Abunuwas is a traditional character in the fairy stories of the Swahili Coast in Africa (the Kenyan and Tanzanian coast). Through his superior cleverness, he always wins in every situation.
The following two tales have been retold from the original Swahili.
Abunuwas na Maskini
Abunuwas and the Beggar
One day Abunuwas met a beggar who was in the utmost despair, and he asked him why he was so sad.
"Yesterday there was a great feast held by the rich merchant," the beggar replied, "and I was close by and happened to smell the delicious smell of all the food which was being cooked. Afterwards I went to the merchant and thanked him for the wonderful smell of all his food, for I had greatly relished it; but this made him fly into the most terrible rage, for, he declared, I must surely have robbed his food of all its flavour, having eaten all the smell as I had. He then took me to the Sultan, who declared that I must pay a fine of twelve silver pieces by the next day – but I am a beggar and I have nothing."
"Do not worry," said Abunuwas, "Here is the silver – take it and tomorrow we shall go together to see the Sultan."
Early the next morning Abunuwas and the beggar met before the Sultan’s palace. They went in to where the merchant was waiting for them, and the beggar said that he had come to pay the fine.
"Have you the twelve silver pieces?" Abunuwas asked him; the beggar replied that he had. So Abunuwas took the silver and told the merchant he could come and collect it, which he was just on the point of doing when Abunuwas cried out "Wait!" and threw the coins onto the floor – RING! DING! DING!
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"That", said Abunuwas, "is your payment – the sound of the silver falling on the floor; for the beggar never ate the food of your feast, but only its smell". The Sultan was very displeased at how the merchant had wasted his time, and Abunuwas and the beggar, after taking up the silver, went their ways.
A popular Swahili cartoon book has been written by GADO, one of
Kenya’s leading cartoonists, featuring the adventures of Abunuwas.
Abunuwas is saying "The sound of these twelve rupees, Mr. Kilafi is your
payment..."
(Mr Kilafi is the name given to the rich merchant)