples
When the Tortoise and the Kite made blood-brotherhood the Kite said: “Friend Tortoise, now that we have become brothers, catch an electric fish for me.”
“Friend Kite,” replied the Tortoise, “when you see a skin floating on the river you will know that I have caught the fish you desire. Swoop down and take it; and, friend Kite, thou art one who lives in the air, tie up the wind and bring it to me.”
► Continue reading…
By and by the Tortoise killed an electric fish {nina), and set it floating on the river. When the Kite saw it he said: “Ah, there is the fish my friend Tortoise has sent me.” He thereupon dropped to the river, picked up the fish, and carried it away to a high tree, where he ate it.
The Tortoise waited a long time, but the Kite never brought him the wind; so seeing the Eagle one day fishing by the river bank he said to him, “Come here, friend Eagle,” and when the Eagle had alighted on a branch near by, the Tortoise continued:
“Well, my friend the Kite and I made blood-brotherhood, and he asked me to send him an electric fish, and I asked him to bring me the wind, and he agreed to this bargain. I have sent him his fish, but he has hot brought me the wind. When you see the Kite remind him of his promise.”
The Eagle met the Kite next day on the top of a tree and said to him: “When you make blood-brotherhood with a person you should keep your promise to him. Why don’t you take the wind to the Tortoise?”
“I have not yet tied it up,” said the Kite as he flew off.
The Tortoise waited, but the Kite not coming he went ashore, climbed to the roof of a house, and tied himself into a bundle like a parcel of fish.
The Kite, seeing the bundle and thinking it was some fish, he swooped down on it and carried it away to a tree, and while he was undoing the bundle the Tortoise said: “Friend Kite, you have deceived me, and you have broken your promise. Where is the wind you agreed to bring to me?”
The Kite was so alarmed that he dropped the Tortoise and flew away. And because of his broken promise to his friend he has lost the power to sail on the wind like the Eagle; but has to constantly flutter and flap his wings. [To break a promise made at the time of making blood-brotherhood is considered very bad, and is regarded as certain to bring punishment.]
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