The Poisoned Pot: An African Folktale of Chief Garnakaki, Betrayal, and Wisdom

In the days of old, there lived a very powerful chief named Garnakaki. One day, Chief Garnakaki struck his camp to go to war, for his land needed defending. He had a certain cook who prepared his meals, and he had a wife whom he loved deeply. Indeed, everything the chief possessed was placed in this wife's keeping; she held the keys to his heart and his storehouses.

But the cook cast his eyes upon the chief's wife, desiring her beauty. And she, too, looked upon the cook with love, until their hearts became tangled in secret sin. One day, the chief was secretly informed of their betrayal. His anger burned like a bushfire, and he seized the cook and threw him into prison.

Now, the chief was a man of great mercy, and he was very fond of the cook's手艺 (craft). So he said, "Bring him out." The cook was taken from the dark cell and brought forward before the chief.

Chief Garnakaki looked at him and said, "In spite of all you have done, if you give up my wife, you may return to your pot and continue cooking food for me."

The cook bowed low and said, "I shall leave her." But truly, it was a lie.

Time went on, and the cook returned to his duties. He cooked food for the chief, yet in secret, he and the woman continued to sin against the master who had spared them. Until one day, they procured powerful medicine. They mixed it into the chief's stew. The chief ate the food, and soon, he died.

That woman took possession of much of the chief's property and much of the chief's money. She gave it to the cook secretly, so that no one knew, until they had finished taking everything that belonged to the dead man. Then she came forward openly and married him.

And that was the origin of the saying: "Love him who loves you, and leave him who hates you, lest he give you medicine to eat and you die."

Off with the rat's head.

THE END...