Frog's Journey To Heaven: Angola's Tale

How Frog Went to Heaven: A Tale of Angola is an African folktale from the Mbaka tribe, part of the Ambundu people of northwest Angola. The story was adapted and retold by Aaron Shepard and printed in Australia's School Magazine in July 1996. It features a young man named Kimana, who wishes to marry the Sky Maiden, the daughter of the Sun Chief. With the help of Frog, Kimana attempts to fulfil the wishes of the Sky Maiden's family, but ultimately, it is Frog who succeeds and marries the Sky Maiden. The story highlights themes of inventiveness and determination, with Frog's unwavering belief in his abilities and his willingness to take on challenges.

Frog volunteers to deliver Kimana's letter to the Sky Maiden

Frog resides by a well, which is visited daily by the girls who serve the Sun Chief. They descend from Heaven on a spider web, singing a traditional Angolan song: "Good day to you, my sister. Good day to you." They fill their water jugs and return to Heaven. Frog cleverly hides in one of the jugs, carrying the letter in his mouth. Unnoticed by the girls, he enters the house of the Sun Chief. Once alone, he spits the letter onto a bench and hides in a corner.

The Sun Chief discovers the letter and is perplexed by its contents. He questions the girls, but they deny bringing it. Perplexed, he seeks counsel from his wife, the Moon Lady. She advises him to ask their daughter, the Sky Maiden. The Sky Maiden suggests they test Kimana by asking for a wedding gift. The Sun Chief writes a letter with this request and leaves it on the bench.

Frog retrieves the letter and returns to Kimana, who is disheartened by the challenge. Once again, Frog volunteers to help, reassuring Kimana, "Whatever it is, I can do it. But only if I try." With determination, Frog carries a purse of money to Heaven, hiding it in one of the water jugs. He successfully delivers the gift, leaving the Sun Chief even more bewildered.

The Sky Maiden proposes another test, asking if Kimana can come to fetch her. The Sun Chief writes another letter with this request, and Frog undertakes to deliver it to Kimana. Kimana is incredulous, but Frog persists, stating, "Whatever it is, I can do it. But only if I try."

Frog's unwavering determination and ingenuity ultimately lead him to deliver Kimana's letter to the Sky Maiden and fulfill her requests. His willingness to help and unwavering belief in his abilities drive the story forward, setting the stage for the rest of the tale.

Frog delivers the letter to the Sky Maiden

Frog lived by a well. Every day, the girls who served the Sun Chief came to this well. They climbed down from Heaven on a web made by Spider. Then they filled their water jugs and went home.

Frog put the letter in his mouth and hid in the well. The girls from Heaven came for water, singing their song:

> Good day to you, my sister.

They lowered their jugs into the well, and Frog jumped into one. The girls did not see him.

Then the girls climbed back up the web of Spider. They went into the house of the Sun Chief and left the jugs in a room.

Frog jumped out of the jug and spat the letter out onto a bench. Then he hid in a corner.

The Sun Chief came for a drink of water. He saw the letter and opened it. He read:

> I, Kimana, a man of earth, wish to marry the Sky Maiden, your daughter.

The Sun Chief was perplexed. He went to the girls who had fetched the water and asked them if they had brought the letter. The girls said they had not.

He went to his wife, the Moon Lady, and read the letter to her. "What should we do?" he asked.

The Moon Lady said, "Don't ask me! Ask your daughter!"

He went to his daughter, the Sky Maiden. She said, "Let us see if he can bring a wedding gift."

So the Sun Chief wrote a letter and set it on the bench. Then he went away.

Frog delivered the letter to Kimana, who read it. It said:

> You may marry my daughter if you bring a purse of money.

Kimana said, "This I cannot do."

Frog replied, "Then I will bring it for you."

Kimana laughed. "You took a letter to Heaven. But can you bring a purse of money?"

Frog said, "Whatever it is, I can do it. But only if I try."

Kimana gave Frog a purse of money. Frog took hold of it with his mouth and carried it to the well. He climbed in and waited.

The girls from Heaven came to the well, singing their song:

> Good day to you, my sister.

Frog got into one of the jugs. The girls returned to Heaven and left him in the room.

Frog set the money on the bench. Then he hid.

The Sun Chief came and found the purse. "How can this be?" he exclaimed.

He went to the girls and asked them if they had brought the money. They said they had not.

He went to his wife, the Moon Lady. Once again, she told him, "Don't ask me! Ask your daughter!"

He went to his daughter, the Sky Maiden. She said, "Let us see if he can come fetch me."

The Sun Chief wrote another letter and left it on the bench.

Frog put the letter in his mouth and climbed into an empty jug. The next day, the girls carried him back to earth, singing their song:

> Good day to you, my sister.

Frog jumped back into the well, and the girls returned to Heaven.

Frog delivers a purse of money to the Sky Maiden

Frog, who lived by a well, was tasked by Kimana to deliver a purse of money to the Sky Maiden, the daughter of the Sun Chief. Every day, the girls who served the Sun Chief would come to the well to collect water. They climbed down from Heaven on a web made by Spider, filled their water jugs, and returned home.

Frog took the purse of money in his mouth and hid in the well. When the girls arrived, singing their song, they lowered their jugs into the well, and Frog jumped into one of them. Unseen, he climbed back up the web with them and entered the house of the Sun Chief.

Once inside, Frog jumped out of the jug and placed the purse of money on a bench. He then hid in a corner.

The Sun Chief soon discovered the purse of money and was perplexed. He questioned the girls, but they denied bringing the money. The Sun Chief then consulted his wife, the Moon Lady, who told him to ask their daughter, the Sky Maiden.

The Sky Maiden suggested they test the suitor by requiring him to come and fetch her. Thus, the Sun Chief wrote another letter, which Frog delivered to Kimana.

Frog's successful delivery of the purse of money to the Sky Maiden demonstrated his determination and inventiveness, traits that are central to the folktale "How Frog Went to Heaven."

Frog fetches the Sky Maiden

"Frog Fetches the Sky Maiden" is a folktale from the Mbaka tribe, part of the Ambundu people of northwest Angola. It is a story of inventiveness and determination, featuring a young man named Kimana, who wishes to marry the Sky Maiden, the daughter of the Sun Chief and the Moon Lady.

Kimana first approaches Rabbit, Antelope, and Hawk, asking them to deliver a letter to the Sky Maiden on his behalf, but they all refuse, stating they cannot go to Heaven. Finally, Frog comes to Kimana and asks why he does not deliver the letter himself. Kimana responds that he cannot do it, and Frog offers to help. Kimana doubts Frog's ability, but Frog confidently asserts, "Whatever it is, I can do it. But only if I try."

Frog lives by a well, where the girls who serve the Sun Chief come every day to fetch water. They climb down from Heaven on a web made by Spider, fill their water jugs, and return home. Frog hides in one of the jugs, carrying Kimana's letter in his mouth. The girls from Heaven arrive, singing their song: "Good day to you, my sister." Unnoticed, Frog jumps into one of the jugs as they are lowered into the well.

Back in Heaven, the girls leave the jugs in a room. Frog jumps out of the jug, spits out the letter onto a bench, and hides in a corner. The Sun Chief discovers the letter and is perplexed by its contents. He questions the girls, but they deny bringing the letter. The Sun Chief then consults his wife, the Moon Lady, who advises him to ask their daughter, the Sky Maiden.

The Sky Maiden suggests they test Kimana by asking for a wedding gift. The Sun Chief writes a letter with this request and leaves it on the bench. Frog retrieves the letter, climbs into an empty jug, and returns to Earth with the girls, who are unaware of his presence.

Kimana is overjoyed to receive the letter and agrees to provide the wedding gift. He gives Frog a purse of money, which Frog carries in his mouth back to the well. Once again, he hides in one of the jugs carried by the girls from Heaven. In Heaven, Frog places the money on the bench and conceals himself.

The Sun Chief finds the purse of money and is bewildered. He questions the girls and his wife, but they have no answers. Once more, he turns to his daughter for advice. The Sky Maiden proposes that Kimana should come to fetch her if he truly wants to marry her.

Frog retrieves the letter and climbs into an empty jug. The following day, the girls carry him back to Heaven. Frog jumps out, spits into all the water jugs, and hides in an empty jug. The people of the house, including the Sun Chief, the Moon Lady, and the Sky Maiden, drink the water and become ill. They call for a spirit doctor, who reveals that an evil spirit in the shape of a frog has been sent by a man from Earth who was promised Heaven's daughter but did not receive her.

The Sun Chief again seeks counsel from his wife, who repeats her refrain, "Don't ask me! Ask your daughter!" The Sky Maiden agrees to go to the man on Earth, and the next day, she accompanies the girls to the well. Frog jumps out of the well and offers to lead the Sky Maiden to her husband. She laughs and asks, "Can a frog lead a woman?"

Frog proudly recounts his achievements: "I took a letter to Heaven. I brought a purse of money. I fetched a bride. Whatever it was, I could do it. But only since I tried." Impressed, the Sky Maiden declares, "Then it is you I will marry!" She takes Frog back to Heaven, and they are married. They live happily ever after, while Kimana is left waiting for his bride.

This tale showcases Frog's ingenuity, determination, and willingness to help Kimana. Despite being underestimated by Kimana and others, Frog perseveres and ultimately wins the hand of the Sky Maiden.

Frog marries the Sky Maiden

Frog lived by a well. Every day, the girls who served the Sun Chief came to this well. They climbed down from Heaven on a web made by Spider, filled their water jugs, and went back home.

One day, a young man named Kimana approached Frog. Kimana wanted to marry the Sky Maiden, the daughter of the Sun Chief, and needed Frog's help. Kimana asked Frog: "Will you take this letter [to the Sky Maiden]?"

Frog replied: "Then I will take it for you." Kimana laughed and said: "Can a frog take a letter to Heaven?"

Frog responded: "Whatever it is, I can do it. But only if I try."

Frog put the letter in his mouth and hid in one of the water jugs. The girls from Heaven came to the well, singing their song:

> Good day to you, my sister.

Unaware of Frog's presence, the girls lowered their jugs into the well and returned to Heaven. Once they left, Frog jumped out of the jug, spat out the letter onto a bench, and hid in a corner.

The Sun Chief came for a drink of water and noticed the letter. He read: "I, Kimana, a man of earth, wish to marry the Sky Maiden, your daughter."

The Sun Chief, perplexed, asked the girls who fetched the water if they had brought the letter. They denied it and suggested he ask his wife, the Moon Lady. The Moon Lady, in turn, told him to ask their daughter, the Sky Maiden.

The Sky Maiden proposed a test for Kimana: "Let us see if he can bring a wedding gift."

Frog, determined to help Kimana, delivered the letter and a purse of money to the Sky Maiden on behalf of Kimana. Each time, the Sky Maiden set a condition, and each time, Frog confidently assured Kimana: "Whatever it is, I can do it. But only if I try."

Finally, the Sky Maiden agreed: “You may marry my daughter if you come and fetch her.” Once again, Frog volunteered to bring the message to Kimana. However, Kimana was sceptical: "You took a letter to Heaven. You brought a purse of money. But can you fetch a bride?"

Frog replied with his usual optimism: "Whatever it is, I can do it. But only if I try."

Frog climbed back into the well and hid in an empty jug. The girls returned to the well, singing their song, and unknowingly carried Frog back to Heaven. Once there, Frog spat into all the water jugs, making everyone who drank from them sick.

The Sun Chief summoned the spirit doctor, who revealed that an evil spirit in the shape of a frog had caused the sickness. The spirit doctor explained that the evil spirit was sent by Kimana, who had promised his daughter to a man on Earth but had not fulfilled his promise.

The Sun Chief, Moon Lady, and Sky Maiden all fell ill. The Sky Maiden, feeling responsible, decided to go to Kimana herself. Frog offered to lead her: "I will lead you to your husband." But the Sky Maiden laughed: "Can a frog lead a woman?"

Frog proudly listed his accomplishments: "I took a letter to Heaven. I brought a purse of money. I fetched a bride. Whatever it was, I could do it. But only since I tried."

The Sky Maiden, impressed and grateful, declared: "Then it is you I will marry." She took Frog back to Heaven, and they lived happily ever after.

Meanwhile, Kimana is still waiting for his bride, unaware that it is Frog who foiled his plans and won the Sky Maiden's heart.

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