Ngoné, the Stubborn Girl

[Olùkọ́ Ọbádélé]

Ngoné, the Stubborn Girl

Everyone in Yoff knew that the rainy season was the time of year when many people drowned. Whether someone knew how to swim or not made little difference. Moreover, the whole of Yoff’s beach, except for Kassoub, had been declared a dangerous zone where swimming was forbidden.

One day Ngoné decided to go swimming near the Diamalaye Mausoleum, a spot reputed to be very dangerous. She recklessly went into the water despite the warnings of some fishermen seated in the Mbars on the beach.

“Hey, jang-bi! Don’t go in the sea. The current is very strong.”

“I know how to swim, so leave me alone,” she replied. And she went on her merry way, plunging deeper and deeper into the water. The water came up to her thighs, then to her waist, then to her shoulders. Her worried grandmother called out one last time, urging her to come out. But Ngoné did not listen.

Suddenly, as if by magic, a big wave seized her, raised her, and then threw her down head first, singing,

“Xale-bu dul dëgg, ma gaax ci moom”

Everyone ran to the place where she disappeared in the hope of seeing her, but no trace of Ngoné remained. So they decided to go to her parents’ house to prepare the funeral. But underwater, Mame Ndiaré, the village’s protector spirit had heard the evil wave’s song. She freed Ngoné from the evil spirit’s grasp and gently set her down on the beach’s fine sand, covering her with waak. At the touch of this soft bed, Ngoné fell into a deep sleep, snoring like a steam engine.

One of the fishers from the Mbar on his way home from fishing saw her, knelt beside her, and noticed that she was alive and sleeping peacefully. He ran as fast as he could to tell her family, and they immediately came, finding Ngoné still dozing.

When awakened, she recounted her misadventure and the intervention of Mame Ndiaré. Then she promised to always follow the elders’ advice from then on.


Waxu mag du fanaan all.
Sooner or later, you will realize that the elders are right.