FERNANDEZ, Mia Allyanna A.

2013- 01793 | BS Public Health

October 31, 2014

HOW THE ETHIOPIAN WOMAN

TAMED HER HUSBAND
An Ethiopian Tale Retold By Murad Kamel
Origin of the Tale
The name Ethiopia derives from
the Greek ethio, meaning
burned and pia, meaning
face - the land of burned-face
people.
Officially known as the Federal
Democratic Republic of
Ethiopia, Ethiopia is a country
located in the Horn of Africa. It
is bordered by Etritea to the
north, Djibuoti and Somalia to
the East, Sudan and and South
Sudan to the west, and Kenya to
the south. With over 91,000,000
inhabitants, Ethiopia is the most
populous landlocked country in
the world and the second-most
populated nation on the African
continent.

Summary of the Text

Once there was a woman who was in great grief and pity of
herself. Her husband neglected her and did not seem to bother
if she was happy or sad. Greatly troubled by this matter, the
woman decided to seek the help of a local witchdoctor to
remedy and help her with her dilemma. The woman asked the
witchdoctor of a charm that she can use for her husband to
love her again. The witchdoctor agreed to help the woman in
her plight, but in one condition: the woman must bring her first
three strands of hair from the mane of a living lion.
The woman felt very grateful and went away to think of a plan
on how to fulfill the witchdoctors request. She sat down on a
rock and contemplated on how to retrieve the three strands
from the fierce lion who often come near the village. And so,
early next morning, she took a young lamb and went to the
place where the lion was accustomed to stroll about. She
waited anxiously and when she saw the lion approaching, she
quickly arose and left the lamb in the path of the lion, and went
home. And so it was that every day in the morning the woman
would rise and take a young lamb to the lion. Soon the lion
came to know the woman, for she was always in the same place
at the same time every day with a young and tender lamb to
offer. It was not long before the lion began to know and like her
and he would let her stroke his head. Each day, the woman

Humanistic Studies 25 - TFD

FERNANDEZ, Mia Allyanna A.

The Ethiopian Culture

A Patriarchal Society
Gender inequality is still
prevalent in Ethiopia.
Traditionally, labor is divided by
gender, with the authority given
to the senior male in a
household. Men often spend
their time socialising outside the
home, while women take care of
the household. If a man
participated in domestic
activities, he will be considered
as a social outcast.

African witchcraft
Witchcraft in Africa far supersedes

2013- 01793 | BS Public Health

October 31, 2014

would stay quietly stroking the lion gently and lovingly. Then one
day, when she knew that the lion trusted her, she carefully pulled
three hairs from his mane, and happily set out for the
witchdoctors dwelling.
Triumphantly, she entered the witchdoctors house and handed
her the three hairs from the lions mane. The witchdoctor was so
amazed and asked the woman how she got the hair from the lion
and the woman happily retold him of how she had patiently won
the hairs from the lion.
A smile spread over the face of the witchdoctor and, leaning
forward, he said, In the same way that you have tamed the lion,

!Personal Reading and Analysis

so may you tame your husband.

In Patriarchal cultures like that of Ethiopia, men play a

fundamental role in almost all aspects of society. Life of
women seem to revolve around what their husbands will feel

what was found in Europe in the

and say. In the story, the husband was likened to a lion - fierce

14th and 15th centuries, and is

and powerful - nonetheless can be tamed. The woman sought

believed to trace back to a

the help of a witchdoctor for charms that could help her win

combination of Egyptian witchcraft

and Arabic Sihr. African witchcraft is

her husband back but later realized that this is not the real

more focused on the concept of

solution. Through the witchdoctors challenge, the woman

magic and spells. Witch doctors in

learned that taming a lion is similar to winning her husband

Africa believe they can, through

back - both requiring great patience and effort. Marriage is

various potions and practices,

influence the future of the persons

like a plant - in need of utmost care and must be constantly

life - either for good or evil. This

showered with love, patience and understanding. It is a

gives them great influence among

sacred union between two people who have vowed to share

their communities.

their lives with each other. Engaging in such vows entail

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Humanistic Studies 25 - TFD

sharing your self wholly to your partner and love and effort
must be mutual in order for the relationship to work and last.
With Ethiopia being a Patriarchal country, we can see that
great effort was given by the woman alone in order to save
their marriage. Indeed, literature is a reflection of the
character and customs of its origin. Tales like this aim to instil
in us values, that if applied in our daily lives, would surely
bring us success.
How witch doctors in Africa have a community under their spell. (2013). Southern Africas
Children. Retrieved from <http://www.southern-africas-children.org.uk/witch-doctorsafrica.html> 18 October 2014.