Myth / Swahili Mythology

Popobawa, one of the Shetani

The Swahili people (or Waswahili) are a highly influential Bantu ethnic group who reside traditionally along a long stretch of the southeast coast of Africa from Kenya to Mozambique, named Swahililand for them. Their language is and was the lingua franca from the western coast of Madagascar all the way to the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Swahili ethnogenesis was stimulated by native Bantu peoples such as the Mijikenda, Shambaa, Pokomo, and Shirazi interacting with Persian and Arab merchants from across the Indian Ocean in the early centuries AD. The Swahili organized themselves into beautiful city states of which Zanzibar, Pemba, Kilwa, and Mombasa are the most famous. Their hat as Proud Merchant Race took them and their goods as far as Australia to the east and the jungles of what is now the eastern DRC in the west.

The Swahili became very wealthy trading cloth, ivory, gold, copper, exotic animals and exotic animal parts, incense, slaves, spices, pottery, and timber to non-Africans in return for glassware, porcelain, silks, jewelry, books, and other goods. For most of the middle ages Swahililand was dominated by the Kilwa Sultanate which the Chinese explorer Zheng He would visit along his voyages. In the 12th century Kilwa would become so powerful it would even wrestle away control of the city of Sofala in what is now Mozambique from their chief rival the Somali city of Mogadishu, effectively monopolizing the gold trade from Zimbabwe. In the 16th century Swahililand would experience faster decline due to the arrival of the Portuguese who became the new dominant faction on the coast through clever politicking and alliances with smaller city-states unhappy with being dominated by Kilwa. The region would become less stable as each city actively began vying for power once more, with the bigger cities angry about Portuguese interference. By the 17th century the Omani empire would assume dominance over Swahililand during their wars with Portugal over control of Indian Ocean commerce. Omani vassals ruled from the Island of Zanzibar until British conquest. During this period slavery would become increasingly important, particularly to work the clove plantations in Zanzibar and beyond. Slavery had always existed in Eastern Africa, but the scale sky-rocketed to meet demand of the Arabs, Persians, and Indians in the 18th and 19th centuries. The costly 9th century Zanj Rebellion had tamed the Arabian appetite for East African slaves for many centuries. Swahili slave raiders such as the infamous Tippu Tipp carved out fiefdoms in the interior of East Africa for little other purpose than the more rapid acquisition of slaves for the coast and beyond. Many millions suffered and perished under the harsh trade.

The Swahili rapidly embraced the new faith of Islam in early medieval times, scorning the pagan "Zanj" or "Kaffir" who held to their traditional beliefs and ways. The Shirazi identity was born out of a need to legitimize the ruling class as true Muslims through identification with Arab and Persian leaders. Even so, Swahili paganism continues to survive in syncretic form. Iblis is the Devil who is allowed by Allah to test human faith and virtue. All evil spirits are Shetanni (Satans) that take many forms. Evil wizards (Wachawi) fly about at night inspiring evil, West Asian Shetanni frequently lie and cheat and manipulate others into doing the same, more traditionally Bantu Shetanni concern themselves less with corrupting good Muslims but rather eating them and/or their cattle. The Swahili universe teems with Shetanni, Zimwi, Magic, and Jinn. These spirits take shapes of flame, animals, dwarfs, giants, white men, and every possible combination. Even today rites are conducted to appease the spirits when they cause problems or are needed.

Swahili Mythology uses the following tropes:

• 20 Bear Asses: Amadi and the cat brought the mysterious old woman who helped him the seven heads of Pembe Miuri and 20 coins for her aid.
• Achilles' Heel: Fumo Liyongo could only be harmed by having a sharp copper object pierce his navel.
• Ain't Too Proud to Beg: After Rubiya decapitated the female Jinn haunting the plantation, her husband came by and begged for mercy after being defeated. He gave Rubiya magic water in exchange for his life.
• All Witches Have Cats: The old woman who gave Amadi the talking cat and pointed them in the direction of Pembe Miuri is never called a witch, but does fit the archetype.
• All Women Are Lustful: Women are almost always portrayed in Swahili lore as untrustworthy, unreliable, manipulative, and only concerned with satisfying their own carnal wants.
• An Aesop: The old woman delivers one to Amadi, telling him to tell his wife Fatima she needs to be more grateful for the things she does have. Fatima is ashamed of her behavior and apologizes for making him risk his life over a dumb piece of clothing. She ignored the chatter of jealous women and remained Happily Married to Amadi.
• Androcles' Lion: Sadaka went in search of his missing brothers after his Sultan father prepared him a vessel loaded with millet, cattle, and rice. He then set out on safari. First Sadaka fed a group of hungry birds his grain, and the sultan of birds gave him a stick of incense. Secondly Sadaka came to an island of flies who were very hungry so he fed them the cattle he'd brought along, their grateful sultan also gave him a stick of incense. Finally Sadaka came to an island full of hungry Jinn whom he fed the rice, the sultan of the Jinn gave him yet another stick of incense. Sadaka would burn the three sticks of incense to summon their Supernatural Aid when he was in trouble.
• Barbarian Tribe: The Shenzi or Nyika peoples Fumo Liongo lived among after leaving the Deadly Decadent Court on the coast. Though called "forest people" or "bushpeople" this does not imply a hunter-gatherer culture like say the San of southern Africa or the Hadza of eastern Africa. The inland tribes related to the Swahili were viewed in a similar light that Bedouin Arabs for instance were viewed by urbanized Arabs. That is to say like themselves but poorer, more warlike, less worldly, less organized, and less complex in manners but at the same time freer, more morally pure, and more satisfied with life in an Arcadian sense.
• Bears Are Bad News: Dubus are bearlike creatures who lurk the forests.
• Benevolent Mage Ruler: King Solomon used his powers to banish Shetanni to the edges of the world. He also used spirits to fly him through the air, dig up treasures, and build him palaces.
  • In spite of long periods of foreign domination in the early modern era, the ancient line of the Mwinyi Mkuu or "Great Lord" was allowed to survive in a ceremonial role provided they kotowed to the Sultans. The ancient kings and queens of Zanzibar were revered for their magical powers and ability to control the spirits. The palace of the old Zanzibari kings housed magic drums that would beat on their own in times of danger to the islands. Ever since the death of the final Mwinyi Mkuu in 1873 the old palace in Duga is said to be infested with spirits.
• Betrayal by Offspring: The sultan of Pate summoned Fumo Liyongo's half-Oromo son (or sometimes nephew, in many Bantu cultures nephews are treated as sons by uncles) Mani Liyongo and paid him to find the secret of Fumo Liyongo's seeming invincibility. The boy took up the offer and sought out Fumo Liyongo under the guise of seeking fatherly wisdom. Fumo Liyongo was not fooled at all but figured this was his fate, so he told the youth his secret. Although he did offer his son a warning that people who betray their own family will reap what they sow. Not long afterward the lad stabbed his own father with a copper spike in his sleep.
• Blow That Horn: Fumo Liyongo used three trumpets to announce his arrival in Pate from Shaka because they kept exploding from the force he played them with.
• Cain and Abel: After the death of their father (the king of Shaka) Fumo Liyongo's brother Mringwari took the throne and had him imprisoned.
• Cats Are Magic: Felines are much preferred by Muslims due to the ancient middle eastern fondness for the creatures, especially by the Prophet Mohammed who owned a cat named Muezza he cared for so much he would rather cut off the sleeve of his robe than wake her sleeping on it.
  • Amadi's traveling companion was a talking cat who carried a magic bag of medicine it used to revive him after being spat on by Pembe Miuri using a bit of the dead monster's body fat.
• Chained to a Rock: Rubiya and his remaining companion came to a city where they learned about the sultan who had sacrificed six of his seven daughters to a monstrous seven headed snake. The monster fiercely guarded the lake which was the only water source and would not allow anyone to come near without steady offerings. Rubiya resolved to save the last and most beautiful of the sultan's daughters that night. The girl sat on her bed at the edge of the lake as the waters turned blood red and the sand became mud. The water bubbled and boiled before the snake lunged out. Rubiya hacked off all the heads of the monster and saved the girl.
• Creation Myth: Before the beginning, there was God who was neither born nor will he die. God said "Let there be light!" and there was light. God took a handful of this shining light in his hand and proclaimed "I am pleased with you, my light. From you I shall make the soul of my prophet Mohammed.". God was so pleased with his creation he decided to make other humans to follow Mohammed (May God pray for him and give him peace) and learn the difference between good and evil.
  • And so Allah created a throne and carpet to sit on at Final Judgement. Each leg of the throne is held up by a great beast. The carpet had every color of the rainbow and stretched along the skies to the edges of space.
  • Under the throne is the happiest place in the universe where souls may sit in the glory of the creator always. The intense light of Allah's very being is mercifully filtered through the rainbow colored veil of the carpet.
  • Thirdly, God made the Well-preserved Tablet. It is so large it can keep record of everything that ever was past, present, and future in one place. The Tablet has a soul and she is one of Allah's most loyal servants. She bears all his wisdom and commandments. For this reason she is called "Mother of Books". Because all the sacred books of mankind are merely her offspring. The words written on her are in a language only God can understand.
  • God then made a Pen to write his commandments. The Pen is as long as the distance between heaven and earth. The Pen also has a personality of its own and thoughts. The Pen asked "What shall I write, master?" and God said "Destiny". And so the Pen sets to work recording the deeds of man. Whenever Allah sees fit to change his mind, the writing disappears from existence.
  • God then made a Trumpet and the angel Serafili to play it. The angel waits motionlessly for the moment Allah tells him to play it and end all of history. When the Trumpet sounds the mountains will collapse and the stars will fall to earth, heralding Doomsday.
  • Allah then created the Garden of Delights for righteous souls. All the sufferings of earth are forgotten. There lies clear waters, rivers of milk and honey, fragrant flowers, and trees which bend low offering passerby fruits of extraordinary taste.
  • After this, Allah made the Fire for damned souls. The deepest and darkest pits of Hell. "My Lord! Where are the sinners?! I want to see them suffer!" he cries.
• Cryptic Conversation: Fumo Liyongo sang code to his mother's slave girl named Sada who brought him food each day until she understood his plan of escape.
• Darkest Hour: Rubiya's companions noticed that the magic water had turned black and the magic seeds grew into a wilted dead tree. So they set out for one last adventure to save Rubiya.
• Defeat Means Friendship: Rubiya became blood brothers with the two other surviving soldiers sent to kill him by the sultan.
• Divine Birds: There is a rooster in heaven with feet on the first level and head on the seventh level. The rooster cries out just before morning and the angels assemble for prayers. The roosters on earth can hear this bird and wake mortals to pray in turn.
• Dying Moment of Awesome: Fumo Liyongo died outside the gates of Pate next to a well, standing tall and pointing his bow directly at the city. The sultan's entire army was so terrified of facing him they hid behind the walls for three days before realizing he was truly dead.
• Enfant Terrible: Rubiya named himself as soon as he could speak, in common with many Sub-Saharan African heroes.
• Fantastic Flora: On safari, Rubiya and his companions met the same Jinn he spared on the plantation with another Jinn. Rubiya tried to kill the other Jinn who pleaded for his life in exchange for magic seeds. If the seeds are planted and watered a big tree grows instantly. If the leaves are healthy the owner's companions are safe, but if the leaves are dried and dead then they are in peril.
• The Fair Folk: Kitunusis are forest spirits who appear similar to people. One variety walks normally and another variety crawls in a sitting position. They like to wrestle travelers. Anyone who manages to tear off their dark blue cotton cloth called "Kaniki" will become very rich. Humans who are not brave enough to confront them are stricken with paralysis.
  • Ngojamas are another type of forest haunting spirit. They look like people but have a long iron claw in the palm of their right hands. Ngojamas enjoy human flesh but won't say no to other types of food like honey. Ngojamas cannot swim and thus the best evasion tactic is to swim away. They are described as lions or lionlike by the Oromo.
• Fake Ultimate Hero: A local soldier saw the lion slain by Rubiya and claimed he was the one to vanquish it, having stabbed the already dead creature and smearing the blood on himself. The sultan was ready to offer his daughter to the soldier, but she had already witnessed the real battle from her window in the palace. The princess began interrogating the soldier publicly "Where are the lion's claws?" and the soldier lied they fell off from killing so many people. She then asked "Where is the lion's tail?" and the soldier claimed the lion didn't have one. The princess mocked the ridiculousness of a tailless lion and brought forth Rubiya who had cut off the lion's claws and tail.
  • One of the sultan's slaves during Rubiya's episode with the snake demon ran to his master claiming he had killed the giant snake. The sultan was ready to marry his daughter to him but she instead called out the liar. Rubiya had given her a silver ring with "Rubiya" inscribed on the inside. The slave could not answer her and Rubiya stepped forward to reveal it was his name written on the ring.
• Fantastic Fruits and Vegetables: Prince Sadaka and his brothers discovered an island with magical fruit. Wherever the seeds were spat out, more fruit immediately sprang up from the soil.
• Friend of Masked Self: After dealing with the Jinn on the abandoned plantation, Rubiya met agents of the sultan looking to slay him. He claimed Rubiya was merely his friend, and then killed all but two of the soldiers.
• Friend to All Living Things: The angel Mikaili (Michael) brings all living things their needs like water, air, food, and mates.
• God Save Us from the Queen!: The Jinn Sultana seduced Rubiya in her capital city, intending to avenge the extermination of her subjects in two cities. She turned herself into a beautiful young girl and asked to marry Rubiya immediately if he would just wash some clothing first. While Rubiya was gone washing the clothing she stole his sword and hid it. When Rubiya returned to her chambers she announced she would kill him. Rubiya grabbed for the identical swords on the walls but they were all just clay swords enchanted to look real. He broke sword after sword on the Sultana to no effect.
• Great Escape: Fumo Liyongo had metal files smuggled into his prison cell hidden in a crust of bread. On the day of the great Gungu performance the musicians, dancers, and merrymakers were so loud he was able to cut through his bindings without being detected. With pride he smashed the door from its hinges and effortlessly knocked his guards unconscious to enjoy freedom once again.
• The Great Serpent: Ngolokos are humongous white snakes with shining ears.
• The Grim Reaper: Zeraili (Azrael) is the angel of death. He answers to Allah alone. Sultans, caliphs, giants, jinn, and everyone else must follow him into the great beyond.
• Half-Human Hybrid: Half-Jinn are known for being very smart, fast, weightless, and capable of Voluntary Shapeshifting. They also known for the ability to work magic and illusions.
• Haunted Headquarters: The plantation of Rubiya's parents was abandoned due to an infestation of Jinn.
• Heinous Hyena: Hyenas are considered greedy and stupid in Swahili folklore.
  • When women shapeshift, they often prefer to transform into hyenas.
• Hired Guns: The sultan of Pate paid assassins 100 silver coins to kill Fumo Liyongo. In some stories the hitmen are the bush people themselves he convinces to betray Fumo Liyongo.
• I Know Your True Name: The 100th name of God is a secret, given only to King Solomon and the Prophet Mohammed. It tells of God's essence. The one who knows the 100th name has the divine with them always and cannot be harmed in any way. As such all spirits good and evil must obey the person in question.
• Impossible Task: The Sultan who had imprisoned Prince Sadaka's brothers for failing to make the magic fruit grow challenged Sadaka to accomplish this feat. Unlike his brothers, Sadaka brought the magical soil along from the mysterious island. Sadaka successfully spat out the seeds which instantly produced more fruit trees, covering the Sultan's island in them as the people eagerly consumed the fruits to make more trees. The Sultan begrudgingly set Sadaka's brothers free.
  • Sadaka then was tasked with accomplishing three tasks in order to marry the Sultan's daughter. First he had to sort an huge bag of mixed grains before sunrise, or be imprisoned. So he burned an incense stick and summoned the birds who effortlessly sorted the different grains into three bags. Second Sadaka had to cut down an entire baobob tree with one stroke of his sword, or be imprisoned. So he burned the next incense stick and the Jinn sultan arrived with many genies who summoned white ants to gnaw around the tree as the genies invisibly held it in place for Sadaka to "cut down". Finally the wicked Sultan told Sadaka he could marry his daughter if he could identify her from a long parade of beautiful girls moving past his window...but if he failed to identify her then Sadaka would be executed. Sadaka burned the last incense stick to summon the Fly sultan and his subjects. The Fly Sultan buzzed his wings to alert Sadaka to the right girl and then landed on her shoulder. The evil sultan was angry, but allowed Sadaka to sail off with his bride and brothers.
• Impossibly Cool Clothes: The cloth of Pembe Miuri could cover a man from head to toe, but could fold small enough to fit easily in the palm of one's hand. It was like silk but even more beautiful.
• Inter Species Romance: It isn't unheard of for Jinn marry mortals and have children.
• Island of Mystery: There were plenty of these on the sea inhabited by all manner of strange peoples, animals, plants, and phenomena.
• Jail Bake: When Fumo Liyongo was held prisoner by the sultan of Pate he sang code for his mother to bake him a loaf of bread with a metal file in it so he could cut through the bars of his cell in the dungeons.
• King of Beasts: Not in most Africa, Swahilis included. The elephant is king of the beasts in most places. Or sometimes the Leopard as prince of the beasts.
  • Rubiya and his party came to a city where they stayed for the night in the upstairs of an old woman's home. Rubiya arose at the crack of dawn to go outside, but was warned not to by the woman as the city was terrorized by a massive lion at night. Rubiya had no fear of the lion and killed it with a single stroke of his sword to the head.
• Last Request: Fumo Liyongo asked Mringwari if he could at least enjoy a "Gungu" dance performance before he was executed. Mringwari granted it.
• Love Martyr: A downplayed example. Amadi kind of worshipped his wife Fatima. He lavished her with all manner of treasures and gifts and praise. Jealous women told Fatima that her husband wasn't good enough and all her things were cheap, fake, or low grade. They told her that a proper husband would bring her the beautiful cloth of the monster snake Pembe Miuri. Fatima huffed and sighed and told Amadi he didn't love her unless he brought her the cloth of Pembe Miuri.
• Magic Mirror: Of sorts. Rubiya was given a magic bowl of water. If the water was clear his friends were fine. If the water turned black it meant they were in peril.
• Maligned Mixed Marriage: Subverted. The Oromo were amazed by just the legends told about Fumo Liyongo before even meeting him. They gladly married off Lady Manga to him.
• Nice Job Breaking It, Herod: There was a sultan who demanded the death of all baby boys in his sultanate. Not long after this decree a baby boy was born who was very large and strong. His parents loved him and raised him in secret. The name of the boy? Rubiya.
• Nice Job Fixing It, Villain: Rubiya's two friends traveled to the island of Jinn and then to the capital city to confront the Jinn Sultana. She tried to seduce them and said she would marry both before showing them what became of Rubiya. They asked if he could ever be changed back into a person from a rock. The arrogant Sultana said "Of course! I just need to strike it with this white rod!". The two friends immediately killed the Sultana with their swords and used the white staff to turn Rubiya back to normal. Rubiya gave each of his friends a Jinn city he had conquered, each loaded with treasures while he kept the capital city of the Sultana for himself. The two returned to their wives and Rubiya returned to his parents.
• Nigh-Invulnerability: Fumo Liyongo was almost impossible to harm. Arrows, swords, spears, and clubs did nothing to him.
• Noble Savage: Fumo Liyongo was characterized this way. Despite the open contempt the Swahili had for the Nyika (bush people) or Shenzi (barbarians) as they called the peoples of the interior whom he lived among, Fumo Liyongo was seen as a free "King of the Bush" or "King of the Savanna" unchained by the demands of civilized life. He was considered free from the moral decay of pampered city dwellers, someone who lived on simple foods and wore simple clothing.
• One-Man Army: Rubiya killed all but two of the cruel sultan's soldiers: tying up one and cutting off the ears of the other. The sultan sent more soldiers who Rubiya destroyed single handedly except two: one he bound and the other whose hand he cut off, sending them to the sultan with the message "come after me a third time I will kill you myself".
  • Rubiya went on safari to an island of Jinn after his friends had been married. He exterminated two entire cities of Jinn with his sword except for the two Jinn who had been spared his wrath before.
  • The Oromo called Fumo Liyongo a "lord of war" who could make 100 armies retreat.
• Our Angels Are Different: God made angels from pure light, with minds as lucid as light and hearts as pure as morning air. They are entirely incapable of sinning and tremble in devoted fear of God.
  • Jiburili (Gabriel) is called "the Trustworthy Spirit" who brings messages to the prophets.
  • There is an angel with 1,000 heads and 1,000 mouths on each head. Each mouth proclaims the glory of God in a different language.
  • There is an angel who is made of flame on one side and snow on the other. Allah allows even opposing elements to coexist.
• Our Ghosts Are Different: Deceased kings come visit their people in the shape of lions or pythons.
• Our Giants Are Bigger: Pemba was once inhabited by giants called the Magenge.
  • Jinn, Mizimu, and Shetanni take the shape of giants as it pleases them.
  • Fumo Liyongo was very tall and strong. Some describe him as around 7 feet tall (like Goliath from the Quran and Bible) while others say he was so tall the Oromo (who are quite tall people on average) only came up to his knees.
• Our Ogres Are Hungrier: Zimwi is a Swahili monster best characterized as an "ogre" that preys on humans among other meats. When they die they may transform into monstrous gourds or pumpkins that lie in wait for foolish humans to approach. Such a Botanical Abomination can be permanently destroyed if you Kill It with Fire.
• Panthera Awesome: Nundu Mla Watu (Man-eater Nundu) was a fearsome monster something like a gigantic big cat. It ate people, animals, crops, trees, and more. Various stories are told about boy heroes who slay it and rescue their villages.
• Parental Abandonment: Rubiya's parents gave him a sword and sent him into their plantation haunted by a mighty Jinn. Rubiya had been revealed by the parents of his female playmate who alerted the sultan to his existence after Rubiya accidentally hurt the girl while at play. Rubiya's own parents figured it would be better for him to be killed by the Jinn than the three of them executed by the sultan.
• Person of Mass Destruction: Jiburili used his two black wings to rip both Sodom and Gomorrah out of the ground in their entirety before carrying them high into the air (so high people in Heaven could hear them)and casting them directly into Hell.
• Playing with Fire: Maliki is the angel of fire who reigns over hell. His Nightmare Face is terrifying. Allah created him out of his own pure burning rage.
• Rascally Rabbit: Sungura is the beloved trickster of Swahili fables.
• Rewarded as a Traitor Deserves: When word came out about that Fumo Liyongo's son Mani Liyongo had slain him, even the sultan who ordered the assassination himself was disgusted. Mani Liyongo's uncle Mringwari (who had also conspired with him, having even written him a letter demanding he hasten the killing) was sickened and furious that the youth wasn't at even at least ashamed of what he'd done, and withdrew everything he'd given him: noble bride, expensive clothing and jewelry, coins and other treasures, etc. Mringwari called him a faithless enemy of God. Mani Liyongo fled the palace to live among his Oromo kinfolk, but they utterly rejected him as they too knew what he did. Even his mother thought he was a Monster. Some say the two sultans had him executed eventually, more say Mani Liyongo slowly died alone from despair.
• Sleep Paralysis Creature: Sleep paralysis is known as jinamizi ("strangled by jinn"), and happens when a jinn sits on the person's chest. It is attributed to happen as a result of people sleeping on their backs.
• Slipping a Mickey: When Fumo Liyongo returned to Shaka after evading assassins in the interior, Mringwari's men were able to make him unconscious with spiked alcohol before carefully taking him prisoner.
• Snakes Are Sinister: Pembe Miuri had several heads, several tails, and spat venom at his enemies which induced Forced Sleep against Amadi.
  • Amadi actually encountered two headed, three headed, four headed, five headed, and six headed snakes prior to meeting the real Pembe Miuri.
• Sorcerous Overlord: The legendary sultan of Pemba, Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman was known as "Mkame Mdume" meaning "Milker of Males". That is to say he would force people to engage in impossible tasks like swimming on land or shouting through their noses. He would have people poked with needles all over and make toothless elders chew palm nuts. Mkame Mdume would also bang together the heads of people for fun and ripped out fetuses from pregnant women including his own wife to see if the baby ate what he fed her. He built the citadel of Pujini by forcing the laborers to carry the stones on their heads while shifting along the ground with their butts, and would have them mercilessly beaten if they stopped for rest. He built the mosque of Kichokochwe by making worshippers carry one stone each to prayers every Friday. Mkame Mdume did however contribute to the expansion of Islam and boatbuilding, or so it is said. He was also a skilled archer who went to war against a tribe of gigantic people called the Magenge. Mkame Mdume was respected most of all for being a wizard of incredible power who commanded legions of shetani. To this day children are told Mkame Mdume will get them if they are bad.
• Speaks Fluent Animal: Solomon and Mohammed were capable of this. Mohammed preached to Jinn in the shape of lizards, snakes, wolves, and birds.
  • An old camel once visited the Prophet Mohammed and Ali who were praying in the mosque, worried about its fate as a meat animal after many years of faithful service to his pagan master. Mohammed brought the camel to its master asking about its grievances. The master was shocked and demanded to know if Mohammed was some type of wizard or liar. Mohammed told the pagan he would set free a gazelle the pagan had freshly trapped that day and if he was lying, the pagan could kill him. Mohammed told the gazelle to come back later that day, and the gazelle agreed. She ran off to nurse her fawns and returned despite their questioning. The pagan was amazed and immediately converted to Islam that day. The Camel was freed to live his life in peace.
• Standard Hero Reward: Subverted. After the lion episode the grateful sultan offered Rubiya a princess, but Rubiya refused because a Swahili man should not marry before his older brothers do. So Rubiya gave the girl to his older companion. He also gave him the bowl of magic water. Then he and his remaining companion left the city, leaving their friend to enjoy his matrimony.
  • Rubiya also refused the princess from the battle with the snake and instead gave her away to his older remaining companion, along with the magic seeds.
• Super-Speed: A downplayed example, but Fumo Liyongo regularly made the 2 day foot journey from the city of Shaka to Gana in order to bathe in the lake and return the same day.
• Taken for Granite: When the Jinn Sultana grew bored of Rubiya's efforts she produced a black rod and clubbed him over the head with it, turning him into a rock.
• Threshold Guardians: Ridhuani is the gatekeeper of Paradise. When Allah tells him to open the seven gates to new souls, a glorious fragrance can be smelled suddenly even on earth.
• Uriah Gambit: Mringwari and his ministers discuss doing this with the recaptured Fumo Liyongo in order to prevent a public outrage. But Mwringwari shoots down the idea as risky.
• Warrior Poet: Fumo Liyongo was one of the most famous Swahili poets aside from being a fearsome warrior.
• You Cannot Grasp the True Form: Jiburili showed his true form to Mohammed once at his insistence. His wings spanned the horizon from east to west and the visage was so terribly glorious Mohammed fainted.
• You Can't Fight Fate: Allah weaves a red thread through human lives and cuts it when their time is up. Together human lives form a magnificent carpet. A sage is able to read the design, at least partially. By studying the stars, ancient books, birthmarks, and other phenomena.
• Youngest Child Wins: Sadaka was able to overcome the challenges of the Island Sultan and rescue his five older brothers who had failed.
• Your Terrorists Are Our Freedom Fighters: After escaping from Mringwari's dungeons once again Fumo Liyongo lived as a brigand. For the wealthy and powerful in Swahililand he was seen as a scourge, for the poor and weak he was seen as a hero of great generosity.